This past summer I cleaned up a defiant II, the stove was originally purchased in 1983.I was lucky enough to buy it from the original owner.I have been having open fires with damper open,the other day I closed the damper to burn for the first time over night.Although this is a new experience with the defiant I heated the house with wood in the 80s and 90s with a upland 207,somewhat of a similar stove.The upland burned like a cigarette from the side loading door to the other end.The other night when I shut down the defiant after getting a good bed of embers the stove seemed to flare up and the temperature went from 350 to 625 in what seemed like minutes.I also had some some smoke leakage from the front doors,I think after I put new gaskets on the stove I adjusted the doors not tight enough after the new gaskets.The amount of wood I put in the stove when I banked it down with damper closed was minimal having been the first time.When I closed the stove down I opened the side loading door, shut the front doors ,then put a few pieces of wood in the side,I closed the side door slightly until the wood took hold.I then closed the side door and then the damper,having not much experience with this stove I was not sure where to set the thermostat on the back of the stove or the small air vent near the loading door.After the stove seemed to take off having not put much wood in I opened the damper and then the side door slowly,then I opened the front doors and let the fire go out.This all happened very quickly so nothing happened to either stove or chimney.If anyone has any thoughts on what happened or any advice on setting the thermostat or burning the stove in general would be greatly appreciated.I have read that this stove burns great once you get the feel of it.Thanks Tim