Stove Builder International VB00003, Installation And Operation Manual

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HE200 - Installation and Operation Manual
4.4 Lighting Fires
Each person who heats with wood develops their own favorite way to light fires. Whatever method you
choose, your goal should be to get a hot fire burning quickly. A fire that starts fast produces less smoke and
deposits less creosote in the chimney. Here are three popular and effective ways to start wood fires.
4.4.1 Conventional Fire Starting
The conventional way to build a wood fire is to
bunch up 5 to 10 sheets of plain newspaper and
place them in the firebox. Next, place 10 or so
pieces of fine kindling on the newspaper. This
kindling should be very thin; less than 1” (25 mm).
Next, place some larger kindling pieces on the fine
kindling. Open the air control fully and light the
newspaper. If you have a tall, straight venting
system you should be able to close the door
immediately and the fire will ignite. Once the fire
has ignited, close the door and leave the air
control fully open.
A conventional kindling fire with paper
under finely split wood.
DO NOT LEAVE THE FIREPLACE UNATTENDED WHEN THE DOOR IS SLIGHTLY OPENED. ALWAYS CLOSE AND
LATCH THE DOOR AFTER THE FIRE IGNITES.
After the kindling fire has mostly burned, you can add standard firewood pieces until you have a fire of the
right size for the conditions.
CAUTION: PLACE THE WOOD LOGS FAR ENOUGH FROM THE GLASS TO ALLOW PROPER PRIMARY AIR FLOW.
4.4.2 The Top Down Fire
The top down fire starting method solves two problems with the conventional method: first, it does not
collapse and smother itself as it burns; and second, it is not necessary to build up the fire gradually because
the firebox is loaded before the fire is lit. A top down fire can provide up to two hours of heating or more.
The top down method only works properly if the wood is well-seasoned.
Start by placing three or four full-sized split pieces of dry firewood in the firebox. Next, place 4 or 5 more
finely split pieces of firewood (2” to 3” [50 mm to 75 mm] in dia.) on the base logs at right angles (log cabin
style). Now place about 10 pieces of finely split kindling on the second layer at right angles.
The fire is topped with about 5 sheets of newspaper. You can just bunch them up and stuff them in
between the kindling and the underside of the baffle. Or you can make newspaper knots by rolling up single
sheets corner to corner and tying a knot in them. The advantage of knots is that they don’t roll off the fire
as they burn. Light the newspaper and watch as the fire burns from top to bottom.