Godin Large Round Fired UP!!

Hey VMI,

Pretty Exciting, Your First Burn!!!!!!!!!!!!

Didn't know you had this thread going. Answered a lot of my questions I asked you in the other thread.

Yea at 900 it sounds like you just had a ton of heat moving quickly through the system. My thoughts are that it was mostly the pipe heating up. The stove in my opinion would take more than 5 minutes to really raise that much in temps. In other words, the stove was easily running that hot before you started tending it. In any case, Yea, it's a bit scary. Don't wanna damage the plumbing

Something else to consider: The top layer of my coal USUALLY only gets flame if I open the top door. It could stay black for 12 hours or more, depending on how well and how hot it's burning. It's not neccessary to have a good flame on top. I gauge my burn by the temp above the door. I'm only saying this because if your goal is to always have a fire on top, then the stove will always be running relatively hot IMO.

Please Keep Posting, This Is Good Stuff!!!!!!!!!

Joe

Chiefcamper wrote:Hey VMI,

Pretty Exciting, Your First Burn!!!!!!!!!!!!

Didn't know you had this thread going. Answered a lot of my questions I asked you in the other thread.

Yea at 900 it sounds like you just had a ton of heat moving quickly through the system. My thoughts are that it was mostly the pipe heating up. The stove in my opinion would take more than 5 minutes to really raise that much in temps. In other words, the stove was easily running that hot before you started tending it. In any case, Yea, it's a bit scary. Don't wanna damage the plumbing

Something else to consider: The top layer of my coal USUALLY only gets flame if I open the top door. It could stay black for 12 hours or more, depending on how well and how hot it's burning. It's not neccessary to have a good flame on top. I gauge my burn by the temp above the door. I'm only saying this because if your goal is to always have a fire on top, then the stove will always be running relatively hot IMO.

Please Keep Posting, This Is Good Stuff!!!!!!!!!

Joe

Hey Chief,

Yeah getting the blue ladies to ignite.... is a matter of primary air getting to the fire... since my draft is very strong, I can keep the MPD closed during the burn.
So the air inlet.... durning regular burn, 3/4 turn from closed maintains blue ladies...

When recharging... open MPD and add a layer... 10 mins later... nice blue ladies... they keep burning too...

the hotest point on the Godin, usually around 750 to 700.... Thanks Chief!!

UPDATE..

5th night straight burning the Godin w/o a chance of losing the fire due to ash build up, etc...

I have been using an excellent sample of Kinnel Nut that all us coal clubbers received from Hulburt in Plattsburgh.

This morn at 0900, dumped one scoop on the well burning... coal from last night, which was at level with the fire brick horizontal seam. The scoop is a large chicken feed type. Stove side metallic temp read about 600F, down from 750F at midnight. With the MPD closed, opened the fire-door and removed the spent fuel ash. This took all of 4 minutes.
Closed up the fire door. Checked the coals and noticed strong Blue ladies....layered in another scoop, which killed the blue ladies,

At this point

I opened the MPD and the air-inlet (say about two turns) and the blue ladies ignited about 10 minutes after.... the blue ladies will be present thru the burn cycle.
I closed the MPD and returned the air-inlet to 3/4 turn open....

There is still a stong bed remaining and with the fresh coal added, I estimate a coal depth of 12-14"...
.... during the day the stove got 2 quick shake downs which allowed the hanging ash to fall onto the grate.....

12 hours later the stove was at 750F near the right hand spot above the fire door., just dumped a load into the fire pot, and emptied the ash pan, and touched-up the bridge of dead ash, this took 2 mins. tops.

The stove temp dropped to 700... no blue ladies yet... just opened the MPD and the primary air inlet 2 complete turns. Once the blue ladies return, I'll close the MPD and restrict the primary air to 1/2 to 3/4.

Did I mention I am running 2 stoves? The VigII is cruising at 650F in central room.... Godin is complimenting the Vig by heating the rear of the house... and yep I am in shorts and Tee-Shirt....

Hi VMI,

Glad you are getting the hang of your Godin and are enjoying it. I burn mine at about 20k btu/hr (about 1.75 pounds of coal per hour or 40 pounds a day). I also run two stoves. The Godin is in the family room and runs at a constant rate. In the living room/kitchen/dining room area I have a wood stove that I adjust the burn level according to the outside temperatures. Between the two of them they keep the house comfortably and evenly warm.

My Godin likes to run at a constant rate, I usually have the side of the barrel between 550 & 600 degrees. I load a half bucket of coal in the morning and another half just before bed. I shake it down and remove ash once a day before bed. I have the air inlet opened about a half turn and the MPD three-quarters closed.

