A Question on Cold-Starting a Fully Loaded Stove

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Fatwood also smokes like a choo choo train.
Yeah it does. It's natural though and amazing for top down starts so I like using it. At the end of every burning season I usually have about a coffee can of very find black dust after sweeping and it's all from the fatwood. Not bad for 3-4 cords a year.
 
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Yeah it does. It's natural though and amazing for top down starts so I like using it. At the end of every burning season I usually have about a coffee can of very find black dust after sweeping and it's all from the fatwood. Not bad for 3-4 cords a year.

I use fatwood too, on every cold start. Wife buys a few boxes as soon as it comes in at the beginning of fall. Makes things so much easier.
 
Fatwood has been my goto for a long time.

I just got some supercedar, I will always support a family biz where I can. It has worked like a champ so far.
 
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Fatwood has been my goto for a long time.

I just got some supercedar, I will always support a family biz where I can. It has worked like a champ so far.
The wife works at a big box store and gets a good discount on the fatwood. I love supporting small business too but when inflation has me buried we are doing everything we can to save money.
 
The wife works at a big box store and gets a good discount on the fatwood. I love supporting small business too but when inflation has me buried we are doing everything we can to save money.
Ozark, I hear ya. I always grabbed fatwood at a big box store. It went from 4 bucks to 8 bucks a bag for the same stuff I've been buying for years. Winter I use less in the stove than I do off season for outdoor fires. I burn a LOT of dead fall debri in the Chiminea.
 
my goodness! I'm thankful for the €3.00 per stair rise in the past year, then!
 
My wife uses the fatwood for top down starts when i'm away. I've not needed them but do use the pinecones as a starter. My backyard dumped bucket loads of them this year so its free and easy, and after picking them up, they don't clog up the lawnmower. Here's a pinecone start for your viewing pleasure.

If you want to see some cool slow mo of the top down secondaries go to 3:35 time stamp.

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Fatwood has been my goto for a long time.

I just got some supercedar, I will always support a family biz where I can. It has worked like a champ so far.
I like super cedars a lot, I've used them in the past. They are a great product. Just as good if not better than fatwood. I also run a small business myself so I absolutely am pro supporting mom and pop businesses when I can.

For me though I just get annoyed at the mess. Yes I know it's containable if you pay attention but I inevitably drop the wrapper or something happens and it gets everywhere and I get pissed off. I have two kids, a 200 lb dog, and a wood stove...the last thing in the world I need is more of a mess lol. So it's just easier for me to have a box of fatwood next to the log rack. My wife found a nice decorative box for it and I just refill that.