I agree 💯!! I know a couple people who cut the max length wood to what there boiler can take and I've explained to them that your basically watching money go up the chimney! Find that happy medium on the max length and use that!! I typically cut my wood around that 32-34 inch mark!! My stove has the grates for an ash pan!! Keep them coming my brother!! Stay safe
Agree! The best thing I liked about the CB brand is their deep upper water baffle system that holds the heat up front (per your comments of keeping the wood towards the front) to get every bit of heat out of it before it's done. Great explanation of something most would overlook.
Good evening Jay, nice video. As we discussed before I also have a CL6048. Funny I cut my non split at 30" and my splits at 25". I have to fill the fire box since I heat 3 buildings. Don't forget to add ashtroll or I just used pellitized lime. It helps with corrosion on steel fire boxes.
Good Evening Larry! Thanks for stopping by! It makes sense to run those size pieces as its easier and they burn nice right up front. I do use ashtroll just need to get more as I am out!
Finally ! What a good accurate video Parts look much like my perpetual clean video. 😂 Anyway Hate to be Mr. Obvious but ..... #4 Burn dry wood for efficiency #5 maintain a good door seal and proper tightness of door latches #6 maintain a well-fitting damper #6 is Largely overlooked ! Please continue with the refreshingly accurate videos
Good tips there! I'll try something different the next time I load the machine. My chimney exits from the firebox is in the front, then travels horizontally towards the back of the machine through the water jacket. Then exits to the top (obviously!). I've got 2 blowers, one in the front, the other in the back. So I'll try to load wood in the back in the future. One other consideration I might try is to keep a gap between the logs and the side of the combustion chamber. The unburnt logs leaning against the wall (water jacket) are acting as insulation. Anyways, thanks for the hints, that makes me think about new techniques!
Hey Jay thanks I have the exact same unit as you but none of the experience. Your insights are keenly appreciated. My question is split versus none split is there a preference? Even with smaller diameters a one way split might be possible. Is it worth the effort? At what diameter do you think no split is efficient Many thanks!
It all depends on your coal bed. If you have a really good coal bed then I run more unsplit rounds usually. If I need to replenish my coal bed I run more split wood. Seems to me the split wood makes better coals. As far as diameter. I burn usually unsplit 30 inch rounds maybe no larger then 7 inches. Give or take. I usually split large wood into sizes I can manage. I don’t want to be struggling when it’s 0 Degrees out haha. Hope that helps! Basically have a mix of unsplit and split. That way like I said you can play it off the coal bed.
Good evening Sir, Great informative video ( FULL WATCH ! ) I wounder if you made up a rear fire brike quality in the back of you fireboxe ? So the heat will accumalte into that brick wall and realease it after the fire as lower the intensity ??? Cheers !!!
@@HomesteadJay Remeber my video that I put granit stones on each side of my stove ? It did keep the temperature logner for sure !! th-cam.com/video/JGkTV_0ZNaw/w-d-xo.html
Here is a tip that has worked very well for me. Take a rare earth magnet (80 lb pull) with 1/4-20 thread provision. Use all-thread with a large fender washer. Cut to whatever size length you want to buck to. Attach it to your bar and just put a scratch on your log. Pull it off and buck. Perfect size every time and very fast.
Ive seen that I dont get too picky with the OWB logs I measure but im plus or minus a few inches it doesnt matter. The large stuff that needs to be split im pretty exact with that as I want the max 24 inches my machine can eat but the unsplit stuff is right around 30 as we discussed! I do want to try something like this for when I do the wood stove wood as I want to be precise when doing those rounds!
Good video, brother. Since I made my ash video a week or so ago I started getting more comments and thinking I need to clean it out more often. Live and learn with these things. Lol
That is so true lol ive fallen on my face so many times learning this machine its part of the initiation process lol first year I was like "Yeah that should burn for a long time" come back half a day later and its empty and at 130 degrees LOL oooops!
