Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.

By 5 Acres and A Dream
Contributor profile | More stories

Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

2nd Test Fire & Masonry Stove Improvement #4

Monday, October 13, 2025 0:01

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

The Structo-lite plastering (stuccoing?) is complete and I don’t mind telling you I don’t know what to think. I really really liked the bricks, but with the small and annoying smoke leaks in the mortar, this was the option Dan went with. The second test fire confirmed it was a good choice because thanks to better sealing of the thermal mass, the smoke by-pass, and improvement #4, the stove worked beautifully!

Improvement #4 was to enlarge the built-in damper in the firebox door. It just wasn’t large enough for a good air flow to get the fire started.

Our firebox door. Photo from Masonry Heater Project

The slots on the bottom are the damper, with the cute knob to adjust the air intake. For our particular type of stove, this air intake needs an area of 2 & 3/8 square inches. The original door damper was less than 2 square inches and so the fire had trouble catching. Dan enlarged the air slots to the required specs and that made a big difference.

The photo’s a little dark but hopefully you can see the difference.

For our 2nd test fire, better initial air flow made it easier to get the fire going.

My challenge now is the aesthetics of the thing. The plaster is off-white, which looks brighter compared to my pale gold walls. Off-white is a nice neutral color, but in my mind it needs to coordinate with it’s color environment to its best advantage. I’m seriously re-thinking my living room color scheme! That’s one thing I’m contemplating. The other is the solidness of the color. The subtle color variations in the brick gave the stove visual texture which is gone now. So that’s the other thing I’m thinking about. The thing is, aesthetics is highly subjective. So there is no right or wrong, it’s just a matter of what one likes.

The most important thing is that the problems we had have now been addressed and the stove is functioning as it should. It burns more efficiently with very little ash left in the firebox afterward, and the thermal mass retains and radiates the heat beautifully.

While I decide how to address the visuals in the living room, Dan is in the planning stage for finishing the back of the stove and rebuilding the closet in the front bedroom.

Finishing the wall and remodeling the closet will be two separate projects.

We have our indoor winter projects cut out for us.

2nd Test Fire & Masonry Stove Improvement #4

Source: https://www.5acresandadream.com/2025/10/2nd-test-fire-masonry-stove-improvement.html

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

LION'S MANE PRODUCT

Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules

Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.

Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.

Comments

Visits:	1,737,595,236
Stories:	8,514,453