Thermodynamic Stove Gadgets?

[bayshorecs]

My wife is quickly becoming ever more "Green" so we are installing a Wood Stove this fall to heat the house +50% of the time with wood. Last night while using my cheapo electric log splitter to make up some splits, she said that next year we need to use a splitter not powered my gas or electric. Umm...I also use a wedge = brute human force!

Anyway, I was thinking of getting a small gadget to use thermodynamics with the heat coming off the stove to "operate". A fan is the obvious thought that comes to mind (like: (broken link removed)). What other options are out there and maybe something a little cheaper?

Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[Firenutz]

I saw one of those on a demo stove that was burning and it was working pretty well.

 

[bayshorecs]

Realize it is a toy. She would just like it since it is not plugged in. Even a little guy chopping wood like a small tree windmill would be cool. Not REALLY looking for functionality.

 

[daveswoodhauler]

If you are not looking for functionality, I would save the $150 and that would be the "green" way to go. (I got a rain barrel for my downspouts at the home for $60...never needed to turn on the water hose to water my garden and plants)
Also spent $20 for a big clothesline between 2 trees....electric bill went down quite a bit....this topic might be better in the green room. Good luck.

 

[bayshorecs]

Oh, we already have rain barrels, making biodiesel, CFLs (she changed them before the bulbs even burned out), worm compost, recycling, garden, clothes line and now the wood stove.

I realize saving the money is the most "green" thing to do. But also looking to double up on a 12th aniversary gift.

 

[daveswoodhauler]

Geeze, we must live in the same house With the excpetion of the worm compost, and we just had our 10th.
You could always buy her a 3.6KW solar panel system for the house...that might set you back a few though

 

[begreen]

There are lots of discussions on thermal powered fans on the forum. A most recent one is here:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/23124/

 

[bayshorecs]

Ugh. I don't want to reminder her of that again!

She wants solar and wind power too. Doesn't "get" the fact that a 10-20 year payback does not make financial sense for us. Plus, the rest of the neighbors in the subdivision may not like it...

The "living roof" idea took the cake. She is scared to climb up a ladder but wanted a few tons of dirt on the roof (now that sounds like a good idea!) for a flower garden. Hmm...who would be tending that garden and who does that when they have 1/2 acre of yard?!?

 

[InTheRockies]

Well, if you really want to buy a "green" present, why not look at camping equipment (like solar ovens). Much of it has been "green" before "green" became the buzzword du jour and favorite merchandising ploy, plus if you really camp it will be useful. There's a cooking on the wood stove thread on the forum, too. You might consider buying the cookbook discussed in that thread for your wife and maybe a cast iron dutch oven that she could use to begin cooking on the wood stove.

 

[daveswoodhauler]

I'm guessing that BayShores would be doing the cooking as well with the Dutch Oven
I do like the idea of the cooking on the stove idea...I have an insert, so wouldn't work for me

 

[BJ64]

I am bothered that the wife is going to take away the wood splitter so I thought up a solution.

Put the rounds in back of the truck and fly down a road with plenty of upright solid objects. I wonder if the wood was seasoned enough, would it dash to pieces at 70 or 80 MPH.

 

[bayshorecs]

There are lots of discussions on thermal powered fans on the forum. A most recent one is here:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/23124/

Thanks for the link.

I don't seem to have much luck searching on this forum. Must be me...

 

[Beanscoot]

I like to always keep a kettle full of water on the stove. As soon as it boils I move it to the side on a trivet which keeps it hot. Then whenever we do dishes etc. we save on hot water. Considering hot water is one of the biggest users of power this seems worthwhile. Also, boiling water is amazingly good for rinsing off really greasy dirty dishes, and since it's free this way, I can prerinse dishes and make washup a bunch more pleasant and detergent saving.

Although hot water isn't high tech it certainly is a good use of a woodstove.

As for the little fans, my brother in law bought a couple of them on sale at Canadian Tire and is quite pleased with them. They don't move a lot of air, but do cause a slow but certain movement, and unlike big plug in fans, don't raise dust.

 

[daleeper]

Oh, we already have rain barrels, making biodiesel, CFLs (she changed them before the bulbs even burned out), worm compost, recycling, garden, clothes line and now the wood stove.

I realize saving the money is the most "green" thing to do. But also looking to double up on a 12th aniversary gift.

Biodiesel, there is your answer to the splitter problem. Retrofit it with a diesel engine that will run on biodiesel. If that doesn't work, I do have an extra monster maul available.

Good luck.

 

[snydley]

My wife is quickly becoming ever more "Green" so we are installing a Wood Stove this fall to heat the house +50% of the time with wood. Last night while using my cheapo electric log splitter to make up some splits, she said that next year we need to use a splitter not powered my gas or electric. Umm...I also use a wedge = brute human force!

Anyway, I was thinking of getting a small gadget to use thermodynamics with the heat coming off the stove to "operate". A fan is the obvious thought that comes to mind (like: (broken link removed to http://www.northlineexpress.com/detail~PRODUCT_ID~5HW-HEATWAVE.asp)). What other options are out there and maybe something a little cheaper?

Anyone else have any ideas?

I would buy the best ax/maul I could, give it to HER and let her split the wood this winter. Once she's had enough, go out and buy a 22Ton gas powered Huskee spitter. ;-) Going green is great, but being practical is better.
Snyde

 

[Jags]

I would buy the best ax/maul I could, give it to HER and let her split the wood this winter.

He,he,he....I like this answer best so far. :cheese:

 

[bayshorecs]

Already tried that. Funny watching my 100lb wife trying to split a round with a wedge and sledge. She gave up after 3 swings (misses).

I NEED a monster maul...

 

[Saw-dust]

Already tried that. Funny watching my 100lb wife trying to split a round with a wedge and sledge. She gave up after 3 swings (misses).

I NEED a monster maul...

Dude you need a 22 ton splitter or bigger. Some how we got to show her that better split wood offsets the carbon foot print of a back sergery.

 

[snydley]

Already tried that. Funny watching my 100lb wife trying to split a round with a wedge and sledge. She gave up after 3 swings (misses).

I NEED a monster maul...

Dude you need a 22 ton splitter or bigger. Some how we got to show her that better split wood offsets the carbon foot print of a back sergery.

She needs to realize that no matter how much we want to, we can't ALWAYS go green. Sometimes it's just not practical. She needs to pick something else to "go green" with.
BUT, that being said, if you find the magic "green" thermo fan/generator gizmo that's powerful enough to split wood, you let us know I, want a couple. ;-)
Snyde

 

[Beanscoot]

"Funny watching my 100lb wife trying to split a round with a wedge and sledge."

Well, it's a lot better than watching a 200lb wife.

 

[Jags]

"Funny watching my 100lb wife trying to split a round with a wedge and sledge."

Well, it's a lot better than watching a 200lb wife.

That just made my Monday morning :lol: Thanks.