turbocruiser
Feeling the Heat
pretty much my mode of operation...i've never used pipe or stove top temp to decide when i reload. when it burns down, i reload.....when i get ready for bed, i really try and load it, no matter what the temp. if it fits, i shut the door and close her down till morning.
cass
Let me ask some specific advice about the "if it fits, i shut the door and close her down till morning." part ...
First, are you all really fully reloading your stoves on top of the coals that are ready or are you actually only adding in a few more splits and that is the reload? Typically when I'm reloading I'm adding a few more splits (3-4 medium sized splits) but I could easily cram more in there. Typically my first reload will last about 3 hours and my second reload will last about 4 hours and then after that I sort of have to wait to be able to add even those 3-4 medium sized splits again. So the subsequent loads are like 5 hours at the most but my attempts at an "overnight burn of 8 hours" really only leaves just enough barely good burners to start another fire without fooling with kindling but it by far isn't "a bed of good glowing coals" after 8 hours of burning overnight. Any advice about this would be wonderful.
Second, how long do you wait before you close all the air controls after reloading? Is it as soon as you can close the door or do you wait a while like for the wood to just start scorching, or for it to completely scorch or even for it to completely start burning? Typically I reload by adding a few more splits, wait about 1 minute no more and then close the air controls about halfway to 3/4ths closed but if I close all the air controls completely I seem to get dirty glass. I'm reloading at approx 400 degrees measured with my IR right on top of the firebox. Again any advice would be wonderful. Thanks.