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Hardwoods
Birch
White Oak
Alder
3.2.1 Simple Wood Moisture Test
Add one large piece of wood to the top of an established fire. If it starts to burn on three sides within
one minute, it is dry and seasoned and right for burning. If it turns black and starts to burn in three
minutes, it is damp. If it turns black and does not start burning until after five minutes, it is green and
wet. If it hisses at any time, the wood is soaked and will not burn until excess moisture is boiled away.
3.3 Notes About First Firing
Before firing, ensure that the room is well ventilated. Curing the paint is recommended to preserve the
best quality finish. Heating the insert too intensely on the first fire will dull and lighten the color on
overheated areas, and cause smoke and odor to be emitted into the room. To cure the paint, the first two
fires should be burned for only about twenty minutes each.
The paint curing process will produce a light fume with an unpleasant odour. Open windows. Leave the
room if the smell is too intense. The fume is non-toxic and will disappear completely after the unit
will have been used a few times at higher firing temperatures.
Allow the insert to get warm only, but not hot, i.e. 250
thermometer, then allow the insert to cool down. Light a third fire and burn it for about forty minutes to
o
o
450
F (230
C) or less. Once again cool the insert to room temperature, and then operate it according to
the following instructions. This extra care will result in a more durable, and uniform finish.
3.4 Lighting A Fire
1.
Place enough crumpled balls of newspaper or other paper into the insert to cover the bottom of the
firebox.
2.
Place small dry kindling on the crumpled paper.
3.
Place larger dry kindling on top of the small kindling.
4.
Open the draft control fully to the right (located on the right side of the faceplate, Figure 3.1)
5.
Light a fire at the bottom of the crumpled paper and close the door. If the fire tends to go out, momentarily
hold the door slightly ajar to fan the fire. As soon as the fire catches hold, close the door.
6.
Ideally the large kindling should be burned until a thick bed of red embers is obtained. At that point, add
cordwood fuel and continue to operate the draft control wide open until the fire is well established. Once
the firebox is hot, the draft control can be partially closed by moving the knob to the left to adjust the
intensity of the fire.
Common Heating Values of Cordwood
Million Btu/Cord
23.6
28.3
17.6
Table 3.1
Softwoods
Douglas Fir
Hemlock
Jack Pine
o
o
F (120
C) as measured by an insert top
22
Million Btu/Cord
20.6
17.1
18.4
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