I wanted to wait a while before trying some kiln dry wood and become more familar with the stove before posting again. Well yesterday I went to Lowes and got some dry wood and tried a load. I still have a few issues. For the most part I can get the stove to burn pretty well but.....I have to make multiple adjustments during the burn to get through the whole load. From reload I leave the door cracked and shut in in stages until the fire is going well, flue about 350 stove about 400. I leave the primary open for a bit to let things get cookin. I then shut it in stages and the stove gets to about 530 good right? Well then it starts to slowly climb and the fire gets larger and larger, at about 580 and a large fire I push in the primary 1/4" and it stalls out and goes to 450 stove top. If I don't stay on top of it she will overfire (been really close a few times while expirimenting). What would cause such a drastic change in the fire with such a small air adjustment? Remember kiln dry wood, flue is clean and cap, straight up flue 15', 2ft higher than ridge, outside temp last night 20-25F. I've checked all gaskets and the stove for cracks or holes, and the ash plug is seated well. Since I can kill the fire I can only assume the box is tight with no air leaks. It seems that I have to let it rip, kill it, let it rip, kill it a few times before she stabilizes. I've tried taking it up to 600 and higher before closing the primary also with the same effects. Flue temps reflect whats going on inside the box, more air = hotter gases.
Things go really well up to that last air adjustment to get it to cruise closer to 500-550 not 600-625. She loves to cruise at 600 or higher, (really 650-675) great for really cold days but not for burn times. I was told that this stove is best at 500-550 so thats my target temp, plus I don't need 600-650 to heat my house, 550 for hours is plenty, stove room gets to 77 and the farthest room gets to about 68-70 with our avg outside temps of 20's, of course this is after hours of burning. I do a lot of cold starts due to work and the wife and kids don't run the stove.
Thanks,
Charlie
Things go really well up to that last air adjustment to get it to cruise closer to 500-550 not 600-625. She loves to cruise at 600 or higher, (really 650-675) great for really cold days but not for burn times. I was told that this stove is best at 500-550 so thats my target temp, plus I don't need 600-650 to heat my house, 550 for hours is plenty, stove room gets to 77 and the farthest room gets to about 68-70 with our avg outside temps of 20's, of course this is after hours of burning. I do a lot of cold starts due to work and the wife and kids don't run the stove.
Thanks,
Charlie