How is the "air wick" working on your Godin? The air-wick is a flat metal tube just above the loading door between the fire brick and the outer metal skin. It brings fresh air to the top of the fuel pile to help burn off the gases, reduces "puff back", and in general helps the stove burn a little better. You can see the outlet just below the top cast ring inside the front of the stove. The inlet is above the lintel. I've seen stoves with the air-wick clogged with ash. This makes it harder to get the "blue ladies" dancing. When I do my spring cleaning I use a shop vacuum to suck as much ash as possible out of the bottom of it.

Enjoy the warmth,
KaptJaq

KaptJaq wrote:Hi VMI,

Glad you are getting the hang of your Godin and are enjoying it. I burn mine at about 20k btu/hr (about 1.75 pounds of coal per hour or 40 pounds a day). I also run two stoves. The Godin is in the family room and runs at a constant rate. In the living room/kitchen/dining room area I have a wood stove that I adjust the burn level according to the outside temperatures. Between the two of them they keep the house comfortably and evenly warm.

My Godin likes to run at a constant rate, I usually have the side of the barrel between 550 & 600 degrees. I load a half bucket of coal in the morning and another half just before bed. I usually shake it down and remove ash once a day before bed. I have the air inlet openned about a half turn and the MPD three-quarters closed.

How is the "air wick" working on your Godin? The air-wick is a flat metal tube just above the loading door between the fire brick and the outer metal skin. It brings fresh air to the top of the fuel pile to help burn off the gases, reduces "puff back", and in general helps the stove burn a little better. You can see the outlet just below the top cast ring in the front of the stove. The inlet is above the lintel. I've seen stoves with the air-wick clogged with ash. This makes it harder to get the "blue ladies" dancing. When I do my spring cleaning I use a shop vacuum to suck as much ash as possible out of the bottom of it.

Enjoy the warmth,
KaptJaq

Hey Kaptjaq,

My friend, an experieced coal-burner told me about the secondary air channel... I pretty certain it was clear prior to intial ignition.
The stove always produces blue ladies, but at a slower speed than the VIGII stove. For example, this morning, I through two large scoops of nut on the existing fire, opened the firedoor,
and raked forward the spent ash from the far rear and sides. The air inlet was set at 2/3 a turn open and MPD remained closed, yet blue ladies arrived sometime later. (I checked it two hours after.) I am thinking I may not have to open the MPD while recharging. Perhaps just dumping in a load, set the Air-inlet out 2/3, and let the stove do it's thing. After recharging, I can count on the blue ladies always returning. I have not experienced any puff backs either.

The Godin burns steadily... 2/3 and MPD closed... 750F.... all day long...

Thanks for your imput!

vmi1983 wrote: The stove always produces blue ladies, but at a slower speed than the VIGII stove.

The Godin has a narrower, deeper firepot than the VIGII. It takes longer to get the new coal up to out-gassing temps. Once the coal out-gasses the blue ladies dance.

vmi1983 wrote: I am thinking I may not have to open the MPD while recharging.

I find if I don't open the MPD when I reload I get a face full of fines and smoke as the coal hits the heat. With the MPD open everything gets sucked up the flue. You probably have a stronger draft than I so you don't have the same problem...

vmi1983 wrote:The Godin burns steadily... 2/3 and MPD closed... 750F.... all day long...

That is what I have found also. Once you get used to the stove, the air control, & the MPD you can set it and just about forget it... I love only tending to it twice a day and have, when I needed it, easily kept a low fire burning all weekend unattended.

KaptJaq

KaptJaq wrote:

vmi1983 wrote: The stove always produces blue ladies, but at a slower speed than the VIGII stove.

The Godin has a narrower, deeper firepot than the VIGII. It takes longer to get the new coal up to out-gassing temps. Once the coal out-gasses the blue ladies dance.

vmi1983 wrote: I am thinking I may not have to open the MPD while recharging.

I find if I don't open the MPD when I reload I get a face full of fines and smoke as the coal hits the heat. With the MPD open everything gets sucked up the flue. You probably have a stronger draft than I so you don't have the same problem...

vmi1983 wrote:The Godin burns steadily... 2/3 and MPD closed... 750F.... all day long...

That is what I have found also. Once you get used to the stove, the air control, & the MPD you can set it and just about forget it... I love only tending to it twice a day and have, when I needed it, easily kept a low fire burning all weekend unattended.

KaptJaq

Thanks for the info Kapt.

