So, wood stove home came with was inadequate. No control of airflow, no ash pan, not enough heat. Sucks, really. It's shown off to the right here in this picture. Yeah-the little dinky thing with the chintzy brass.
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/house03.png)
Paula and I decide to buy a new, better wood stove. We decide on a Vermont castings defiant, and contacted an installer to see what he thought, which was that it just wasn't going to fit, find something smaller. Me being stubborn, unreasonable, and rash, I decided to ignore the advice of the paid professional. After all, I didn't want something smaller-house is big, needs a fairly sizable stove.
This leaves one option, which is make the fireplace bigger.
Armed with a lifetime of no masonry experience and large volumes of liquor, I waited until P was out of town (did not want her to see potential disaster) and I picked up a nice circular saw, and a masonry blade, and set to work. The original was seven bricks tall, now it's nine.
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/2009-06_fireplace1.JPG)
I can't tell you how much dust this made. I mopped the house roughly six times before Paula came home to see what disaster was left. The black dog was white, the white dog looked like one of Joels legs. The horror. I also had to cut out the metal support that's there to basically hold all the bricks that are above the fireplace. After the initial cuts, I knocked out most of the mortar with a hammer and chisel, broke the remaining bricks into pieces, and removed the bits.
I then bought some metal stock, and made a new horizontal metal support for the bricks over the fireplace, and some vertical struts to support it, and welded them in place. Then I filled the gaps between the metal struts and the bricks with concrete. Everything got coated in a nice flat black.
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/2009-07_fireplace3.JPG)
Today, the installer guys came in and put in my new fireplace [thumbsup]
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/2009-07_fireplace6.JPG)
Now I just need it to get cold. ;D
Quote from: MrIncredible on July 03, 2009, 05:22:56 PM
<snip>
Now I just need it to get cold. ;D
Just come home. ;)
Looks nice, but looks like you made the hole one brick too big...
Vermont castings = [bacon]
Quote from: NAKID on July 03, 2009, 05:28:40 PM
Looks nice, but looks like you made the hole one brick too big...
It's a top loader-I needs the space ;)
Looks a good bit better than I thought it would.
Ummm, you DID use a high temp fireplace mortar around the metal, right?
Quote from: Bun-bun on July 03, 2009, 05:33:43 PM
Looks a good bit better than I thought it would.
Ummm, you DID use a high temp fireplace mortar around the metal, right?
It will never get hot enough
Quote from: NAKID on July 03, 2009, 05:28:40 PM
Looks nice, but looks like you made the hole one brick too big...
+1 do it over
Quote from: painter on July 03, 2009, 05:34:39 PM
It will never get hot enough
New tubing is double wall if I am right
Quote from: Printer on July 03, 2009, 05:37:09 PM
New tubing is double wall if I am right
You can get either.
Quote from: MrIncredible on July 03, 2009, 05:31:47 PM
It's a top loader-I needs the space ;)
That makes sense....
Quote from: NAKID on July 03, 2009, 05:39:34 PM
That makes sense....
in never land. Why would top load something thats on fire? I burned my eyebrows off once like that. :( Maybe its just me though.
How far does it stick out? is there anyway you could uninstall it and carve out the back of the chminey? I think you should of gone with a white to reflect the heat into the house. I think it'll make a big difference. but that thing is so freaking big it probably wouldnt matter.
Looks good though especially since you had no masonry experience!
Quote from: He Man on July 03, 2009, 05:46:33 PM
in never land. Why would top load something thats on fire? I burned my eyebrows off once like that. :( Maybe its just me though.
How far does it stick out? is there anyway you could uninstall it and carve out the back of the chminey? I think you should of gone with a white to reflect the heat into the house. I think it'll make a big difference. but that thing is so freaking big it probably wouldnt matter.
Looks good though especially since you had no masonry experience!
Toploading a wood stove is really convenient, to be honest. I've had this same model before.
I want it to stick out-it heats the house better.
In terms of getting the heat into the house, unpainted works better than a finish, but with this, it won't matter.
A pellet stove would've been e better choice. ;)
Quote from: trouble on July 03, 2009, 05:52:25 PM
A pellet stove would've been e better choice. ;)
Thank you. [laugh] [clap] [clap] [laugh] [clap] [laugh] [clap]
Quote from: trouble on July 03, 2009, 05:52:25 PM
A pellet stove would've been e better choice. ;)
In all my years.
I have never seen a wood pellet tree. ;)
Quote from: MrIncredible on July 03, 2009, 05:59:41 PM
In all my years.
I have never seen a wood pellet tree. ;)
You've led a sheltered life.
Great work Dave. [thumbsup]
Do you have a shot of that first pic with the new stove? it looks good from the front.
Quote from: MrIncredible on July 03, 2009, 05:22:56 PMToday, the installer guys came in and put in my new fireplace [thumbsup]
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/2009-07_fireplace6.JPG)
That came out great. Nice work!
