[AT] OT - Old Chimney Question

Thu Oct 21 16:00:16 PDT 2004

Nearly 60 years ago, Dad decided we were going to build a "hobby house"
and shop on the back of the garage with a fireplace in it.  At that
time, all the best information said that if you wanted a fireplace and
chimney to draw right, it had to have a smoke shelf -- a backward offset
right above the damper.  We put in two of them and they worked very
well.  The biggest problem was caused by squirrels and ducks that fell
down the chimney and couldn't get out.

The chimney's you have, Al and Rob, sound similar to the one's that are
typical in central and eastern European houses.  They simply taper for
about 15 feet getting smaller as they rise from the hearth to the
rooftop.  Most serve as storage areas and "smoke houses" for curing
meats and have ladders up inside them.  Until I saw some of these a few
years ago, the whole concept of Santa Claus coming down the chimney
always seemed pretty far-fetched.  But a soot-covered individual making
an appearance out of the chimney could actually occur rather easily in
the region where the tradition of Santa Claus got its start.  One of the
largest of these chimneys is in the kitchen of the castle for the Grand
Master of the Teutonic Knights at Malbork (Marienburg) Poland.  It's
nearly 20 feet square inside at the bottom and tapers for 30 feet or so
before exiting through the roof.  Even at the rooftop, it's still large
enough for a person to climb down through it.  And yes, Santa Claus
WOULD come down "with a bound" because the only way to get from the
hearth to the floor would be to jump.  When you think of some other
childhood tales (such as Cinderella) in terms of the hearths and
chimneys that were common in the Old World, it sheds a whole new light
on them.

Larry

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Al Jones
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 4:25 PM
To: 'Antique tractor email discussion group'
Subject: RE: [AT] OT - Old Chimney Question

Speaking of chimneys, the house I am moving into later this year
(grandparent's old house) Has a "big" chimney like the ones described
here.  Back in the 80's when wood stoves were popular, they heated with
wood.  The fireplace never "drew" right, before or after the stove was
installed.  Even after adding 2' or so to the height of the chimney.
Would adding a smaller flue as described here fix the problem?  I want
to use the fireplace some, especially since the central heat is a
gaspack!!!!

Al

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Rob Gray
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 2:31 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] OT - Old Chimney Question

Thanks for the suggestion. I wonder if that technique would work though 
on a chimney like mine that is not completely straight. It gets smaller 
as it gets higher up (sort of have a curved shape between the first and 
second floor), unlike modern chimneys which seem to have the same 
dimensions from the flue to the roofline..... Either way, I'll look into

that option.

Thanks Again,

Rob

Mark Greer wrote:

>You can line it yourself with vitreous clay tile liners. You work from
the
>top and lower a section of the tile down into place and then pour a
soupy
>mortar mix around the outside of the tile to fill in the space between
it
>and the existing chimney. Next you lower another section down on top of
the
>first and fill around it the same way and so on until you are relined
all
>the way to the top. I got loaned out to a mason contractor friend of my
>Dad's one summer when I was a kid and this was one of the jobs we did
that
>summer. I mixed more mortar that summer than I care to remember.
>Mark
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: <DAVIESW739 at aol.com>
>To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 12:03 AM
>Subject: Re: [AT] OT - Old Chimney Question
>
>
>  
>
>>Very concerned I have seen many old houses where  I grew up that burn
down
>>because of chimney fires from these same type of old  chimneys.
>>
>>I would have a expert from your local wood stove store come out  and
take
>>    
>>
>a
>  
>
>>look he most likely will suggest cleaning and then adding enough new
>>    
>>
>metal
>  
>
>>chimney to reach out of the top of the old one. be sure to use the new
>>    
>>
>stainless
>  
>
>>type.
>>
>>Walt Davies
>>Cooper Hollow Farm
>>Monmouth, OR  97361
>>503 623-0460
>>
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