Masonry Chimney SS Liner - Don't Use Insulation Wrap (8X13 terracotta)

[MrKenmore]

This weekend I was at my Mom's relining her masonry chimney (8 X 12 terracotta liner) with 6 inch stainless steel flex. This was my second masonry chimney reline job. The first job we did the SS liner by itself and added the vermiculite after. This one we did the insulation wrap. I do not recommend anyone go this route. It was a complete fiasco. The inside of the terra cotta is simply not big enough to allow the round 6 inch stainless steel liner wrapper in insulation to travel down smoothly. In the end we took off the insulation and fed it from the roof down. Plus, any jog in the terra cotta stacking provides a nice lip to ruin your afternoon. We will be going back to do the vermiculite. I hope this helps someone

All products were purchased from Rockford Chimney Supply. I would recommend. I only with there was a disclaimer about the insulation

PS-We did light the stove later and it had an excellent draft. Jotul F3CB with 25 feet of pipe (liner).

 

[mellow]

8x12 is very tight to get an insulated liner down, you should have done more research, especially if you have mortar joints that stick out in your flue. I would have gone oval insulated liner and called it a day.

 

[mellow]

Just to add more to this, I have a 8.5x13 terracotta flue and fit a 6" insulated liner down it, I had to buy the pull cone and go roof down but it fit and works like a charm, so don't discount all flues of this size. It depends greatly on how well they lined up the terracotta and how much mortar you have sticking out as well. If need be you can buy tools to knock out the mortar.

 

[MrKenmore]

Oval would have been ideal. I did not so much have a mortar snot problem but the sections of terra cotta liner did not align. I am impressed you squeezed yours in.

 

[jtp10181]

Hmmm... could have told you that. We found it out the hard way also. Now if I see oval clay, we do an oval liner.

 

[joe245]

I also just did my own with 13x8.5 (I.D. 11.5x7) Ordered the supplies,6'' with the 1/2 blanket. When reading the directions a few days before, it does tell you that the 1/2 insulating blanket will add a 1.5 to the liner. So we did a little research on found a couple of video's that showed how to ovalize a 6'' round liner. So we made one up with some threaded rod an PVC pipe for roller's. Was able to get it down to around 5x9.And put the overlap on the 9'' side. Only had a slight bend and the side weren't to bad. It went down like a charm, thought it was going to give me a harder time than it did. I lucked out. Its working great and no problem with draft. It was a lot cheaper to spend a few hours and make the roller than it was to buy the ovalized pipe.

 

[michaelryba]

I have the same size terra cotta & it was definitely work getting a wrapped 5.5 in SS liner down. A homemade pulling cone, 1 x 6 lumber, & cross country ski were all pressed into service to get the job done. Works fine now.

 

[jtp10181]

I also just did my own with 13x8.5 (I.D. 11.5x7) Ordered the supplies,6'' with the 1/2 blanket. When reading the directions a few days before, it does tell you that the 1/2 insulating blanket will add a 1.5 to the liner. So we did a little research on found a couple of video's that showed how to ovalize a 6'' round liner. So we made one up with some threaded rod an PVC pipe for roller's. Was able to get it down to around 5x9.And put the overlap on the 9'' side. Only had a slight bend and the side weren't to bad. It went down like a charm, thought it was going to give me a harder time than it did. I lucked out. Its working great and no problem with draft. It was a lot cheaper to spend a few hours and make the roller than it was to buy the ovalized pipe.

I need to do this for a customer, do you still have the info for making the ovalizer? I think I know what was done, and I would maybe use some iron pipe instead of PVC but if it worked for you its worth a shot.

 

[MovingOffGrid]

try these:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+ovalize+chimney+&search;_type=

 

[theheatelement]

Youtube

Please do not try it this way.. if he had slipped he wouldn't have much of a hand left as the stainless is razor sharp.

try these:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+ovalize+chimney+&search;_type=

 

[MovingOffGrid]

ya .. here's the good one of the two links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDNOMHS3Ssc

 

[joe245]

I welded up some left over pipe my uncle had from a job site, that they use to hang commercial A/C’s with threaded rod and PVC pipe for the rollers.( I didn't have any laid out blue print) I did see a couple of clips out there on you-tube that show it being done with a 2x10. and another home made one out off wood. Some of the other members have posted,I haven't looked at them but there probably the same ones I got the ideas from. Then I found one that you could buy, I forget the manufacturer but here are some pics of the one I made up. I used the PVC because its what I had available, which worked great.(It took about three hours) The bottom roller is anchored and I cut out ovals on the sides for the top so the top roller will adjust up an down. Hope they help.If you want some close ups of the sides let me know

 

[theheatelement]

The one you can purchase is chimflex, we have one similiar to theirs custom fab'd up but it has a motor on it, then we also have a 5 foot machine that ovalizes from inside out, it uses two separating semi circles that expand to ovalize the liner.

I welded up some left over pipe my uncle had from a job site, that they use to hang commercial A/C’s with threaded rod and PVC pipe for the rollers.( I didn't have any laid out blue print) I did see a couple of clips out there on you-tube that show it being done with a 2x10. and another home made one out off wood. Some of the other members have posted,I haven't looked at them but there probably the same ones I got the ideas from. Then I found one that you could buy, I forget the manufacturer but here are some pics of the one I made up. I used the PVC because its what I had available, which worked great.(It took about three hours) The bottom roller is anchored and I cut out ovals on the sides for the top so the top roller will adjust up an down. Hope they help.If you want some close ups of the sides let me know

 

[jtp10181]

I like that chimflex thing. I would make my own but I don't really have the time at work. Right now its full speed ahead non stop. I am going to email them and see how I can get one, maybe once I get to work on Monday I can find it in the Copperfield catalog and order it that way easily.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[jtp10181]

Ok so I bought the ovalizer. It was $215 after shipping from Canada. Got it today at work, tested it out with some scrap. Works pretty good. Its pretty simple, maybe not worth the price, but it saved me half a day trying to make my own so for me it was worth it. Its got steel tubes with PVC sleeves on it for rollers. Spring loaded rollers so you can remove them and move to different positions. Pretty tight fit, might have to grind one down a tad so it comes out easier. I can tell they sent me the one they had been using themsevles, but its all steel so there is not really anything to break.