Talk me out of drilling into a hot stovepipe

[gthomas785]

Finally got around to buying a probe flue thermometer for my main stove. I want to start using it but I don't know how soon the stove will be "off." I've been burning continuously since thanksgiving and we've got a cold snap coming. I will have to sweep the flue at some point but I think I've got another cord or 2 to go before then.

Can I drill a hole while the pipe is warm? I'd do it right before a reload obviously so it's as cool as possible, and I've got some nice high temp gloves I can wear. The pipe is doublewall and screwed together pretty good so I don't think I have to worry about it falling apart on me. Is there any reason not to do this, that I didnt think of?

 

[PA Mountain Man]

Finally got around to buying a probe flue thermometer for my main stove. I want to start using it but I don't know how soon the stove will be "off." I've been burning continuously since thanksgiving and we've got a cold snap coming. I will have to sweep the flue at some point but I think I've got another cord or 2 to go before then.

Can I drill a hole while the pipe is warm? I'd do it right before a reload obviously so it's as cool as possible, and I've got some nice high temp gloves I can wear. The pipe is doublewall and screwed together pretty good so I don't think I have to worry about it falling apart on me. Is there any reason not to do this, that I didnt think of?

Get someone to hold your beer.

 

[Stir224]

I mean if you're going to do it (don't) it sounds like you have it mostly covered. The only things I could think of would be to scoop everything out of the firebox first into a bucket. You could always add the coals back afterwards.

Also mine took some force to get through the pipe. Could have been my dull bit though. So I'm not sure your pipe is set up to take that kind of horizontal force applied to it even if it is screwed in at the seems. I couldn't imagine getting the bit through without securing the pipe to my workbench first.

 

[electrathon]

It is secure, wear gloves. Use a brand new sharp drill bit. I would do it.

 

[Highbeam]

No problem at all. We drill and tap exhaust manifolds with the engine running to blow the chips out.

What are you doing, pounding a nail through it? Just drill the holes. The metal shavings will be hot anyway. Let the bit do the drilling, only the least bit of pressure is needed.

Worry more about keeping the bit level and not drifting.

 

[Bad LP]

Just drill it.

 

[Rob711]

I’ll bet you shut off your generator when refueling too! What else, wear a helmet on a motorcycle!?
I’m kidding, I’d use a good bit. Maybe center punch first take your time

 

[gthomas785]

I’ll bet you shut off your generator when refueling too! What else, wear a helmet on a motorcycle!?
I’m kidding, I’d use a good bit. Maybe center punch first take your time

Actually I do shut down my generator before refueling, but I never have the patience to let it cool. Completely illogical I know.

 

[MTY]

This is a two handed operation. Hold the probe in your left hand, your 22 handgun in your right. Shoot and stab the probe in, and you will be done before your beer warms up.

 

[Highbeam]

Maybe you’re worried that wood smoke will pour out of the hole? No, it will suck air in.

 

[PA Mountain Man]

This is a two handed operation. Hold the probe in your left hand, your 22 handgun in your right. Shoot and stab the probe in, and you will be done before your beer warms up.

So you still need some one to hold our beer!

 

[brenndatomu]

Is it done yet?

 

[gthomas785]

All done

 

[Jan Pijpelink]

What beer did you have?

 

[PA Mountain Man]

What beer did you have?

Dang! You beat me to it.

 

[gthomas785]

What beer did you have?

This is what my wife and I are having

 

[Jan Pijpelink]

This is what my wife and I are having
View attachment 272989

You can stay.

 

[Prof]

Finally got around to buying a probe flue thermometer for my main stove. I want to start using it but I don't know how soon the stove will be "off." I've been burning continuously since thanksgiving and we've got a cold snap coming. I will have to sweep the flue at some point but I think I've got another cord or 2 to go before then.

Can I drill a hole while the pipe is warm? I'd do it right before a reload obviously so it's as cool as possible, and I've got some nice high temp gloves I can wear. The pipe is doublewall and screwed together pretty good so I don't think I have to worry about it falling apart on me. Is there any reason not to do this, that I didnt think of?

I would do it. As long as the pipe is well secured, which it seems to be, there will be minimal strain on it from a sharp drill bit. It probably won't take as long to drill the hole as it did me to type this response.

 

[Bad LP]

All done

View attachment 272988

Too bad it’s in the wrong place.

 

[gthomas785]

Too bad it’s in the wrong place.

Why do you say that? Yeah it's 20" off the collar not 18" but I wanted to miss the overlapped part of the telescoping pipe.

 

[brenndatomu]

Why do you say that? Yeah it's 20" off the collar not 18" but I wanted to miss the overlapped part of the telescoping pipe.

It's fine at 20"...18" isn't a magic number...

 

[Prof]

It's fine at 20"...18" isn't a magic number...

Exactly, you can't tell me that the difference would be relevant in this case. Honestly, even if you were a couple of hundred degrees off (which I don't think you'd be even close to this), it just wouldn't matter. Well done.

 

[Rickb]

I thought it was supposed to go in the beer to make sure it was at at or under the right temp for consumption.......