Installing a damper into stovepipe. Any tips?

[bkatzman]

Hello All,
I am installing new stovepipe on my vintage Old Oak cylinder wood/coal stove and was wondering if anyone has any tips as to how they correctly install (line-up) a damper into 6inch black stove pipe? I already messed-up one piece that I bought at Loew's and hope not to waste another. Thanks for any help!
-B

 

[Metal]

Drill first hole, measure circumference and divide by two to get location of second hole.

 

[begreen]

Drill the first hole 90 degrees away from the pipe seam if there is one.

Be sure the first drilled hole is at least 6" from the pipe end so that the damper can rotate freely without getting caught on the pipe joint screws.

You can use a piece of string to accurately measure the circumference, have an ink marker nearby to mark the circumference on the string. Then fold the string back on itself to find the half-way point on the string. Mark that with the pen too.

Now, mark the pipe by transferring the halfway point of the string to the pipe. Be sure that the second hole is the same distance from the pipe end as the first.

Drill the second hole.

 

[bkatzman]

Both great suggestions. I will try them out tonight. Thanks so much!
-B