"andrew" wrote in message
...
Shimshams wrote:


I can't find any gadgets to do it, and can't think how they'd work
anyway.

It's done on some of the Kunzel stoves. Essentially they are batch loaded
cross draught gasifiers. Load them with dry wood and set the timer, come
ignition time and a 400W hot air blower ignites the load. Many pellet
burners have something similar.


If you look in junk shops you can find hot air blowers which can be used to
light fires.
Essentially an electric fire element inside a hollow ceramic tube with a
kick ass hair dryer on the far end.
These are great for open fires because they blow very very hot air through
the fuel and the combination of heat and air gets the fire going really
quickly.
However you are still left with the problem of incorporating this safely
into a stove and also managing the stove so that it has enough draught to
light but then once lit does not over heat and/or burn all the fuel.
If you were building a stove from new then this should be possible, but
cutting and welding a sheet iron stove (cast iron would be even more
difficult) is probably further than you want to go.
You would need quite a bit of space around the stove as well to be able to
fit the bulky extra bits you would require.
You would also have to cut through the fire bricks.
Hmmm....losing enthusiasm for the idea already.