Homewood Stoves Heritage User manual

HOMEWOOD HERITAGE
Operating Manual

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HOMEWOOD STOVES LTD
Congratulations on your choice of a Homewood
Heritage stove. We work hard to offer locally-
made stoves of world-class quality, and we
appreciate your support.
Take the time to read this entire manual, as
it contains essential information for safe and
effective operation, and will help you to get the
most out of your stove.
Stay in touch, and welcome to the Homewood
way of life.
D. K. Foote
Homewood Stoves Ltd.
www.homewoodstoves.co.nz
HOMEWOOD
74 Kara Road
RD 9
Whangarei, 0179
New Zealand
[e-mail]

Your Homewood Heritage stove is guaranteed for FIVE
YEARS against defective materials and sub-standard
workmanship, provided all installation, operation and
maintenance directions are followed correctly.
This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, nor
damage or failure caused by tampering, carelessness,
misuse, or neglect, and only applies to the original
owner.
Normal wear and tear – expected degradation as a result
of normal use.
Tampering – any modication to your stove that we have
not rst approved in writing.
Carelessness – any operator-caused damage.
Misuse – deviating from installation or operation instructions.
Neglect – failure to correctly follow all maintenance and
protection directions contained within the installation and
operation instructions.
Look after your Homewood, and it will last a lifetime.
Stove Number:
Shipping date:
THE HOMEWOOD PROMISE
www.homewoodstoves.co.nz
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CONTENTS
Important Information���������������������������������������������������1
Getting to Know Your Stove������������������������������������������2
e Homewood Heritage�����������������������������������������������������������������������������2
Stove Controls��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3
A Guide to Fuel �������������������������������������������������������������4
Types of Wood���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4
Wood Storage����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5
How to Build a Good Fire����������������������������������������������6
Ignition and Start-up���������������������������������������������������������������������������������6
Ticking Over����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������7
Maintaining a Good Fire������������������������������������������������8
ControllingTemperature�����������������������������������������������������������������������������8
Idle and Overnight Burning�����������������������������������������������������������������������8
Cooking With Your Homewood������������������������������������9
About Cast Iron������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9
Wood Stove Cooking����������������������������������������������������������������������������������10
A Couple of Recipes toTry�������������������������������������������������������������������������11
Looking After Your Stove��������������������������������������������12
Polish and Clean���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������12
Comprehensive Cleaning ��������������������������������������������������������������������������13
Stove Maintenance�������������������������������������������������������14

1
IMPORTANT
Heed all warnings to ensure the safe operation of your stove, and to avoid
invalidating your warranty�
2Read this manual and our installation instructions in
their entirety before attempting to operate your Homewood�
2Only operate a Homewood Heritage that has been
correctly installed as specified in our installation instructions�
2Fire, of course, is hot, and your Homewood will heat
up during use - exercise appropriate care�
2If your stove has a water heating system, it must be
connected to water every time you light your Homewood�
2 Keep your stove dry� Water corrodes cast iron� Make sure all
flue seals and caps are intact at all times, and clean up spills
as soon as it is safe to do so� Investigate any unexplained
moisture for cause�
2Do not modify your Homewood stove in any way without
prior written approval from Homewood Stoves Ltd�
WARNING: DO NOT USE FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS OR AEROSOLS TO
STARTORREKINDLETHEFIRE.
WARNING: DO NOT USE FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS OR AEROSOLS INTHE
VICINITY OFTHIS APPLIANCEWHENITIS OPERATING.
WARNING: DO NOT STORE FUEL WITHIN STOVE INSTALLATION
CLEARANCES.
WARNING: IF OPERATING THIS APPLIANCE AS AN OPEN FIRE USE A
FIRESCREEN.
CAUTION:THIS APPLIANCE SHOULD NOT BE OPERATED WITH BOTH
GLASS PANES CRACKED�
CAUTION: THE USE OF SOME TYPES OF PRESERVATIVE-TREATED
WOOD AND DRIFTWOOD AS A FUEL CAN BE HAZARDOUS AND
CORROSIVE�
CAUTION:THIS APPLIANCE SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AND OPERATED
AT ALLTIMES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS�
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2
THE HOMEWOOD HERITAGE
1�Cooking plate tool
2�Copper wetback at rear of
firebox
3�Flue collar,with soot door
4�Bypass lever
5�Baffle
6�Cooking plates,with left plate
lifted,showing underside
7�Top cleaning port
8�Handrail
9�Top air control
10�Firebox
11�Secondary air intake,
(uncontrolled)
12�Top oven
13�Refractory panels
14�Handle tool
15�ermometer
16�Ash compartment door,
with bottom air control
17�Ash pan
18�Lower oven
19�Front cleaning port
20�Universal poker tool
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3
STOVE CONTROLS
Bypasslever - thewooden-handled
lever, to the right side of the flue
collar�
e bypass lever should only ever be in two positions: fully closed
or fully open�When in the open position (handle away from you),
the hot combustion gases escape directly up the flue�When closed
(handle toward you),the gases circulate around the oven,heating it
evenly,before escaping out the flue�
Topaircontrol -theslidingventwithwoodenhandle,immediately
above the fire door�
is variable control introduces air that drops down the inside of
thedoor,keepingtheglasscleanduringlighting�Itsuppliesprimary
air to the firebox,and is used to regulate the heat of the fire and to
aid clean burning�
Bottom air control - the rotating cast iron cap,
on the ash compartment door�
islowerprimaryaircontrolintroducesairfrom
below the firebox grate� It has been designed to be easily operated
by foot,and is used when starting or boosting your fire�
For details on the proper use of these controls,refer to page 6�

