Can I ask about a home-built wood stove ?

How big / small should a loading door be?

Is there any formula or ratio to go by?

Percentage of firebox floor area? Anything like that?

Square? Rectangular? And if so; why one as versus the other?

If no formula: what considerations would you all take into account when planning for the loading door size?

PHM
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Does secondary air / secondary combustion make a noise?

I ask because with the loading door shut and the air inlet 100% open there is a pulsing noise. The stainless steel stack vibrates in time to it. And I can feel the pulsation in the inlet air stream.

I'll have to get a stack thermometer on it - as soon as I open the loading door the stack temperature skyrockets. I can tell because Way more of the cutting oil residue begins to burn off and smoke. <g>

I took some in-progress pics and after I get back from dinner I'll get them from the camera onto the computer.

In case you want to see how it's turned out so far.

PHM
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How much primary combustion air do I need?

I have a 6" flue connection and a 6" stack. I welded on a 2" pipe nipple and screwed a gate valve onto it to regulate the primary air.

I can always add another one, but on my last stove (admittedly not air tight which this one certainly is) I remember that the air inlet hole was about 2" diameter and I only kept it open about 1/4".

Is 2" enough air do you think?

So far I have no tried dampering down the flue. Actually I'm not sure when or why I waould want to do that anyway. Hell; I mostly added the stack damper assembly just to impress you all. <g>

PHM
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