The IR Gun "Micro Temp" brand arrived today....after the gun reached ambient temps, I measured the sides... up near the front above the fire door, reading was 750F,
along the right. The exit pipe reading was 350F while after the MPD about 250F... through the wall insulated pipe read about 100F. The Godin is blasting the heat...


I am worried the stove may run away on me, so I set the air inlet to 1/3 turn out.

I suppose from time to time, I'll open the MPD to allow fly ash to exit.

Other than getting more aquanted with the Godin, I can see, it is a very stable stove, can really put out the heat, functions very well, easy maintence.

I assume you get a lower burn rate by reducing the amount of fuel in the fire pot?

Thanks

Does someone have a photo showing the ""air wick""/passage on the Godin serving as an over the fire vent?
Thanks

nortcan wrote:Does someone have a photo showing the ""air wick""/passage on the Godin serving as an over the fire vent?
Thanks

Attached are two images of the parts diagram for the Godin 3721. Godin_3721_1 shows the firebrick and internal parts including the "air-wick" (part 39, conduit d'air). Godin_3721_2 shows the skin and cast parts.

KaptJaq

KaptJaq wrote:

nortcan wrote:Does someone have a photo showing the ""air wick""/passage on the Godin serving as an over the fire vent?
Thanks

Attached are two images of the parts diagram for the Godin 3721. Godin_3721_1 shows the firebrick and internal parts including the "air-wick" (part 39, conduit d'air). Godin_3721_2 shows the skin and cast parts.

godin_3721_1.GIF

KaptJaq

Thanks KaptJaq. Is that vent adjustable or always in an open position?

nortcan wrote:Thanks KaptJaq. Is that vent adjustable or always in an open position?

It is always "open" but it is not a hollow pipe. It is filled with a ceramic fiber that limits the airflow. If the coal bed starts to clog with ash the limited airflow prevents all the air from by-passing the firebox/coal bed.

KaptJaq

vmi1983 wrote:I am worried the stove may run away on me, so I set the air inlet to 1/3 turn out.

I've got a bucket of sand near the stove. If she starts to get away and shutting down the air doesn't stop her the sand via the loading door is the quickest, easiest, and cleanest way to shut her down instantly.

KaptJaq

KaptJaq wrote:

vmi1983 wrote:I am worried the stove may run away on me, so I set the air inlet to 1/3 turn out.

I've got a bucket of sand near the stove. If she starts to get away and shutting down the air doesn't stop her the sand via the loading door is the quickest, easiest, and cleanest way to shut her down instantly.

KaptJaq

Thanks Jaq,

What do you feel is a safe max operating temperture, considering the hottest point is generally over and right of the fire door? From the bottom of the exit flue port,
how many inches below that , should be the height of fresh (a recharging) coal? Like 6-4" below, etc.? In the Vigilant, I load it to 1" below the exit flues.

Thanks

vmi1983 wrote:I assume you get a lower burn rate by reducing the amount of fuel in the fire pot?

I get a slow burn by reducing the air supply. When I am away for the weekend I'll fill the stove, get her in a steady state, then close the air to the point that she is just barely burning.

vmi1983 wrote:What do you feel is a safe max operating temperature, considering the hottest point is generally over and right of the fire door?

I don't know what the safe maximum temperature is. The stove will start to glow around 970 degrees which is a little too hot. I like to keep my stove under 800, occasionally going to about 850 when I need to heat a cold house. Normal, steady state for me is about 600 degrees.

vmi1983 wrote:From the bottom of the exit flue port, how many inches below that , should be the height of fresh (a recharging) coal? Like 6-4" below, etc.?

I normally fill it, for a 12 hour burn, about 6 inches below the outlet. For a long burn I have filled it to within an inch of the outlet in the back and an inch of the air supply in the front, sloped towards the outlet. This is when I turn the air all the way down for a very slow, controlled burn. I will not burn it hot with this much fuel, the stove pipe starts to glow very easily.


I have been burning the Godin Large Round since 1989. I am very comfortable with both the stove and its burning characteristics. I would not burn a stove very hot or very full until I have experimented with it and know how it will react to every situation.

KaptJaq

Thanks Kaptjaq,

All good safe tips... the Godin got away from me once because I mimiced my operating method used on the VIGII.

The Godin went to 900F quickly. It was loaded and fired too vigorously for such a deep firepot.

I am banking the coal a little higher towards the rear to a height of 6-5"... 2/3 (+) on the air inlet....I would like to
keep her running at a steady 750 F at the max burn point.

Again,

Thanks so much for all your help and all your effort posting on NEPA...