I'm SO Happy!

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delp

Member
Hearth Supporter
Jan 6, 2009
186
pittsburgh, pa
After two years of waiting, wondering and reading, searching, researching and general insanity the very excellent news was delivered yesterday that my crazy, 6 flue chimney CAN BE lined! I am ecstatic!

This morning I called an out of the way Home Depot and they had one Englander 13NC left...15minutes later, I was at the store and grabbed it for $500. I am X2 ecstatic.

So, first, I want to thank this forum for existing. Unbeknownst to any of you, you have become trusted friends and allies, teachers and fellow students and I feel infinitely grateful to be among such a wise, compassionate (and motley) community.

Alright, then, I have much to do this summer* and I will be back with illustrated progress reports, as well as questions, no doubt.

Never thought I'd say this on the first day of spring, but I can't wait till next winter!



*make rack for wood
buy/scrounge wood
buy micore and steel studs, etc.
build hearth up and out to stove specs
fabricate block-off plate
repoint fireplace firebox (where stove will sit)
clean firebox bricks
touch-up/repaint new stove (it's been sitting at the HD for a while and has very mild surface rust)
 
That's got to be a heck of a chimney! What are all the 6 flues for?
 
heck-a-chimney indeed!

in my first post two years ago i attached a photo of it. it's a huge, brick triangle that shoots up from the basement through two floors and then flattens out on the 3rd and exits up the roof...I've got two fireplaces on the first floor and two on 2nd floor. I guess the kitchen was originally in the basement; heard a huge cast iron coal burning cook stove had to be busted up in the basement because it would not fit though the door to be removed. i'm talking an 1896 row house in Pittsburgh, PA.

So, the 13NC is going in one of the old fireboxes on the first floor. I wanted the 17vl, but am hoping that the 13's extra heat will help heat up the 2nd floor too.
 
Yea, Delp! You found a stove! Good on you!!!
 
Thanks, SCP! I'm so excited that this is all finally going to work out. If you ever need a hand, I'm not all that far away and love projects!
 
Hi Delp,

Good to hear your researching is over and you're almost ready to get the stove in! :) I commend you for doing such great in depth research and picking the safest route. I remember our brief exchange of posts during my own research on liners. What sort of liner did you end up chosing?

BTW, I looked up your old posts with pictures of the triangle chimney and chimney caps! Those things are cool! What a structure to have in your house. Will you get to keep the chimney caps intact?

Sweet deal on that little 13NC! I think those stoves are great, especially for that price! Did you ever ponder going with the 30NC? Anyway, I hope you continue this great story and keep us all updated with pics once things move along. Nice job on pulling the trigger on that stove!

May you burn wood soon!
Chris
 
Here's yer shirt.
 

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That's good news Delp! Look forward to the progress pics! The nc13 should heat 2 floors with some air movement.. 500 bucks for a new stove is a great deal too!

Enjoy!

Ray
 
delp said:
*make rack for wood
buy/scrounge wood
buy micore and steel studs, etc.
build hearth up and out to stove specs
fabricate block-off plate
repoint fireplace firebox (where stove will sit)
clean firebox bricks
touch-up/repaint new stove (it's been sitting at the HD for a while and has very mild surface rust)
Click to expand...

Congratulations delp and we hope this all works out fantastic for you.

I do have a comment to make about your list though. That is your second project of buying or scrounging wood should already have been taken care of! You have had all this time and have put your energy into the purchase and install of the new stove but evidently have not given that much thought to your fuel supply. To me, that is backwards and the reason is that no matter if you buy wood or scrounge, that wood still needs seasoning time! Over the summer is the absolute minimum time depending upon what type of wood you plan on burning. For sure, do not plan on burning oak! Oak is indeed one of the very best of woods to burn but it also needs lots of time to dry out before burning. Around these parts we never try to burn oak before it has been split and stacked for 3 years. It needs that time as it gives up its moisture very reluctantly.

One more thing is to warn you about wood sellers. They all will tell you their wood is seasoned. Do not believe it! Many of them also like to say the wood has been cut or a tree has been down for x years. No matter. Seasoning time begins only after the wood has been split and stacked out in the open air. Wind is your friend when it comes to seasoning, so don't stack the wood in a garage or shed until it has had time to dry outside. Sun is good but wind is your best friend for drying wood.

Good luck, and get that wood now ASAP.
 
Was scrolling through and had the same thought as Dennis . . . you might want to move Buy/scrounge wood to the top of the "to do" list as it really should been in your "to done" list if you want to burn wood this coming Fall.
 
Whao... I got a shirt!!

Dennis and "Dictionary"(LOL- What a story!...") - I know, I know...you have no idea how long I've wanted to buy wood but, the first thing I had to figure out was if I could line the flue, and now that that's taken care of I can move forward. As ridiculous as it may sound, I'm thinking that if I don't have really well seasoned wood, I might just NOT burn this coming winter...really, that's how committed I am to doing what I've so well learned on this forum!! I'm hoping to find some oak to put into the wood rack first, so it'll be at the back or bottom and inaccessible for at least two years. And yes, I know everyone claims to sell "seasoned wood" pffft. Luckily I have a very windy spot for my stacking and hope that I'll have at least some well seasoned wood sooner than later.

