When the Stove Won't Draw-Update and Solutions

Getting to know my little stove here has been a journey. The cutest stove in the world, still I know my installation isn't the idea set up. I was able to configure it by myself, without any permanent changes to this studio. It works perfectly, most days.

We had some torrential rains, and the rain cap was switched out from the original one shown below. That turned out to be too scanty. I now have one from Ace hardware, your standard rain cap.

We live on top a mountain, surrounded by trees. On rare days, the down draft caused some challenging lessons. The smoke normally turns this corner without any problems. But, a down draft turned it into a nightmare.

Solution! Make a smokeless fire. This has been achieved by clearing the ashes from the grate. Place one small piece of cardboard on grate, a homemade fuel tablet and small dry twigs. Gradually warm the stove by adding more twigs until it naturally rises through the pipe. This has proved successful twice, and I believe my problem is solved.

I did a youtube video on how to make these fuel cubes with wood chips and old candle wax
http://youtube.com/user/brawny03

So far no frost on our mountain. Color is peak, and life is great!

Wood Stove Platform and Progress

I oiled my stove, that's the reason it's so beautifully black.
The legs have been "cemented" on with that great caulking stuff I used to glue the front panel on. The stuff hardens like rock and can withstand temps up to 1,000 degrees. The legs were the weak spot. Everything in life has a weakness.

The blocks are each 12 inches square and the platform is 2 x 3 feet. Once the cement cures, I'll move the stove forward so its two feet from that back wall. The pipe will go through the window at a 90 degree angle, then 90 degrees up past the roof. I checked the draw, it should be perfect.

Each of these blocks was $1.58 at walmart. I could have bought grey, but this color seemed more rustic.
This studio was a 12 x 16 steel beam and pressure treated floor. I insulated it with 13 R factor and paneled it. The building was delivered in 2005 and until now had not had any real source of heat. Now it will be toasty warm, with a pot of coffee ready on the back burner. I'll be installing pipes next week, I hope.