To get know what is most effcient way you could measure temperature of smoke that comes out from chimney. Maybe permanent thermometer there would be good thing to have?
I see your videos all the time. One thing I have never seen was a video or comment on using ashtrol in the wood boiler. Is it good bad or what. Thank u very much
I agree with keeping it close to the front as you possibly can but I have not noticed a difference in letting the ashes build up for a month or so effecting the efficiency. I try to keep my wood as close to 36" as I can because even though it is more efficient with shorter wood you are able to cut it a lot faster which makes up for what little bit more that you use. I also think you get longer burn times out of the 36" wood rather than shorter stuff. What pistol is on your hip?
Hey Glock, Yeah I mean 36 inches or 30 inches isnt going to be a ball breaker for this machine. Its the 48 inch logs thats a tad bit aggressive lol. I carry a Sig p320 compact! Sorry Glock its not a Glock LOL
Amazing gun. Simple. No frills no bs. All business! Interchangeability is nice too between caliber kits and the different color frames. The trigger assembly is the serialized part so its a very cool design gun. I run the balls off this thing. I shoot all the time ( I dont show it on the channel cause youtube is anti 2a ).
My Hardy heater has the stack right in the middle with a baffle plate just under it..... I keep my fire towards the back cause the door is not well insulated
Hello Ian entering my 2nd season with my old Freedom wood boiler. I’d like to think I learned a lot last season and I’m curious to try some tips I received this off season. However I fired up my stove about a week ago and I seem to having trouble controlling the temperature already. My boiler is burning too hot and I have found myself out dousing it with water in the middle off the night. Not sure why. I’ve tried to cut back on loading it but then it burns out of wood. It’s only been getting down to mid to upper 30’s at night. The weird thing is it seems ok during the day. Any advice?
I think you have an air leak which is cauing it to suck more air and thus burn more wood and overheat! Check your door gasket seal to make sure its sealing good! Start there!
@@HomesteadJay Thanks for the reply Ironically I have some fiberglass gasket in my garage that I’ve been meaning to install. I do have an air leak that’s why I bought it. I put it on tonight after work. I’ll let you know how I make out.
Sorry if you've gone over this in another video but how often do you fill it/how many hours in between do you go between fills? Do you fill it only to the amount you did in this video? We're new to this and trying to figure out right amounts to keep it steady temp. wise but not waste wood.
Hey Kel! This is debated for sure! I personally believe "stuffing" the machine will burn more wood indeed but you will have the shortest recovery times so thats part of it. Like Dale said below in his comment the first row is your money row indeed that will give the best heat transfer. Anything closer to the back will be wasted out the chimney for the most part!
I usually do when I work with the ash but this video I didnt. I recommend wearing one 100% I had mine on the other side of the homestead cause I was sanding something over there lol never brought it back over
Chimney fires on these machines happen here and there but some also use that method to clean it lol push the fire to the rear and let the flames climb up the chimney to clean lol
Well. I have some bad news. The wood stove I had inherited from my grandparents kicked the bucket and was forced to go out and buy a new wood stove. Put a deposit on it 12/31/21. ( so I can claim the 26% tax credit on my taxes.) Had installed last Thursday. Since then it's been a learning curve in running the thing. Yes I admit I wouldn't mind an outdoor boiler. Unfortunately not right at the moment. Planning getting 1 at a later date and time.
I should of explained to that the stove I had was made in 1983. Installed around 1986/87. As you can see it was time. The stove got is a Vermont castings defiant. So far so good. I'm enjoying it. Just the matter of getting over the learning curve of running it efficiently.
what a POS furnace. a really poor design. I have a Heatmor cx 450, a much better machine all round. if there are no fans fueling the fire (mine has 2) you should have a grate to get the air underneath the fire. I also fill mine right up with wood, which lasts 24 hours in the milder weather and 12 hours in the coldest weather. the less you open the door the better. that direct stack is ridiculous, it is very inefficient. i see why you only load the front. i feel your pain, good luck.
