Woodstock Absolute Steel cat and manometer questions

Acquired a Woodstock Absolute Steel Stove a year ago and am absolutely happy with it. Recently added additional chimney pipe length and it really improved already pretty good wood burning experience. We had this cold snap blow through and dropped to around 0.. fired it up and was easily heating our 2000sq ft drafty 1907 Victorian for many hours. 12-13 hours on a 75% load in the firebox, and now with temps in the 30s, easily pull 15-18 hours.

Was thinking of going to the Ideal Steel to gain a larger firebox but by improving the chimney length, not even thinking that now. This Absolute Steel does very well. Quite amazed that this stove can generate so much heat for so long on a 2.4cu ft firebox.

Questions… what recommendation for a cat probe? Presume a Condor but what model, probe length? Asked Woodstock and awaiting their recommendation too.

Also, since am getting gearhead-y about this now, wanting to pull stats, numbers, you know, minor obsessing… anyone have advice on where to attach a Dwyer manometer tube? Haven’t found much discussion about this. Thoughts anyway?

Tx, david

 

Just drill a small hole in the stove pipe, between the stove and any pipe dampers, if you have one. Get a couple feet of metal tubing (soft copper is easy to bend by hand) bend it into an S shape, push the rubber tubing from the Dwyer in or on it.
The metal tubing can just hang in the hole then. If you want to remove it, a bolt can easily be threaded into the hole to plug it.

 

Don't
Touch
Anything

 

I leave mine hooked up all the time...if my metal tube was that short it would melt, sooner or later...

 

Yup. That was plan B. Into the stove pipe. Wondered if anyone had a more exotic plan A that went directly to the stove

Funny... my wife keeps saying the same thing. Before where enthusiasm is peaking and after when oddly enthusiasm wanes because things didn't quite go to plan.

Fortunately I was stymied by running out of time while at Lowes... so the setup and my wife may be spared. I like numbers tho...

 

Being admonished to leave it alone, and I will, probably maybe probably, maybe... how do you secure the metal hose to your stove piping? A hole is easy, but sealing and securing... as said prior, good thing I ran out of time at Lowers. Ran the risk of way overthinking it.

 

This one was borrowed. I was surprised it came like that, with rubber so close.

 

Just bend the pipe into an S shape, let it hang from the hole.
1/4" (ish) hole, 1/4" pipe...close enough, no need to be water tight...

Yeah I'm kind of a gadget/gauge guy...if you know what's "normal" it makes it easier to know your setup is optimal, or to troubleshoot if needed.
It does sound like your setup is pretty darn good as is though...but with that said, I think measuring draft is too often ignored on stoves...most just hook it up to a chimney and light it...

 

Sealing would be more important if dealing with positive pressure, to keep smoke from leaking out. Shouldn’t be an issue, as long as you size the hole to the inserted pipe reasonably close. If securing bothers you, you could flare it, I suppose.

 

OldColo , what part of CO are you in? I lived in Weld County for 13 years, east of Eaton, and traveled a lot of the state.

 

I was at Lowes, thinking, plotting, planning, scheming... had staff socially distanced in a circle contributing to the idea. Some of the ideas were creative but arse ugly. Thanked everyone and left before it got out of hand.

Ok, snug fit. Check. I have run several stoves throughout the years, cut and split (hand) a gazillion cords, and like to think I am a wood whisperer. Able to adjust by feel. We are in a bit of a small river basin with Pikes Peak out our back door. We get some dramatic pressure anomalies with warm humid gulf lows smashing into artic highs, pacific ocean tosses into the mix, and when the jet stream drops down over us, we get crazy chinook winds. I thought I knew it all without meters, but am so struck by how well this stove has operated, am now curious in the science.

I know I know, stay curious. Leave it alone. A clean cat and swept triple wall makes for a happy dynamic. Still... a bit amazed at the function, efficiency, form, of this Absolute Steel. I thought I'd seen it all. Nawp.

 

Colorado Springs. Westside. Pikes Peak fills the back window. As mentioned in a prior post... we get crazy weather and barometric anomalies. And I did a ton of work with UNC, Greeley, years ago. Internet stuff. Fantastic country.

 

Check. Having run several stoves but never a manometer, wasn't sure if it needed to be a tight seal or snug. I understand now. May proceed. Not alter stove. Just stove pipe.. check.

 

Absolute Steel Hybrid

 

Yes, beautiful country. I was working at CSU during that time. Came east from Gunnison to Florissant once, but turned north there, and never traveled that stretch over to the Springs.

 

Where you now? And do you run a Absolute Steel?

 

I had to see this better, so clicked on Photoshop and enhanced the exposure.
For the benefit of others who just got off their scooters and are back on FHC.
Your "little place" looks nice these days Flamestead . I have a thing for the Heritage Deli.