I read as much of the information you have provided as I could and wow... Impressive, Well Done!
I thought that by reading all these material that would shut me off and but instead, as I read all these information I come up with more questions because my weak background in the subject.
So here we go...
My findings with regard to Alloy vs Steel Metal, both produce about the same heat transfer and durability, except the Alloy could develop cracks if the stove is over heated or not handled correctly.
Steel designs are not as elaborate, steel stoves might be more lame and plain, but they could cost less and provide the same heating services even if not as attractive.
Also, the more I read, I tend to bounce back and forward between installation research vs which stove to get which turns into how does the stove works and learning about stoves and the jargon.
So I guess I need some what of a index or glossary that would explain all the terms used in conversation of this sort or maybe something that explain the basic concept of how a wood stove works, what makes it works and all the parts and processes involved.
What is the basic of a stove, how does it works ? What is the simple process that makes it work and what makes it work even better ? Any links to such discussion ?
From reading and watching some of the Gordo material, here are some of the things that stand out...
1. Pallet vs bark which create more smokes... I will assume bark is just raw wood and pallet are burnable fuel bricks that will light up easily and burn cleaner but cost more to obtain...
2. No coal bed, no damper down, cutting air completely back.
I will assume that like everything else in live, stoves have a mouth and a butt, the mouse is opening in the rear where fresh air full of O2 comes in and the butt is the chimney (flue) where the smoke goes out...
Is the damper the door that closes and opens the rear stove mouth where the clean air comes in ? Having this door open speed up the process of starting up a fire, but increases amount of smoke put out ?
I guess to start the fire, one would open the rear mouth for fresh air and hope to have already some existing hot coals sitting on the bottom of the stove ? That would make it easier ?
I guess you were impressed at the fact that you had no coals on the bottom but you were to able to start a new bark with the rear mouth close and didn't produce much smoke ?
2b. wait for a bed of coals before closing bypass
Is closing the bypass the same as closing the rear back mouth so no fresh air comes in?
Because of bypass feature easier to reload and start without too much smoke going into the house ?
What is the bypass feature ?
2c. then close the bypass to activate the efficient secondary burn.
Secondary burn, I thought you said your stove did not have the CAT technology ?
What is this secondary burn stuff ?
3. Ever burning, light rumble rumble
I am assuming Ever Burning is a feature patent by the brand of stove that you own, what is ever burning feature, what makes it special ? I was able to hear the rumble near the rear mouth, almost like a furnace sound, is that the sound of colder fresh air coming into fire chamber and igniting the fuel.... ?
4. Fluet temperature
Fluet vs Chimney ? I guess Fluet is the black pipe coming straight out of the stove (indoors) and the chimney is the larger pipe attached to the roof ( outdoors ).
What is the relation of the Fluet to the stove, seems like you are able to determine how well the stove is performing by the temperature of the gasses passing the fluet... ?
5. downdraft stoves are more temperamental to outside temps (and pressure)
I am assuming downdraft stoves are a type of technology, what is the completion technology name ? What is the alternative to downdraft ?
Why is downdraft so finicky ?
Is the downdraft the rear moth and the draft of cold air coming it toward the bottom of the stove into the fire chamber ?
6. Checking the gaskets - dollar bill test, tightening the doors, fixing or replacing firebrick, etc
I noticed that rope looking gasket around the door of the stove I saw at the local store. What is the dollar bill test ? If you can slide a dollar bill in between the rope gasket the seal is not good enough ?
I noticed that some stove have firebrick around the inner walls and on the floors, I saw this mostly on the steel wall stoves, not the iron cast. Is there an advantage to having the brick wall reinforcement ?
I know this is a lot... I will continue to read and hopefully a lot of these background information will become second nature as I dive in more or as some of you help me out to speed up the process...
Thanks all...
I have the wife on board with the project so let the shopping begin....