last night I brought in a big tub of oak. Same tub that I always use, BUT i was barely able to carry this stupid thing. I'm not going to make any guestimates to volume and weight, so don't ask. Maybe we'll get to that point later in the conversation.
Anyway, I raked the coals to the side, loaded it up, and ran with door cracked ever so slightly (with primary at 100%) for 15 minutes, then closed the door (primary still 100%) for 15 minutes, then halfway for 15 minutes, and then completely shut with secondaries roaring and within a few minutes the top was reading at about 550. Then I went to bed.
This startup procedure is pretty much what I do with every other load of wood, maybe it took a few extra minutes. Given the weight of this wood, I just assumed it had to be less than seasoned. I can get the MM on it tonight, but before I do, let me ask this...
If this wood was truly high MC would I be able to get to those stovetop temps and hold a nice secondary burn like I was doing?
wood is red oak, two years on the stack.
Anyway, I raked the coals to the side, loaded it up, and ran with door cracked ever so slightly (with primary at 100%) for 15 minutes, then closed the door (primary still 100%) for 15 minutes, then halfway for 15 minutes, and then completely shut with secondaries roaring and within a few minutes the top was reading at about 550. Then I went to bed.
This startup procedure is pretty much what I do with every other load of wood, maybe it took a few extra minutes. Given the weight of this wood, I just assumed it had to be less than seasoned. I can get the MM on it tonight, but before I do, let me ask this...
If this wood was truly high MC would I be able to get to those stovetop temps and hold a nice secondary burn like I was doing?
wood is red oak, two years on the stack.