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Post by wiscojames on Mar 5, 2015 5:58:54 GMT -8
Maybe this has already been thoroughly discussed somewhere - if so, I have missed it. Can you folks offer your thoughts? "Is that thing safe? What about CO?" I am assuming that one should install a CO detector, maintain minimum clearances to combustibles, have a properly maintained chimney, and have a door sufficient to prevent flaming wood from rolling out of the firebox (that seems unlikely, given the chamfer of the firebox), but are there other concerns? I have thought about the top of the barrel, and wondered about tiny holes eventually forming at the hottest spot above the riser. Would it help or hurt to put a 3/4" layer of cob atop the barrel for insurance? Or would that have negative side effects? I am pretty satisfied with the safety of the thing, but I happen to live with someone who is a bit skeptical. She is leery about using it, even as an emergency heater - which is DEFINITELY the ONLY time I would EVER use it. Just to be clear to anyone who ever reads this in the future. It is finished, though I plan to make it a little prettier with cob. By the way, 3 1/2" of perlite/slip on the cart.
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Post by peterberg on Mar 5, 2015 6:25:06 GMT -8
"Is that thing safe? What about CO?" Yes, it is. It is capable of exhausting very, very low CO figures. Besides that, when in operation the whole thing is running in under pressure. So leaks won't have effect as long as the chimney is open. During development I've used a Testo gas analyzer which sports an environment CO detector. Whatever strange tricks I performed, it didn't even flinch once. I am assuming that one should install a CO detector, maintain minimum clearances to combustibles, have a properly maintained chimney, and have a door sufficient to prevent flaming wood from rolling out of the firebox (that seems unlikely, given the chamfer of the firebox), but are there other concerns? You mentioned all the normal precautions, no further concerns I could think of. I have thought about the top of the barrel, and wondered about tiny holes eventually forming at the hottest spot above the riser. Would it help or hurt to put a 3/4" layer of cob atop the barrel for insurance? Or would that have negative side effects? There would be negative side effects by adding a layer of cob on the top. The top of the barrel will get hotter under the cob and would fail in a shorter time. About the probability of tiny holes: see my first comment above. By the way, 3 1/2" of perlite/slip on the cart. In case the cart top surface material is wood, I would think that won't be safe, sorry. Under the perlite the temperature will rise in time inevitably to the charring point of the material. Charred wood has a much lower self-ignition temperature. The floor of the firebox can get awfully hot at times, I would think this is quite a risk.
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Post by wiscojames on Mar 5, 2015 7:22:40 GMT -8
Thank you Peter, for your prompt and reasoned response. I appreciate the explanations.
The cart is all steel - angle iron and 3/16" plate.
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Post by peterberg on Mar 5, 2015 8:08:29 GMT -8
In that case that cart wouldn't be a safe hazard,
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