Osburn OB04002 - Manual (Page 18)

Stratford Fireplace Installation and Operation Manual
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4.3.1 CONVENTIONAL FIRE STARTING
The conventional way to build a wood fire is to
bunch up 5 to 10 sheets of plain newspaper and
place them in the firebox. Next, place 10 or so
pieces of fine kindling on the newspaper. This
kindling should be very thin; less than 1” (25 mm).
Next, place some larger kindling pieces on the fine
kindling. Open the air control fully and light the
newspaper. If you have a tall, straight venting
system you should be able to close the door
immediately and the fire will ignite. Once the fire
has ignited, close the door and leave the air
control fully open.
A conventional kindling fire with paper
under finely split wood.
DO NOT LEAVE THE FIREPLACE UNATTENDED WHEN THE DOOR IS SLIGHTLY OPENED. ALWAYS
CLOSE AND LATCH THE DOOR AFTER THE FIRE IGNITES.
After the kindling fire has mostly burned, you can add standard firewood pieces until you have a
fire of the right size for the conditions.
CAUTION: PLACE THE WOOD LOGS FAR ENOUGH FROM THE GLASS TO ALLOW PROPER PRIMARY
AIR FLOW
4.3.2 THE TOP DOWN FIRE
The top down fire starting method solves two problems with the conventional method: first, it
does not collapse and smother itself as it burns; and second, it is not necessary to build up the fire
gradually because the firebox is loaded before the fire is lit. A top down fire can provide up to two
hours of heating or more. The top down method only works properly if the wood is well-seasoned.
Start by placing three or four full-sized split pieces of dry firewood in the firebox. Next, place 4 or 5
more finely split pieces of firewood (2” to 3” [50 mm to 75 mm] in dia.) on the base logs at right
angles (log cabin style). Now place about 10 pieces of finely split kindling on the second layer at
right angles.
The fire is topped with about 5 sheets of newspaper. You can just bunch them up and stuff them
in between the kindling and the underside of the baffle. Or you can make newspaper knots by
rolling up single sheets corner to corner and tying a knot in them. The advantage of knots is that
they don’t roll off the fire as they burn. Light the newspaper and watch as the fire burns from top
to bottom.