Buck Stove Model 21 Insert Progress

I came home from teaching today and got to work preparing my fireplace for the installation of my new Buck 21 and flex liner. I began by cleaning out what little ash had been left over from a long forgotten fire. I then took a hack saw to the back corner of the damper plate. Once through that (easier than I thought but I'll be sore in the morning!) I took a sledge hammer and gave that back edge of the damper plate a couple of good whacks and the other end snapped off. With that piece gone I removed the first row of firebricks at the back of the firebox. I had to drill out the screw holding in the damper lever. I'm in pretty good shape for dropping the liner down now as I have almost 9" of clearance for a 6" liner.

My firebox has an ash pit in the basement or I should say "did." I salvaged one of the firebricks which I removed and carefully tapped it into the place where the ash pit cover formerly was. I'm going to take some photos to upload but I am too stinkin' tired to do much more. I did check the screws on the existing fireplace doors and there are a couple that are loose and a couple that I sprayed some Kano oil on to try loosen them up.

I'm getting closer!

The fireplace doors are ready to come out! I had to get a little tough on a couple of screws but it is now just sitting there, the top being held to the fireplace with duck tape! My top liner glue arrived early today ahead of the chimney liner and all the goodies that come with the kit including my fancy terra-cotta top plate. I am ready to get this stove in but will have to be patient while all my helpers schedules align.

There's no rush...the Kansas City are can't get snow these days to save our lives. The Winter Gods must be saving up for next year when my Buck 21 is fired up

Things are really moving now! my chimney liner, terra-cotta top plate, rain cap, etc. came yesterday from Chimney Liner Depot. I also received my new hearth rug, coal hod, top cap adhesive, wood basket, and stove thermometer from Northline Express. I am impressed with the quality of the stainless steel top plate and rain cap! These are some well made products and I feel confident I'll reap the rewards of my choice for many years. I also confirmed with my local fireplace store, Leisure World in North Kansas City, MO, my picking up my Buck stove next Saturday (February 21, 2009). My Dad and little brother (I use this term lightly as he towers over me and is twice as broad across the shoulders) are confirmed for helping with the install so I am almost set to go.

I ran into a little challenge that I have already taken care of. On top of my chimney, around the flue which sticks up a few inches above the top of the chimney, the previous owner of the house had put down another layer of cement raising the level too high for the terra-cotta top plate to sit down over. When knocking that extra cement out I found out why her had done this. There had been some damage around the flue creating some open space into the area between the brick and the flue. I filled in the gaps with some quickly shaped bricks and then put a fresh layer of concrete on top of that taking care not to go too high. With my top plate close to check this level I smoothed the surface, creating a taper to the outside edge. I did myself a favor as the new surface will make sure rain water and melting snow will run away from the top plate and flue.

The last thing to prepare is some go get some water pipe of the needed diameter to put inside my existing firebox. This will serve two purposes. First, it will bring the level of the firebox up to the level of the hearth and second, to make it a little easier to push the Buck stove into the firebox. My Dad's Buck stove installer did this and I can argue with a smart idea.

I'm going to take some photos now of what I have accomplished so far. Eventually I'll upload these on Hearth.com. Until next weekend - DL

jtb51b -

Thanks for the reply. I went ahead and committed to a Buck 21 based on another Hearth.com member's good report about the stove. My fireplace is upstairs in our front room and I think I'll have no trouble keeping it plus the kitchen and bedrooms warm. I figured as much about reloading the stove in the night when I actually looked inside the 21. My Dad has to reload his Buck 51 (I think that is the right model) in the night but his is downstairs and he and Mom sleep upstairs. I usually wake up sometime in the night to get a drink so I'll just have to get into the swing of reloading the stove.

DL