Hey Richard. 1. This unit was here when we moved in. That means I didnt buy it. 2. Its heated my home for 7 years now thus paying for techincally itself again. 3. I know its not the most efficient machine but at the time (2008) thats what was out there. You saying my machine is crap compared to something else is like comparing the Wright brothers first airplane to the space shuttle. Im tired of these idiodic comments, comparing something almost 20 years old to something else.
Yes ive gone over that and I know that but the premise of the video is the farther the wood is back in the machine the more heat goes out the chimney...
![Is BIGGER Better? [Firewood Size For Outdoor Wood Boiler] - Why Split Wood For A Large Boiler?](/img/n.gif)
I agree 💯!! I know a couple people who cut the max length wood to what there boiler can take and I've explained to them that your basically watching money go up the chimney! Find that happy medium on the max length and use that!! I typically cut my wood around that 32-34 inch mark!! My stove has the grates for an ash pan!! Keep them coming my brother!! Stay safe
Right on brother! Glad we know its not worth the benefit to have too long wood with these style machines! Stay safe!
Agree! The best thing I liked about the CB brand is their deep upper water baffle system that holds the heat up front (per your comments of keeping the wood towards the front) to get every bit of heat out of it before it's done. Great explanation of something most would overlook.
Glad you enjoyed my friend! I have plenty of wood heating videos regarding various things about the boiler!
One of your best ones yet jay. I’ve gotta get better on keeping on top of the ashes.
Thank you for tuning in! Minimal ash is key component!
Good evening Jay, nice video. As we discussed before I also have a CL6048. Funny I cut my non split at 30" and my splits at 25". I have to fill the fire box since I heat 3 buildings. Don't forget to add ashtroll or I just used pellitized lime. It helps with corrosion on steel fire boxes.
Good Evening Larry! Thanks for stopping by! It makes sense to run those size pieces as its easier and they burn nice right up front. I do use ashtroll just need to get more as I am out!
Finally !
What a good accurate video
Parts look much like my perpetual clean video. 😂
Anyway
Hate to be Mr. Obvious but .....
#4 Burn dry wood for efficiency
#5 maintain a good door seal and proper tightness of door latches
#6 maintain a well-fitting damper
#6 is Largely overlooked !
Please continue with the refreshingly accurate videos
All good points to add! Thanks again Dale!
Thanks Jay. These tips have worked for me very well.
Glad it helped! Thanks for tuning in!
Good tips there! I'll try something different the next time I load the machine. My chimney exits from the firebox is in the front, then travels horizontally towards the back of the machine through the water jacket. Then exits to the top (obviously!). I've got 2 blowers, one in the front, the other in the back. So I'll try to load wood in the back in the future. One other consideration I might try is to keep a gap between the logs and the side of the combustion chamber. The unburnt logs leaning against the wall (water jacket) are acting as insulation. Anyways, thanks for the hints, that makes me think about new techniques!
Hmm yes interesting! Cant wait to see what you come up with on your channel!
Hey Jay thanks I have the exact same unit as you but none of the experience. Your insights are keenly appreciated. My question is split versus none split is there a preference? Even with smaller diameters a one way split might be possible. Is it worth the effort? At what diameter do you think no split is efficient Many thanks!
It all depends on your coal bed. If you have a really good coal bed then I run more unsplit rounds usually. If I need to replenish my coal bed I run more split wood. Seems to me the split wood makes better coals. As far as diameter. I burn usually unsplit 30 inch rounds maybe no larger then 7 inches. Give or take. I usually split large wood into sizes I can manage. I don’t want to be struggling when it’s 0
Degrees out haha. Hope that helps! Basically have a mix of unsplit and split. That way like I said you can play it off the coal bed.
30 inches long* not more than 6” wide diameter
Good evening Sir, Great informative video ( FULL WATCH ! ) I wounder if you made up a rear fire brike quality in the back of you fireboxe ? So the heat will accumalte into that brick wall and realease it after the fire as lower the intensity ??? Cheers !!!
