Starting a Stove Fire

[Industrial Toys]

It all depends on chimney temperature and recent weather conditions. Lately, no trouble starting a fire. I have been using left over hardwood scraps and cut up baseboard, from my Lady Friends Flooring project, but the stuff doesn't burn nearly as nicely as raw hardwood scraps I once had access too. I would love to find a source for that again.

Lately, the wood in my shop has been wet and won't burn well, so I found bringing over an air line, is just the ticket to get the heat going.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

This could open up the ages old discussion of "top down" vs "bottom up" staring method.. I use the later. btw.

It shouldn't, as the top vs. bottom discussion contained in this thread is pretty comprehensive. But few will read this whole thread.

Regardless of how you choose to start a fire, if your wood isn't dry, you're gonna have a hard time getting it to burn. I picked up a meter from Amazon and it works well to tell me exactly what I'm dealing with, so there's no guessing from end cracks or how it sounds when you bang two pieces together.

FWIW, I was a firm believer in bottom up until I gave top down a try. I now use it exclusively on everything from my wood stove to camp fires and brush piles. :2cents:

 

[goeduck]

^^^ I have a moisture meter also. Some species of wood dry different than others and if I pick up any free stuff (someone wanting to get rid of a pile), I want to know what the content is. Inexpensive and very handy.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You would have to explain how that works. In my thinking it would be wise to use any flame or heat to try and ignite other (often larger) material above. A flame going up and out the stove does nothing to promote a fire. My thinking. There, it's started.

Was justing buying chinese junk on E-Bay. Should look for a meter. How accurate are they? Does the exterior moisture always reflect the interior?

EDIT: Was just looking at some meters. Number Display VS just a Bar graph? 2 pin VS 4?

 

[4570Man]

I usually start brush piles half way up. Mostly for easier access. They always spread up faster than down.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I used to use fuel and old oil but find my Makita Four Stroke Blower does wonders.

So what happens with standing wood. It dries out to a point and then starts to rot? So the moisture level will start to go from less to increasing? Funny how some Elm is rock hard after standing a long time with the bark off and other newer stuff has started to go punky.

 

[goeduck]

Was justing buying chinese junk on E-Bay. Should look for a meter. How accurate are they? Does the exterior moisture always reflect the interior?

EDIT: Was just looking at some meters. Number Display VS just a Bar graph? 2 pin VS 4?

I have an Extech MO50 about $44 on eBay. It has 2 pins and digital display and seems well built. Parent company is FLIR, well known. You can spend about as much as you want on a moisture meter but I do not see doing that. $44 gets you above the junk but below wasting your money. The outside of a piece of wood will be dryer than the inside but is still a good indicator. If the outside is over 18% (my cutoff) the inside generally is too wet to burn without creating creosote. Ideally you would do a fresh spilt of a large piece and test the center and it should be under 20%.

Our exterior air moisture stays above 80% all winter which lets Doug Fir (our most common wood) stabilize at around 14 to 18% moisture after 2 years under cover. Split at the start of the 2 years, not at the end. Wood dries much better split.

Moisture Meters | Extech Instruments

 

[Diggin It]

Not sure why y'all have charcoal bits left in yer stoves to be able to reuse. Ain't nuttin' but ash left in mine when it burns out. What seems like 100 pounds of wood going in over a few days fits in a single standard galvanized bucket when it comes out.

 

[Deere Dude]

One thing that speeded my fire starting process is a little electric splitter. Now instead of using chips to start big chunks, I use chips to start 1" splits from that and once small splits start big chunks have to start.

 

[PILOON]

To start a stove fire you need to get the air moving up the flue.
Many things will do the trick,
A 100 watt light bulb, a plumbers torch, or a bundle of shredded newspaper (that will smoke a bit).
It is all about density.
Cold air is dense and wont raise so by heating it the flow starts.
If I burn newspaper I do get some smoke for a few mins but then the draw starts and I'm good to go.
Later on I tried the 100 watt bulb for a few mins and was good to go.
It is all about density! Cold air is more dense than hot air.
Try my suggestions and you'll be pleased.
Have a good day! (and smokeless home)

 

[Industrial Toys]

Might have to go to a museum to find a 100 watt Edison bulb though.

 

[Doofy]

Might have to go to a museum to find a 100 watt Edison bulb though.

I thought the Prez reversed the bulb ban?

 

[aczlan]

To start a stove fire you need to get the air moving up the flue.
Many things will do the trick,
A 100 watt light bulb, a plumbers torch, or a bundle of shredded newspaper (that will smoke a bit).
It is all about density.
Cold air is dense and wont raise so by heating it the flow starts.
If I burn newspaper I do get some smoke for a few mins but then the draw starts and I'm good to go.
Later on I tried the 100 watt bulb for a few mins and was good to go.
It is all about density! Cold air is more dense than hot air.
Try my suggestions and you'll be pleased.
Have a good day! (and smokeless home)

We have a box fan that was retrofitted with 2x4 legs after the plastic ones broke off. It fits perfectly in front of the door of the wood boiler (which has a almost 3 story tall 8" stainless chimney that runs up the side of the house).
When starting from a cold stove, I put the fan in the doorway of the stove on high while I refill the wood cart from the other end of the basement (5-7 mins), when I come back it will pull a lit ball of crumpled up newspaper or telephone book up the chimney and then I know that I am good to go to light a fire without smoking the place up.

Aaron Z

 

[Industrial Toys]

I personally found, that at times the propane torch is not enough to get the SS liner heated up to get a draft started. I have tried. So I am unconvinced, that for my installation, a bulb would work. Best option is just to use something what burns (guranteed) and with little smoke. I actually used to love the gell type fire starter, but have resisted spending the money. Hate when you spend money to save money. But opening all the doors and windows in the middle of winter to try and get rid of the smoke and not have the smell get into the furnishings, isn't good either, never mind uncomfortable.

 

[Jstpssng]

On a stormy, windy day I fight to get a fire started. Sometimes I burn nothing but cardboard until things heat up a bit. I know that it will go for sure though, once the smoke alarm finally goes off as I open the stove yet again.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I find cardboard smokes like crazy in a small stove. Crumpled up bond paper seems to smoke less. Curious if sticking a candle in the stove for half an hour or so would be of any help to start the draft process.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I use a few different fire starters but usually start similarly, if any coals left I pile them in one spot to start, put some fire starter over that then some smaller splits and or a few pieces of kindling (depending on what firewood I'm using... just the sharp edge of some wood is enough to make for easy starting).

For fire starters, I picked up a large box of fatwood from Amazon, I think it was $50 for 25 pounds at the time, transferred the banana box worth into I think 5 popcorn tins. Those sticks are mostly big so I split them to about pencil size. I'll use 2-3 of those under some kindling and it's enough to do the job...

We've also been using drier lint split up into egg cartons with some wax dribbled over the top then cut up the egg carton, works great and is pretty much guaranteed to start a fire...

 

[Doofy]

I've just never had any problems with building the fire or with the draft. I only use well seasoned wood...spruce and some willow.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The lint burns well but the fabric softener sheets are also great fire starters.

A while back some prankster burned down a whole grocery store when he set fire to some potatoe chips. Could be something to think about.

 

[goeduck]

I've just never had any problems with building the fire or with the draft. I only use well seasoned wood...spruce and some willow.

I do not have issues getting a draft going either. But I also have a single story house with a flue straight up out of the stove. That helps, I am sure.

I never tried burning a 100 watt bulb.