papa bear smoke baffle

[treedog]

Any one with a papa bear done the smoke baffle yet. If so what size did u cut your metal . Does the metal half to be parral with bottom or run just the way it sits on fire bricks and flue collar. Pictures will help. Thank u .

 

[coaly]

I've put a few in Papa Bears. Too many variables to give you a cut size. The size and angle of the plate is determined by how many courses of brick in stove and chimney.

The adjusted angle of the plate is determined by chimney draft. Raising the front of plate decreases smoke space down to a minimum of 28.26 square inches. This would be the most efficient when connected to the most efficient chimney flue being double wall connector pipe and insulated 6 inch flue. Exterior chimneys, non-insulated, larger flues, all require more heat allowed up to keep clean. This requires a larger smoke space opening to prevent smoke roll in and raise outlet temperature, decreasing efficiency.

Below is pictured a Papa Bear cardboard template. This is the easiest way to measure smoke space. (opening where smoke travels) A board or piece of correct length firewood wedged across bricks helps to hold bricks upright while test fitting. Measure the template when you make one that fits your stove adjusted for the minimum smoke space, and lower the front by moving bricks forward or cutting bricks to adjust opening if your draft is not optimal.



Once the plate is made, to prevent bricks from falling inward, angle iron can be welded or bolted to plate as shown below. I burned an entire season with no angle iron loading carefully, but others knock bricks around and require side support keeping bricks against stove sides.

 

[treedog]

I've put a few in Papa Bears. Too many variables to give you a cut size. The size and angle of the plate is determined by how many courses of brick in stove and chimney.

The adjusted angle of the plate is determined by chimney draft. Raising the front of plate decreases smoke space down to a minimum of 28.26 square inches. This would be the most efficient when connected to the most efficient chimney flue being double wall connector pipe and insulated 6 inch flue. Exterior chimneys, non-insulated, larger flues, all require more heat allowed up to keep clean. This requires a larger smoke space opening to prevent smoke roll in and raise outlet temperature, decreasing efficiency.

Below is pictured a Papa Bear cardboard template. This is the easiest way to measure smoke space. (opening where smoke travels) A board or piece of correct length firewood wedged across bricks helps to hold bricks upright while test fitting. Measure the template when you make one that fits your stove adjusted for the minimum smoke space, and lower the front by moving bricks forward or cutting bricks to adjust opening if your draft is not optimal.

View attachment 142190

Once the plate is made, to prevent bricks from falling inward, angle iron can be welded or bolted to plate as shown below. I burned an entire season with no angle iron loading carefully, but others knock bricks around and require side support keeping bricks against stove sides.

View attachment 142191 View attachment 142192

Thank you. I just had the papa installed with 6 inch sst pipe getting ready for a nice warm winter. Again thank you for the help. Great site

 

[treedog]

Thank you. I just had the papa installed with 6 inch sst pipe getting ready for a nice warm winter. Again thank you for the help. Great site

Ok since the fire brick is high than the back ledge below exhaust all i need to do is cut the fire brick and put it in place right or wrong?

 

[coaly]

That's all. With no second course it's easy. I would cut a piece of cardboard like a half of template and set it on the "shelf" in back and see if it misses the back brick retainer. Can't tell how far from the rear wall the back retainer is. If it's in the way, you would have to notch the template around retainer. Once you have a template that fits, trace it onto your plate.

 

[woody1]

Hey Coaly, that cardboard template looks familiar. Hope you're doing well. Just gave a friend the info on how to damper a Grandma Bear.

 

[coaly]

Hi woody1;
The inside of that stove looks familiar too. How did it do last year? Last winter used up that entire wood pile I had here down to the last pallet. More people this year asking for Papa's than there are enough to supply. They just don't come up for sale around here.

Let us know treedog what size you end up with. That template pictured was made by the above poster and was 17 1/2 X 10. I'm cautious about recommending an exact size since his stove was made in PA and yours is probably a Dunn Brother stove. Their box size of double doors varied greatly, so you can never assume they are all the same.

 

[woody1]

Stove did the job, never got the basement above 80* with the "efficient" Quadra Fire.

 

[treedog]

Ok what do you men think good/bad let me know.

 

[treedog]

Ok what do you men think good/bad let me know.View attachment 143367

Plate was 15 long by 14 3/8 wide. barely fit through the door

 

[coaly]

Only you will know for sure. Try it!
Do you have an IR thermometer to test results before and after?
I noticed a lot less smoke when I fired mine up.