Where...and How Hot?

Just bought a new thermometer. I put it (as directed) 12 inches above the stove on my chimney. I'm wondering if I might be better off putting it on the stove itself. Any thoughts on this? My main goal here is to get the most efficient burn for my buck. Also, if I put it on the stove, where should I put it, front, side, etc. AND...what temps am I looking for on the chimney or on the stove. Thanks for the help!

Mounted on the stove pipe before the barometric damper, my thermometer reads about 1/2 of the stove temperature. On a seasonable winter day, my stove will be cooking along at about 300* to 350* and the stove pipe thermometer will generally read about 150*.

Mount your stove thermometer where the body is single wall, but well above the fire box. I have mine about 6" below the top and about midway between front and back. Traditionally with wood stoves we mounted the thermometer right on the top. I know some guys do here too. My stove as a false top to channel forced air, so I have to go to the side.

The Saey is cast iron isn't it? If so 600* should be on the safe side as a max. If plate steel, opinions vary, but the general concensis seems to be about 550* should be about max.

Having one on your stack will show you a faster temperature response to how much air are you are putting in when getting new coal going. One on the stove side is great too.

Devill505 the Coal Forum Newbie Mentor suggested a meat thermometer (35 bucks) that goes up to 400F. With that temp range, it went on the stack. The probe touches the pipe ~15" above the top, using this type of thermometer gives you nearly instant response in reading to what you are doing with the stove. I pretty much never go over 285 F and at that temp it's usually getting the stove hot to get a new load of coal burning. Understand I'm a engineer so I like gadgets to futz around with.