steel plate vs. ceramic fiber boards as a baffle

[Hiram Maxim]

A buddy of mine wants to make his home made wood burning furnace more efficient.

He is toying with idea of a steel plate instead of ceramic fiber boards! Any reason to use ceramic fiber boards over steel?

Also he was thinking of using 316 stainless for the air tubes below the baffle.

Any thoughts????

 

[WES999]

You might find this interesting.
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/17993/#194926
I used steel plate with some 1" ceramic insulation on top. I also used stainless steel for the baffle tubes, not sure but I think it was 303 or 204.

 

[Hiram Maxim]

You might find this interesting.
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/17993/#194926
I used steel plate with some 1" ceramic insulation on top. I also used stainless steel for the baffle tubes, not sure but I think it was 303 or 204.

Thank you Sir!

Overall how has the mod worked for you?

 

[WES999]

I would say it has worked quite well. The stove seems to put out a lot more heat now. I have noticed that the stove top surface is hotter and the flue gas temp is lower. It seem seem use less wood than before. It's probably not as efficient as proper EPA stove.
There is no glass so I can't actually see if there is secondary combustion but I am pretty sure is is occurring because the temp keeps going up when I reduce the primary air, also the tube will glow read hot.

 

[Hiram Maxim]

I would say it has worked quite well. The stove seems to put out a lot more heat now. I have noticed that the stove top surface is hotter and the flue gas temp is lower. It seem seem use less wood than before. It's probably not as efficient as proper EPA stove.
There is no glass so I can't actually see if there is secondary combustion but I am pretty sure is is occurring because the temp keeps going up when I reduce the primary air, also the tube will glow read hot.

That's great!

Did you mean 204 or 304???

 

[WES999]

That should have been 304.

 

[Hiram Maxim]

That should have been 304.

It looks like you can see the info on the round tubing in one of the pictures?