poor draft!

[david newbie]

We have a Drolet wood stove that was here when we bought the place, probably not super efficient, I wake up once a night to add wood as it will definitely not hold a fire overnight .. ( us old guys get up at night anyway). When we open the door to add wood we tend to get a lot of smoke, especially when my wife does it). I just realized that all the the draft has to pass through a steel baffle plate, with approximately 50 holes that are slight bigger that 5/32 and smaller than 3/16. I was thinking about taking my drill and enlarging those holes so we don't get so much smoke!! and if we end up slightly less efficient but get less smoke, I'm okay with that. Anyone thing that could work? Thanks, Smoked in Oregon. Btw, our stove pipe is probably 12 feet total and its a straight pipe with some sort of cap on top with plenty of air space.

 

[Patrick62]

We have a Drolet wood stove that was here when we bought the place, probably not super efficient, I wake up once a night to add wood as it will definitely not hold a fire overnight .. ( us old guys get up at night anyway). When we open the door to add wood we tend to get a lot of smoke, especially when my wife does it). I just realized that all the the draft has to pass through a steel baffle plate, with approximately 50 holes that are slight bigger that 5/32 and smaller than 3/16. I was thinking about taking my drill and enlarging those holes so we don't get so much smoke!! and if we end up slightly less efficient but get less smoke, I'm okay with that. Anyone thing that could work? Thanks, Smoked in Oregon. Btw, our stove pipe is probably 12 feet total and its a straight pipe with some sort of cap on top with plenty of air space.View attachment 1238233View attachment 1238235View attachment 1238236

look at it a little closer. I wager that those holes are the secondary burn holes... meaning that they flow air to make a more efficient burn. similar to what my stove, and mothers insert uses. there will be a baffle back up in there that the smoke has to go around, and then up the stack. could have accumulated a bunch of soot/ash on top of that baffle. Also, go check that cap to be certain that it is free and clear. it's a large door (nice) learn to open it a little and pause for 3 seconds and let things stabilize.

enjoy, it's a nice looking stove!

 

[SS396driver]

I have a newer Drolet with the secondary tubes instead of the plate . Those are for the air to enter not for the smoke to exit . I would open the air vent for a few minutes before adding more wood

 

[david newbie]

I already do those tricks, and they do help a little. I tried to examine the baffle plate and I sure cant find any potential openings other than the 50 small holes. No openings around the edges as far as I can tell

 

[david newbie]

I have a newer Drolet with the secondary tubes instead of the plate . Those are for the air to enter not for the smoke to exit . I would open the air vent for a few minutes before adding more wood

My little brother Lives in the Catskills, somewhere out side of ellenville and is learning to use a wood stove

 

[SS396driver]

I already do those tricks, and they do help a little. I tried to examine the baffle plate and I sure cant find any potential openings other than the 50 small holes. No openings around the edges as far as I can tell

Mine the exhaust goes out the front just above the door not a great picture but this is the general idea

 

[SS396driver]

My little brother Lives in the Catskills, somewhere out side of ellenville and is learning to use a wood stove

I’m right next to the Rondout reservoir. Near Ellenville

 

[david newbie]

Mine the exhaust goes out the front just above the door not a great picture but this is the general idea View attachment 1238301

Mine the exhaust goes out the front just above the door not a great picture but this is the general idea View attachment 1238301when the stove is out I will try lighting incense or some other smoke and see where it wants to go

Maybe