Englander 25PDVC -- Extended Hopper.....

[erhalt1]

Hey all,

I have a question, has anyone ever thought about about making a box out of sheetmetal, i.e. heating duct. that you can put in on the hopper appoxx 3 ft so that the Englander 25PDVC could hold another 2 to three bags?

it would sit on the top of the hopper where you put the pellets, it would hold so much more and you wouldn't have to refill as often.

thanks

Erhalt1

 

[rap69ri]

I would love to have a larger hopper, but my welding abilities are nowhere near go enough to attempt that. I know other people have made hopper extensions here for other stoves.

 

[erhalt1]

I dont think you would have to weld it, what about building a box and using screws and metal bands to put around it. and placing it in the hopper. Just a thought..................I don't think a box made made of sheetmetal would be that hard.

 

[rap69ri]

You really want to be sure that the extension has a good seal to the current hopper and it's lid. If there's an air leak you could have the fire burn up into the hopper and that I'm pretty sure would be bad.

 

[erhalt1]

yes that would be bad, but what a neat idea to add this and not have to worry about filling it every day, if you build it with a flange that goes around the current hopper, you could use metal tape to go around the bottom to make it fit tight. Just a thought.

 

[rap69ri]

That would probably work, but my stove is in the kitchen so it needs to look decent too.

 

[erhalt1]

I guesss you could use black metal or spray it with heat paint any color you want it.

 

[rap69ri]

This would be a project to be done in the off season so mods can be made without making the wifey cold. Definitely something to think about though. Thanks for peaking my curiosity!

 

[erhalt1]

Your right, I still might try it it wouldn't be a big deal, to try and make it and see if it works. I am always looking for the easiest way

 

[rap69ri]

If you tackle this project make to post pics and how-to's. I'd definitley be interested in doing something like this myself.

 

[Panhandler]

I have installed one on mine and made one for another Englander PDVC owner. Besides the obvious longer time between fillings the best thing is that Rustoleum High Temp Grill Paint is the exact color as the factory paint. First I unscrewed the factory lid and removed for later use. I scraped off the gasket under the lid and cleaned the surface. I made a "box" the same size as the outer dimensions of the flange (approv. 21 1/2" x 9 1/2" x 14" high). It is constructed of heavy gauge sheet metal. I stitch welded it together. Then welded flanges to match the original flange under the original lid inside the top and bottom of the box (the flanges were approx 1" to 1"1/8 wide. I sealed the inside seams of the box with high temp orange RTV silicone. Before welding the flanges inside the box I drilled holes (2 on the ends and 5 or 6 along the sides) about 1/8 inch diameter in the flange for the bottom. I set the box on top of the original lid flange after laying down a nice bead of high temp orange silicone for sealing and used self tapping sheet metal screws to fix the box to the flange. I found some gasket material exactly the same as used under the original lid and used black high temp silicone to afix it to the top of the box. I laid the original lid on the box with the lid propped up about an inch in the front to give it a tight fit and sheet metal screwed it to the back of the box. It will probably be necessary to adjust the hopper lid latches to insure a tight fit. I'll reread this when I get home from work tonight for accuracy (it's early this morning). my kids should be home from school in a couple of days (2 in college) and they have the digital cameras and try and post some pics. This hopper increases the capacity to about 90 lbs. My cost was a less than $10 as most materials were free. Gotta get to work.