How to build a fire in a wood stove

[Seasoned Oak]

A million ways to start a woodstove and that was one of the the slowest. Im striking a match in under a minute, raging fire in 3-5 minutes. After you do something so many times its all about function over form. I always use a blowtorch to light my coal stoker ,but the wood stove is too easy to light with a match and a piece of cardboard. Junk mail is excellent as well.

 

[BigFir]

I only use shaving from the saw. Make cuts length wise into a round and it make huge shavings. I can not bring myself to buy a fire starter.

 

[brad wilton]

Wood and a match, i'm such a barbarian!

 

[firefighterjake]

I'm really enjoying all the frustration reactions. I'm learning a lot from your comments. So, responses:

. . .
b.) I'm really surprised how many of you use a propane torch or some other "bought" fire starter. I'm going to have to try that and see how I like it.

. . .

Carry on.

Very cool . . . didn't realize this was you . . . thought you just found this on the internet.

A little too slow for my tastes . . . but to each their own . . . the important thing is that it works for you and you stay warm, right?

You may wish to try a free sample with the Super Cedars . . . typically the owner gives out two free "hockey pucks" which most of us break into quarters for use. Be forewarned though . . . even if you're frugal like me and think that you're a die-hard who will never pay for a fire starter when there is plenty of free kindling and newspaper . . . often once you try 'em you'll get hooked.

 

[jcapler]

In my house, that was six months worth of kindling and six years worth of newspaper.

I came away from the video with the following insights:

1) That guy is REALLY RELAXED.
2) I bet watching a fire is cool when you're stoned.
3) This guy is not allowed to set fires in my stove.
4) That's a pretty stove!
5) If this is the "BEST" way to set a fire, he must have tried some worse ones. He should make a video about that instead.
6) OMG light the damn fire already. Pretend it's cold outside!
7) A blowtorch could change this guy's life forever.
8) I wonder if the dryer's done yet.
9) Hey look, 50 degree temp differential in here! Good job, my stove!
10) I want a sandwich.
11) OMG he's still screwing with that.
12) Did he chop a perfectly good split into those tiny little kindling pieces? On purpose? Maybe he cut down the tree with dynamite or something fun like that.
13) I want to cut down a tree with dynamite.
14) OMG he's STILL screwing with that.
15) Nobody would know if I skipped some.
16) Hey, there IS a fire at the very end.
17) I don't think I need to rewind to see the middle parts.

I couldn't help but laugh at this one. Now i have to watch the video and read your post as the commentary.

 

[saskwoodburner]

And here I am, waiting for the reload video. All in good fun of course.

 

[Seanm]

e.) Please do a parody. I would thoroughly enjoy that.

Carry on.

I was following your thread this afternoon and yes I skipped through parts of it to. You my man have a good sense of humor. You probably were smiling reading the comments thinking these schmucks dont know its me... We routinely post different videos about cutting and wood burning and then comment. I was reading the thread then bwamo we found it was you and not some random dude on youtube,,,, lol. Nice!

 

[jetsam]

I do hope I caused no offense... I did not realize the OP was the video's maker. He seems to be a gentleman in addition to being very relaxed, though!

In a couple posts related to stoves, he's made me think that perhaps I should be taking my time with enjoyable small things in life more than I do, and that is a bit of an achievement in and of itself.

(Not givin' up my blowtorch, tho.)

 

[CheapBassTurd]

Glad torches are popular !!

I'm probably gonna be pretty meticulous too with the inherent dangers
of an indoor potbelly made across the Pacific.

CheapTorchGuy

 

[FionaD]

looks like I was one of the few who knew it was you Trevarthan.. But to be honest, probably only cos I'm a girl and I love to pay attention to how people's hearths look in as many pics as possible, including their avatars. On that note.. your hearth looks great - I'd love to see a full picture of it.

The great things about people not realising is that you got 100% objective feedback.

I think the points made here about how quick and easy it is for so many forum folk to light our stoves (because we've been doing it for years, have our system/lighting materials sussed and therefore can do it at a sprint in our sleep) may be missing the point of an instructional video; for sure when I first met a wood stove, this slow and exacting demo that makes an art out of something, that needn't always be treated as function over form, would have been welcome.

