Woodburners

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

No, not another method to power the car.

Pick brains time.
I'm thinking of getting a wood burner for the house. The idea is to put it in the sitting room, where we currently have a gas fire.
One of the things mentioned before fitting is getting the chiney flue lined. The house was late 60's. Would the chimney have been lined already to take the gas fire?
Anybody with knowledge on this sort of thing?

Cheers

[V8MoneyPit]

You have a PM!

You can't use gas liner IIRC. It is not suitable for the heat generated. If the chimney passes a smoke test, you may be able to just use a short length of flue through a plate.

[lambert]

Got one for sale, if you're interested send a pm. It's stratford sm 50, iirc.

[waveydavey]

Basically you need a class 1 flue; essentially Brick or clay.
If you look up the chimney and you can see a metal liner then you will need to do something.

[V8MoneyPit]

There are flexible metal liners that are rated for cast iron stoves, but the first part has to be vitrious enamel flue.

[redhand]

Basically you need a class 1 flue; essentially Brick or clay.
If you look up the chimney and you can see a metal liner then you will need to do something.

Not true you can buy a twin walled stainless steel flexible flue for use with a multifuel or woodburning stove. The best method is to have the chimney lined. This is done by inserting a long inflatable sausage down the chimney and inflating it. A fast setting lightweight Pumice/cement mixture is then pumped down the chimney when it's set the sausage is deflated and removed. Leaving you with a perfectly smooth chimney which also becomes an heat sink when the fire goes out.

If the property was built in the 1960's then it is highly unlikely that it will need lining. but you need to ensure it was designed to be used as a open fire as some houses were built to have a gas fire and the flue wasn't designed to take the heat of a open fire or woodburner.

[V8MoneyPit]

The best method is to have the chimney lined. This is done by inserting a long inflatable asusage down the chimney and inflating it. A fast setting lightweight Pumice/cement mixture is then pumped down the chimney when it's set the sausage is deflated and removed. Leaving you with a perfectly smooth chimney which also becomes an heat sink when the fire goes out.

You are quite right, but it's an unecessary expence if the chimney passes a smoke test anyway.

If LSP has a gas liner installed, this will have to be removed. If the chimney is then found to be sound, all he needs is a register plate and a length of vitreous enamel flue.

If the chimney fails the smoke test, the cheapest way is to use the flexy liner that you mention.

My wife ships out about 10-15 cast iron stoves every day and unfortunately I let myself get involved  :roll:

[rollazuki]

I whipped the gas flu out of my chimney(not an easy task,the damned thing is enormous when you get it out) checked chimney inside(have it smoke tested) and blanked the base off and installed stove flu.
Dont forget to give access point to have flu cleaned!!

Best buy Ive ever made, no matter what the weather, if gas or leccy go out, Ive got a kitchen like a sauna.

Feels great at christmas time as well, crackling fire and all that :D

[scatt]

i just smoke test the chimney, had it sweept and away i went. my house was built in 1963. (no liner) works fine. go for duel fuel if you can a little more expensive but worth every penny. ive had both and duel fuel easier.

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

Sound advice coming in here chaps.
The next question is based on me being a stingy git. If the flue is 'gas lined', can it be removed as a DIY job?
What is a smoke test, and how is it done?

[Ja1983]

grab the bottom, and pull... once out take to scrap merchants and recycle - thus putting some money back in your pocket  

think about the following:

Soot box
ease of cleaning
wood storage
availability of wood


i spend a few hours most weekends re-arranging wood piles, then SWMBO burns it during the week!
we had a chimney fire earlier in the year, and have to say its very important to clean your flue regularly (as any doctor will tell you!)  as a 4ft flame coming from your rooftop may look cool, but is very scary!! :lol:

[madmatt]

Think long and hard about this, Its a nice idea burning logs and having a pretty fire but, that wood has to come from somewhere, It needs cutting, splitting and seasoning before you burn it. We have a stove and I spend about 6 days a year getting logs cut and stored, If you can't get your own timber the local tree surgeon will supply good seasoned stuff expect to pay between 60-120 quid a load.

Then there is about half an hour a day fetching wood in and getting the fire going.. Its all quite time consuming, oh and if the wife/girlfriend/lady of the house is a clean freak, forget the idea. The amount of ear ache we get when ash drops on the clean harth is unbearable!

Don't want to put a dampener on your idea I just think its good to know the downsides!

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

Think long and hard about this, Its a nice idea burning logs and having a pretty fire but, that wood has to come from somewhere, It needs cutting, splitting and seasoning before you burn it. We have a stove and I spend about 6 days a year getting logs cut and stored, If you can't get your own timber the local tree surgeon will supply good seasoned stuff expect to pay between 60-120 quid a load.

Then there is about half an hour a day fetching wood in and getting the fire going.. Its all quite time consuming, oh and if the wife/girlfriend/lady of the house is a clean freak, forget the idea. The amount of ear ache we get when ash drops on the clean harth is unbearable!

Don't want to put a dampener on your idea I just think its good to know the downsides!

I appreciate the thoughts MM, but we had one in Norfolk. Storing is not a problem, I've been wielding an axe since I was 8 and as for a supply of decent wood, well, there are shed loads of green lanes round here that need clearing and I have a couple of local contacts.
Cheers for the thoughts though.

[madmatt]

Do you have permission from the land owners to remove timber from green lanes, If you don't have his/her specific permission its actually theft!

Silly I know but a lot of land owners are anti, and would quite happily report you for takin their wood!

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

Do you have permission from the land owners to remove timber from green lanes, If you don't have his/her specific permission its actually theft!

Silly I know but a lot of land owners are anti, and would quite happily report you for takin their wood!

