Vermont Casting 410 Madison Control Settings, Starting and Maintaining a Fire

Madison Woodburning Stove

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 Appendix on Draft Management, starting on Page 22, to learn how the characteristics of your particular installation 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 following 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)

	ST263
Fig. 27	Start a fire with small, dry kindling.

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 optional 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.

ST264

Fig. 28 Gradually add larger pieces of wood until all the wood is burning well.

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