Insulate R-14 insert w/ceramic wool?

[buckdog]

I have a Regency R14 insert in a see-thru fire place with a block-off plate and 6"flex liner. Wondering if I took some 1" ceramic wool and wrapped the ontside of the box if it would improve heat output and increase burn time. Also could slow down draft while maintaining high temp burn? I have alot of ceramic wool (a few yards) I could use to wrap the entire box with and easy to axcess since the back of stove is exposed. I do have glass doors covering the side opposite the stove.
I thought I remember someone on here that did this last year. My outside of insert stays at 350-375 deg. at a full burn running at half throttel on the draft. I burn only ash which don't burn as hot as say oak or maple.
The outside front surfaces range between 200-300 deg. What temps can the outside surface of insert take.
These single digit temps are killing me. Burrr it's cold out now.
Ultimate goal is to burn less wood and get same amount of heat. Maybe just a pipe dream.

 

[spirilis]

Maybe toss some slats of shipping pallet wood in there to help raise firebox temps? That stuff burns pretty fast & hot... I don't burn normal cordwood (using WoodBrickFuel, like biobricks) but seeing how pallet wood increases temps even with that stuff, I'd be chomping at the bit to get some pallet wood stacked up if I was burning cordwood.

 

[buckdog]

I would like to elaborate- stove, wood, set-up is not a issue at all. I'm just trying to improve what I already have by insulating the stove. Anyone try this, and what was your results?

 

[cycloxer]

I would certainly try it if you have some insulation around. You'll want to watch your stove temps to make sure it doesn't cause an over-heating issue. If you crank up the fan, it most likely will not and you will be able to throw more heat into the room. How much of a difference it is really going to make is tough to say.

 

[buckdog]

OK I did it. Works like a whole different stove. Much more heat output. So far I'm happy I did it. Got the insert wrapped up like a Christmas present in 1" thick ceramic wool. Secondary burn kicks in at a slower burn. Don't have to run with draft open over half way open anymore.

 

[JTT1]

I have a Regency R14 insert in a see-thru fire place with a block-off plate and 6"flex liner. Wondering if I took some 1" ceramic wool and wrapped the ontside of the box if it would improve heat output and increase burn time.

OK I did it. Works like a whole different stove. Much more heat output. So far I'm happy I did it. Got the insert wrapped up like a Christmas present in 1" thick ceramic wool. Secondary burn kicks in at a slower burn. Don't have to run with draft open over half way open anymore.

Do you have any pictures of the newly wrapped stove? Is ceramic wool, Kaowool, and Rock wool just 3 different names for the exact same thing? Where'd you get your ceramic wool?

 

[rickw]

A couple of years back I wrapped a Lopi Answer insert in 2" thick mineral wool (from McMaster). It did not burn any longer, but sure did burn hotter and cleaner. Be REAL CAREFUL with it until you are familiar with the settings/temps, they will change a little bit.

I wired it on with soft iron wire. After wrapping it was fairly common to reach 700 degrees.

 

[rickw]

Oh, I figured it was OK to wrap the Lopi Answer because the stove was a convective design (had a plenum around the outside). I would never wrap a stove, it would be to likely to overfire I think.