Air control and clean burns for a new guy

[Grizzerbear]

Task once the first load has burned down to coals open the primary all the way to reload more wood. You then will have to go through blacktails steps again more or less. This really depends on the mc of your wood,draft, stove temp as to how soon a reload can be closed back down to cruise setting. If your wood moisture is high its difficult.Remember that your putting fresh wood in so it needs air to ignite. If you put wood in and leave the air set at low you are smouldering it and never giving it adequate air to ignite.Just try to burn previous load down to coals before you reload or you will inherently be babysitting it more adding a piece ever so often. I agree as well load that baby up and see what it can do.

 

[begreen]

Task, can you add your stove make & model to your avatar's signature line?

This depends on the firebox shape, the wood and for us, the time of year. It's easier to do a large load start in a large firebox that loads N/S, but possible in an E/W loader if the wood is stacked on a pair of N/S, 1-2" thick, sleepers set 4-6" apart and using a chunk of SuperCedar under the wood. E/W loading blocks the airwash air at the front of the firebox. The sleepers elevate the wood so that air can get underneath it. This helps get a load started quicker.

 

[blacktail]

Why anyone starts a stove on a partial load escapes me?

I do it regularly. Small load when I get home from work, then fill it up a few hours later before bed.

 

[Grizzerbear]

I do it regularly. Small load when I get home from work, then fill it up a few hours later before bed.

I hear ya. Easy to mess the schedule up if loaded full after work. If i do that im waking up in the middle of the night to reload. I like my sleep.

 

[Woody5506]

I do it regularly. Small load when I get home from work, then fill it up a few hours later before bed.

Same. Partial load after work at 4ish so I have a usable coal bed to start for the overnight load at about 8 or 9pm.

 

[moresnow]

The partial load after work makes sense if you need to maintain a schedule that spans your sleep schedule. This I can agree on! Getting out of bed in the middle of the night to reload sucks!