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than softer woods like poplar and birch. That makes hardwood trees more valuable. The advice
that only hardwoods are good to burn is outdated. Old, leaky cast iron stoves wouldn't hold a
fire overnight unless they were fed large pieces of hardwood. That is no longer true.
2.2
Log Length
L o g s s h o u l d b e c u t a t l e a s t 1 " ( 2 5 m m ) s h o r t e r t h a n t h e
f i r e b o x s o t h e y f i t i n e a s i l y. P i e c e s t h a t a r e e v e n s l i g h t l y t o o
l o n g m a k e s l o a d i n g t h e s t o v e v e r y d i f f i c u l t . T h e m o s t c o m m o n
s t a n d a r d l e n g t h o f f i r e w o o d i s 1 6 " ( 4 0 0 m m ) .
2.3
Piece Size
F i r e w o o d d r i e s m o r e q u i c k l y w h e n i t i s s p l i t . L a r g e u n s p l i t
ro u n d s c a n t a k e y e a r s t o d r y e n o u g h t o b u r n . E v e n w h e n d r i e d ,
u n s p l i t l o g s a r e d i f f i c u l t t o i g n i t e b e c a u s e t h e y d o n ' t h a v e t h e s h a r p e d g e s w h e r e t h e
f l a m e s f i r s t c a t c h .
Wo o d s h o u l d b e s p l i t t o a r a n g e o f s i z e s , f ro m a b o u t 3 " t o 6 " ( 7 5 m m t o 1 5 0 m m ) i n
cross section. Having a range of sizes makes starting and rekindling fires much easier.
2.4
Compressed Wood Logs
Compressed wood logs made of 100% compressed sawdust
can be burned with caution in the number of these logs
burned at once. Do not burn compressed logs made of wax
impregnated sawdust or logs with any chemical additives.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and warnings.
2.5
Drying Time
Firewood that is not dry enough to burn
is the cause of most complaints about
wood burning appliances. Continually
burning green or unseasoned wood
produces more creosote and involves
lack of heat and dirty glass door.
Firewood with a moisture content
between 15% and 20% will allow the
stove to produce its highest possible
efficiency.
Page 10
Wood Stove - Owner's Manual
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