Travis Halverson

20’ x 20’ cabin on posts, with dormer loft.

I recently added a 16’ x 20’ addition which is master bedroom, bathroom, and closet.

We ran an electric space heater in the addition, and the loft during last winter. I am still okay with supplementing electric heat to those areas. We prefer the sleeping areas cool.

I will get back about the other questions next week. I am taking my son camping this weekend.

I have some experience with using RMH (batch and J-tube) at Wheaton Labs.  While I completed the tasks to received a RMH pep badge, I have yet to finish the process by posting the tasks on the site. With working both styles, I’d prefer the J-tube in my home.  

Thanks for the warm welcome!

A sketch of my idea.

6” system because 6” is already in for existing wood stove.

Need to buy supplies and try to finish before winter. First I will need to shore up the floor as this house is on stilts.

I want to use a basic design like at Cooper Cabin, but without the crazy long chimney!

Bella May wrote:Love this! Thank you so much for making these!

You bet!

Grady Houger wrote:I hear Gary Larson is going to start publishing cartoons again.

That’s neat!

The Far Side

I ran the stove at Allerton Abbey twice.  It is really, really neat.

The second time I ran it, the door got sealed to the opening and I was not able to add more wood.  I was very hesitant to tug too hard on the door because I imagined glass shattering into my wrist. Didn’t want to get blood on that nice floor in there.

I let the batch of wood burn more to coals and the door released.

It is definitely possible I fitted the door too snug after starting the first batch.  

Mike Jay Haasl wrote:Awesome, I hope it works well from now on!  Or at least until next year and the RMH...

Thank you!

Mike Jay Haasl wrote:Has the chimney been swept lately?  Wondering if there could be an obstruction or nest...

I'm also in Northern Wisconsin and it hasn't been wet and warm enough to make my stove struggle.  Weather seems to be the biggest issue when it's drizzling and 40 degrees out.  Of course, we have different stoves and chimneys.

How tall is your chimney?  If you're worried about moving the stove too close to the wall, could you swap out the 90s for 45s?  That should help the draft and maybe let you leave the stove far enough away from the wall.

I swept chimney a few weeks ago.

Just got home, I removed 90s and visually inspected up the pipe to chimney - looks good. Also lit a twist of paper under disconnected chimney pipe - great draft.

Inspected in top of the stove.  Noticed the insulation seemed out of place. Repositioned it.  Reconnected stovepipe with 90s included.  Stove works great now. No smoke back when door open.

Travis Johnson wrote:
I wonder if the baffles in it are preventing draft somehow? I assume it is a Cat Stove?

Specs say non-cat. I do not know much about these new stoves.  The weather has been damp, a little snowy.  I am brand new to paying attention to weather pressures as my old, EPA unapproved, box stove lit easy all the time.

I may just have a learning curve ahead of me.

This stove seems to burn well when finally lit, but is difficult to get fire going, then smokes back into house when I slowly open door to attempt to relight.  

I have burned wood as primary heat for four winters, so I am not brand new to settin’ fires.  I have two, 90 degree bends in the stovepipe, which falls within the stove manufacturers specs.  I may reposition stove in order to remove those bends.  It will get the stove closer to my wall though, but I do have cement board with 1” airgap attached to that wall.

This will only be used one winter until I build a RMH next summer.