I wonder if this would work! Ill have to do some research! Thanks Dave!
@@HomesteadJay Remeber my video that I put granit stones on each side of my stove ? It did keep the temperature logner for sure !! th-cam.com/video/JGkTV_0ZNaw/w-d-xo.html
Here is a tip that has worked very well for me. Take a rare earth magnet (80 lb pull) with 1/4-20 thread provision. Use all-thread with a large fender washer. Cut to whatever size length you want to buck to. Attach it to your bar and just put a scratch on your log. Pull it off and buck. Perfect size every time and very fast.
Ive seen that I dont get too picky with the OWB logs I measure but im plus or minus a few inches it doesnt matter. The large stuff that needs to be split im pretty exact with that as I want the max 24 inches my machine can eat but the unsplit stuff is right around 30 as we discussed! I do want to try something like this for when I do the wood stove wood as I want to be precise when doing those rounds!
Good video, brother. Since I made my ash video a week or so ago I started getting more comments and thinking I need to clean it out more often. Live and learn with these things. Lol
That is so true lol ive fallen on my face so many times learning this machine its part of the initiation process lol first year I was like "Yeah that should burn for a long time" come back half a day later and its empty and at 130 degrees LOL oooops!
To get know what is most effcient way you could measure temperature of smoke that comes out from chimney. Maybe permanent thermometer there would be good thing to have?
Smoke temperature 100 degrees Celsius should be goal. That's 212 F.
Hmm interesting concept. Never measured that. I think I may investigate this
I see your videos all the time. One thing I have never seen was a video or comment on using ashtrol in the wood boiler. Is it good bad or what. Thank u very much
I will address on a future video!
I agree with keeping it close to the front as you possibly can but I have not noticed a difference in letting the ashes build up for a month or so effecting the efficiency. I try to keep my wood as close to 36" as I can because even though it is more efficient with shorter wood you are able to cut it a lot faster which makes up for what little bit more that you use. I also think you get longer burn times out of the 36" wood rather than shorter stuff.
What pistol is on your hip?
Hey Glock, Yeah I mean 36 inches or 30 inches isnt going to be a ball breaker for this machine. Its the 48 inch logs thats a tad bit aggressive lol. I carry a Sig p320 compact! Sorry Glock its not a Glock LOL
@@HomesteadJay I actually looked at that Sig 320 compact and am considering getting one.
Amazing gun. Simple. No frills no bs. All business! Interchangeability is nice too between caliber kits and the different color frames. The trigger assembly is the serialized part so its a very cool design gun. I run the balls off this thing. I shoot all the time ( I dont show it on the channel cause youtube is anti 2a ).
Good video, thanks. Take care
Thank you too!
My Hardy heater has the stack right in the middle with a baffle plate just under it..... I keep my fire towards the back cause the door is not well insulated
Makes sense! You are trying to not waste heat just in different fashion from the CB style units! Thanks for tuning in brother!
Hello Ian entering my 2nd season with my old Freedom wood boiler. I’d like to think I learned a lot last season and I’m curious to try some tips I received this off season. However I fired up my stove about a week ago and I seem to having trouble controlling the temperature already. My boiler is burning too hot and I have found myself out dousing it with water in the middle off the night. Not sure why. I’ve tried to cut back on loading it but then it burns out of wood. It’s only been getting down to mid to upper 30’s at night. The weird thing is it seems ok during the day. Any advice?
I think you have an air leak which is cauing it to suck more air and thus burn more wood and overheat! Check your door gasket seal to make sure its sealing good! Start there!
@@HomesteadJay Thanks for the reply Ironically I have some fiberglass gasket in my garage that I’ve been meaning to install. I do have an air leak that’s why I bought it. I put it on tonight after work. I’ll let you know how I make out.
@@gsr901126 That will help indeed!
@@HomesteadJay well so far so good it held a steady temperature all night and all day today. Thanks Jay
@@gsr901126 should be good then!
