Vermont Castings • Dauntless FlexBurn Owner’s Manual_R3 • 2020 - ___ • 05/20
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3-90-586000c
Andirons Help Protect the Glass
Your stove has andirons to keep logs away from the glass
panels. The andirons are essential to maintain clear fire
viewing, and should be left in place. Since the andirons may
slightly hinder refueling through the front doors, most stove
owners will prefer the convenience of top loading through
the griddle. Do not place fuel between the andirons and the
doors.
Burn Only High-Quality Wood
The Dauntless FlexBurn
®
is designed to burn natural wood
only; do not burn fuels other than that for which it was
designed.
IMPORTANT: Do not burn any type of artificial or
synthetic materials such as fire starter logs (containing
wax) in this appliance. Never burn liquid-based fuels
such as kerosene, gasoline or alcohol.
Burning any materials not allowed in these instructions, or
over-firing the stove, may void the warranty.
You’ll enjoy the best results when burning wood that has
been adequately air-dried. The wood should be 16” - 18”
(406-457 mm) in length. Avoid burning “green” wood that
has not been properly seasoned. (
Note:
Properly seasoned
firewood has a moisture content below 20 percent.) Do not
burn construction materials; they often contain chemicals
and metals that can damage the inside surfaces of the
stove and pollute the air. Do not burn ocean driftwood; when
it burns, the salt it contains will attack the cast iron.
The best hardwood fuels include oak, maple, beech, ash,
and hickory that has been split, stacked, and air-dried
outside under cover for at least one year.
If hardwood is not available, you can burn softwoods that
include tamarack, yellow pine, white pine, Eastern red cedar,
fir, and redwood. These should also be properly dried.
Store split wood under cover to keep it dry. Even for short-
term storage, be sure to keep wood a safe distance from the
stove and keep it out of the areas around the stove used for
refueling and ash removal.
Surface Thermometer is a Valuable Guide to Operation
An optional surface thermometer tells you when to adjust
the air control, and when to refuel, Figure 2.7.
Figure 2.7
- Take temperature readings with a thermometer located
in the middle of the griddle.
For example, when the thermometer registers at least
450°F (230°C) on the stove top after start-up you know the
stove is hot enough and it may be time to close the damper
if a sufficient ember bed has also been established. Note
that the stove will warm up much sooner than the chimney,
though; a warm chimney is the key to easy, effective stove
operation. When thermometer readings drop below 350°F.
(175°C) it’s time to adjust the air control for a higher burn
rate or to reload the stove. A temperature reading over
650°F. (340°C) is a sign to reduce the air supply to slow the
burn rate.
Use the following temperature ranges as a guide:
• Readings in the 350°-500°F. (175°-260°C) range indicate
low to medium heat output.
• 500°-600°F. (260°-315°C) readings indicate medium
heat output.
• Readings of 600°-650°F. (315-340°C) indicate high heat
output. Operating your Dauntless FlexBurn
®
continuously
at griddle temperatures higher than 650° F (340°C) may
damage the cast iron or enamel finish.
Use the Air Control Settings that Work Best for You
No single air control setting will fit every situation. Each
installation will differ depending on the quality of the fuel,
the amount of heat desired, and how long you wish the fire
to burn; outdoor air temperature and pressure also affect
draft.
The control setting also depends on your particular
installation’s “draft,” or the force that moves air from the
stove up through the chimney. Draft is affected by such
things as the length, type, and location of the chimney, local
geography, nearby obstructions, and other factors.
Too much draft may cause excessive temperatures in the
Dauntless FlexBurn
®
, and could even damage the stove.
On the other hand, too little draft can cause backpuffing into
the room and/or the “plugging” of the chimney.
How do you know if your draft is excessively high or low?
Symptoms of too much draft include an uncontrollable
burn or a glowing-red stove part. Signs of weak draft are
smoke leaking into the room through the stove or chimney
connector joints or low heat output.
