Question for owners of woodstoves

[musiclawyer]

The guy who delivers wood told me that he uses a small cup of diesel fuel to get his hard woods going. He says he never uses kindling or commercial fire starter bricks. Says that all the old timers use diesel. He says it's not dangerous at all and will not clog up the flume. Agree or disagree.

[gizmo1979]

1. He's on fucking drugs

Don't ever use an accelerant in your wood stove.If you have trouble starting your fire there are firestarters made for woodstoves that are safe.By the way using gas in your wood stove is against the law so if your house burns down insurance won't pay.

[oneighty]

2. Stinks for one thing

However living in South Carolina we had a wood burning stove and used the fireplace flue for the stove. It is common to use 'light wood' for starting the fire. We burned pine as well as oak.

Long story. We had a chimney fire. It was comparable to a solid fuel rocket motor. Impressive and exciting.

Caused by burning pine wood.

So using kerosene for starter fuel might not be a bad idea.

180

[skygazer]

3. He's an idiot

I've been using wood stoves all my life (45 years) - you NEVER use shit like that. It will most definitely clog up your pipe and it can burst your stove.

What a dumbass. He probably puts ether in his carburator too. :eyes:

Crumpled newspaper, a layer of kindling, get it going well, lay on a couple of pieces of wood. Don't pack it tight, give it room for air to circulate, be patient.

[Debi]

4. WTF?

How long do you want to live?

We just used paper crumpled up, worked every time.

[RedstDem]

5. Soaked In Bourbon Is Much Better..

Just Kidding, Guess I Disagree
I Use Some Paper And Cardboard, As Well As Kindling, Works Every Time
By The Way, I Use Matchlite Charcoal Under Firewood To Start Campfires, So Easy It Hurts !

[sendero]

6. I have finally...

... found a good use for old phone books. Rip out 2-3 pages at a time, crumple them up and they work great.

Most wood stoves are made to create a "draft" at the inlet. If you put a layer of crumpled paper (phone book, newspaper) under the grate, a layer of kindling (small dry sticks of varying sizes, maybe a few hardwood chips) with your wood on top, it should get going pretty easy. I occasionally have to add a couple bits of paper as the first ones burn out.

I'd never consider putting diesel in the stove. Sure, it will work, and frankly it is not dangerous, diesel is not very volatile - but it is going to stink and who wants diesel smell in their house?

[Kali]

7. Well, its not as explosive as gasoline, but I don't think I would

although I have to admit to using a small amount of lighter fluid in a regular fireplace when the wood was wet before....