It’s not a machine it’s a furnace Thanks for the info
It's a boiler if you want to get technical but I would imagine it also falls under the spectrum of being a "machine"
Sorry if you've gone over this in another video but how often do you fill it/how many hours in between do you go between fills? Do you fill it only to the amount you did in this video? We're new to this and trying to figure out right amounts to keep it steady temp. wise but not waste wood.
Completely full top to bottom for the first row works great
Less if your coals build up too much
Hey Kel! This is debated for sure! I personally believe "stuffing" the machine will burn more wood indeed but you will have the shortest recovery times so thats part of it. Like Dale said below in his comment the first row is your money row indeed that will give the best heat transfer. Anything closer to the back will be wasted out the chimney for the most part!
Great tips for that model boiler. Looks like you are packing some heat while your boiler makes some heat. Lol FREEDOM
LET FREEDOM RING! I love guns and freedom!
@@HomesteadJay my biggest security issue where i live is between the house and woodshed. 3:34am, and i just filled it an hour ago....
I’m guilty of only doing the ash like once a month cause kinda pain in ass and like to fill and get on with it lol
Hahaha been there done that lol I have 2 metal trash cans of clean ash now! prob 100lbs worth lol
Ever consider wearing a respirator while working around the boiler? Lot of ash and smoke could be bad for health over the years.
I usually do when I work with the ash but this video I didnt. I recommend wearing one 100% I had mine on the other side of the homestead cause I was sanding something over there lol never brought it back over
If I know I am going to take a lot of ashes out I will put on a mask but doing this little bit is not bad as long is it is not windy out.
I think his chimney on fire was due to constantly burning pine logs. It increases the creosote.
Chimney fires on these machines happen here and there but some also use that method to clean it lol push the fire to the rear and let the flames climb up the chimney to clean lol
@@HomesteadJay That’s not a bad idea if your chimney isn’t on your house or barn, I suppose.
Well. I have some bad news. The wood stove I had inherited from my grandparents kicked the bucket and was forced to go out and buy a new wood stove. Put a deposit on it 12/31/21. ( so I can claim the 26% tax credit on my taxes.) Had installed last Thursday. Since then it's been a learning curve in running the thing. Yes I admit I wouldn't mind an outdoor boiler. Unfortunately not right at the moment. Planning getting 1 at a later date and time.
Hey Driver! Sorry about loosing the stove! Glad you get the tax credit though! What did you end up getting for a new wood stove?
I should of explained to that the stove I had was made in 1983. Installed around 1986/87. As you can see it was time.
The stove got is a Vermont castings defiant. So far so good. I'm enjoying it. Just the matter of getting over the learning curve of running it efficiently.
@@truckdriver7721 Thats awesome though you got over 30 years from the original one! Thanks for sharing my friend! Stay warm!
Believe me. I plan on it.
Jay please fix the dam DOOR.
It’s a heat shield that’s warped. Most of the classics do that. A new heat shield is well over $200 I don’t need to spend that
It’s also cast iron there’s no way to straighten it
@@HomesteadJay cast iron does not warp
what a POS furnace. a really poor design. I have a Heatmor cx 450, a much better machine all round. if there are no fans fueling the fire (mine has 2) you should have a grate to get the air underneath the fire. I also fill mine right up with wood, which lasts 24 hours in the milder weather and 12 hours in the coldest weather. the less you open the door the better. that direct stack is ridiculous, it is very inefficient. i see why you only load the front. i feel your pain, good luck.
Hey Richard. 1. This unit was here when we moved in. That means I didnt buy it. 2. Its heated my home for 7 years now thus paying for techincally itself again. 3. I know its not the most efficient machine but at the time (2008) thats what was out there. You saying my machine is crap compared to something else is like comparing the Wright brothers first airplane to the space shuttle. Im tired of these idiodic comments, comparing something almost 20 years old to something else.
use less wood burn huge pc\s of wood
Yes ive gone over that and I know that but the premise of the video is the farther the wood is back in the machine the more heat goes out the chimney...