Keep seeing this posted again and again on this site, that leaving the air open somehow leads to lower stove temps and losing all of your heat up the chimney. I think this leads to people closing down the air too early and ending up with ultimately lower stove temps. While having the air open does heat up your chimney, and lead to lower efficiency, I don't think it leads to a cooler stove. In fact, if you look at all the overfire stories, they mostly involve forgetting to shut down the air, leaving a door open, leaking gaskets, etc. I've found that letting the stove burn open for a little longer before shutting down leads to ultimately higher cruising temps and better heat output. It also lets me close down further without choking the fire. Also, if max heat output is your goal (vs. longer burn time), shutting down all the way isn't always the way to go, at least on one of my stoves. While I can get a hot fire when closed down, or 1/8 open, I get a hotter fire 1/4 open. There's definitely a sweet spot. This is all probably obvious to most on here, but it took me a year to figure out as a new burner...
Oh yeah, and more secondaries doesn't necessarily mean a hotter stove.
Oh yeah, and more secondaries doesn't necessarily mean a hotter stove.