I don't think the dogs will mind if you decide to give it a test run, cold or not.
QuoteIn all my years.
I have never seen a wood pellet tree. Wink
[laugh] Great reply and that's exactly why I don't have a pellet stove. Just one more thing to be dependent on someone else for and be subject to commodity prices. Looks like a reasonably good masonry job too.
Quote from: He Man on July 03, 2009, 07:09:49 PM
Do you have a shot of that first pic with the new stove? it looks good from the front.
Here you go (pardon our dust...still doing other projects):
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/2009-07-03_livingroom1.JPG)
And another shot of the old stove (after the bricks were cut out):
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/2009-05_oldfireplace.JPG)
I have a couple of fireplaces but had a Franklin Stove put in after I had the screened in porch closed in .
The Franklin puts out mega heat .
It sits on a brick hearth and has a brick Mantle behind. It's not as attractive as your Stove but it sure will run you out of the 2 closest rooms no matter how cold it is outside.
All and all I'd say for an Amateur you did a fine job .
The fire is nice but the ashes are messy.
Dolph :)
awesome work
why did you get a red stove?
Quote from: KnightofNi on July 03, 2009, 11:05:54 PM
awesome work
why did you get a red stove?
Lemme guess. Red is the fastest color? (after yellow)
Great job [thumbsup]
Quote from: Langanobob on July 03, 2009, 08:28:00 PM
[laugh] Great reply and that's exactly why I don't have a pellet stove. Just one more thing to be dependent on someone else for and be subject to commodity prices. Looks like a reasonably good masonry job too.
Firewood is just as much a commodity as pellets unless you cut from your own property, and I haven't seen where MrI plans on cutting from his own property.
cows
if you have cows you could burn dung
Quote from: Mother on July 04, 2009, 03:20:42 AM
cows
if you have cows you could burn dung
Or if your pellet stove is a multi fuel model you can burn corn...or cherry pits...or olive pits...or whatever you can dry and feed into it.
QuoteFirewood is just as much a commodity as pellets unless you cut from your own property, and I haven't seen where MrI plans on cutting from his own property.
Around here we have 11ty billion acres of our own property (public land administered by the BLM or USFS) where we can cut wood for a small fee. It does take some time but it's also good healthy recreation and there's some connection between a good running saw and a good running bike, at least for us crazed survivalists.
Quote from: Langanobob on July 04, 2009, 04:54:52 AM
Around here we have 11ty billion acres of our own property (public land administered by the BLM or USFS) where we can cut wood for a small fee. It does take some time but it's also good healthy recreation and there's some connection between a good running saw and a good running bike, at least for us crazed survivalists.
If that option is available then it makes sense.
In the NE that option doesn't exist so you pay your money to the oil man...the propane man...the firewood dealer..or the pellet dealer...oh or the electric co.
All commodities.
nice work dave [thumbsup]
Quote from: painter on July 04, 2009, 04:59:14 AM
If that option is available then it makes sense.
In the NE that option doesn't exist so you pay your money to the oil man...the propane man...the firewood dealer..or the pellet dealer...oh or the electric co.
All commodities.
We use the heater 3 weeks out of the year. The rest is AC.
We have a Vermont Castings Intrepid II catalytic stove. Works great. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Ducaholic on July 04, 2009, 07:06:14 AM
We use the heater 3 weeks out of the year. The rest is AC.
We turn the heater (gas) on at night only for maybe 20 days a year. We don't even have AC, just open the windows. But CA sucks. :P
Quote from: painter on July 04, 2009, 03:09:34 AM
Firewood is just as much a commodity as pellets unless you cut from your own property, and I haven't seen where MrI plans on cutting from his own property.
I got a bunch of oak trees with numbered days. Also, I border the park-there's no end of free firewood that falls around here. Already have a woodshed all set to season it in, got my sledge, and some splitting wedges. I should be alright :)
Quote from: MrIncredible on July 04, 2009, 10:03:35 AM
I got a bunch of oak trees with numbered days. Also, I border the park-there's no end of free firewood that falls around here. Already have a woodshed all set to season it in, got my sledge, and some splitting wedges. I should be alright :)
Maybe you could bring a bunch home from Kazakhstan. You have a big plane and you'll have lot's of downtime. :P
Seriously...
If you have access to free wood, and the time to work it up, and a stove that will sustain a fire while you're at work/overnight it's a no brainer. You will undoubtedly use a lot less wood than we do here.
I added pellets to the mix because firewood has gone out of sight here.
I used to be able to buy a truck load of logs (7-8 cords) for $375-$425. Last winter the same load was $1300. The price of hardwood pulp has skyrocketed and it makes sense for the logger to deliver to the mill instead of the homeowner.
Quote from: painter on July 04, 2009, 03:09:34 AM
Firewood is just as much a commodity as pellets unless you cut from your own property, and I haven't seen where MrI plans on cutting from his own property.
