cracked thimble

[metz]

My thimble is cracked. I have patched it but am nervous about it. I saw an insulated stainless steel through wall pipe at Lowes that I think can fit into my existing thimble. My wood stove takes an 8" pipe. The stainless insulated pipe that might fit into my thimble takes a 6" pipe. Would it be okay to reduce from 8" to 6" right at my stove and run 6" pipe into this "new thimble"? Since my stove is set up for an 8" pipe will I run in to problems using 6"?

Thanks.

 

[webbie]

No, you cannot reduce this. If you are concerned about a cracked thimble, it would be better to use a short piece of relatively thin stainless steel pipe - 8" by 24 or 26 ga. - and slip this into the thimble as a liner.