Gridlock said:Thanks much for the info and suggestion. So it seems based on your technique, that you are relying mostly on the CAT to produce heat, since if you aren't lighting up the wood on a new load, you aren't going to get much direct heat from it. I also wonder if this will produce an excessive amount of smoke, since the firebox may not be hot enough to burn a lot if it on its own, relying almost completely on the CAT. Then again, if you aren't charring all the wood, I suppose not much of it will be producing smoke at once.Gark said:Our Encore CAT 2550 does the same thing (overfire the CAT) when too many logs are hot enough to outgas at once and then close the damper. The cat eats too much smoke and gets way hot.
The Encore is a smaller version of your 1945. Why torch all your fuel before closing the damper when your manual states:
"NOTE: If the remaining charcoal bed is relatively thick and if your fuel is well seasoned, it is possible to add fresh fuel (smaller pieces first), close the door and damper, and reset the primary air thermostat for the desired heat output."
(see page 23 of your user manual).
Also, you can shove most of your coals to the far left (or right) of the firebox before loading those 22 inch logs (tightly packed -no spaces between logs). This will make the fuel load burn from one end to the other end- like a candle. So on a bed of coals:
1. Shove all/most of the coals to the east or west end of the firebox.
2. Load 'er up with 22" logs, tightly spaced, no gaps between sticks.
3. Close the damper and set your primary intake to where it will cruise all night.
This method requires proper timing. The coal bed has to be down to where coals shoved to one side are 3" deep before reloading.
You bypass the charring of a new fuel load and don't overfire your cat. It's how we get a long even burn from our Encore 2550 cat.
Anyhow, it's certainly an interesting idea and I will try it later. By the way I think I hit a record last night: I briefly noticed 2100 degrees on the CAT thermometer and 750 degrees stove top at the same time... yikes!!
that must have smelt real good.