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31
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Wireless thermometers
« on: March 16, 2017, 03:01:13 PM »
I have an old style P&M sitting in our driveway which heats our house and our tenant's. Our tenant is in charge of filling the stove. I have added a string of Christmas lights that come on with the blower fan but I would like to be able to check the water temperature from our kitchen without either going outside or downstairs.
Does anyone know of a wireless thermometer that I could add at a reasonable price? Indoor outdoor weather units only go up to about 150F and any BBQ units I have found only trip an alarm but do not give a reading.
Does anyone know of a wireless thermometer that I could add at a reasonable price? Indoor outdoor weather units only go up to about 150F and any BBQ units I have found only trip an alarm but do not give a reading.
32
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: My blower is not supplying enough air?
« on: March 16, 2017, 02:50:32 PM »
I find that with dry wood we get very little smoke out of my old style P&M even when the blower is running. Toss in a few sticks of fresh cut maple or poplar and suddenly there is quite a steam plume, no change in the amount of air, just wet wood.
33
Equipment / Re: Wood processor - Who's got one?
« on: March 16, 2017, 02:41:28 PM »
A buddy bought one of the Wallenstein units a few years ago, sounds like the 835.. He brought it over to try one day along with two helpers to pile, a buddy to spell him off on the chainsaw and myself to fetch the logs and put them on the base of the ramp with the tractor.
In two hours we had 3 bush cords split and piled in the shed, then the sky opened up.
The biggest problem was the fact that the split wood sat in the shed (open sides) and went moldy before it dried. (it was still not dry the following spring).
He learned to forget about stacking it and just run the pieces up a haybail elevator and drop them in a heap, then stack them indoors after they dry for a month or so.
The next year he let me use it by myself and I found that two of us could split at a civilized speed, even with a 026 Stihl, then push the splits out of the way for the kids to pile in the shed later.
Since then he has sold his processor and OWB in favour of a Central Boiler pellet burner. 3 bags /day
In two hours we had 3 bush cords split and piled in the shed, then the sky opened up.
The biggest problem was the fact that the split wood sat in the shed (open sides) and went moldy before it dried. (it was still not dry the following spring).
He learned to forget about stacking it and just run the pieces up a haybail elevator and drop them in a heap, then stack them indoors after they dry for a month or so.
The next year he let me use it by myself and I found that two of us could split at a civilized speed, even with a 026 Stihl, then push the splits out of the way for the kids to pile in the shed later.
Since then he has sold his processor and OWB in favour of a Central Boiler pellet burner. 3 bags /day
34
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: pressurizing outdoor furnace
« on: March 11, 2017, 03:01:36 PM »
I have a few old oil tanks out behind the barn that I cut up when I need some sheet steel. Until then they have plugs in the fittings to keep the wildlife out but all summer we hear the "boings" as the sun hits them in the morning and then again as they cool off.
I once bulged one by trying to blow fuel oil in an overhead line to a furnace in the next room. Forty years ago, but it probably only took 5-8 psi...
I once bulged one by trying to blow fuel oil in an overhead line to a furnace in the next room. Forty years ago, but it probably only took 5-8 psi...
35
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Winter
« on: March 11, 2017, 02:52:12 PM »
Lost some snow last week but down to minus 32C tonight. Won't be back above freezing until next Thursday. Some bare patches on the hardwood hillsides but the lake ice is getting thicker, its just too cold for this old guy to stand on it...
36
Fire Wood / Re: Whats properly seasoned wood?
« on: March 10, 2017, 03:20:07 PM »
There is a difference between burning and burning well to produce heat. Our woodsheds were getting low so during the past few weeks we cut a half dozen maple/poplar/ash that were alongside the driveway. I was all set to skid them up to the barn and bring down dry wood but was told to drop them at the OWB where they would get cut up. Since some of the stems were 12" in diameter I offered to bring down the hydraulic splitter. Again I was shot down as my helper had a new maul....
That wood is going into the furnace with minimal splitting, and it is burning, but it takes 3-4 hours before it gets hot enough the produce much heat. During this time the water temp drops to 110/130 degrees on a cold day.
