Woodburner: kickstarting WITHOUT smoke?

[RevdTess]

The Morso squirrel stove on my boat works very effectively. It can be a struggle when it's very cold getting the updraft to kick in, but it's certainly rare to get any smoke inside the boat unless i open the stove door when the fire didn't quite catch.

Typically I stick in two scrunched sheets of newspaper (the metro or the londonpaper) and a small crisscross stack of kindling jenga-style on top of the newspaper. I open both vents, make sure there's a gap under the wood for air to flow, light the newspaper, close the door and retire to a safe distance.

I find keeping the stove door closed is essential for proper air flow. With the door closed, the slightest flame immediately sucks in air from the vents and creates a roar. If I open the door, the air flow dies and the flames flicker and fade rather than grow.

Stoves do seem to behave differently though. The stove on my boyfriend's boat draws air in such spectacular fashion such that you barely need any effort at all to get it going, door open or closed.

For what it's worth, the flue on my stove is about 6-7 foot long and extends about 18 inches about the boat roof.

[MisterE]

Not wanting to sound smug! But i have had no problems at all with my woodburner - its lit first time every time, no back smoke its great!

Stating the obvious making sure that you use a firelighter and some bone dry kindling makes the job a lot easier.

i have both vents fully open then when the fire is roaring close the top one down and then gradually shut the bottom one as the fire becomes more established.

Same here, and to be honest I even lit mine today with damp stick, I've seen me light it with chunks of wood too. I personally think the most important point of any installation is the height of the flue and what is around it, that effcts draw. The flue should draw when stone cold, if not and there is nothing that can be done ie large trees that cant be chopped down and your flue is above the apex of the roof, then all you can do is start a small fire and build it up. Also sweep twice a year as a min, to get out the cresote I'm lucky with our house, flue is in a chimney that goes above the apex with no trees near, a slight s bend and thats it. Its in a 9 inch engineering brick chimney with 40 - 60mm of vermiculite around the flue as insulation. Its a killer if you dont get good draw, do feel for the guys with that issue.