Grandma Bear baffle

[JohnB68]

I am new to the site and looking for help. We have a Grandma Bear stove but not like any I've seen pictured so far. Ours has a box over the rear air inlet that goes up to the flue. We also have two rows of brick on the sides making it difficult to set a baffle on those. I saw the post where the baffle was notched around the box but I am wondering if anyone has an idea how to support the baffle. Is it important for the baffle to be at an angle or could I set it flat on top of that second row of bricks? I realize I may need to cut the bricks down a little to keep enough clearance for the flue. Thanks for any help!

 

[coaly]

Flat above the upper set of bricks is better than none at all. You can tilt it upward in the front by using pieces of brick as shims to raise it as much as possible leaving the correct "smoke space" above baffle edge for exhaust to travel. (50.25 square inches on your stove)

Here is what you may have; If the box is inside, you have a barometric stove. If on the outside, it's the add on accessorry to make it a barometric operated damper type stove.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/project-grandma-bear.82459/#post-1057094

Use keyword 'barometric" to find other air boxes like you describe using the search feature on this forum.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/search/9128394/?q=barometric&t=post&o=date&c[user][0]=3411

 

[JohnB68]

Flat above the upper set of bricks is better than none at all. You can tilt it upward in the front by using pieces of brick as shims to raise it as much as possible leaving the correct "smoke space" above baffle edge for exhaust to travel. (50.25 square inches on your stove)

Here is what you may have; If the box is inside, you have a barometric stove. If on the outside, it's the add on accessorry to make it a barometric operated damper type stove.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/project-grandma-bear.82459/#post-1057094

Use keyword 'barometric" to find other air boxes like you describe using the search feature on this forum.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/search/9128394/?q=barometric&t=post&o=date&c[user][0]=3411

Thanks Coaly. One other question; Will the baffle work better if it is extended into the step down area instead of up in the upper part of the fire box? I realize that will take up a lot more space in the fire box but it may be worth it if it produces more heat. Thanks again.

 

[coaly]

That answer does not depend on the make and model of stove, it depends on how well the chimney works.
You can only try it. Performance of any stove or modification depends on chimney draft. An interior, well insulated, correct size chimney is going to give good operation, while allowing a minimum of heat to escape up chimney. Adding elbows, smaller pipe, cold exterior chimney, or air leaks into flue is all going to affect how much heat you can direct to the stove instead of letting up the chimney. So a larger baffle in your stove that causes smoke when doors are opened, may work fine connected to a better drafting chimney.

We always cooked a lot on our Fisher, (installed in kitchen) so I liked the heat directed to the upper surface so we had more of a simmer heat on the lower, and fast cooking heat on the upper. Cooking on a wood stove is all about moving pans to the area of correct heat.

 

[JohnB68]

That answer does not depend on the make and model of stove, it depends on how well the chimney works.
You can only try it. Performance of any stove or modification depends on chimney draft. An interior, well insulated, correct size chimney is going to give good operation, while allowing a minimum of heat to escape up chimney. Adding elbows, smaller pipe, cold exterior chimney, or air leaks into flue is all going to affect how much heat you can direct to the stove instead of letting up the chimney. So a larger baffle in your stove that causes smoke when doors are opened, may work fine connected to a better drafting chimney.

We always cooked a lot on our Fisher, (installed in kitchen) so I liked the heat directed to the upper surface so we had more of a simmer heat on the lower, and fast cooking heat on the upper. Cooking on a wood stove is all about moving pans to the area of correct heat.

Thanks Coaly. We'll give the baffle a try.