I've been enjoying my new progress for about 3 weeks now and haven't had it much above 550 stove top. This morning about 7:30 I went through my normal routine - filled it half way on the morning coals with several four to six inch splits of doug fir (15-17% mc) and a bear brick, let the fire get going and engaged the cat at about 275, then shut the air down completely.
Stove was unusually dark at first (no flames). After a couple of hours the stove top temp was up to 575 (which is a bit unusual as it typically levels off and cruises around 450-475). I then hear a slight "whoof" in the fire box, stove top is approaching 600 and appears to be rising quickly. I fiddled with the air lever to make sure it was all the way down, heard a tiny click as I put downward pressure on the lever and then heard another larger "whoof". Secondaries fired off pretty heavily for about 20 minutes then died down. Was getting a bit nervous as the temp kept rising and finally peaked at just over 625. Temp is now down to about 500 and the stove is cruising normally.
I don't know what was different about this morning. Same wood, same weather, same routine. Perhaps a rogue split or two got in the mix? Maybe more air was getting into the box because something was hung up with the air control?
Stove was unusually dark at first (no flames). After a couple of hours the stove top temp was up to 575 (which is a bit unusual as it typically levels off and cruises around 450-475). I then hear a slight "whoof" in the fire box, stove top is approaching 600 and appears to be rising quickly. I fiddled with the air lever to make sure it was all the way down, heard a tiny click as I put downward pressure on the lever and then heard another larger "whoof". Secondaries fired off pretty heavily for about 20 minutes then died down. Was getting a bit nervous as the temp kept rising and finally peaked at just over 625. Temp is now down to about 500 and the stove is cruising normally.
I don't know what was different about this morning. Same wood, same weather, same routine. Perhaps a rogue split or two got in the mix? Maybe more air was getting into the box because something was hung up with the air control?