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[mlappin]

mlappin, good thing to watch out for.

This is the auger bit that we are talking about. http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-diameter-auger-bit-95973.html
 The description states diameter=6 inches. Worth measuring first though!

That should be a true 6 inches then, given that I deal with augers all the time for grain handling first thing that came to mind is that ag augers are sold by what size tube they will be running in. Auger flighting is always 1" smaller than the tube to prevent binding.

[hondaracer2oo4]

Thanks mlappin. Always looking for more knowledge!

[AirForcePOL]

It will probably need some grinding.  I measured the inside diameter of the flue pipe and it's right at 6 inches.   I never got around to buying the auger this weekend so maybe this week.

[hondaracer2oo4]

You want a tight fit so hopefully the auger is right at 6 too.

[BIGDIESEL20S]

What info are you looking for?

The video or a website to see a picture for ideas on how to make mine.

[BIGDIESEL20S]

Completely missed it, thanks! I added a flue extension down into my firebox this year. I believe it helped but it has been a VERY cold winter and am on track to burn what I did last year( 12 cords or so).

   How did you do your stack in the fire box? I have tried that a time or two but have not got nothing to last very long yet. Or have you talked about it and I just over looked it?

[hondaracer2oo4]

What I did was take a piece of 8 inch black flue pipe and cut it off at 10 inches. Then at the top I cut notches all the way around and bent the tabs in and then up. Since the flue where it comes into the firebox is a little less then 8 inches you need to do this to slide it up into the flue. After that I drilled a 1/2 inch hole through the flue on each side just above those bars that the 'deflector' sits on. Then I slid a piece of 1/2 rod over the top of the bars and through the holes in the flue pipe. This holds the pipe up. Then I took #9 wire, drilled two holes in my deflector plate  and slid the wire through the holes. I bent an L at the bottom of the wire so that the plate couldn't slide off the bottom and bent a hook at the top of the wire which I then hung from that 1/2 rod. I left about 1 inch gap between the top of the deflector and the bottom of the flue pipe.

[AirForcePOL]

I bought the auger over lunch today.  I got it for $39.99.  It is not as thick of metal as I had imagined but that's good because I will have to grind it down a little bit to get it to fit.

[hondaracer2oo4]

Can't wait to hear how it goes. I love Harbor Frieght coupons, lol.

[AirForcePOL]

I'll take pictures along the way.  I don't really think there will be much to it.  I'm kind of thinking that the tab that holds the flue pipe in will be able to hold the auger.  I am going to try and keep it as a temporary install for now until I find out if it works or not.  If I see good results then I'll make it more permanent. 

[AirForcePOL]

Ok, so I got the auger installed last night.  I had typed up a whole story here and then lost it, so I'll keep it short lol I don't feel like typing it all out again.  Basically, the auger will fit into the flue without any modifications but it's not really snug.  You can pull the flue out and screw the auger into the firebox using the tab that holds the flue up.  I did this until I could see it starting to come into the firebox and then I marked it at the top so I knew how long to make it.  There was too much back pressure in the firebox so I had to take one of the "spirals" off of the auger to allow for more air flow.  This was a PITA and took me about an hour with my grinder.  I put the auger back in and noticed it had a lot better flow.  Still some pressure, but about as good as it will get.  I can't tell you if I have noticed much of a difference yet.  It was -6 last night and I had the house on 70 and the shop garage on 52 (3100 sg ft total) and I got about 9 hours on a full load.  It is going to be about 15 today so it might be easier to see a difference.  I'll keep you posted though.  I only took one picture because my phone died in the process.  This picture of the auger while I was working on cutting one of the blades off. 


http://s40.photobucket.com/user/01amercer1988/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140127_211844_zpsyvyrg7bx.jpg.html

[hondaracer2oo4]

Wow, sounds like it is really doing its job slowing the heat from leaving the firebox. Now if you can fine tune it to find the balance between too much restriction and still holding the heat in the chamber longer to get good heat transfer I think you will see improvements in the efficiency.

[hondaracer2oo4]

I think 9 hours heating as much as you are with it being -6 and the smaller firebox of the h2 you are doing pretty decent.

[AirForcePOL]

Yea I thought that was decent too.  One thing... I have noticed a little bit of smoke coming from around my flue collar.  Do you guys think that's anything to worry about?  It did it a little bit before but it's a little bit worse now. 

[hondaracer2oo4]

Are you sure that it is smoke? I am going to bet that its actually steam. Thats exactly what mine does  and it is the chaulking that has failed between the firebox and water jacket allowing steam to leak by and out between where you are referring to. Easiest way to know if it is steam is take a piece of glass or mirror or something similar and put it right where you see the smoke coming from. If it fogs it up you know its steam.