13
Section
4
– Wood burning operation instructions
CAUTION:
When building the first couple of fires, be careful to build the fire small and increase the heat slowly over a
4-5 hour period. The paint on the stove “cures” with heat and needs to be done slowly. As the paint
“cures” it gives off a smell and even sometimes a visible “smoky” haze into the room. Make sure the area
is well ventilated during the curing operation. The smell will disappear after a few hours of operation.
A word about draft.
The principle of draft is that warm air rises. Your chimney provides draft which sucks the smoke up the
chimney. The stove does not “push” out the smoke. Your stove has been designed and approved for use
under normal conditions. Unacceptable smoking usually indicates poor draft in your chimney system.
CAUTION: HOT WHILE IN OPERATION. KEEP CHILDREN, CLOTHING AND FURNITURE
AWAY. CONTACT MAY CAUSE SKIN BURNS.
Achieving and Maintaining Catalyst Light-Off
Your KUMA stove is equipped with a by-pass plate that slides forward to allow the draft to escape
up the chimney when the rod is pulled all the way out (towards yourself). This by-passes the combustor for
the purpose of (1) starting a fire, and (2) refueling. This section describes the position of the by-pass for 3
different burning situations.
CAUTION: The by-pass control handle may be hot. Use of fireplace gloves is recommended.
1. START-UP:
The by-pass rod should be pulled all the way out (towards yourself) during start-up. It
should remain open long enough to achieve a medium to high burn rate (about 15-20 minutes). It may also
be necessary to “crack” the door to allow extra air during start-up. (never leave the stove unattended with
the door open). Usually a normal fire start-up, to produce a good coal bed, will produce sufficient
temperatures to begin catalytic combustion.
2. NORMAL OPERATION:
After the start-up temperature is reached, the by-pass should be pushed in
(away from yourself). This will route the flow of smoke and gases through the combustor. The combustor
will begin operating. The by-pass is to remain closed during normal operation.
3.
REFUELING:
The by-pass should be pulled out (towards yourself) during the refueling of the stove.
When refueling or rekindling a cool fire or a fire that has burned down to the charcoal phase, operate the
stove again at a medium to high burn rate (about 15-20 minutes) until a sufficient start-up temperature is
reached.
How to start a fire
1. Pull by-pass control out to open.
CAUTION: Handle may be hot.
2. Start with tinder and small kindling. When starting a fire, stack the wood in a ‘criss-cross’
arrangement to allow the fuel plenty of air. Place small chunks of wood on the kindling and
larger chunks of wood on the smaller chunks until desired fire is reached.
3. Open the air control by sliding it out to the right. Crack the door open 1/2” to help establish the
fire. The door will need to remain cracked open approximately 25-30 minutes. (Do not leave the
stove unattended with the door open) Close after start up is achieved.
