Ricco1 Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 I'm sure this has been done to death but having used the search facility, I still haven't solved my problem: The fires I light either don't catch or otherwise, end up raging infernos that prompt me to open the doors and windows. Earlier the thermometer touched 90 degrees! The obvious remedy is to put less fuel on. But when I do that, it doesn't catch. My method is to open the screw control thingie on the front of the stove. I use fire lighters, then some normal house coal, and top it with smokeless. The theory is to add more smokeless as and when I need it. I've tried closing the vent at the front, or nearly closing it, the fire then goes out. My stove is a boatman by the way, 35ft boat. Any tips much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ange Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 I'm sure this has been done to death but having used the search facility, I still haven't solved my problem: The fires I light either don't catch or otherwise, end up raging infernos that prompt me to open the doors and windows. Earlier the thermometer touched 90 degrees! The obvious remedy is to put less fuel on. But when I do that, it doesn't catch. My method is to open the screw control thingie on the front of the stove. I use fire lighters, then some normal house coal, and top it with smokeless. The theory is to add more smokeless as and when I need it. I've tried closing the vent at the front, or nearly closing it, the fire then goes out. My stove is a boatman by the way, 35ft boat. Any tips much appreciated! Hey Ricco It's a dark art I'm afraid my friend. This was us 4 years ago http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=26117&hl=taming There's no easy answers I'm afraid - you just need to wiggle your toggles and experiment over a period of time till you get it right. For what it's worth with our Squirrel, burning wood, we keep top and bottom vents open two turns during the day and half a turn overnight. Best of luck sussing it - it really is an enormously satisfying moment when you discover you are in charge of the monster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Tip. Clean the grate and empty ashpan. I wouldn't waste money on fire lighters, a jam jar half filled with paraffin, old used white spirit and fill it with thin sticks to soak. One of these lit and laid on the grate and then plenty of nice dry kindling, undo bottom air control with door 1/2'' ajar, when alight properly a small amount of house coal and a few knobs of smokeless, when burning nice and red close the door then a bit later add more smokeless and turn in the knob to about half a turn out from fully closed. This how my Boatman is lit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidc Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 When I had coal fires, to light them I used home made fire lighters worked no end as the paper burns slowly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottle Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Hi Ricco As Ange says it s a dark art. Mine a Squirrel, burning Excel (smokeless fuel) to light, fire lighter, dry kindling and Excell, both vents fully open, rest of the time top vent fully open, bottom one closed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chop! Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Our butty has a Boatman, I usually put a handful of coal in the bottom, then 2 bits of wood, then kindling and paper on top. Open the bottom door, put the top plate on, leaving a small gap until it starts to roar. It's worth once or twice a year getting dirty, hoovering out all the soot and crap from all the nooks and crannies (after sweeping the chimberly ;o) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike at Mayroyd Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Same stove, same sized boat and same problem. I use firelighters and kindling to start. When roaring add a large amount of smokeless all at once. This always works but a couple of hours later it's too hot. Anybody with any experience of adding firebricks to reduce the volume of the grate - would that work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 I presume we're talking about the welded steel bodied Boatman stove and not a back cabin type cooking stove. As well as the slabs of fire bricks in my Boatman stove I have two and a half ordinary house bricks, one either side and a half brick at the front to reduce grate area and heat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike at Mayroyd Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 I presume we're talking about the welded steel bodied Boatman stove and not a back cabin type cooking stove. As well as the slabs of fire bricks in my Boatman stove I have two and a half ordinary house bricks, one either side and a half brick at the front to reduce grate area and heat. That's a "grate" idea. I'll try that, thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon (Hawksmoor) Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 4-5 pieces of kindling aligned back to front 4-5 pieces left to right stacked on top 2 firelighters nestled in the middle a dozen pieces of "Homefire" smokeless nuggets in a loose mound (by far the best brand - turns 100% to ash with no clinker) light the firelighters and close the main door bottom door open until blazing then close it and open the slidy bit (technical term Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterboat Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Turn on, light diesel set to 1 or 2 ohh sorry thats my bubble stove takes 5 seconds to light . I find the paper oil filters from work get my wood burning stove going well one in the bottom two lumps of wood on top light and bobs the uncle etc Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machpoint005 Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 I thought lighting fires was the main purpose behind buying a quality broadsheet newspaper. What's a firelighter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Ibis Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Yup, every