Burning Wood Efficiently; First Use; Lighting Fires - Osburn CW2100 Owner's Manual

Use these guidelines to find out if the firewood is dry enough to burn:
− Cracks form at the ends of logs as they dry;
− The wood turns from white or cream colored to grey or yellow;
− Two pieces of wood struck together sounds hollow;
− The face of a fresh cut feels warm and dry;
− The moisture content read by a moisture meter is between
15% to 20%.

3. Burning Wood Efficiently

3.1

First Use

Two things happen when burning the first few fires; the paint cures and the internal components are
conditioned. As the paint cures, some of the chemicals vaporize. The vapors are not poisonous,
but they smell bad. Fresh paint fumes can also trigger false alarms in smoke detectors. When
lighting the heater for the first few times, it may be wise to open doors and windows to ventilate
the house.
Burn two or three small fires to begin the curing and conditioning process. Then build bigger
and hotter fires until there is no longer paint smell from the insert. As hotter and hotter fires are
burned, more of the painted surfaces reach the curing temperature of the paint. The smell of
curing paint does not disappear until one or two very hot fires have been burned.
3.2

Lighting Fires

Each person heating with wood develops its own favorite way to light fires. Regardless of the
method chosen, the goal should be to have a hot fire burning, quickly. A fire that ignites fast
produces less smoke and deposits less creosote in the chimney.
Never use gasoline, gasoline-type lantern fuel (naphtha), fuel oil, motor oil,
kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, or similar liquids or aerosols to start or 'freshen
up' a fire in this wood insert. Keep all such liquids well away from the insert while
it is in use.
Here are three popular and effective ways to ignite wood fires.
3.2.1 Conventional Method
The conventional method to build a wood fire is to crumple 5 to 10
sheets of newspaper and place them in the firebox and hold them in
place with ten pieces of kindling wood. The kindling should be placed
on and behind the newspaper.
Then add two or three small pieces of firewood. Open the air intake
control completely and ignite the newspaper. Leave the door slightly
ajar.
Once the fire has ignited, the door can be closed with the air control still fully open. When the
kindling is almost completely burned, standard firewood pieces can be added.
Do not leave the insert unattended when the door is slightly open. Always close and latch the door
after the fire ignites.
Wood Inserts – Owner's Manual
Page 11