4
FUEL
e wood you choose is the single most influential factor on your
stove’s performance and heat output� Only thoroughly dry wood
will produce a clean,hot fire�
Any non-resinous wood is suitable, preferably a mixture of both
softwoods and hardwoods� Both types produce about the same
amount of heat per weight,but burn at different rates�Fast-burning
softwoods are used when building a fire, to quickly establish
efficient combustion temperatures,while dense hardwoods are used
to sustain an established fire,without needing to refuel so often�
Some common firewood types around New Zealand:
Softwoods
Totara (moderate burning)
Pine (medium to quick burning,and hot)
Macrocarpa and Lawson Cypress (moderate burning)
Hardwoods
Black Wattle and Manuka/Kanuka (hot burning)
Eucalypts (hot burning - Gum is very slow to dry properly)
Willow and Poplar (not very hot,but very clean)
You may have different wood types available in your area - just
remember,the very best wood is always dry wood�
Resinous woods,such as red-heart totara or very gummy pine,can
produce a heavy creosote deposit in the flue and around the oven
and so should be avoided�
Tip:
Old pallets can be an excellent source of free starter fuel�Just
make sure they are untreated and unwanted; and be prepared
to sift the ash for nails!

5
Wood Storage
To have good, dry wood to feed your fire, you will need to store it
in a place that is well aired and sheltered from the elements�Wood
can take a significant time to dry properly after felling, so if you
are cutting your own wood you will need a decent-sized woodshed
with an organised rotation system for green and dried wood�
Different woods, cut to different sizes, dry at different rates;
the denser the wood, the longer the drying period� While some
softwoods can be dry and ready to burn in as little as three to six
months, it can take some denser hardwoods several years to dry
properly�
Tip:
If you hit two dry pieces of wood together,they should ring -
a dull thud indicates excess moisture: more drying needed!
Wood Cutting
e Heritage has a very large firebox, with a maximum log size
of 470mm by 200mm (optimum wood length is approximately
400mm)� Be sure to have plenty of intermediate sizes for building
the fire�
A Note on Coal
isstovehas beendesignedas an efficient andclean-burningwood
stove�Itcanburncoal,butcoalisanon-renewablefossilfuelandthe
Heritage performs beautifully on wood alone (even overnight)� If
you’re set on using coal in your Heritage,please note that to comply
with New Zealand standards the top air control must remain fully
closed when operating with coal�

