I load my Shelburne (2 cubic foot box) at 6 am on coals, again at 6 PM on coals (small splits) and again at 930 PM to carry it through to the 6 am re load.[/Quote]Have you checked the door gaskets/seals? Do you have control of the fire? How do you load the stove, stuffed full or just a few splits?
View attachment 171858 this is my overnight load, like a puzzle finding splits that fit.
I do similar to this and have similar results, load big splits in the rear and medium splits up front stuffed full, easily last till morning or until my wife or I get home. Plenty of coals for a fast re-light....
Some of your wood may take 18 mo or more to fully season and give adequate heat output, especially the harder woods.
I have the cast iron clydesdale 2.4cuft (Soapstone lined) and have a strong draft which definitely sucks the heat to the top of my chimney, even blued out my new chimney cap! I engineered a flue damper and a rod through the surround, this has vastly improved my burn and control. My cost was less then $5. My last cleaning showed little residue build up in the chimney. We will see now I am burning 24/7 hiw she looks when I open her up, I don't think it will be bad as the stove Burns great.[/QUOTE]
Sorry its been a couple hell days at work and haven't been able to respond.
Two nights ago I had the best burn ever in the Heritage. I completely cleaned the stove, emptied the ash pan, the firebox and cleaned the glass (soapstone was above room temp). I loaded the stove log cabin style, alternating N/S and E/W and dropped in three of my homemade firestarters.
This all happened about 4 p.m.I let the stove take off for about 20 minutes, closed the side door and let the stove do its thing. Stack temps hovered around 300 and shut air control off to about 50%. Outside temps hovered around 15f and interior temps climbed to 67f just before bed. Reloaded the stove at 9:30 and shut primary air down to zero. Woke up at 5 a.m, and room temps were at about 62,outside temps still at about 15, gas furnace still hadn't kicked on and I was able to relight from coals.
After 4 years this is the best I have been able to get....love the soapstone but still putting the order for the IS