On that note.. I am minded of the way we are going these days (cue 'old timer music')... In the Highlands and Islands of Scotland there are ancient prayers in Gaelic for every daily task... it keeps us mindful and present to what life can mean when we give it due care and attention. Here's an example of one of the hundreds of prayers, held in families for centuries, for lighting the hearth...

I WILL kindle my fire this morning
In presence of the holy angels of heaven,
In presence of Ariel of the loveliest form,
In presence of Uriel of the myriad charms,
Without malice, without jealousy, without envy,
Without fear, without terror of any one under the sun,
But the Holy Son of God to shield me.
Without malice, without jealousy, without envy,
Without fear, without terror of any one under the sun,
But the Holy Son of God to shield me.

God, kindle Thou in my heart within
A flame of love to my neighbour,
To my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all,
To the brave, to the knave, to the thrall,
O Son of the loveliest Mary,
From the lowliest thing that liveth,
To the Name that is highest of all.
O Son of the loveliest Mary,
From the lowliest thing that liveth,
To the Name that is highest of all.

..and from the sublime to the corblimey..I think if you youtube that video. you will get a few comments about the way you carefully choose each single piece of kindling! However I'm not one to talk - Ive seen me do something similar on the days I have time to make an art of it and yes I confess I sometimes make a prayer of it too, in Gaelic rather than English

 

[countybrown]

Oh my Lord. I watched the whole painful thing. I'm still trying to figure out what the "not best" ways are....

Was it just me or did others also have the urge to yell out "JENGA! " watching this guy fill the stove? I'm not sure if this was extremely well done satire, or just a guy whom is that inexperienced.

If it's not satirical, how do you bring yourself to post a video of the BEST way to light a fire when it takes you 10 minutes to get it going, and it almost goes out numerous times in the process? !

 

[rippinryno]

if you have any sort of kindling or dry wood, these cannot be beat for the money. 1 of them burns for 10 minutes, i've never had one not start a fire, and they're dirt cheap!

https://www.menards.com/main/heatin...439435354-c-6855.htm?tid=-1639815777197158291

 

[trevarthan]

I only use shaving from the saw. Make cuts length wise into a round and it make huge shavings. I can not bring myself to buy a fire starter.

I was just doing some table saw work last night. I've got one of those harbor freight dust collector systems. Gives me a huge bag of sawdust anytime I do a project. I've just been throwing it away. I read it didn't burn well unless you make a fancy center burning 100 gallon barrel stove thing:

 

[Seasoned Oak]

if you have any sort of kindling or dry wood, these cannot be beat for the money. 1 of them burns for 10 minutes, i've never had one not start a fire, and they're dirt cheap!

https://www.menards.com/main/heatin...439435354-c-6855.htm?tid=-1639815777197158291

They do work well , would be great trying to start a campfire in wet conditions. I have some but rarely use them.

 

[trevarthan]

A million ways to start a woodstove and that was one of the the slowest. Im striking a match in under a minute, raging fire in 3-5 minutes. After you do something so many times its all about function over form. I always use a blowtorch to light my coal stoker ,but the wood stove is too easy to light with a match and a piece of cardboard. Junk mail is excellent as well.

I posted this video on reddit too and someone there mentioned cardboard. I've never tried it because I was worried the glue would be toxic or gum up the flu or something. I'm going to have to try that. I recycle a truck load of cardboard every other week from all of my amazon prime purchases.

 

[Squisher]

Well I wouldn't call it the best way but atleast it was a top down burn. I start with much larger pieces than that. I use two large splits on the bottom N/S and then two slightly smaller E/W, than I stuff a bunch of newspaper in and around and crisscross my kindling on top. I light it up and as soon as the kindling is catching the door is sealed and that's it. Having the door cracked or having to re-open it to add wood somewhat defeats the purpose of a top down start-up to me. Every time you open that door you are losing heat.

 

[Squisher]

I posted this video on reddit too and someone there mentioned cardboard. I've never tried it because I was worried the glue would be toxic or gum up the flu or something. I'm going to have to try that. I recycle a truck load of cardboard every other week from all of my amazon prime purchases.

