Wood burning stove...

[DKAudio]

House is a rambler with full basement (some parts unfinished). 1,024 sq feet on main floor. There really isn't a good place to put the stove because all the rooms in the house are pretty small and closed off, that is why I want a smaller one.

I'm going to talk to my insurance agent and find out what their policy is. The city I live in alows them but they require a "wood burning permit".

Anyone know what common clearances are needed around the stove, I found many different answers.

[HayZee518]

COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL?The standard clearance for appliances installed in rooms which are large in comparison to the size of the appliance is 36 inches from the top, sizes, back or front of the appliance. Otherwise, install according to the manufacturer's instructions.
HOW HIGH SHOULD A CHIMNEY BE?

It should extend at least three feet above the highest point where it passes through the roof. It should be two feet higher than anything within a 10-foot radius, including the roof itself, overhanging trees, adjacent buildings, etc.
DOES A STOVEPIPE NEED SPECIAL CLEARANCE TO COMBUSTIBLES?

Yes. Clearance should be three times the diameter of the pipe, e.g., a 6-inch pipe needs 18 inches of clearance. Heat shields may be used to reduce the clearance by the same ratio as for the stove. For example, with sheet metal you can reduce the clearance by two-thirds, from 18 inches to 6 inches.

[DKAudio]

I got it, took the pictures in the front seat of my car so it may look a little strange. The unit was converted to an electric heater. There are 2 small holes drilled in the back for on/off and fan speed. There is a light bulb inside and a wire heating element.

There are 2 vents, one in the door and the other in the bottom. The bottom chamber has a metal vent plate underneath, kind of like a floor register, there is no seperation between the fire chamber and the bottom vent chamber.

The top has a 6" removable disk (shown with me holding it) and then an open ob-long vent with a metal grate to catch big chunks (I assume).

Any opinions? I know I will need to block the holes in the back, I thought I could use electrical knock-out covers, the kind that screws very tight. I assume the fire chamber and bottom vent chamber should be seperated by something, any ideas? What about the removeable plate and ob-long vent?

[DKAudio]

Bump, still looking for help on this one.

Thanks

[HayZee518]

boy they did a job on that pot bellied stove! In a few days I'll take some pix of my stove along with the bottom shaker grate if you intend to burn coal in it. you really should use some kind of cast iron plugs in it. that cast iron when burning coal gets a dull cherry red when its fired up, enough to melt steel. that perforated screen they got has to come out if you fire it from the top otherwise you do it from the front door. the door damper needs a rotating aperture plate, the ash door needs a sliding aperture plate for adjusting bottom draft. you'll need to fabricate an ash chute for the bottom. 22 ga sheet metal will do.

[DKAudio]

The bottom and door have a vent that you can twist open or close, is that what you mean by aperture plate?

Any ideas on a cast iron plug that would work?

Removing the screen won't be a problem.

So the 6" circular plate that can be removed is to fire it from the top?

D0 they make an exhaust pipe or adapter that will fit that oblong shape and bring it to standard 6"?

Not sure what you mean by ash chute, maybe your pics will explain it.

Pics would be great, thanks.

[HayZee518]

standard 6 inch black stovepipe, 24 inches long when assembled will form an oval to fit your stove. just press on opposite sides of a circle to form the oval. do it on the end opposite the crimped end. in the bottom of the stove there should be an open ended rectangular pan to catch the spent coal and ashes, so you can remove it and throw the ashes out, then replace it. if you fire coal once in a 12 hr burn period you should shake the grate to get rid of burnt coal ash. the ash and "clinkers" will fall into this ash pan.

[DKAudio]

Got it,

if you open the bottom drawer all you can see is a sheet metal bottom with "vent fins" in it. Does this piece need the fins in it or should it be solid and closed off, therefore only allowing air to enter in the 2 rotating vents (1 in main door and 1 in bottom door).

I guess they removed the pan but like you said, I should be able to make one out of 22ga sheet metal.

[HayZee518]

hmmm, ok. what you said they removed the cast iron grate that normally forms the bottom of the stove. I just hope they didn't cut off the grate supports which are small angles cast into the bottom of the pot. if they did you might as well toss out the stove because there's nothing to support the bottom grate.

[DKAudio]

I am out of town on a business trip right now but I don't recall seeing any grate or supports.

I guess it will have to wait until I get home and can check it out.

If that is the case, could I get a BBQ grilling grate and cut it to fit? I know you said that steel will melt in this thing and iron won't but aren't the melting points pretty close? Afterall, steel is just iron with controlled carbon, I thought it was around 2500F vs 2700F.