Got my stove, what else do I need?

Here are some things I can think of:-

Something to carry and/or keep logs in. I just use an old holdall for carrying the logs, because it's easy to carry one handed, while the log basket needs two. The more logs you can keep indoors, or at least readily accessible, the better. You may find that you can't store enough logs in a basket.

A companion set can be useful, and usually includes a small shovel and brush. But the most useful tool I have is an old toasting fork from a junk shop.

You'll need kindling, and something to store it in. If you're buying smokeless fuel, you need something for that as well.

You'll need something to put the ash into so you can carry it outside. I just use a plastic tub, once the ash is cool.

A moisture meter is nice to have, but hardly essential. I don't have room on my flue pipe for a thermometer.

I wouldn't worry too much about any of those things. Some people get very paranoid about keeping the stove temp in the "ideal" section of the dial - where in practice the temp will rise and fall as the fuel is burned. When the fire is dying down a little, the temp will quite possibly fall into the dreaded "creosote zone" and you will start to panic. While there's no reason at all to do so as anything that will form creosote will have long since departed up the chimney. So buy one if you must - but don't be a slave to it.

We carry logs in from the store in a "bag for life" - seems to hold just the right amount for an afternoon to bed time fire. Ash goes out in a tied up bread bag once it's cooled.

I'd advise against burning smokeless and wood together, and suggest either or. They like completely opposite treatment in a stove - wood likes a bed of ash and the combustion air from above - smokeless likes a clean grate and air from below. Burn them together and you'll always be compromising one of them.

Bear in mind that kiln dried will always be a fair chunk more expensive than naturally seasoned as it always tends to be flogged as some sort of super fuel. In reality, much of the time it's at a higher moisture content than decent air dried stuff - most dryers work to a 20% moisture content. Air dried in a decent year will be 16 - 17%. I'd never advise anyone to buy kd unless it was a last resort - buy seasoned or part seasoned early in the year - stick it in the store and let nature dry it. I see in the other thread you started you said you wouldn't buy kd logs but in this one you said you are doing?


Don't know what sort of log store you've got - if it's a kit from ebay or somewhere it will probably hold about a weeks worth. A few pallets and a bit of roofing felt will give you a bigger and probably better built store for a lot less cash.

Greenfires wrote: »

I wouldn't worry too much about any of those things. Some people get very paranoid about keeping the stove temp in the "ideal" section of the dial - where in practice the temp will rise and fall as the fuel is burned. When the fire is dying down a little, the temp will quite possibly fall into the dreaded "creosote zone" and you will start to panic. While there's no reason at all to do so as anything that will form creosote will have long since departed up the chimney. So buy one if you must - but don't be a slave to it.

<snipped>

I agree with almost everything Greenfires says there - especially about kiln dried logs and the supposed need for a thermometer. Here is a link to another site where they are less than convinced about thermometers. It makes interesting reading.

http://woodheat.org/thermometers.html