Update:
The best way I've found to get this stove going is to load N-S, with small spits (kindling) on the bottom (with 1/4 SuperCedar and a few pieces of crumpled newspaper under/inbetween) then the bigger splits on top of everything. I then light off the SuperCedar which sets the rest of it off. I do have to leave the door cracked open (by hooking the door handle latch on the outside part/lip of the firebox instead of the actual part where it is supposed to latch when you close it) for usually 15-20 mins or it will starve out the flames. Once 15-20 mins have passed, there is quite a fire going and I'm able to close the door with the air control pushed all the way in/open. Once I close the door, the secondaries light off really good and temp starts climbing pretty fast. I am usually able to pull the air control out/closed after about 10 mins, and stovetop is usually about 500 by then and fire will stay going with control closed and will cruise that way till I have to reload about 9ish hours later on a pretty full load.
Reloading on hot coals is easier, as no firestarter/kindling is needed. I just load up the stove and use bellows to blow the coals into flames, I still usually leave the door cracked for around 15 mins, but that may be a little longer than needed on hot coals. The rest of the procedure is the same, though I usually keep air open for only 5 mins, then close it.
Overall, I don't have an issue with getting the stove up to temp as long as I leave the door cracked. I've learned the hard way that you don't want to leave the door open all the way with a full-ish load for that amount of time. Did that once, and the stove took off like a rocket, to the point that I had to pull all the flaming wood out of the stove and let it cool, then start over. That was a little too exciting for me, and I'm sure thankful that I got the set of welding gloves, or my stove would be a puddle on the floor right now. So I don't know if pine was the issue, or if you left the door open, or some combo of the two, but all I can figure from my episode was I left the door all the way open for too long (I wanted to get it started really quick- and it did, tooooo quick).
On a separate note, I have found the AAS to be a tad unpredictable. It is supposed to trigger around 550 I believe, but the problem that I have experienced is that the top of the stove is usually all over the map as far as temps, so it depends on what part of the stove heats up the fastest as to where it will cruise after it triggers. Hottest parts of the stovetop are in front of the stack, on either side of it between the pipe and the side of the stove. One side can be 550 and the other 400, so once the AAS triggers, the stove can either cruise at 500ish or 630ish (which is overfire according to Englander). So lately I've been doing everything manually till I get some time to stay with the stove for a few cycles and use the AAS.
Something that came up today also is that I leave for work with the stove cruising (startup procedure done and air control pulled out/closed) and it is something that I am perhaps OCD about as I don't want another runaway situation for my wife to deal with. That being said, when I left for work it was pulled out but when my wife got up about an hour later, it was really cooking and the air control was mostly/all the way in/open. Not cool, so I'm going to call Englander today and ask them about that and the peeling paint, to see if they are seeing any similar problems with these new Madisons.
Overall, I am still pretty happy with the stove, maybe I just need to hone my skills or get more used to the stove. My wood is all sub 25%, most sub 20%, fresh split with Harbor Freight MM. I really am impressed with burn times especially. Oh, and in regards to issues about darkening glass, the only area that doesn't clear up after a good hot fire is the bottom corners of the glass, those areas is where the airwash doesn't quite reach I guess.
Sorry for the ramble, I am just trying to provide some info for other Madison owners/potential owners. I will keep this thread updated as time goes on or in response to other threads regarding the Madison if I have some useful input.
The best way I've found to get this stove going is to load N-S, with small spits (kindling) on the bottom (with 1/4 SuperCedar and a few pieces of crumpled newspaper under/inbetween) then the bigger splits on top of everything. I then light off the SuperCedar which sets the rest of it off. I do have to leave the door cracked open (by hooking the door handle latch on the outside part/lip of the firebox instead of the actual part where it is supposed to latch when you close it) for usually 15-20 mins or it will starve out the flames. Once 15-20 mins have passed, there is quite a fire going and I'm able to close the door with the air control pushed all the way in/open. Once I close the door, the secondaries light off really good and temp starts climbing pretty fast. I am usually able to pull the air control out/closed after about 10 mins, and stovetop is usually about 500 by then and fire will stay going with control closed and will cruise that way till I have to reload about 9ish hours later on a pretty full load.
Reloading on hot coals is easier, as no firestarter/kindling is needed. I just load up the stove and use bellows to blow the coals into flames, I still usually leave the door cracked for around 15 mins, but that may be a little longer than needed on hot coals. The rest of the procedure is the same, though I usually keep air open for only 5 mins, then close it.
Overall, I don't have an issue with getting the stove up to temp as long as I leave the door cracked. I've learned the hard way that you don't want to leave the door open all the way with a full-ish load for that amount of time. Did that once, and the stove took off like a rocket, to the point that I had to pull all the flaming wood out of the stove and let it cool, then start over. That was a little too exciting for me, and I'm sure thankful that I got the set of welding gloves, or my stove would be a puddle on the floor right now. So I don't know if pine was the issue, or if you left the door open, or some combo of the two, but all I can figure from my episode was I left the door all the way open for too long (I wanted to get it started really quick- and it did, tooooo quick).
On a separate note, I have found the AAS to be a tad unpredictable. It is supposed to trigger around 550 I believe, but the problem that I have experienced is that the top of the stove is usually all over the map as far as temps, so it depends on what part of the stove heats up the fastest as to where it will cruise after it triggers. Hottest parts of the stovetop are in front of the stack, on either side of it between the pipe and the side of the stove. One side can be 550 and the other 400, so once the AAS triggers, the stove can either cruise at 500ish or 630ish (which is overfire according to Englander). So lately I've been doing everything manually till I get some time to stay with the stove for a few cycles and use the AAS.
Something that came up today also is that I leave for work with the stove cruising (startup procedure done and air control pulled out/closed) and it is something that I am perhaps OCD about as I don't want another runaway situation for my wife to deal with. That being said, when I left for work it was pulled out but when my wife got up about an hour later, it was really cooking and the air control was mostly/all the way in/open. Not cool, so I'm going to call Englander today and ask them about that and the peeling paint, to see if they are seeing any similar problems with these new Madisons.
Overall, I am still pretty happy with the stove, maybe I just need to hone my skills or get more used to the stove. My wood is all sub 25%, most sub 20%, fresh split with Harbor Freight MM. I really am impressed with burn times especially. Oh, and in regards to issues about darkening glass, the only area that doesn't clear up after a good hot fire is the bottom corners of the glass, those areas is where the airwash doesn't quite reach I guess.
Sorry for the ramble, I am just trying to provide some info for other Madison owners/potential owners. I will keep this thread updated as time goes on or in response to other threads regarding the Madison if I have some useful input.
