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1

Fire Wood / Persimmon burning

« on: June 10, 2018, 08:58:49 AM »

  I just had a good friend contact me that a Persimmon tree fell across their driveway. I ran out of wood yesterday and started the electric hot water heater for the first time in over 10 years. How will the Persimmon burn green?  The tree is alive but not healthy. It's hollowed out in the center. Will be burning in a Hardy H-4.

 Any experience?

 Mrs. Farmer Blue wants the swimming pool heated!   

 Thanks for any imput!

 

2

General Discussion / Re: Test your American Knowledge

« on: March 05, 2016, 05:26:19 PM »

25/25 If it's math or history I'm good to go. Just glad I didn't have to spell my answers! Spellcheck is a wonderful thing!

3

Hardy / Re: looking at a lightly used H-4

« on: February 28, 2016, 08:14:06 PM »

  My best guess is I use 2-3 cords a month. Since I am heating the DHW year round, heating the pool is no big deal. It is a 21' pool. I only heat it when someone wants to use it. Trying to keep it in the low eighties to keep Mrs. happy all the time takes to much wood. The heat enchanger is the size of a brick and it will make the stove work. I have made my own manifold using the pool pump to cycle the water through the heat exchanger. I can take the pool from 55 degrees to 80+ in 24-36 hours at the beginning of the season. During the summer you only have to go up from the mid 70's. That can easily be done overnight. I have a good solar cover and during 90 degree daytime temps the pool can get to warm.

4

Hardy / Re: looking at a lightly used H-4

« on: February 23, 2016, 08:11:02 PM »

 The H4 will supply plenty of hot water. As far as how many pumps, I don't know capacities of each pump. The H4 will heat my house during below zero weather and the return temp. stays around 140. The hardest work the stove does is heating the swimming pool. The water will be cool going back to the stove.

5

Hardy / Re: looking at a lightly used H-4

« on: February 22, 2016, 07:03:36 PM »

 I agree with hd5. The idea of the pump running 24/7. There is no cost to get the water from the house to the stove and back. It is all done by the pressure of the water system. My lines are in an insulated pipe with the lines to and from the furnace. The other thing that I would think is that to have  water running to the side arm heat exchanger during the summer would make the basement very warm. That warm air rises to the floor of the house and with or without AC it is either a warm floor or extra cost for the AC. We don't have AC just lots of fans. In our old farm house the basement is not finished. Just a place for furnace, HW heater, water softener and some storage.

6

Hardy / Re: looking at a lightly used H-4

« on: February 17, 2016, 08:12:19 PM »

 I have an H-4. I have two pumps. One to pump to the heat exchanger on the furnace (base board heat) and one to the swimming pool heat exchanger. The DHW heat exchanger in the H-4  is a copper coil that sits on the top of the firebox in water reservoir. My DHW comes to the stove and then goes back to the house electric hot water heater (set @ 105, just in case the fire goes out) . The longer you shower the hotter the water gets. Comes into the house about 135. I have added a mixer to regulate the temp. It is set at 125. Nobody ever runs out of hot water and it make for LONG showers for the Mrs. and son.

7

Equipment / Re: Electric chain sharpener

« on: November 27, 2015, 08:47:59 PM »

 I have the cheap one from Harbor Freight. It works fine. I believe that when you sharpen by hand it leaves an edge that will last longer. That could be due to the fact that the electric sharpener can heat and take some of the temper out of the teeth. When I use the electric sharpener I try to take as little as possible at a time so not to over heat the teeth.

8

Hardy / Re: auto fill valve

« on: January 27, 2014, 05:41:01 PM »

 Are you running your house hot water through your stove? Via the copper coil.

9

Hardy / Re: HARDY EFFICIENCY PLATES

« on: January 26, 2014, 02:38:51 AM »

See reply #10 in this thread.

10

Hardy / Re: HARDY EFFICIENCY PLATES

« on: January 25, 2014, 07:53:37 PM »

tickman,

 I can get you the dimensions for the H4 baffle plate when my stove is not running full bore. It is  a two piece plate that is bolted together, with a slide door on one side to increase draft and for clean out. There is a one inch gap all the way around the out side. If I don't do it when it warms up message me as a reminder.

11

Hardy / Re: Hardy plates

« on: November 28, 2013, 08:44:18 PM »

 I have had a modified baffle for my H4 that I bought off my dealer. It is a two piece that bolts together after you get it up in over the support rods. It leaves a one inch gap around the outside for exhaust/draft. There is a slide door in the center to open to increase draft and for clean out when needed. I have had mine for 4 years. The savings of wood is 25-33%. Well worth the money. If I recall the cost was $150-175.

12

Fire Wood / Re: Tarps

« on: January 09, 2013, 07:54:10 PM »

 I have used the old billboard canvas. It lasted about 4 years.  The billboard canvas is a woven material and as the years went it became less waterproof as the weave seemed to stretch. In below zero weather it was stiff. 

 This year I went to a farmer that does custom silage bagging (long white sausages). He had 8',10 & 12' diameter bags that were leftovers and to short to use. I got a 12'x 20 footer that when split was a 36' x 20' tarp. He sells it a dollar a foot ($20). It is a very heavy mill. I don't know how it will be in say -10 degrees,but so far so good.

13

Hardy / Re: HARDY EFFICIENCY PLATES

« on: January 01, 2013, 06:44:52 PM »

 I have an H-4.  I have had the plates for over two years. The amount of wood used dropped 25-33%. Green wood or pine can be a problem with build up. There is slide in the middle to let deposit/ash that builds in the stack drop out. I burn newspaper or card board about once a week to heat up and burn out any build up of creosote. If I let it go to long it will build up and the draft will go to nearly zero. Then I have had to let the fire go out and work a screwdriver around the edges to clean it out. I also am able to take a stick and lift and shake the plate to keep a build up from forming. The number you listed as the contact is my local dealer that came up with he idea. 

14

General Discussion / Re: Getting to know one another

« on: January 25, 2010, 08:25:02 PM »

1. Chuck
2. 48
3. Farm manager bison & horse farm (Ex-dairy farmer)
4. High school basketball referee,Cleveland Indians,golfing (not as much as I'd like)
5. 1998 F-150
6. Stihl 290 Farm Boss w/a 18"bar
7. Married 20 yrs in April, son 10

15

Fire Wood / Re: buying wood

« on: December 09, 2009, 05:22:57 PM »

 I bought a load of logs for $800. Some was dead ready to burn. Some was a birch that was just taken down this summer and very wet and the majority was pig hickory. I've been told that since the logging business is slow now selling these logs are about as much money as firewood as lumber. The majority was of the diameter that they had to be split in 4th or 6th to get in the door of my Hardy.