Fireplace advice

[Snyper564]

My rule of thumb is that there must always be a flame on the fuel (log), however small.
If it's just smoking and smouldering, it doesn't have enough air.
If it looks like there's a nuclear reaction going on in there, the flue pipe is glowing cherry red and the dogs have run for cover, it has too much air.

One finds a happy medium with use over time...


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Thanks again just wanted to check if the wood is bone dry would a tinge of black on the window be normal or would it always be clear?

In short if well maintained dry wood etc is used is a slight black tinge still normal or not?

Just want to know what I should be aiming for.

 

[shadow_man]

Thanks again just wanted to check if the wood is bone dry would a tinge of black on the window be normal or would it always be clear?

In short if well maintained dry wood etc is used is a slight black tinge still normal or not?

Just want to know what I should be aiming for.

Your window will grime up over time - even if the wood has sat for a year or two.

I generally start the fire at full airflow - flu and doors. Once it's going I set the flu to about half throttle, and the doors to about 1/2 - 1/4. It's a thing you kind of ascertain over time as @Grouter mentioned.

Learn what works for your stove and stock up on some wood

 

[Snyper564]

Your window will grime up over time - even if the wood has sat for a year or two.

I generally start the fire at full airflow - flu and doors. Once it's going I set the flu to about half throttle, and the doors to about 1/2 - 1/4. It's a thing you kind of ascertain over time as @Grouter mentioned.

Learn what works for your stove and stock up on some wood

Thank you! Followed similar advice. Def started hotter this time round.

Ran for 4 hours this evening and there is just a slight haze compared to last week for it was almost solid black. So I am getting there, will be placing my order tomorrow

 

[W@P]

My folks had one installed last year. Works a treat.

 

[TedLasso]

It seems that going for a chrome/shiny flue, doesn't make sense once heat is sent through it ? Then it looks 'ugly' like in post above.

My flue is black so of course nothing changes. Haha

 

[Grouter]

It seems that going for a chrome/shiny flue, doesn't make sense once heat is sent through it ? Then it looks 'ugly' like in post above.

My flue is black so of course nothing changes. Haha

Black = mild steel = rust. Been there, done that, never again.
Stainless steel that discolours = 304, and will eventually corrode. Cheap and most prolific.
Stainless steel that does not discolour = 316. The best, the most expensive, and will last longer than the woodstove.

What’s the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel? | Nema Enclosures

What’s the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel? The simple answer is 304 contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel while 316 contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum.

www.nemaenclosures.com

How to tell? A magnet. If it sticks, it's 304. If it doesn't, it's 316.
The ferrous content of 304 stainless steel is it's downfall.

 

[Snyper564]

It seems that going for a chrome/shiny flue, doesn't make sense once heat is sent through it ? Then it looks 'ugly' like in post above.

My flue is black so of course nothing changes. Haha

The discoloration being ugly is in the eye of the beholder

We like it, the "petina" that is

 

[Snyper564]

Black = mild steel = rust. Been there, done that, never again.
Stainless steel that discolours = 304, and will eventually corrode. Cheap and most prolific.
Stainless steel that does not discolour = 316. The best, the most expensive, and will last longer than the woodstove.

What’s the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel? | Nema Enclosures

What’s the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel? The simple answer is 304 contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel while 316 contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum.

www.nemaenclosures.com

How to tell? A magnet. If it sticks, it's 304. If it doesn't, it's 316.
The ferrous content of 304 stainless steel is it's downfall.

Thats odd, mine is starting to discolor but no magnet sticks not even a bit

 

[Grouter]

Thats odd, mine is starting to discolor but no magnet sticks not even a bit

It's called 'tempering'. Worse with higher temps and lower grades of s/steel.

Installers should wipe down a new flue with acetone before the first firing, as fingerprints, etc, will burn onto the surface forever.
I recall an episode of Orange County Choppers where Paul Jr fired up a new engine on a chopper he'd just built and looked at his shiny new exhaust pipes with finger prints burnt onto them and screamed "Who touched my pipes???!!!"

 

[Snyper564]

It's called 'tempering'. Worse with higher temps and lower grades of s/steel.

Installers should wipe down a new flue with acetone before the first firing, as fingerprints, etc, will burn onto the surface forever.
I recall an episode of Orange County Choppers where Paul Jr fired up a new engine on a chopper he'd just built and looked at his shiny new exhaust pipes with finger prints burnt onto them and screamed "Who touched my pipes???!!!"

So is it 304 or 316? as no magnet sticks to it

 

[Grouter]

So is it 304 or 316? as no magnet sticks to i

Should be 316. Like mine. It still discolours, but not as badly as the cheaper stuff. You got the good stuff.
If you get it hot enough, you can get all the colours of the rainbow if you try hard enough.

But the brown colouring in cheaper grades of stainless steel is actually the beginnings of rust. Different thing.

 

[Snyper564]

Should be 316. Like mine. It still discolours, but not as badly as the cheaper stuff. You got the good stuff.
If you get it hot enough, you can get all the colours of the rainbow if you try hard enough.

But the brown colouring in cheaper grades of stainless steel is actually the beginnings of rust. Different thing.

Sweet thanks - yeah got a good installer. Not something I wanted to mess around with.

 

[Speedster]

The other trick to get the glass clean is to dip the damp toilet paper into the grey, fine ash and rub that on the glass. It is a very mild abrasive.

That said, with dry wood you shouldn't really get any build up.

You mean like @Grouter posted a couple of posts ago?

 

[Snyper564]

You mean like @Grouter posted a couple of posts ago?

Yup same trick

But an awesome one to know

 

[TedLasso]

Black = mild steel = rust. Been there, done that, never again.
Stainless steel that discolours = 304, and will eventually corrode. Cheap and most prolific.
Stainless steel that does not discolour = 316. The best, the most expensive, and will last longer than the woodstove.

What’s the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel? | Nema Enclosures

What’s the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel? The simple answer is 304 contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel while 316 contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum.

www.nemaenclosures.com

How to tell? A magnet. If it sticks, it's 304. If it doesn't, it's 316.
The ferrous content of 304 stainless steel is it's downfall.

Thanks for the lesson. Magnet sticks to mine. Now want to upgrade but will wait for it to rust through.

At least it was swept and cleaned yesterday. Now to turn the bugger on for the first time this year. Can't wait to try the fireplace fan too

 

[shadow_man]

Step 1... don't make the fire to big / hot...
Step 2... wife ignores this...
Step 3... baffle / throat plate warped to f...
Step 4... try and drive your bakkie over it to bend it straight...
Step 5... admit defeat and buy a new one for R1400...
Step 6... try and fix the old one at some point... maybe?

 

[Tabac]

Just for my info...... what's the price of a flue ? (That exhaust pipe). And what do the okes charge to install a fireplace ?

 

[Snyper564]

Just for my info...... what's the price of a flue ? (That exhaust pipe). And what do the okes charge to install a fireplace ?

The install and all additional non fireplace parts were abt 11k

 

[shadow_man]

Just for my info...... what's the price of a flue ? (That exhaust pipe). And what do the okes charge to install a fireplace ?

gcfires.co.za have a calc on their site for installs. They're also very responsive and my go to for any fireplace issues.

 

[Snyper564]

Fireplace is working wonderfully! Thanks again for the advice guys!

Going to be a nice toasty cozy winter!