Cold Air Return. Do I Need It?

larryfoster · Post by **larryfoster** » Fri. Feb. 27, 2015 10:02 pm

I never considered there was air leaking or how important tightness had to be.
I just assumed the chimney draws.

I'm hoping this was the problem and that, by fixing this, I can feel some success.

If this works, then I think getting a return for next season will also help.
And the shop vac method needs to work because I don't have a roof climber onSunday

ddahlgren · Post by **ddahlgren** » Sat. Feb. 28, 2015 1:45 am

SWPaDon wrote:I've only been a member for 15 months, but from what I've seen ..........yes it is. LOL

I think Cooking with Coal the winner but constantly has new stuff and we all like to eat LOL. A thumbs up for that thread!!!

blrman07 · Post by **blrman07** » Sat. Feb. 28, 2015 8:08 am

The record has to go to the anthratube fiasco with AHS. Now that was mind numbing!!!!

Re: Coalgun- Puff backs & Explosions
PostBy: blrman07 On: Mon Nov 18, 2013 3:55 am

26,810 views with 708 posts and it appears that a user comes up with a possible simple inexpensive fix to a puff back problem that has resulted in damage to property. Remember this user said he never upgraded to the automatic controls. He operated his unit manually and still got the same puffbacks as those with automatic controls. So it appears it was not a problem with the controls but instead appears to have been some type of possible design hickup inherant in the design from when this was first tried in the 1940's and the project was dropped and not pursued?

larryfoster · Post by **larryfoster** » Sat. Feb. 28, 2015 8:24 am

Heck, I've got a long ways to go

Sunny Boy · Post by **Sunny Boy** » Sat. Feb. 28, 2015 10:03 am

Yup, your only getting started !

One of Nortcan's threads is 60 pages, and the Cookin' with Coal thread at 82 now.

Paul

larryfoster · Post by **larryfoster** » Sat. Feb. 28, 2015 10:41 am

I'll try harder.

We've only scratched the surface of my ignorance.

larryfoster · Post by **larryfoster** » Sun. Mar. 01, 2015 5:06 pm

Mission accomplished.

Blew out the chimney with the shop vac

Replaced the flue pipes.

Screwed them together and taped the joints. My high temp tape melted in minutes

Attempted to cement around the thimble and that was mediocre due to problems getting that to stick
Cleaned out the fire box

Added insulation to the front per Lightning's mod. What I had previously put in was gone.

There are no MPDs or Baros in the run.

I think it needed blown out.

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The fire box was full of clinkers

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Finished job.

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Mano readings after 15 minutes
.10

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Post by **Lightning** » Sun. Mar. 01, 2015 5:22 pm

Wow.. now we're taking care of business!!

waldo lemieux · Post by **waldo lemieux** » Sun. Mar. 01, 2015 5:23 pm

Id say your on your way now. And a big shout out to you guys that have patiently stuck by Larry , wow.....

Sunny Boy · Post by **Sunny Boy** » Sun. Mar. 01, 2015 5:40 pm

Good work !

I've burned wood and even with that, looking at you pictures it's tough to imagine a pipe could get that clogged. And if there is a contest for clinkers, you could be in the running for first place !

Once the pipe joints are fully overlapped and screwed, refractory cement pushed into any pipe joint gaps, with a finger tip, will last far longer than the tape at stack temps.

So, now you get a taste of how well that thing can put out heat !

Seal up those last places in the pipe and thimble and you'll need some type of pipe damper, or baro, just to help hold it back !

Paul

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sun. Mar. 01, 2015 5:44 pm

Hi-temp silicone works well for pipe joints & is easy to apply.

larryfoster · Post by **larryfoster** » Sun. Mar. 01, 2015 5:47 pm

Later in the week it's supposed to dip below -0- overnight.
That will be a test

I second that thanks for sticking with me.

I'm not willing to say I'm out of the woods yet

Just cautiously optimistic.

Why do I have so many clinkers?

I have to clean them out every couple weeks

Sunny Boy · Post by **Sunny Boy** » Sun. Mar. 01, 2015 5:58 pm

Some brands/types of coal clinker more than others.

Some grates are better at removing the clinkers daily while they are small and more easily crumbled - before they have a chance to melt together into bigger, harder clinkers. Sometimes you just have to daily do some raking and poking with a poker that is shaped to best work with your stove's grate design. If not removed daily, the clinkers fuse together. When they get to a certain size and hardness, not even the best grates, or any amount of poking/raking can deal with them.

They accumulate and take up space in the firebox, glowing like burning coal, but they contribute no heat, so there's less and less room for fresh coal. A sure sign of clinker build up is the stove's heat output slowly drops off over the course of a week, or two.

And sometimes grate shaking technique does not eliminate them very well while they are smaller and more crumbly.

You might want to discuss your stove's grate design and if there are better grate shaking techniques, with the bit-burning guys on here .

Paul

larryfoster · Post by **larryfoster** » Sun. Mar. 01, 2015 6:11 pm

Thanks for that, Sunny Boy.

I have an old poker that is around 4' long
Several times a day I shake the grates and poke and stir the coals.

I get between 1 and 2 buckets of ashes every day.

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sun. Mar. 01, 2015 6:17 pm

Ya done real good LF.