I'm trying to gather some info. on RSF fireplaces.

[LLigetfa]

Thanks for the update. Condolences on the mediocre wood. I know first hand how frustrating marginal wood can be. Hope the guy with the year old covered Ash works out for you. I'm burning two year old covered Ash and it is pure joy. Two years from now I'll be burning three year seasoned Ash.

Separate the coals from the ashes and bring them forward. Lay some thin splits on top with lots of air and it should help to burn them down a bit quicker and still put out some heat. If you can get your hands on some scrap softwood like mill ends or pallet scraps to lay on the coals, that will help too.

 

[ClubbyG]

Thought I would add to the thread for anyone researching down the road. I also had been curious about the primary air lever/chain having slack in it since I bought the unit, but figured that was as-designed. I called RSF to verify and was surprised that mine needed a chain adjustment, as well. With the lever to the right, the bi-metallic damper should be fully open and come to a stop as LLigetfa mentioned.

What a difference Like a blast furnace now and gives me better staging fires for longer burns. I feel like I am cheating since now I really can turn the air down to that elusive halfway point I was trying to achieve before.

I am glad you had posted that info on the chain, Ann--thanks to you, LLigetfa, mtj53, and all the great folks here!

 

[annb]

ClubbyG,

I'm glad this thread has helped. It would be good if RSF mentioned that chain adjustment in their manual. But, at least it's documented here now

BTW, the ash did NOT work out. It's very wet ... 30% on the moisture meter. Visible water comes out the ends when we try to burn it. I just still can't believe that people would flat out lie like that. I don't think there's any way ash that has been split for one year can have a 30% moisture content, is there? My husband was out of town for a few days this week, so my son and I put my husband's new Fiskars to work and split a bunch of it into smaller pieces to aid the drying process. I have to say, there is something very gratifying about splitting a piece of wood! None-the-less, I'm sore today and glad it's not my job to get the wood split It's stacked on a pallet outside and it will get burned next year. Today, my husband and kids harvested some dead hickory from my mother-in-law's property. It's not perfect either (about 20%) but much better and way cheaper!

I add my thanks to that of ClubbyG. I've learned so much here! Thanks!

 

[annb]

LLigetfa ... I did get some lumber scraps and we've been using them to help burn down the coals. It works really well. Thanks for the tip!

 

[annb]

Someone wrote recently asking for photos of our Opel III. I thought the rest of you might like to see it since you were so helpful in both our decision to purchase it and our installation of it. I love this fireplace!

 

[begreen]

That came out beautifully annb. I hadn't see one installed. Very nice job.

Can you post it again in the Perfect Picture forum so that it's there for future lookers?

 

[annb]

Thank you! I did post on the picture perfect section as well.

 

[fossil]

Beautiful installation. First pic looks a little like there's a person wearing shorts stuck in the firebox. :ahhh: Rick

 

[begreen]

Now we know where Santa spends his summers! :lol:

 

[annb]

I hadn't noticed that. That's really funny! That's my husband's reflection on the glass as he was taking the shots. Too funny!

 

[BrotherBart]

Great looking fireplace. And the best pic since the legendary eBay tea kettle.

 

[fossil]

If you care at all about him, let him out of there before you fire it up. ;-P Rick

 

[annb]

I didn't know about that tea kettle so I looked it up on Google. Surely this isn't as bad as that!

 

[fossil]

No way, he's wearing shorts.

 

[Darth Marais]

Hello, I know I'm pretty late to the conversation being that this thread was going back in 2010 - but I thought this was an appropriate place to ask some of my own questions, as I'm experiencing some Glass Haze, as most or all of you have. I just had the Opel 2 installed and although it's been pretty good - it has no where near the heat output that my Pacific Energy has. The glass on the Pacific stays clean - but I'm having the hazing trouble and have been searching on the internet to see what the cause of it might be because it's only happening on the Left side. It's as if the glass is the wrong type of something because it literally stops on each side of the door. I've read this this thread and now that the chain problem has been mentioned, I'm wondering if that might be my problem as well, as I can never go below 50% damper - usually 100% for the first 20-30 minutes, then down to 75% - maybe 70%. Over night burns with Maple or birch has not been good...I think it's long gone in 4-5 hours. Don't get me wrong, we really like it, but it has some quirks that we need to sort out for it to be as impressive as the Pacific Energy. I've attached a photo below so you can see the hazing on the glass on the left size only.