Osburn 900 Installation and Operation Manual
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4.3
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 flue system. Here are three popular and
effective ways to start wood fires.
4.3.1
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 25 mm (1”). 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 flue system you should be able to close
the door immediately and the fire will ignite. If your
flue has elbows or an outside flue system, you may
need to leave the door closed but unlatched for a few
minutes as the newspaper ignites and heat in the flue
system produces some draft. 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 WOOD FIRE UNATTENDED WHEN THE DOOR IS SLIGHTLY OPENED DURING
IGNITION. ALWAYS CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER IGNITION.
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.
4.3.2
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 (50 mm to 75 mm [2” to 3”] 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.