Liner should be going in on Wednesday, so picture progress is in store

Thanks to everyone for your genuine interest and words of cheer!
 
delp said:
Whao... I got a shirt!!

Dennis and "Dictionary"(LOL- What a story!...") - I know, I know...you have no idea how long I've wanted to buy wood but, the first thing I had to figure out was if I could line the flue, and now that that's taken care of I can move forward. As ridiculous as it may sound, I'm thinking that if I don't have really well seasoned wood, I might just NOT burn this coming winter...really, that's how committed I am to doing what I've so well learned on this forum!! I'm hoping to find some oak to put into the wood rack first, so it'll be at the back or bottom and inaccessible for at least two years. And yes, I know everyone claims to sell "seasoned wood" pffft. Luckily I have a very windy spot for my stacking and hope that I'll have at least some well seasoned wood sooner than later.

Liner should be going in on Wednesday, so picture progress is in store

Thanks to everyone for your genuine interest and words of cheer!
Click to expand...

The Oak is a good idea for 2 yrs. from now and I suggest some Ash, Locust amd Maple for the next winter.. Cross stacking will allow good airflow and enhance the wood drying out.. This way you could burn in Fall 2011 and stay a bit warmer for less moolah.. I love Oak it just needs extra time to dry out and it is worth the wait but Ash. Birch, Locust and Maple dry quicker so you can burn in the Fall of 2011 if the wood gets good airflow...

Ray
 
Ray, that's great info, thank you! i have to settle into wood ID research, 'cause much like everyone sells "seasoned" wood, they also sell whatever it is they want it to be. Frankly, I know my oak, birch, maple, and other common woods only in lumber form...learning curve number 73 coming at me...
 
delp said:
Ray, that's great info, thank you! i have to settle into wood ID research, 'cause much like everyone sells "seasoned" wood, they also sell whatever it is they want it to be. Frankly, I know my oak, birch, maple, and other common woods only in lumber form...learning curve number 73 coming at me...
Click to expand...

You're welcome Delp and welcome to the forum! Listen to what Dennis aka Backwoods Savage has to say about this matter as he will point you in the right direction.. Not all wood species are created the same and with knowledge learned here you'll be a smarter wood burner..

Ray
 
Thanks again, Ray. Smart is definitely the way to go in all things. I work with my hands for a living, and my motto is "do it once, do it right."
 
Hey Delp... you may not realize this, but just to the north and/or east of the Burgh, yinz can get a load of cant peels for cheap from the many small hardwood lumber mills. Most sell them for what they'd get for pulp or pellets... which is very little. Some will just give them to you if you load them yourself.

Up here near Erie they post "come and get it" ads on Craigslist when they fire up in the spring. All good hardwood. They come in lengths between six and ten feet, so take your saw to trim the ends if you don't have a long trailer. of course you'll need to season them, but at least you won't have much splitting to do.
 
Well, it's finally done and I wanted to share some of the progress pictures. It was all a lot harder than the pictures make is seem, but I'm infinitely satisfied. I'm expecting my Super Cedar order tomorrow, so hope the temps begin to drop enough so I can do my break-in fires.

Thank you to EVERYONE who helped me get here. I would not (literally) been able to do it without this amazing forum and you!

Next pics will be of the fire, promise!
 

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Outstanding work on that hearth! Really blends in nicely with the existing brick work.. That's a unique way to build the hearth and looks very fireproof too..

Ray
 
That's a lot of work delp but you will enjoy the benefits of that very soon. It looks good.
 
thank you, raybonz and dennis!

Dennis, you are always on my mind with your wise SEASONED wood missives. I started collecting wood off craigslist last march when the liner finally went in. That stuff will sit for next year -12/13. For this year I think I'm going with kiln dried hardwood from a reputable source that supplies a fancy restaurant up the street from my house. The restaurant has a wood burning oven for fancy pizza and other italian fare, and in 6 years they've never had a chimney fire, so i figure it must be good stuff.
 
Thank you delp and again, good luck to you. Maybe you should try some of that pizza too! Sounds good at least.
 
delp said:
After two years of waiting, wondering and reading, searching, researching and general insanity the very excellent news was delivered yesterday that my crazy, 6 flue chimney CAN BE lined! I am ecstatic!
Click to expand...



6 Flues? When are you getting the other five stoves?
 
Delp,

Good to see you're well on your way to the first full season of burning. Great job on the hearth, instal looks great! You'll love every minute of it this Winter, I'm sure! We had similar tile on our old hearth. Going to pellets now due to a new rental and no chimney. I refuse to put in a class A chimney and have to leave when I leave here. We left a lot of improvements at the old rental, this one will be different. A pellet stove will be the easiest way not to burn oil the entire winter. One through the wall thimble, a hearth pad and presto.

Good luck this season, I'm sure luck will play a very small role in your instal considering how much research you went through to get it done the right way.

Take care,
Chris
 
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