Truckload a week? I think there are support groups for that kind of shopping addiction.


Edit. Ahh every other week. Carry on supporting the economy.

 

[trevarthan]

You know he doesn't burn regularly; he opened the front door to build a fire on a Oslo. The only time you open that door is end of season to clean it out. Otherwise there is ash all over the place.

I burn almost every day in the winter. I get real tired of lugging firewood up the stairs from the back yard. I find the side door uncomfortable to use, due to the arrangement of my couch and other items in the living room where the stove is. I still use it when I have a long piece, but most of the wood I burn fits via the front door just fine.

I don't get a lot of ash from the front door. I do get a ton of particulate on the hearth just from the firewood itself though. I have to vacuum that at least once a week because I designed the hearth with tiles of varying heights and I can't just sweep it. Hindsight is 20/20.

 

[trevarthan]

If it's not satirical, how do you bring yourself to post a video of the BEST way to light a fire when it takes you 10 minutes to get it going, and it almost goes out numerous times in the process? !

Well I wouldn't call it the best way but atleast it was a top down burn.

I confess this was an intentional wording designed to incite my viewers. Emotional people share.

Also, I mentioned the insulation wasn't seated properly above the secondary burn jets because I just cleaned the flu and forgot to reseat it. I suspect this is why the fire almost went out. I was pretty confused by that at the time. Could just be this though:

I start with much larger pieces than that. I use two large splits on the bottom N/S and then two slightly smaller E/W, than I stuff a bunch of newspaper in and around and crisscross my kindling on top. I light it up and as soon as the kindling is catching the door is sealed and that's it. Having the door cracked or having to re-open it to add wood somewhat defeats the purpose of a top down start-up to me. Every time you open that door you are losing heat.

My wood may be wetter than yours. I live in a very humid climate. Even after two years in the yard, most of my wood is wetter than I'd like and growing fungus. I usually can't get away with closing the door immediately unless I'm burning kiln dried pallet wood or 2x4s or something.

 

[saskwoodburner]

I was just doing some table saw work last night. I've got one of those harbor freight dust collector systems. Gives me a huge bag of sawdust anytime I do a project. I've just been throwing it away. I read it didn't burn well unless you make a fancy center burning 100 gallon barrel stove thing: View attachment 172728

I made some trailer park firestarters with parafin wax, sawdust, and egg carton. The easiest way to get a fire going ever.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

I posted this video on reddit too and someone there mentioned cardboard. I've never tried it because I was worried the glue would be toxic or gum up the flu or something. I'm going to have to try that. I recycle a truck load of cardboard every other week from all of my amazon prime purchases.

The amount of cardboard is so small i cant see it causing any problems,i have a lot of very dry lathe board that i tear out of old houses ,its 1\4 in by 1.5 wide and various lengths ,perfect for starting fires. I just stack a handfull across 2 short pieces of wood and put the paper or cardboard under it.

 

[Squisher]

• I don't close up the door immediately but closed and sealed asap, which for me is as soon as the kindling is crackling. True I'm burning d. Fir which I'd say is especially easy to start.

 

[trevarthan]

looks like I was one of the few who knew it was you Trevarthan.. But to be honest, probably only cos I'm a girl and I love to pay attention to how people's hearths look in as many pics as possible, including their avatars. On that note.. your hearth looks great - I'd love to see a full picture of it.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/hearth-weight-support-reinforcement.74265/#post-991933

I drank a lot to get through the tedium of making it. Normally I wouldn't recommend this with power tools, but diamond wet tile saws are fairly tame and I had shorter hair at the time, so very little chance of having it wrapped around the arbor.

 

[CenterTree]

Parody?

God, I sure HOPE so! LOL

This video is my kind of humor. This guy is a gem. Thanks Trev! I love the tiny toothpicks at about 4:30 minute mark. LOL!

If not a parody, then , still LOL!! > Just for a different reason. Sorry trev/

 

[ridemgis]

Check out the hearth though! You've probably seen it before on this website. He did the tiles to match the arches in the window of the stove.
Very cool!

EDIT - Doh! I should have read all the responses before posting.