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1

Fire Wood / Re: Broke down and ordered wood

« on: June 01, 2014, 06:58:15 AM »

 I'm about to do the same thing and order a truck load of hardwood, going price here is $1200 for a 12 cord load in 8' lengths. I have always cut my own and nearly have a full shed now but I want to get ahead after the severe winter we had exhausted our reserve. I also had a medical problem this last winter that made me think I had best get a little cushion but I do plan to keep cutting my own so that we can make this load of wood last a few years.

2

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Wood storage question

« on: May 26, 2014, 12:41:10 PM »

 Pallets are a pain when they are new, hard to walk around on but after some time they bust down and fill in with pieces of bark and wood debris. Gravel would probably be ok but will fill in with the wood debris over time also so I don't think I would waste my money on it. If you have good drainage and find some pallets that have thinly spaced slats I would go that route. Mine had pallets 10 years ago but it would be hard to find a pallet remnant now but that's ok the wood chunk flooring works just fine.

3

Plumbing / Re: PEX Crimpers

« on: May 22, 2014, 08:05:28 PM »

 Pex Al Pex is oxygen barrier piping and can be used on non pressurized systems but not required like on pressurized systems. Definitely don't expand the aluminum, it won't snap back! I think you made an excellent choice, once you get the hang of using the expansion tool you will swiftly move through your pex work, it really shines in tight places where a crimper is a pain.

4

Plumbing / Re: PEX Crimpers

« on: May 20, 2014, 08:04:51 PM »

 If you are going to buy pex for a new job and you need to buy a crimper consider the upunor method, you will never want a crimper again.
 http://www.supplyhouse.com/ProPEX-Expander-Tools-Heads-31000
 The tool is spendy but crimpers aren't free, the fittings are dirt cheap and the ease of installation is amazing. Crimpers are going to be antique items in the near future.
 Just one persons thoughts.

5

General Discussion / Re: Finally shut her down

« on: May 18, 2014, 08:14:05 AM »

 I am planning on shut down this week also, would have done it today but I overfilled yesterday and I have too much left inside, oh well I will get it done after work this week. I have the wood shed a bit over half full and lots laying in the woods ready to pick up, hoping to beat the bugs but it's getting close now. Like almost everyone else I burned more this year, makes a person want to cut up more for next year, it surprises me how much I usually have left compared to this year.

6

Fire Wood / Re: Poplar

« on: May 17, 2014, 07:13:03 AM »

 Poplar grows like weeds here, I burn it in the shoulder seasons mostly and it's ok. I have to agree it's not the best, if you let it get too dry it is nearly useless and that can happen quickly, if you let it set on the ground very long it will go punky quickly but if you get it dried and covered and use it in its prime it will burn nicely, I wouldn't be afraid to recommend burning it just that it needs a little more TLC than some others.

7

General Discussion / Re: Is the Superbird the best looking classic muscle car of all time?

« on: May 04, 2014, 06:42:44 AM »

 No doubt the Sbird was a unique, cool and historic vehicle with Nascar provenance but good looking? In the eye of the beholder, right? For me I like the first gen Camaro's and Firebird's or a 71 Chevelle SS, maybe a 66 Corvette or a Judge GTO. The best looking car has to have some lines to it, those Superbird's were too boxy for my taste. I like to see the old Javelins, Torino's, Challenger's, and Mustangs also, for me it's not always what's under the hood, I like to see original examples, the big block cars and factory horse power is amazing and don't get me wrong but if a person has to modify the entire drivetrain to get even more muscle then where do you stop? May as well put it on the track, really modify it and go racing where you can use it. Cool thread, by the way I'm shutting down the boiler today, happy summer guys/gals.

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General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Somebody please explain this to me

« on: April 30, 2014, 08:18:55 PM »

 Was it about 20 after 4 and the wind was blowing?

9

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Solar panel to OWB for Summertime use

« on: April 29, 2014, 11:04:17 AM »

ITO,

How much water does the superstor tank hold? What temp. are you maintaining in the furnace? I'm thinking your going to need the 60 tube collector.

Greg Steinacher

Greg, Its a 45 gallon model http://www.htproducts.com/superstorultra-stainless-steel-tank.html
 I am assuming because of our cold weather we would need the larger unit. I am also wondering how heavy that unit is, my wood shed has a south facing roof right alongside my boiler.

10

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Solar panel to OWB for Summertime use

« on: April 29, 2014, 08:37:17 AM »

I just dont see as much fascination in this, they do work indeed but id just assume to take that money and buy actual solar panels

Scott, I can see both sides but in our case we dont have that much electric and the investment to hook up to sell back to the utility here doesnt have rebates also I dont want to take care of a battery array, hot water for the shoulder season and summer would get us off the propane tank and allow us to run the outdoor tub without electric heat. My electric bills in winter are under $85/mo running the tub, without the tub in the summer we can get the bills down to $40/mo so ROI is not there. I can see in the future to do solar but this looks more interesting right now.

11

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Solar panel to OWB for Summertime use

« on: April 29, 2014, 06:05:54 AM »

ITO,

Where are you located and what is your capacity of your water jacket in your furnace and are you using a sidearm for your domestic hot water.

Greg Steinacher

Greg, We're in northern Wisconsin, 135 gallon HeatSource1 555 boiler, no sidearm, flate plate exchanger with a superstor water tank on the indoor heating loop, radiant floor heat on the loop (with mixing valve) and an outdoor hot tub with a ss shell and tube exchanger.

12

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Solar panel to OWB for Summertime use

« on: April 28, 2014, 06:21:36 PM »

 Well I gotta say the picture does clear up a couple things for me, Sprinters comment about the solar circulator makes sense. But a couple questions still.
 Can you tie this into your existing boiler and use it as a tank and pump to your house to do DHW and heat in at least moderate temps or am I missing something?
 A smart pump controller system must be needed, what do you recommend?
 I know you are just starting this up and kudos to you for that but don't you know where these are manufactured or any of the construction specs or even a website for the manufacturer?
 

13

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Solar panel to OWB for Summertime use

« on: April 28, 2014, 08:16:15 AM »

Good post Sprinter

14

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Solar panel to OWB for Summertime use

« on: April 26, 2014, 06:38:38 AM »

 Greg, this is pretty interesting, I watched the video and looked at the site and yes they did a good job. Would really like to see what results you have in colder temps, if we would use the style with the tank and exchanger on top then the lines from the boiler would be insulated and run from a constant running separate pump (just like another heating loop off the boiler), correct? I could see this working in the shoulder seasons and summer for DHW use but have a hard time thinking there would be much benefit during the middle of a northern WI winter. Seems hard to believe it can work down to -30 and be freeze proof. Sounds like you are just getting this going, best of luck to you, its a great concept, we will keep our eyes on your progress.

15

Fire Wood / Re: Interesting IDEA

« on: April 22, 2014, 07:00:35 PM »

 Pretty neat, I like the rubber tire idea in the video.