...........Seeing your pictures on the stove has made me decide I want to make one too!. Just a few questions?. How does your one perform?, what do I need to know about the stack? Ie diameter size, length. Bends in the run. Is there any suggestions you can give me so I can build it right!.. Many thanks Anthony.
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Hi Anthony,
sorry for taking so long to reply, but to be honest I didn't see your post. It didn't show up on the "new posts" thingy.
Anyway, to answer your questions the best I can. The stove in the pics was designed to burn charcoal so doesn't need a door on the top part. If you are burning wood it will definitely need one, to force the draught up from underneath.
I have built quite a few wood burners, but don't have pictures, unfortunately.
Just give it a close fitting door big enough to fit whatever size logs you intend to use, a way to control the draught and a smaller door near the bottom to empty the ash.
Here's how I do the doors: (Hope this makes sense)
1. Mark out the door shape, and decide which side the hinges will be on.
2. Cut that side
only with an angle grinder fitted with a very thin slitting disk.
3. Weld on the hinges.
4. Cut out the side opposite the hinges and fit the catch.
5. Cut the top and bottom
The doors should now open neatly, without any alignment problems.
As for the flue.(Stack)
It doesn't really seem to matter what size or shape it is, provided it always leads upwards. Some people prefer long nearly-horizontal sections on the pipe, as this gives a chance for more heat to radiate. It doesn't seem to cause a problem, even though it would seem as though it ought to. I have even seen fins welded on, to try to extract the last bit of heat from the flue gasses.
I normally use 4" or 6" hollow bar for flues.
4" for straight up vertical stacks, 6" for bendy, long runs.
Hollow bar is a lot less expensive than pipe, and an awful lot cheaper than proper stove flue, in this country. Your mileage may vary...
I normally just mitre the bends and weld them up. Nice, sweeping preform bends should work better but they cost a lot, and I have never noticed any difference in burning performance.
Hope this is some help.
one_rod.
