TEN DESIGN PRINCIPLES

TEN DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR
WOOD BURNING STOVES
By Dr. Larry Winiarski

1. Insulate around the fire using lightweight, heat-resistant

materials.

2. Place an insulated short chimney right above the fire to burn up

the smoke and speed up the draft.
3. Heat and burn the tips of the sticks as they enter the fire to make
flame, not smoke.
4. High and low heat are created by how many sticks are pushed
into the fire.

5. Maintain a good fast draft from under the fire, up through the

coals. Avoid allowing too much extra air in above the fire to cool it.
6. Too little draft being pulled into the fire will result in smoke
and excess charcoal.

7. Keep unrestricted airflow by maintaining constant cross sectional

area through the stove. The opening into the fire, the size of

the spaces within the stove through which hot air flows, and the
chimney should all be about the same size.
8. Use a grate under the fire.
9. Insulate the heat flow path, from the fire, to and around the
pot(s) or griddle.

10. Maximize heat transfer to the pot with properly sized gaps.