The wood stove uses one commodity - firewood.
The pellet stove uses two - pellets and electricity.
We get so many power outages in the wintertime I don't want to be dependent on electricity for heat.
Quote from: somegirl on July 04, 2009, 10:13:11 AM
The wood stove uses one commodity - firewood.
The pellet stove uses two - pellets and electricity.
We get so many power outages in the wintertime I don't want to be dependent on electricity for heat.
Point taken.
They do make stoves with battery back up.
I'm not trying to change your mind. You've made your choice and in your circumstance I might do the same. ;)
Did you use the same size angle for the new lintel?
Quote from: somegirl on July 04, 2009, 10:13:11 AMWe get so many power outages in the wintertime I don't want to be dependent on electricity for heat.
About 5 minutes after I typed that we had a power outage :P...forced me to finish fixing and testing the generator though. [thumbsup]
Quote from: somegirl on July 04, 2009, 11:39:47 AM
About 5 minutes after I typed that we had a power outage :P...forced me to finish fixing and testing the generator though. [thumbsup]
Why so frequent P?
Quote from: painter on July 04, 2009, 11:44:44 AM
Why so frequent P?
It seems it just takes a tree branch to fall down onto the line anywhere along it to take out the power...there are a lot of tall trees where we live.
Quote from: somegirl on July 04, 2009, 11:46:30 AM
It seems it just takes a tree branch to fall down onto the line anywhere along it to take out the power...there are a lot of tall trees where we live.
There are a few here too... ;)
Probably not as tall, but tall enough to take out a line.
Quote from: painter on July 04, 2009, 10:11:52 AM
I used to be able to buy a truck load of logs (7-8 cords) for $375-$425. Last winter the same load was $1300. The price of hardwood pulp has skyrocketed and it makes sense for the logger to deliver to the mill instead of the homeowner.
I can't find it that cheap-a cord of oak is $300 or so, however, I should be able to procure most of my own free. Also, I expect to burn maybe two cords a year, if that, which you and I know just isn't all that much.
The redwoods are notorious for shedding large branches, and there are miles of power lines. I have the emergency generator all hooked up, but I don't want to run it unless I need to keep the water pump going.
Quote from: MrIncredible on July 04, 2009, 11:54:28 AM
I can't find it that cheap-a cord of oak is $300 or so, however, I should be able to procure most of my own free. Also, I expect to burn maybe two cords a year, if that, which you and I know just isn't all that much.
The redwoods are notorious for shedding large branches, and there are miles of power lines. I have the emergency generator all hooked up, but I don't want to run it unless I need to keep the water pump going.
I suppose trimming the power lines is out? ;D
If you are able...
start and run it at least twice a year.
Run it out of fuel each time.
The last time I let mine sit it flooded because the needle stuck when I tried to start it because...
we had no power.
Quote from: painter on July 04, 2009, 11:59:02 AM
start and run it at least twice a year.
Run it out of fuel each time.
The last time I let mine sit it flooded because the needle stuck when I tried to start it because...
we had no power.
I suppose we can do that. We finally tested it for the first time today-powers the house great.
Quote from: MrIncredible on July 04, 2009, 12:33:58 PM
I suppose we can do that. We finally tested it for the first time today-powers the house great.
How many watts?
Quote from: MrIncredible on July 04, 2009, 12:45:18 PM
6500.
Sounds like plenty. [thumbsup]
I get by with less.
Quote from: painter on July 04, 2009, 12:50:04 PM
Sounds like plenty. [thumbsup]
I get by with less.
I need to run a hefty well pump off of it, amongst other things, and multiple houses get the water from the pump, so I wanted to make sure I had plenty.
I originally wanted the smaller one, but they had a perfectly good used (bigger too) one with all the records, maybe a year old, for far cheaper, so I picked that up.
It's a Honda-runs like a champ.
I have a Vermont Castings as well. They make a great product! Heats the whole house while we are at work or over night w/o much of a prob. Get my wood from a buddy's property. Save about $200/mo. during the winter. I split the wood w/ sledge, axe and chisle one year...never again. Now i borrow a log splitter from someone.
Nice work, BTW. [thumbsup]
Quote from: hbliam on July 04, 2009, 09:36:02 AM
We turn the heater (gas) on at night only for maybe 20 days a year. We don't even have AC, just open the windows. But CA sucks. :P
See I told ya you'd be saying that in no time. ;D
Price of wood has gone up here in the Pac NW as well. I see prices of about $165 a cord
for mixed wood. Mixed being Larch, and Fir. For those of you that don't know some fir burns like
paper and some burns much longer. I usually go out with a friend of mine and we cut about
16-19 cords and split it between us. I have to say it kicks our asses every year and I keep saying
i am getting to old for this shit. Then I do it all over again the next year when i see my
power bill for the winter average about $50 or less. I have a Vermont Castings "Federal" stove and
it will cook you out of the house.