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loger1_gw

My summer projects for the winter are testing OK with some needs

loger_gw
9 years ago

My summer projects for the winter are testing OK with some needs showing.

Separating Ash from Coals Works with the Heavy Duty Fireplace Grate while cleaning the next morning or 2nd morning. I needed the help with the cleaning chore and lasting grate. The rear center leg will be replaced with 1/2" round fingers on top on each sides (bent to lower the back if needed). To allow the grate to pivot up to clean the deep ash under the back steel log. This has been a needed job that I feel is solved.

The Reduced Chimney Cap appears to be working fine with a good draw. Due to replacing the 35 + yr old rotted steel rivets. Plus, removing 1/2 of the Stainless Cap's height will reduce wind issues. That is a 14" ID X 16" OD pipe sucking all my heat. The original double faced metal fireplace was designed to be open on both sides. I replaced one side with steel with 2 stainless tubes below the fire, 7 above and a 3/8" Steel Back Log all open to the steel side. With the plate glass doors closed on the open side, I consider it a Wood Heater vs a Fireplace.

1. Attached at the link below is the expanded scrap metal that suggested a heavy duty grate would be worth the time.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tools/msg1117571811200.html

2. The Chimney cap blew off in 2000 in the middle of a windy hard winter. I always knew to keep some good heavy duty wire handy. The wire held the cap well until I rebuilt the cap the summer of 2014. My projects are challenging my body and I have canceled some old interest vs needs and will be contracting some projects as my Body Tells Me "Noooo". LOL!

Reduced Cap:

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Close Bottom:

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Top Close:

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Before Rebuild:

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Heavy Duty Grate�s Top:

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Heavy Duty Grate�s Rear:

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Comments (5)

  • loger_gw
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Following up:

    I noticed the need of the rear round ears to pivot the grate âÂÂsemi upâ to clean under it. I have also noticed sitting the grate off to one side with coal on it (using the poker) gives good access. The lift is not bad with the heaver Cat Walk Doubled Great but the 8-10 lbs + will have to be tested due to the dept leverage. LOL! That means adding rear ears and cutting excess angle on the front to move this post down the list "At Least".

    Have A Good Restful Winter!

  • loger_gw
    Original Author
    8 years ago

    An Update:

    Handy
    Folks!

    A Good Morning To Up-Grade My No End 24/7
    Fireplace Grate Matters. The challenge is I have burned many
    Grates due to 24/7 burning since 1978. After years of
    building/burning standard grates. I went to 2 Stainless 2” Dia
    pipes just above the floor (as “Dog Irons”) opened to the opposite side of the
    Once Double sided Fireplace (with a steel back to one side now).

    The new challenge is to hold coal overnight
    but remove ash for the New Day. Taking some of the mixture and
    leaving some worked but I felt I could do better. Better was the
    idea of a grate that would let the ash fall lower than the coals and pivot the
    grate up to shovel out the ash. That worked but my non-stainless
    expanded metal was giving me 1-2 years. I went to Cat-Walk
    Material allowing less coal to fall.

    The steel vs stainless Grate was still about
    a two yr cycle. Today I designed the grate with the Cat-Walk to be
    bolted vs welding to the main structure. The center is basically
    what burns to be replaced. Last, I added ears to pivot the Grate
    up holding coals while I shovel ash from below the grate and coals.
    The rear pivot ears can be adjusted and fires just showed to be lowered
    2-3”above the floor (vs my original mistake of straight ears as the
    front. Lowering the Grate between the bottom/top Stainless tubes
    will support coals and 10” dia wood.

    What’s Next For This Good Heat Fun
    Project!!! No Blowers, “Again”, heat in basic sized living areas
    will find you on moderate days (cold nights/mornings/days vs
    freezing).

    Good fun and exercise if you have a good source of
    wood!



  • loger_gw
    Original Author
    8 years ago

    Learning, Challenging, Forgetting, Red Oak and Grate’s
    Changes and Needs to hold coals overnight!!!

    1. I have had Red Oak seasoned a year that w/n burn with small
    seasoned cracks and ends gray in color.

    2. Some larger Red Oak shows cracks “As Seasoned” when it is
    cut green, graying comes with age.

    3. Lowering my grate more 2” from floor front to back on
    ears will allow less air and combustion.

    4. I’ll close intake air ducked in from the roof 50% since
    the damper is closed to the max by design.

    5. To burn the Red Oak that w/n burn in the past, “I feel the
    raised grate created a furnace”, IMO!!!

    Please share your opinions as I try to balance this matter.

  • loger_gw
    Original Author
    8 years ago

    6. I’m burning 6 week old “Green
    Red Oak today, green bark, no seasoned cracks mixed with seasoned Live Oak/pecan.

  • loger_gw
    Original Author
    8 years ago

    With the last two weeks of 60
    – 70 Degree weather in NorthTX I broke my burning 24/7
    mode. Today I checked my Chimney for Etc
    since I have experimented with putting a 6-8” dia short stick of green Red Oak
    in my last fire (built–up for the night).
    I’m trying to hold some coals to start the next fire). I did not see any differences from burning
    all seasoned wood.

    I was told recently that
    creosote would not attach to stainless steel.
    If this is true I believe this is why I have not ever seen what I
    thought was creosote in this 14” ID, 16” OD pipe, filled with asbestos (vs
    Soot). BUT!!! Using a magnet I just learned the Firebox is
    stainless but the pipe starting 3-4’ up in the Firebox is not stainless. That was a little disappointing to learn
    since the late 70s. I’ll have to look at
    the specs that I had not physically checked.
    Most of all the pipe’s conditions look good.

    Sweeping the soot off the 60”
    (2x30” sections) of pipe is usually an every 2 yr event. We should get a drop in temp soon and I’ll go
    into a clean-up mode. Burning all old
    wood before any seasoned. Such as, I
    found some once prime Red Oak solid from 2012 (under the tarp that I cut in
    half as I burn) and starter wood that I need to burn.