Osburn OB01111 User Manual
Page 25
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SIMPLE WOOD MOISTURE TEST
Add one large piece of wood to the top of an established fire. If it starts to burn on
three sides.
Within one minute, it is dry and seasoned and right for burning. If it turns black and
starts to burn.
In three minutes, it is damp. If it turns black and does not start burning until after five
minutes, it
Is green and wet. If it hisses at any time the wood is soaked and will not burn until
excess
moisture is boiled away.
NOTES ABOUT FIRST FIRING
Before firing ensure that the room is well ventilated. Curing the paint is recommended
to preserve the best quality finish. Heating the stove up too intensely on the first fire
will dull and lighten the colour on overheated areas, and cause smoke and odour to be
emitted into the room. To cure the paint, the first two fires should be burned for only
about twenty minutes each.
Allow the stove to get warm only but not hot, i.e. 250
o
F (120
o
C) as measured by a
stovetop thermometer, and allow the stove to cool down. Light a third fire and burn it
for about forty minutes to 450
o
F (230
o
C) or less. Once again cool the stove to room
temperature, then operate it according to the following instructions. This extra care will
result in a more durable, and uniform finish.
LIGHTING A FIRE
1.
Place enough crumpled balls of newspaper or other paper into the stove to cover the
bottom of the firebox.
2.
Place small dry kindling on the crumpled paper.
3.
Place larger dry kindling on top of the small kindling.
4.
Open the draft control fully to the right (located on the front of the stove, Figure 2.1)
5.
Light a fire at the bottom of the crumpled paper and close the door. If the fire tends to
go out, momentarily hold the door slightly ajar to blower the fire. As soon as the fire
catches hold, close the door.
6.
Ideally the large kindling should be burned until a thick bed of red embers is obtained.
At that point, add cordwood fuel and continue to operate the draft control wide open
until the fire is well established. Once the firebox is hot, the draft control can be
partially closed by moving the handle to the left to adjust the intensity of the fire.