What are you up to today???

[LizStreithorst]

Be prepared for more mutts, Chuck. That is the reason I know that I can't foster dogs. They would all end up being mine.

[jwcarlson]

I'm slowly getting the wood burner in our new house ready to go. The fire brick was totally shot for the most part a crumbly mess. So cleaned all of that up. Swept the chimney and got about a 5 gallon bucket of creosote out plus a dead house sparrow. Got enough bricks to redo it for about $75. That's literally 1/10th of the cost of buying a new set of brick from the manufacturer. It's $700+! That's what this stove cost before it was discontinued! I'll have to do some cutting and stuff with these bricks, but hopefully it's worth the cost savings. I'm hoping I can get that done today. It's been so freaking cold here already. All the ponds are frozen over. I wouldn't be surprised if you could walk across them. Single digits last night and again tonight. Highs only in the mid-20s if that. Continues for a few more days before we get back a bit closer to reality.

I was a dummy and left hoses on both frost free hydrants in the yard... so I've got heat tape wrapped around one of them now, hoping I can get them freed up.

On Friday I got the snowblower set up on the "tractor" and placed into the shed ready to roll for snow now. Hopefully that means we don't get any for awhile.

Chuck, I think you're going to end up with a new dog or two!
Brian... you can keep the snow!

[Charlyc11]

I bought my bricks from my local Ace store and cut them with my tile saw and yes don't buy from manufacture. Like new last season.

[jwcarlson]

I bought my bricks from my local Ace store and cut them with my tile saw and yes don't buy from manufacture. Like new last season.

Ace had 6 bricks for $48 (after tax). They only had one box which I will be returning tomorrow. A regional big box store called Menards had them for $18 for 6 bricks. Bought four boxes and I am glad I did. I thought I would only need three! Got a 10" masonry blade for my miter saw and got everything cut and placed this afternoon.
I think I did alright. The top baffle area isn't done just yet, I had to make a bigger brick out of two bricks and used masonry cement to construct the brick, so I'm waiting for that to cure.

The gasket that I bought was too small, so I have a couple bigger options coming soon. And there's also some sort of fire board that's supposed to be up top above the top baffle bricks that wasn't in the stove, so I should probably buy one of those and get it on the way. Was hoping to get a fire in it this weekend, but just didn't happen. Will wait a few more days to have it back to "OEM". I also plugged off the ash port with a brick. I didn't consult anyone, but my brother said that's a great move. I know you want a bed of ash anyway, so I'll just shovel out some when it gets too deep.

[Charlyc11]

I don't remember what I paid but it wasn't that much Plus my box is a bit smaller. I might have gone to Home Depot now that I think of it since they were cheaper for the same at ACE.

[brewmaster15]

I re-did my fire bricks here too this year. Got them at Lowes very cheap. I was lucky they fit no cutting needed.. My wood stove have been running now the last month here as its our primary heat source.

Jacob your stove looks like it has a pretty long fire box.How long a piece of wood can you burn. My upstairs stove is very efficient and the one we rely on most... it takes logs up to about 21" ..
My basement stove is old and inefficient.Its literally just a metal box no blower...but it takes wood almost 28 " long. and is great to cook on so I keep it.

[Charlyc11]

My basement box only takes 18" maybe a bit bigger sideways. The upstairs I can get a 25" + in there but I don't use as much since it does not have the chimney liner and until I put one in I use once in a while and burn some cleaning logs. I might put a liner next summer. If I do use it the upstairs gets very hot. The basement I run all the time when I am home. I got to call for a wood delivery today I was waiting for the ground to harden a bit for the truck to pull to the back yard.

[brewmaster15]

My basement box only takes 18" maybe a bit bigger sideways. The upstairs I can get a 25" + in there but I don't use as much since it does not have the chimney liner and until I put one in I use once in a while and burn some cleaning logs. I might put a liner next summer. If I do use it the upstairs gets very hot. The basement I run all the time when I am home. I got to call for a wood delivery today I was waiting for the ground to harden a bit for the truck to pull to the back yard.

whats a cord running there Chuck..ours are creeping up to $300 cord....though I am usually able to find it at $240. I much prefer when I can score free wood from tree guys and cut it myself, but I slacked off last year .. I think I have about 2 1/2 cords left.

[Charlyc11]

He just quoted 18" Mixed for $250 cord

[LizStreithorst]

I miss the warmth of the heat that came from my old wood stove, but I don't miss the mess, and I'm for sure not up to climbing up on the roof with tools to clean the chimney every year. My best friend these days is my electric blanket. It has dropped below freezing 4 days in a row and I still havent had to turn on the heat. I wake up, throw on a hoodie and head to the fish room where I have a couple of oil filled space heaters going until it warms up enough for the house to be tolerable.

This morning I didn't wake up as toasty warm as usual so after I got up, I put my heavy bedspread on top of the electric blanket. I'm curious to find out how long I can go without turning on the furnace. I've made it kind of a competition between me and winter.

[jwcarlson]

Jacob your stove looks like it has a pretty long fire box.How long a piece of wood can you burn. My upstairs stove is very efficient and the one we rely on most... it takes logs up to about 21" ..
My basement stove is old and inefficient.Its literally just a metal box no blower...but it takes wood almost 28 " long. and is great to cook on so I keep it.

I haven't measured, Al. The manual says 20" which seems about right. The bricks on the bottom are 9" wide on both sides and the center area is right at 4". So 22" is my calculation. Front to back it's about 12". It's an "EPA Stove" with a secondary combustion section at the top of the firebox. There's three tubes with air holes in them. This one does have a fan on the back. We like our house pretty cool, typically. I'm worried starting a small fire in it will boil us out of the house.