Just following up on this thread in case other VC/Dauntless owners run into similar issues. We pretty much solved everything and it's been running like a dream.
1 - Use medium splits until you're a good hour or two into the burn. Adding "big" split too soon was a big part of our issue.
2 - We do have a really tight house so cracking a window near the stove for the first hour or so really helped it get going well. I know this is common knowledge but we left if open for a bit after the initial start and that seemed to really help establish a good and HOT coal bed so going forward we were burning better.
3 - Starting correctly is important. Really follow the directions in the manual for a cold start. The only part I deviated from the manual is I do another load or two of more medium sized split before moving to the "big" stuff.
4 - Make sure your moisture meter doesn't suck. A good portion of the cheap ones on Amazon are probably moderately correct...but we ordered a nicer one through Grainger and it seems much more accurate. (and also don't stab yourself on the pins of the moisture meter and then get blood on your husband's "nice" axe - whoopsie!)
We've been cruising with 400F flue temps, 500F stove top temps, and the catalyst temp in the higher part of "Operate Catalyst" zone. Going outside I see virtually no smoke once the cat is hot enough. Burning less wood. More heat. Yay!
We have the AT100 cat probe thermometer - just waiting for a touch warmer day to let the stove go cold to install.
1 - Use medium splits until you're a good hour or two into the burn. Adding "big" split too soon was a big part of our issue.
2 - We do have a really tight house so cracking a window near the stove for the first hour or so really helped it get going well. I know this is common knowledge but we left if open for a bit after the initial start and that seemed to really help establish a good and HOT coal bed so going forward we were burning better.
3 - Starting correctly is important. Really follow the directions in the manual for a cold start. The only part I deviated from the manual is I do another load or two of more medium sized split before moving to the "big" stuff.
4 - Make sure your moisture meter doesn't suck. A good portion of the cheap ones on Amazon are probably moderately correct...but we ordered a nicer one through Grainger and it seems much more accurate. (and also don't stab yourself on the pins of the moisture meter and then get blood on your husband's "nice" axe - whoopsie!)
We've been cruising with 400F flue temps, 500F stove top temps, and the catalyst temp in the higher part of "Operate Catalyst" zone. Going outside I see virtually no smoke once the cat is hot enough. Burning less wood. More heat. Yay!
We have the AT100 cat probe thermometer - just waiting for a touch warmer day to let the stove go cold to install.
