I've been experimenting on E/W or NS on first layer

[Wisco Shepherd]

Couple months in with my Kuma Aspen LE and while I enjoy it I found my cold starting burns tended to be a bit short for my liking. I feel this stove is a pretty easy breather so when things started off with air control at full open flames seemed to be shot down the log right up the flue on a top down totally N/S start.

To remedy this I made my first layer E/W being careful not to block the air intakes and then having a layer on top going north south with kindling on top of that east west . I have been happy with the results it seems like those top layers which I am trying to get going quickly get lots of air to get the stove and cat system up to temperature quickly (able to engage my cat in about 10 minutes usually) but the bottom layer does not get as rapidly consumed in the process allowing me to have a little longer first burn of the day.

I'm curious what others do with these smaller easy breathing stoves.

 

[begreen]

The splits look fairly thin. To slow down the burn, try burning thicker piece of wood.

 

[Wisco Shepherd]

Yes I have mostly medium(first level) splits and small. This is out first year burning so I found ash and split it small to try and help it dry faster.

 

[begreen]

The thin splits are ok as shown for starting the stove, but no so much for reloads. When the fuel size is small, there is a lot more surface area exposed and it combusts quickly.

 

[Wisco Shepherd]

The thin splits are ok as shown for starting the stove, but no so much for reloads. When the fuel size is small, there is a lot more surface area exposed and it combusts quickly.

Yep I've noticed that as well. Reloads on good coals get my bigger splits but I still burn hot as my MC on some splits of the ash creep up towards 23%. Never perfect the first year I am ahead now and will be doing solar kilns this summer.

 

[kingofcreosote]

I've been doing top-down fires lately and have experimented a little bit with N/S or E/W first layers. I do think the E/W first layer definitely helps slow the fire down without negative effects (unless you really want a roaring fire, fast).

I have a 2.1 cubic foot stove and struggle a little bit with height with top down. It's pretty easy to run out of head room. A taller stove cavity would be nice for that. I usually manage, though, and I sometimes do a modified top-down.

I used to just put pieces in N/S. I like E/W most of the time now. I can see it being a real advantage to side loading stoves to make it easier to put them in that way. Not sure it's worth the extra cost/complexity, but an advantage nonetheless.

 

[stoveliker]

I only did the first layer e-w if I have pieces that are too long. I get more wood in going full n-s, seeing the shape of the splits, filling gaps better, leading to more wood and less air going through as compared to the gaps I inevitably have when having a layer e-w.

My air does not come from the bottom though.