6
BUILDING A GOOD FIRE
A good fire is one that has established a thick bed of hot embers,
and so burns cleanly and efficiently�
Stage One: Ignition
Both air controls and the flue bypass lever must be fully open when
lighting your stove�
Push the bypass lever away from you,to the open position�1� Slide open the top air control all the way to the right�2� Wind the bottom air control completely open�3� Clear the grate of ash�4� Place paper, kindling and small pieces of wood in the firebox,5� and ignite in multiple places� e Heritage lights very easily;
you should never need much kindling�
Close the firebox door as soon as the paper is lit to allow the6� controlled air to circulate and do its job�e glass in the firebox
door allows you to monitor the fire�
Warning: Do not burn household rubbish! While plain
newspaper and cardboard is fine for starting a fire,glossy junk
mail or packaging will release nasty fumes�
Stage Two: Start-up
During this stage,which should only last for a half hour or so,it is
important to be very generous with wood�
isisthemostcriticalphaseforbuildinganefficientandeconomical
fire - heat is being absorbed by the refractory panels and the cast
iron, and a hot mass is building in the fire base� Burning liberal
amounts of wood at this stage will pay off in a fire that requires less
wood later on�
Failuretobuildheatsufficientlyatthispointwillresultinalacklustre
fire that never manages to combust efficiently�
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7
Feed your fire with starter wood: dry,quick-burning softwood1� around 50 - 100mm in diameter� Add progressively larger
pieces throughout this stage, taking care not to smother your
building fire�
After about 15 minutes (depending on the level of heat your2� fireisachieving),turnthebypasslevertowardyou,tothe closed
position�e heat will now circulate around the stove,causing
the oven temperatures to steadily rise�
Overthesecondhalfofthisstage,youcangraduallywindinthe3� bottomair control�It should befullyclosed bythebeginning of
Stageree�e top air control can also be progressively closed
to the minimum required to maintain a clean fire�
If the fire is struggling - characterised by black-tipped flames,
smouldering wood, dull embers and a lot of smoke coming from
the chimney - be more generous with your air and/or wood,so that
you achieve the heat required to reach the third stage�
Remember: only dry wood produces a clean,hot fire!
Stage Three: Ticking Over
isisyourgoal:asteadyfirethatrequiresonlyinfrequentadditions
of large hardwood logs that will burn slowly and cleanly on your
well-established bed of embers� e controls are closed and the
oven temperature is very stable�
No smoke should be produced at this stage - if it is, more primary
air is required�

8
MAINTAINING A GOOD FIRE
Oven temperature is a combined function of wood type and firebox
airflow�Experiencewillsoonprovideaknackforjudging howmuch
wood or air is required�
Cooking Temperature
e key to successful wood stove cooking is keeping a constant
temperature�Wood should be replenished before the last log burns
down completely, while the ember bed still retains its heat� To
quickly raise the temperature of the oven,increase the primary air,
and add starter wood (see Stage Two, page 7) to the firebox� To
quickly drop the oven temperature,simply hold open the oven door
as required�
Idling
Afirethatisnotbeingusedforcookingcanberunmorelethargically,
by allowing logs to burn down almost completely before refuelling�
Overnight Burn
Toachieveagood,clean,overnightburnyouneedawell-established
bed of embers�Place one large (as big as can fit),dry log of a slow-
burning hardwood onto your thick embers and close all stove
controls once it has started burning well�
In the morning, open all controls right up, and stoke the embers�
Place some starter wood on what should now be a glowing bed -
and watch as your fire sparks back into flame�
Overloading
Deliberately running your stove at excessive temperatures for
prolongedperiodscouldcausethecastironpanelstocrackordistort�
Adding fast-burning wood to an established fire is an effective way
to boost oven temperature when required, but running the stove
constantly on maximum air and a full supply of small wood is
irresponsible,potentially dangerous,and may damage your stove�

9
COOKING
is is what it’s all about: a bubbling kettle,home baking fresh out
of the oven,and the warmth of a Homewood kitchen�
The Cast Iron Benet
eHomewoodHeritageisacastironstove�Castironisthematerial
ofchoice for premiumcooking ranges,due to itstremendousability
to absorb and retain heat�
e thick, heavy castings of your Homewood take in and hold the
circulating heat,creating an oven that has a very stable and regular
temperature,evenasthefirediesdown�Youwillnoticethatopening
the oven door to check your baking will have very little detrimental
effect on your cooking temperature,and that you shouldn’t need to
turn your baking around in the oven for even browning,as the cast
iron of the Homewood minimises fire-side heat bias�
Tip:
Ifyouarein a rush,andneedingtobakeonafirethat’s not yet
established, you may notice extra heat on the left side of the
oven until a stable temperature has been reached�
Top Oven
eHomewoodHeritagehasaverylargetopoven,withanaccurate
temperature gauge� Use it as you would a conventional oven, and
control the temperature as instructed on the previous page� e
large glass window on this oven will allow you to monitor your
baking without having to continually open the door�
Tip:
A torch can be handy to check on your baking through the
glass,especially in low light!