I figure that about 40% of the BTU's is just being used to boil off the ice covering and internal moisture....
That wood is going into the furnace with minimal splitting, and it is burning, but it takes 3-4 hours before it gets hot enough the produce much heat. During this time the water temp drops to 110/130 degrees on a cold day.
I figure that about 40% of the BTU's is just being used to boil off the ice covering and internal moisture....
37
Portage & Main / Re: Huffin and puffin
« on: March 10, 2017, 02:58:56 PM »
On the other side of the coin, the father and 25yr old son have started in the rabbit raising business.They have two pair so far but it seems that their two big males have taken to fighting so they scheduled a death and offered me some fresh rabbit meat. Since I haven't had rabbit in years I said yes. This afternoon the son brought one over and then explained how he was cooking the other one..... 
38
Portage & Main / Re: Huffin and puffin
« on: March 10, 2017, 12:27:04 PM »
To me, it is burning fine for the wood it is getting, wet frozen maple that was cut last week.
If we get a good fire going and feed pieces of wood in every few hours while we are in the area then it burns them fine and the water stays 180. If we leave it untouched all day, then fill the box with frozen wood then the fire dies down, and the water drops to 90F . My "fireman" tells me that this is caused by all the ashes in the bottom stopping the air which causes the fire to die. He solves this by shoveling out most of the coals and sure enough, by morning the fire is burning fine again and the water is back up to temp.
This way he only has to fill it with wood twice a day and the ice in the driveway gets covered with ashes daily.
If we get a good fire going and feed pieces of wood in every few hours while we are in the area then it burns them fine and the water stays 180. If we leave it untouched all day, then fill the box with frozen wood then the fire dies down, and the water drops to 90F . My "fireman" tells me that this is caused by all the ashes in the bottom stopping the air which causes the fire to die. He solves this by shoveling out most of the coals and sure enough, by morning the fire is burning fine again and the water is back up to temp.
This way he only has to fill it with wood twice a day and the ice in the driveway gets covered with ashes daily.
39
Portage & Main / Re: Huffin and puffin
« on: March 08, 2017, 04:25:45 PM »
So how thick a coal bed should I have in the bottom of my old furnace? I don't even remember if the supply vents are in the top of the grate or the bottom......I just figure that if the smoke increases when I open the ash door then it is getting more air, which must be coming up thru the coals and as long as the water stays at the set point then the fire is burning OK.
40
Fire Wood / Re: Whats properly seasoned wood?
« on: March 08, 2017, 04:14:46 PM »
In this case he sort of has me by the short curlies and tells me to do it myself, which I can't for health reasons. Last winter things were OK but this winter he feels he knows best. If we get an early start to filling the woodsheds, (12-15 bush cord) it won't matter, as next winter he will only have dry wood to burn,
If we don't start filling the woodsheds by the end of blackfly season then I will be getting someone to do it who realizes the difference.
In his defense, he is out there at 7am stoking the furnace and does all his cutting with his own saws.
If we don't start filling the woodsheds by the end of blackfly season then I will be getting someone to do it who realizes the difference.
In his defense, he is out there at 7am stoking the furnace and does all his cutting with his own saws.
41
Fire Wood / Re: Whats properly seasoned wood?
« on: March 05, 2017, 09:00:01 AM »
Winter of 2015-16 was a light year for wood so last summer our tenant decided that 12 bush cord in the woodsheds should be lots. I then piled some fresh cut maple logs in the barnyard and let the snow cover it.
By the end of January I was buying wood so we cut the ice covered logs during Feb and piled them by the OWB, mostly unsplit but covered by a tarp.
Now I am 72 yrs old with bone cancer so my tenant is supposed to feed the furnace as I can only lift 10 lb.
I can however bring down skids of dry wood (we have about a bush cord left) with the tractor and set them beside the OWB to use for "kindling".
Experience has shown that once the fire is up to temp, I can toss in a few smaller green sticks during the day and the temp stays at 180F.
