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Vermont Castings Madison
30001453
ST263
starting a fire
12/99
Fig. 27 Start a fire with small, dry kindling.
ST263
ST264
good fire
12/99
Fig. 28 Gradually add larger pieces of wood until all the wood
is burning well.
ST264
In newer homes that are well-insulated and weather-
tight, poor draft may result from insufficient air in the
house. In such cases, a slightly opened window near
the stove on the windward side of the house will provide
the fresh air needed.
A more effective option for delivering ample combustion
air to the stove is to duct air directly from outdoors to
the stove. In fact, in some areas, provisions for outside
combustion air are required in all new construction. The
optional Madison Outside Air Adapter is available from
your dealer.
When you first begin using the stove, pay attention
to the air control settings. You will quickly find that a
specific setting will give you a fixed amount of heat. It
may take some time to determine the amount of heat
and the length of burn you should expect from various
settings.
Do not for any reason attempt to increase the firing
of your heater by altering the air control adjustment
range outlined in these directions.
Use the following air control settings as a starting point
to help determine the best settings for your installation.
Madison Control Settings
Burn Rate Primary Air Control Shutter Position
High Left most position Fully Open
Medium Half Open
Low Right most position Fully Closed
Before you begin using the stove, please read the Ap-
pendix on Draft Management, starting on Page 22, to
learn how the characteristics of your particular instal-
lation will affect your stove’s performance. You and the
stove are parts of a system; other parts of the system
have a strong effect on performance. You may need to
vary your firing technique to get the results you desire.
Starting and Maintaining a Fire
Conditioning Your Stove
Cast iron is extremely strong, but it can be broken with
a sharp blow from a hammer or from the thermal shock
of rapid and extreme temperature change.
The cast plates expand and contract with changes in
temperature. When you first begin using your Madison,
minimize thermal stress by allowing the plates to adjust
gradually during three or four initial break-in fires follow-
ing Steps 1- 3.
BURN SOLID WOOD FUEL ONLY, AND BURN IT
DIRECTLY ON THE GRATE. DO NOT ELEVATE THE
FUEL. DO NOT BURN COAL OR OTHER FUELS.
WARNING: OPERATE THIS STOVE ONLY WITH THE
DOORS FULLY CLOSED.
The Primary Air Inlet must be open when starting a
fire or when refueling.
Step 1. Open the primary air control fully. (Lever at left
most position)
Step 2. Place several sheets of crumpled newspaper
in the stove. Avoid using glossy or colored paper, as
these burn poorly. At the front of the firebox, place on
the paper six or eight pieces of dry kindling split to a
finger-width size, and on the kindling lay two or three
larger sticks of split dry wood approximately 1-2” (25-
51mm) in diameter. (Fig. 27)
Step 3. Light the newspaper and close the doors.
Gradually build up the fire by adding a few 3-5” (80-
120 mm) diameter splits. (Fig. 28) If this is one of
the first few “break-in” fires, let the fire burn brightly,
and then let it die out.
• During the break-in fires, don’t let the stove get
hotter than 500°F. (260°C) as measured on an op
-
tional stove-top thermometer. Adjust the air control
lever as necessary to control the fire.
• Some odor from the stove’s hot metal, the paint,
and the cement is normal for the first few fires.