Steel woodstove insert question

[thebugguy]

Howdy, all-
This fall I installed a Pacific Energy "Summit" woodstove insert in my downstairs fireplace and have spent the last few months tinkering with it to coach out as much heat for as little wood as possible. I can't gauge the temperature of the flue as it's inside the fireplace- all I can measure is the temperature of the exterior of the stove via a thermometer magnetically stuck on the front of the unit. My question is, for those of you in a similar situation, how hot do you burn your steel stove as measured from the exterior, not from the flue? I've been trying to keep it between 500-550 degrees, but it sure would be nice to let'r rip hotter than that. Any thoughts/experiences?
cheers,
thebugguy

[Ross]

That's probably as hot as it will go measuring where you are. Flue temp is likely over 650f maybe even 700f Which is fine of course. My biggest concern is that the magnetic stick on thermometors aren't always that accurate so if its out 50degrees you could start to get into some very hot flue gasses ............. or you could have room to go up even more. Even the cheapy type K thermocouples are pretty good.