Tenant has decided that the proper way to operate is to fill the stove only twice a day, early morning and 6-7pm. By this time the last load has burnt down and the water temp is dropping. By noon, the water is down to 90deg and the green wood has just started to burn so by 3-4pm the water temp is back up. The wood is pretty well gone by 6-7 when he fills it up with frozan wood again.
Each time he finds that the new wood doesnt burn very well, he shovels out most of the glowing coals in the bottom so the "air can get thru" (the air feed in my P&M is up thru the ash tray). This of course removes a lot of the heat that would dry out the maple, but 4-5 hrs later the wood has started to burn anyway.
Both of the houses have airtight fireplace/stoves as well as the new OWB but two years ago (their first winter) they found that they could not heat their house with it (we had used it as a sole heat source for 8 years) so now they refuse to light it as "any heat goes up the chimney". They just cannot understand how our house can be so warm when we light our airtight. Must be because we only burn it in the evenings........
How do you argue with a citiot?
By the end of January I was buying wood so we cut the ice covered logs during Feb and piled them by the OWB, mostly unsplit but covered by a tarp.
Now I am 72 yrs old with bone cancer so my tenant is supposed to feed the furnace as I can only lift 10 lb.
I can however bring down skids of dry wood (we have about a bush cord left) with the tractor and set them beside the OWB to use for "kindling".
Experience has shown that once the fire is up to temp, I can toss in a few smaller green sticks during the day and the temp stays at 180F.
Tenant has decided that the proper way to operate is to fill the stove only twice a day, early morning and 6-7pm. By this time the last load has burnt down and the water temp is dropping. By noon, the water is down to 90deg and the green wood has just started to burn so by 3-4pm the water temp is back up. The wood is pretty well gone by 6-7 when he fills it up with frozan wood again.
Each time he finds that the new wood doesnt burn very well, he shovels out most of the glowing coals in the bottom so the "air can get thru" (the air feed in my P&M is up thru the ash tray). This of course removes a lot of the heat that would dry out the maple, but 4-5 hrs later the wood has started to burn anyway.
Both of the houses have airtight fireplace/stoves as well as the new OWB but two years ago (their first winter) they found that they could not heat their house with it (we had used it as a sole heat source for 8 years) so now they refuse to light it as "any heat goes up the chimney". They just cannot understand how our house can be so warm when we light our airtight. Must be because we only burn it in the evenings........
How do you argue with a citiot?
42
Fire Wood / Re: First of the year
« on: March 04, 2017, 03:30:04 PM »
12 bush cord has been enough for both houses for the past ten years. This winter my tenant is feeding the stove plus we are heating water for both houses. Burnt close to 14 cord so far....minus 30C last night
43
Fire Wood / Re: Getting it done
« on: March 04, 2017, 03:08:49 PM »
Couple of years ago I added 1/4" power angle lines to the plow on my FEL. Now I wish I had run 1/2' lines instead so I could mount my splitter up front instead of on the 3pth....
44
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Who knows what about Heat Pumps!?
« on: February 27, 2017, 03:39:35 PM »
We have a lake loop geothermal system. Last years I added an outdoor wood furnace. In ten years the backup heat never turned on (we have it locked out) and the last month the geo ran, it cost the same as paying $80/bush cord for dry maple. Lucky we don't pay for wood...
45
Fire Wood / Re: Anyone become a "wood slave"?
« on: February 21, 2017, 06:49:23 PM »
Finally got some firm figures on what it cost us to run our Geothermal last year versus buying wood. Even with Ontario hydro being the most expensive in North America I can run the geo for the same price as paying $60/ bush cord of dry maple.....
Burnt about 12 bush cords heating our two houses (and domestic water) so far this year.
Spent just over $5000 for Logstor pipe last summer so even burning our "free" wood from out back, it will be a few years to break even.
Burnt about 12 bush cords heating our two houses (and domestic water) so far this year.
Spent just over $5000 for Logstor pipe last summer so even burning our "free" wood from out back, it will be a few years to break even.