Learner Fire Starter needs Tips and Advice

shazzafly

Horay my Stovax Stockton 4 multi fuel is installed and appears to be working, so far only used wood so far.
:rotfl:
Now after hints and tips please from you expert fire starters, I can get it going, then turn off primary air, and just use top airwash when I add logs but is it just a knack that you learn to get it right as I either burn logs to quickly with a roaring flame or they smoulder ??

Last night was third attempt and seemed to burn lots of wood but not get much heat, can any one supply an idiots guide for me.

I'm burning Home fire kiln dried logs from b&Q as not had time to source anything else.

Or provide a picture of what it should look like when lit i.e flaming inferno or burning embers.

Thanks again, without all your advice so far I would not have got this far.

xxxx

suisidevw

How much do you pay for those logs Shazza?!

Williwoodburner

Hi Shazzafly,

copied this from one of my older posts -

no experience of smokeless fuels but when burning wood we do the following -

Last thing at night I always bring enough kindling in and leave it on the hearth to ensure it is warm and dry for lighting the following morning.
When lighting the fire I screw a couple of sheets of newspaper up and light them in the empty stove to warm the flue.
I then place a couple of small split logs into the stove split side up then lightly ball up about six sheets of newspaper and place on top. Then I place a good amount kindling on top in a criss cross manner and light the newspaper.
I leave all air vents fully open and often leave the door slightly ajar for an extra boost.
When kindling really blazing I place a couple of small pieces of wood or small logs on top then close the door.
When the logs have really got going I place more logs into the stove, when really blazing I close bottom air vents.
When refueling first give the embers a good poke to spread them around.
Mix wood types and sizes of logs.
Dont be afraid to fill the firebox, the burn rate should be controlled by the supply of air.
Logs should be placed into the firebox criss cross fashion so leaving gaps for air between, if you put logs parallel they dont burn as well.
I think most problems when burning wood are caused by trying to burn wet/unseasoned wood.

Hope this is of help. :money:
Willie.

hethmar

You should get back to the stove installer to ask advice really as we dont know all the factors involved. Is the lining insulated?

I have a clearview stove and its totally controllable, I can turn the flames up and down almost like a gas fire - I do use good seasoned wood though, kept outside with plenty of air circulating.

To start the fire I tie sheets of newspaper into loose knots, add some kindling and thats it really, light up and once the kindling is burning well, add on a log or two and then once they are away and you have reached optimum temperature, cut down the draught.

Thinking about it - do you have a temperature gauge for the stove - if not, get one and also get a moisture meter for your wood. And read the instruction book thoroughly too.

shazzafly

susisidew logs on 3 for 2 at B and Q for £8 a small bag, absolute rip off but I was so excited to have fire put in at last I had no really thought about where I would get wood from, am looking around now

John_the_Boy

I have tried another way and found that it works well for me.

I put a couple of reasonable size logs in the bottom of the stove. As most of the logs are sort of wedge shaped I position them so that the thinnest part of the two wedges touch in the centre of the stove.

I then place some kindling (about 4 pieces) and half a fire starter in this 'dip' between the two logs. I then place a couple of logs at right angles to the first two and light the fire starter.

This gap between the logs gives enough space for the kindling to take light and the top logs catch light quite quickly. Once the top logs are burning well I start to reduce the air so the fire settles down.

I have been using this method for the last 4 months and have found it works well and it has the advantage that once the stove is first loaded with wood I do not need to keep adding more to get the fire going.

Marc32

I always get mine going to a roaring inferno by putting a couple of 1 inch square firelights on the grate, two kindling sticks either side, two more the opposite way ontop of those so the flames burn through like a jenga tower and some large pieces around the edge. open all vents and light. As soon as the wood catches open the door a little to get a good draft and let it all catch and shut the door. Once burning well and a few glowing ember i knock it into the middle, add a large log, close the door but not all the way do get a good draft and the new fuel catches. Sit back and enjoy and refuel as needed.

If using coal build your jenga kindling pile in the middle with coal around it and it never fails not to take

Shimmyhill

I follow this method and always seems to work well;

http://youtu.be/y7ewoH7FWT0

Williwoodburner

This is a good video, the Harmony stove halfway down the page, particularly useful top 10 tips at the end.

http://www.wendronstoves.com/static/faq/how-to-light-a-fire/

regards

Willie.

shazzafly

Thanks all for the advice and links, I'm getting better at lighting fires, and am the only person whos happy that the weather is rubbish so I can have my fire on.

Bring on the winter - lol !

daisy_darling

shazzafly wrote: »

Horay my Stovax Stockton 4 multi fuel is installed and appears to be working, so far only used wood so far.
:rotfl:
Now after hints and tips please from you expert fire starters, I can get it going, then turn off primary air, and just use top airwash when I add logs but is it just a knack that you learn to get it right as I either burn logs to quickly with a roaring flame or they smoulder ??

Last night was third attempt and seemed to burn lots of wood but not get much heat, can any one supply an idiots guide for me.

I'm burning Home fire kiln dried logs from b&Q as not had time to source anything else.

Or provide a picture of what it should look like when lit i.e flaming inferno or burning embers.

Thanks again, without all your advice so far I would not have got this far.

xxxx

Sounds like a dear way to heat the house, hun. Try using a firelighter and kindling to get the fire started then chuck some smokeless eggs on, but don't let the blaze run away. Keep draught on minimum once you've got it going.

Also... if you do ever let the fire run away, don't shut the draws down all the way at once. The resulting temperature change is too extreme and the resulting thermal shock can warp your grate. Always shut the draws down gradually.