Thats an interesting point. That'll be an interesting one to look up. I know that if a tree falls on the highway, then it is down to the landowner to clear it or the Council bill them. But if it is old dead wood that has fallen as a result of age?
I'm wondering if it is similar to the bit in the Theft Act, that say you can pick part of a wild plant on public land, as long as it is not uprooted and the part that has been taken is not sold for profit.
I shall make a few enquiries into the legalities of that.

[redhand]

Do you have permission from the land owners to remove timber from green lanes, If you don't have his/her specific permission its actually theft!

Silly I know but a lot of land owners are anti, and would quite happily report you for takin their wood!

I should think that if anyone knows the leagalities of taking timber, it'll be LSP.

[redhand]

grab the bottom, and pull... once out take to scrap merchants and recycle - thus putting some money back in your pocket  

If you can get onto the roof easily then cover up the opening in yer lounge and remove it from the roof. Less chance of a major soot fall.

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

grab the bottom, and pull... once out take to scrap merchants and recycle - thus putting some money back in your pocket  

If you can get onto the roof easily then cover up the opening in yer lounge and remove it from the roof. Less chance of a major soot fall.

Oh Crap! I feel a 'Rod Hull' moment coming on! Best I up the life insurance  before I attempt that! :D

[redhand]

grab the bottom, and pull... once out take to scrap merchants and recycle - thus putting some money back in your pocket  

If you can get onto the roof easily then cover up the opening in yer lounge and remove it from the roof. Less chance of a major soot fall.

Oh Crap! I feel a 'Rod Hull' moment coming on! Best I up the life insurance  before I attempt that! :D

If your gonna do it from the bottom lots and lots of dustsheets Soot gets everywhere. and I mean everywhere.

[Bishops Finger]

OK here's a suggestion...chiminea mounted on a couple of paving slabs in the front room

Source not just timber from around and about but pallets (not Blue Chep because the paint when burns makes your head go wierd)..... 8)  :lol:  :lol:

[L90OOK]

Do you have permission from the land owners to remove timber from green lanes, If you don't have his/her specific permission its actually theft!

Silly I know but a lot of land owners are anti, and would quite happily report you for takin their wood!

Thats an interesting point. That'll be an interesting one to look up. I know that if a tree falls on the highway, then it is down to the landowner to clear it or the Council bill them. But if it is old dead wood that has fallen as a result of age?
I'm wondering if it is similar to the bit in the Theft Act, that say you can pick part of a wild plant on public land, as long as it is not uprooted and the part that has been taken is not sold for profit.
I shall make a few enquiries into the legalities of that.

I looked into a similar thing.  My neighbor had a 40ft conifer tree on our border & it blocked most of the afternoon sun in our garden, overhang my driveway so cars always covered in sap & pigeon poo.  Anyway after a few discussions with the neighbors they refused to chop tree down or reduce it (I said i'd pay half the costs).  Sooo...this led me to looking into what I could do to legally...
I could chop the tree that overhung our garden as long as I put all the chopped bits back into the owners garden (otherwise it would be theft)  :twisted:
So I went back to the neighbors with this & low & behold I returned home about two weeks ago to find the tree gone  :shock:

So I guess the answer to your Q is no you just can't tidy a lane up & take the wood home...it would technically be theft  :roll:   Not good for a man of your social standing  :lol:

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

(not Blue Chep because the paint when burns makes your head go wierd)..... 8)  :lol:  :lol:

And the problem with that is? :D

[redhand]

Try this site for details of how to calculate the size and output of stove you'll need to suit the room. http://www.villager.co.uk/rightstove.htm

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

Being a bit of a geek, I've been having a quick hunt through my law books and have found this.

Excuse the techy bit.

Under the sub-section of Property, Section 4 of the Theft Act, 1968 (I know Boggert, its been superceded! I'm not that much of a dinosaur!)

Mushrooms or flowers, fruit or foilage from a plant (but not the plant itself) growing wild cannot be stolen unless for reward, sale or commercial use.

I would suggest that fallen wood comes into that category, on public land, tresspass being a totally different thing.
I'm not picking it, cutting it, uprooting it or destroying the entire plant. It  is not being done for commercial gain, reward or to be sold. :?

I shall make more enquiries.

[Bishops Finger]

(not Blue Chep because the paint when burns makes your head go wierd)..... 8)  :lol:  :lol:

And the problem with that is? :D

Tis not the same wierdness as Leffe............ :shock:  8)

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

(not Blue Chep because the paint when burns makes your head go wierd)..... 8)  :lol:  :lol:

And the problem with that is? :D

Tis not the same wierdness as Leffe............ :shock:  8)

The Truth is spoken! All hail to the mighty Leffe! Although I have noted that some Tesco stores are now stocking a fine beer called Kwak! That also is nice!

[Bishops Finger]

as the sun went down and darkness fell the skies  opened and offered some Zwieck  polish beer.....

[discowoman]

hubby was looking at this site for one for the summerhouse
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?p=3811#post3811

must admit it would be a little more refined than that specimen,  and he thought about using an old Gas bottle , as he delivers to a place that refurbs and scraps Millions of them a year!

[madmatt]

I never bothered looking into the legalities of taking timber as I have enough but, when we did some lane clerance for the local CC the ROW officer advised that over hanging vegetation or fallen timber could only be cut back far enough to get a vehicle through comfortably and all cuttings should be left on site as they belong to the land owners. LSP will probably turn up some more info.

[rollazuki]

I took my gas flu out upwards, it was huge! saved the mess downstairs tho...!  Remember, Rod Hull never had a 30foot, sooty, stainless tube to play with....just an emu with his hand up its bum!