when your wood is nice and dry, you can light a top down fire with a match and no paper.

the result is smoke free, apart from any birch bark you might have topped it off with.

Hmm, my wood is pretty dry. I’ll try that and/or less paper and see how it goes.

Absolutely. Especially on cold days like today.

I’ll give it a try. I only actually light the stove 5-6 times throughout the winter and keep it going or bury the coals in ash for a period of time.

My stove runs nonstop all winter. I throw a log in and it lights up within 15 seconds or so.

Is that where you start with high expectations for a roaring fire on a cold snowy day and then get let down by shitty wet ass wood that wouldn't burn in the forge of the sun?

Thought this was /r/woodstoving for a second! This is a very popular topic over there.

It’s the only way I’ll start my stove from cold (if there are already some hot coals I guess it’s not technically top down). The ol Jotul is gonna get a workout these next few days. Brought in almost 1/4 cord this week so far already and that will probably only last through tomorrow.

I used to pride myself on starting my stove/campfires with one match and no paper. Now I just want heat asap so 2-3 pieces of fat wood and some kindling on top of two medium splits plus the MAPP torch and I’ve got the same satisfaction. The torch is also great for getting a draft up your flue if you have issues with that.

Same. Only possible with good dry wood. Only time it goes down is if I want to do a full ash scoop or I go away for the weekend.

When I get up in the morning or get home from work it might take some kindling but I rarely have to truly “start” the stove from cold.

“Dry hardwood firewood $475 per cord”

• poplar and pine stored at the bottom of the Mariana Trench and split 7 minutes ago is delivered

Don’t you love excavating some coals, piling some kindling and splits on top of them, and sitting there as the coals start to glow brighter, the kindling starts to pyrolyze, you can start to hear more air intake, and finally POOF everything goes up in flames. It’s especially great early on a cold dark winter morning before anyone else is up while you can smell your coffee brewing. Hnnng 🤤

I had a wood stove for two years before someone mentioned the method to me. Also great because you can start it and walk away for an hour. Gets hotter way faster too (it seems).

My stove can go from ice cold with a cold down draft to the high edge of the “safe” zone on my thermometer in 15 minutes or less using the top down method.

I love when my daughter comes down and says she wants a fire and I dig out the coals and throw a couple sticks on and there’s a ripping fire in five minutes.

I bet she does too 😃

My 7mo old is already captivated by the woodstove. An extensive guardrail situation will be installed asap lol.

the key that I've found is to put the biggest logs on the bottom, and using smaller pieces as you go up the stack

by the time you get to the top the pieces should be pencil sized, with a little bit of tinder at the top to get it going

i often start my fire with a propane torch too. you can still get a fire going with very little smoke that way.

i don't think the torch saves much time, but it's easier than assembling a proper stack.

Our stove runs 24/7. I can't remember how I started it for the last time back in late October....

I think you just described the top down method :-)

what do you do with ashes?

This is the way

Our stove has an ash-pan, which I empty a couple times a week into a big metal bucket. When the bucket is full, I dump the ashes in the woods.

I do a modified top down in my fireplace - two big logs on the bottom and then start the fire on top of that.

Be sure to tell the dealer you are new to heating with wood, he will make sure you get the very best, extra heavy wood.

Yes! Top down all the way - it’s so much faster and efficient for our stove.

Ok, I did use paper, but way less than normal+no precarious stack of kindling on top and it started right up! Now, top down is even east!!thanks for suggestion.