[AT] OT Heating with wood

[HaliganBar at aol.com]

Charlie,

I'm thinking the same thing. We have been looking at wood stove inserts for 
our fireplace. I'd prefer a regular wood stove but I don't have a place to put 
one. I don't expect to replace the oil heat but, I'd like to take some of the 
sting out of having to shell out enough cash for 600 gallons. 

So far we like the Dutch West unit that's sold by Vermont Castings. A local 
place has them for $1099 plus $160 for a flexible flue pipe that will attach to 
the stove, fit through my damper, and reach past the smoke shelf up into the 
flue. I'd also echo Mike's comments about pulling the insert out occasionally 
and checking for buildup and cleaning it up. If you burn good dry wood and 
keep up with the maintenance then chimney fires shouldn't be an issue.

Karl

In a message dated 9/29/05 1:15:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, chill8 at cox.net 
writes:

> With the price of fuel I'm thinking of going back to good old wood heat. 
> The easiest and cheapest way for me to do that is to place a wood stove that 
> 
> I have (modern type slow burn built of of steel plate and lined with fire 
> brick) in front of and partially in my fireplace.
> 
> I need opinions on the best way to connect the pipe from the heater too the 
> damper opening in the fireplace.  My thinking is to make a plate to fit in 
> the place of the damper with a square to round adapter from the plate to the 
> 
> stove pipe.   I don't want kreosote dripping into the fireplace and I sure 
> don't want a chimney fire.  Any ideas?
> 
> If I can get this rigged up cheap enough maybe my tractor can haul some wood 
> 
> this winter.  If it's going to cost a lot to make it work I may be better 
> off paying for fuel.
> 
> Charlie