stove is different and when learning a new one it's just a matter of trial and error. We went from a diddy little Squirrel which we loved and could tame no problem at all, to one of these: We're still learning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junior Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 I lit my first fire in my sfs yesterday. Having read all the tales of it being a black art my method went something like this: Screw up 3 sheets of newspaper and put in fire along with one fire lighter. Bung some kindling on top and light with a match. Once alight wait a few minutes and chuck in coal. 10 minutes later I had a lovely fire that stayed in all night. Black art my arse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Ambrose Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Junior,be afraid, fires ARE a dark art,yours is just lulling you into a false sense of "oh this easy"before biting you on the bum. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard10002 Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 I have a Boatman and mine has lit every time for 2 years. Every now and then it gets a bit hot, but that's because I forget to close the vent down. To light I place 2 firelighters on the grate, and a a couple of layers of kindling. Then I put a layer of Excel, or sometimes a layer of no-name coke. Open the vent wide, light the firelighters, and close the door. A while after, it's glowing red, so i put a heap of coal on, close the vent to closed minus a few turns, and it lasts all evening, 7pm to 11pm. Top up again at 11pm, (just done it), close the vent minus half a turn, and it generally lasts all night with a gentle heat. If you're having trouble, it could be to do with the draught through the vent and up the chimney, but mine has just worked since I got the boat - and I hadn't lit a fire for about 35+ years !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ange Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 I lit my first fire in my sfs yesterday. Having read all the tales of it being a black art my method went something like this: Screw up 3 sheets of newspaper and put in fire along with one fire lighter. Bung some kindling on top and light with a match. Once alight wait a few minutes and chuck in coal. 10 minutes later I had a lovely fire that stayed in all night. Black art my arse. Beginners luck We did get it right occasionally in the early days but it was a long time before we got it right consistently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 I lit my first fire in my sfs yesterday. Having read all the tales of it being a black art my method went something like this: Screw up 3 sheets of newspaper and put in fire along with one fire lighter. Bung some kindling on top and light with a match. Once alight wait a few minutes and chuck in coal. 10 minutes later I had a lovely fire that stayed in all night. Black art my arse. Indeed - that normally works for us... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dar Kuma Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 (edited) 2 mins and I'm done, , maybe add 2 more pieces of wood after about 10 mins but thats it all night. in total, 10 kindling sticks 4 pieces of firelighters about 1cm squared and a log, anymore and its a tropical microclimate in here. I lit it earlier but its all burnt up now so wont bother till tomorrow night, I doubt i'll light it tomorrow either, its still mild. allthough I have had lots of experience with fires when i've gone camping in the middle of nowhere Edited September 17, 2013 by Dar Kuma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canals are us? Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Yup, every stove is different and when learning a new one it's just a matter of trial and error. We went from a diddy little Squirrel which we loved and could tame no problem at all, to one of these: We're still learning! I recognised the stove but couldn't put a name to it and driving me mad, so searched. A stovax Huntingdon. http://www.stovax.com/stoves/traditionalstoves/wood__multi-fuel_stoves/huntingdon_stoves.aspx My word it has dirty glass. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ange Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Indeed - that normally works for us... How many days do you spend keeping your stove in 24/7 in the winter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Ibis Posted September 18, 2013 Report Share Posted September 18, 2013 I recognised the stove but couldn't put a name to it and driving me mad, so searched. A stovax Huntingdon. http://www.stovax.com/stoves/traditionalstoves/wood__multi-fuel_stoves/huntingdon_stoves.aspx My word it has dirty glass. James That's the one. It's beautiful but although we have the solid fuel variety it is really a Wood burner and doesn't like coal. The glass soots up very quickly too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted September 18, 2013 Report Share Posted September 18, 2013 If the OP'S stove is the original welded steel Boatman stove it doesn't have a separate bottom ashpan door, it has a single main door which covers both firebox and ashpan simultaneously hence the reason why I suggested leaving the door ajar a little when starting the stove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricco1 Posted September 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2013 I really like the idea of using a couple of bricks to reduce the capacity of the stove. Is it safe to use any type of brick, no possibility of an explosion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted September 18, 2013 Report Share Posted September 18, 2013 I really like the idea of using a couple of bricks to reduce the capacity of the stove. Is it safe to use any type of brick, no possibility of an explosion? I've been using them for 20 odd years and no explosions, ordinary Flettons mostly. You may just crack one if a pocket of trapped air expands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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