No oak???

[Taupotreeman]

Just wondering if some of these newer stoves and fires aren't as tough as the old skool ones. I've heard of several examples here where some of the really hot burning native has melted fire grates, fire boxes etc. Maybe some of the suppliers are sweating on having claims against there product because they're built with cheaper materials. Then again maybe I'm just talking through a hole in my backside.

[robbo 110]

last season i sold untold loads of oak as had a big lot come in at once, kept it seperate & people loved it!! most repeat customers seem disappointed im now 'only' doing mixed hardwood!!!!!!!!!!!

[Alycidon]

Just wondering if some of these newer stoves and fires aren't as tough as the old skool ones. I've heard of several examples here where some of the really hot burning native has melted fire grates, fire boxes etc. Maybe some of the suppliers are sweating on having claims against there product because they're built with cheaper materials. Then again maybe I'm just talking through a hole in my backside.

 

 

The problem is that these days there is a lot of cheap chinese crap quality stoves around. Even an iconic brand has taken to having their stoves made in China, quality has gone right out the window according to some installers I spoke to on a training course last summer. Luckily I don't act for them, if I did I would dump them if I started to have issues.

 

The Chinese think that we want cheap crap, UK asks for lowest price and we get lowest quality. They can make good products at a price, the secret is for the UK buyer to keep metallurgically on top of the job.

 

A

[Head Ranger Pete]

I was told this by a stove dealer earlier this year - alledgedly its to do with the tannin content rusting the steel - I tried to point out that its a bit hot and dry in a stove for rust to be an issue , not to mention the stove's being powder coated not bare metal , but he was adamant that burning oak would void the warranty

 

I told him to go forth and multiply - if his stoves not up to burning decent firewood , i'll buy one that is

[Alycidon]

I was told this by a stove dealer earlier this year - alledgedly its to do with the tannin content rusting the steel - I tried to point out that its a bit hot and dry in a stove for rust to be an issue , not to mention the stove's being powder coated not bare metal , but he was adamant that burning oak would void the warranty

 

I told him to go forth and multiply - if his stoves not up to burning decent firewood , i'll buy one that is

 

If I get time I will run that one by Morso and Esse and see what their thoughts are.

 

 

A

[gensetsteve]

I hope the stoves are not as bad as the generators.

[Alycidon]

I have enquired with both Esse and Morso who are my two main stove manufactueres on this issue, I have this evening received this reply from Tony who is the technical guy at Morso, Esse have yet to respond.

 

 

No reason at all why you cant burn oak in a morso stove, having said that its not the easiest wood to burn due to its high density making it slower burning.

 

The important thing with any wood is that it is sufficiently dry, less that 20% moisture content.

 

Over-firing a stove to the point of damage can occur with all fuels; its as easy to damage a stove when burning hard or soft wood as it is with approved manufactured smokeless solid fuel. In fact the industry standard abuse or over-fire test is carried out with pine as its low density results in a rapid hotter burn.

 

Regardless of the fuel type the operating temperature of the stove should be monitored with a stove top or flue pipe thermometer

 

Interesting comments on the use of pine in over fire tests, another pointer to the sucessfull use of softwood in stoves.

 

A

[spudulike]

I have burnt a fair bit of oak - needs two years seasoning and mixing it with softwood keeps it going as it struggles by itself. Did a lot of oak and conifer last year - burnt well:thumbup:

[likeitorlumpit]

usual winter log issues

we burnt mainly unseasoned oak last winter and it was fantastic- burnt really hot and when swept the liner had hardly any soot in and when we put a camera up there it was clean

I think it's down to the stove:thumbup1:- draws like a furnace

Oh yes

and the fire lighter:001_tt2:

[_tc]

Ok I did the drop this morning. I didn't sift through the log pile much and he got a handful of oak logs in there but 2 years old.

The stove he's had fitted is a merlin 4.5kw, he said it has a double burn system so needs to burn hot and oak is too cool for it. The installer has put a 3 metre flue above his roof to comply with building regs apparently. He said to be honest he didn't know the different woods in the log pile so I said don't worry and just enjoy your fire.

Thanks for all the comments guys.