The gasket is installed on the cat.
I'm not used to having to put dry wood in there as opposed to the Timberline. That's why I came here, to find out what would be causing the low heat output and the wood is less than optimal. I also don't have the means to store wood for a couple years until it's seasoned. It lays uncovered, stacked in the elements. Even with that "wet" wood I could still bury the cat all the way to the end of the active zone.