10
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Lower Oven
is oven, while smaller than the top oven, is still able to fit large
dishes� It runs at around three quarters the temperature of the top
oven,so is ideal for cooking puddings,casseroles and cakes�
With the door slightly ajar it can be used to keep meals warm, to
heat plates before serving,and to dry fruit�
Tip:
is oven doesn’t have a glass window - we tie a strip of red
cloth to the right-hand end of our handrail anytime we have
baking in the lower oven so it’s not forgotten!
Top Plates
Your cooking plates will heat rapidly upon lighting your stove�
Being directly above the fire, the left hand plate will always be the
hottest, and is good for boiling, searing and frying�e plates get
cooler toward the right - good for simmering, slow stewing and
keeping things warm�
e great thing about having cast iron plates like this is that you
always have instant access to variable heat�Simply slide your pot or
pan to the right for less heat,and to the left for more - a whistling
kettle works wonders in demonstrating this!
Warning: Avoid spills�Jam and syrup spills in particular can
be especially difficult to remove; and keep in mind that salt is
a corroding agent�Regular salt spills on the top of your stove
will cause pitting in the cast iron�

11
RECIPES
Once you’re up and running with your Homewood, why not give
one of these simple recipes a try?
David’s Date Scones
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon raw sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup milk
1 egg
1 - 2 tablespoons sour cream
2 teaspoons golden syrup (optional)
Mixsugar,salt,bakingsoda,creamoftartar and dates into flour and create
a well in the centre for the milk�Beat the egg,sour cream and syrup into
the milk with a fork,then mix into the dry ingredients�Add more milk if
needed to make a soft dough�Sprinkle with flour to enable handling,and
shape into about 8 squares�
Bake in a hot oven for 10 - 15 minutes,until brown�
Penny’s ‘No Knead’ Bread
(Makes 3 loaves,does not require kneading)
4 teaspoons sugar
4 teaspoons yeast
8 cups wholemeal flour
4 cups white flour
5 teaspoons salt
6 - 7 cups lukewarm water
Dissolve sugar and yeast in 6 cups of lukewarm water� Oil tins, giving
yeast time to activate�Mix flour and salt in a large bowl,and add the yeast
mix� Mix well - add extra water as needed to make a sticky dough� Pat
down into tins�Leave to rise almost to top�
Bake for 60 - 75 minutes or so in a medium oven,until well-cooked�
Visit our website: www.homewoodstoves.co.nz for more recipes!

12
CLEANING
Only clean and maintain a Homewood that is unlit and at room
temperature�Soot is known to be bad for you,so wear appropriate
safety equipment if coming into contact with it while cleaning�
Clean
e top and front of the stove can be cleaned with a rag soaked in a
bit of kerosene or turpentine�In the event of a bad spill,you can use
a plastic scourer with kerosene to clean the cooking plates�
Polish
We’ve given your Homewood an initial application of polish at the
factory� Over your first weeks of use, build up the polished surface
of your Heritage (only polishing the cast iron) with a few further
applications of stove polish (follow manufacturer’s instructions);
then polish monthly, or as required� You will find that it does not
take much to maintain a nice finish on a regularly polished stove�
Ash
Excess ashes should be removed when necessary, placed in a
noncombustible container with a tightly fitting lid and moved
outdoors immediately to a location clear of combustible materials�
Tip:
Wood ash makes an excellent addition to a garden compost�
Glass
e double-glazed glass doors on your firebox and oven are very
vulnerable parts of your Homewood Heritage� Exercise care to
ensure they enjoy a long life:
Make sure that the doors are shut securely when in use�•
Oversized firewood or baking dishes could break the glass -•
never force your doors shut�

13
Never let wood or oven dishes touch the glass; this can cause•
scratching, or result in creosote deposits that will be hard to
remove�
Don’t pour cold liquid on the glass when hot, as this could•
cause cracking�
When using the handle tool,• lift your doors shut,rather than
pushing against the glass�
Tip:
Wiping the glass with a clean,soft cloth before each lighting
will maintain a perfectly clean door - failure to do so could
eventually lead to a build-up that becomes hard to remove�
In the event of stubborn stains,clean your glass with your favourite
glass-cleaning agent and a clean,soft cloth�
Full Clean
Every two to three months, depending on frequency of use and
firewood quality,give your Homewood a thorough clean:
Lift and brush down the underside of the hot plates,and the1� top of the oven�Sweep deposits down the cavity to the right�
Open the top cleaning port and scrape down the inner sides2� of the stove with the universal poker tool�
Open both oven doors,and open the front cleaning port�3� Place the ash pan in the lower oven, beneath the cleaning4� port�
Scrape the inner sides of the stove and scrape all debris out5� into the ash pan�
Any noticeable drop in performance indicates the need for a full
clean� Regular full cleans will ensure that your oven continues to
come up to temperature efficiently�
Tip:
Shine a torch in both cleaning ports to check your work!

14
MAINTENANCE
Yourstovehasbeenbuilttolast�We’reopposedtothemanufacturing
mentality that sees products intentionally designed to require
replacement or constant third-party servicing�
Replaceables
eceramicropearoundthedoorsandcookingplates,therefractory
panels (the bricks in the firebox and the material in the baffle),and
the dome nut catches will be subject to normal wear and tear, and
may require replacing every so often� We can supply replacement
parts as required - just get in touch�
Tip:
Painting the refractory panels with a fire-cement wash once
a year will help prolong the life of your panels,by providing a
sacrificial layer to be burned instead�
Door Adjustments
Over time,your doors may experience a bit of movement�Remove
door,and put in a safe place�With a hammer, gently tap the hinge
pins in the directions required to restore a snug fit�
Tappingthepinsinthedirectionsindicated
will tighten the firebox catch� To loosen
the catch, reverse the tapping directions�
Most adjustments should require moving
only the top pin�
While changes to the ash door will be
identical to this, the adjustments for the
oven doors will be opposite�
Flue
Maintain your flue as per the manufacturer’s instructions, being
sure to inspect and clean it regularly�
Handrail
Make sure that the screws on the rail ends keep tight�

15
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Seasoning
Twice a year,at the beginning of autumn and at the end of winter,
give your stove a full clean as described in the previous section,but
instead of polishing your clean stove,paint it with a liberal coating
of boiled linseed oil diluted 50:50 with turpentine�
As with polishing,only apply the linseed oil to the cast iron of your
stove: the top plate and flue collar, the front panel and doors, and
the cast iron inside the ovens�Avoid the cooking plates,and avoid
the moving slide of the top air control as this can become sticky
with linseed�
Castironis surprisinglyabsorbent,so leaveit to soak in for a couple
of hours, then wipe off any excess with a rag - unabsorbed linseed
oil not removed will be sticky,and collect dust�
Leave overnight,then light a small fire to fully harden�Once cool,
polish, and go back to normal use� is seasoning maintains a
protective layer on your stove,helping minimise corrosion�
Warning: Linseed-soaked rags can spontaneously combust,
and are a fire hazard,so dispose of them safely�
Storage
Your stove is vulnerable to rust when not in use� If planning to
leave out of use for an extended period of time, season as above,
but also leave a film of cooking oil on the cooking plates to protect
them from corrosion�Fully cover the top of your flue to prevent any
moisture being absorbed via the flue�
When ready to begin using again,uncover the flue,and use a turps-
soaked rag to wipe off any superficial rust from the cast iron�
Anti-Seize
Once a year, loosen the bolt that connects the baffle to your stove
by giving it a few turns with a spanner, and then do it back up
withoutover-tightening�ebaffle needs removing ifyouever have
to replace any refractory panels, your wetback, or the refractory
material in the baffle itself, and this loosening and re-tightening
should keep the bolt from seizing up�

POTS PANS
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FOR PRICES AND AVAILABILITY:
EXTRAS!
PARTS
SPARE
TRAYS
RACKS
CLEANING KIT
MATCHES
APRONS
COOK BOOKS
www.homewoodstoves.co.nz
BREAD TINS
OVEN MITTS
STOVE POLISH
CAST IRON COOKWARE:
CASSEROLE
AND ROASTING
DISHES
STAINLESS
AND COPPER
KETTLES
DUST PANS
HEARTH BRUSH
AND MORE!
2
TOAST RACK
UTENSILS
GRIDDLES
PIZZA STONE
HATCHETS
KINDLING BOX