Common Sense Ain't that Common

[doctorb]

gspren-

I have got to ask......what is the purpose of the metal bucket?  I must be daft.

[thecfarm]

I betcha to keep the rain water out. I left mine OWB first of May for a week. I filled it up as gspren did and turned the switch on for the blowers,so they would not come on. BUT no bucket over the stack.Thought I was mighty smart. We had a real bad shower well I was gone. I have a clean out for the stack at the back of the OWB. The water came into the stack and made the whole inside of the OWB black. I was some upset when I opened the back and saw that. What a mess. It has not done any damage,but everything is black.

[stratford 50]

When it comes to weather try this on for size, My friend is 91years young and in 1930 walked to school @ -50 F to find out that school was closed. In the 1940s he witnessed a Thanksgiving snowstorm that dumped 45 inches in 2-3 days and it took 5 days to get the road cleared, Mother nature can be a force to be reckoned with.   

[gspren]

gspren-

I have got to ask......what is the purpose of the metal bucket?  I must be daft.

Plastic might melt  :D Aside from the already mentioned rain/snow/birds, it helps keep some of the heat in. One of the old galvanized minnow buckets, it has straight sides and just enough clearance for one tong on an old two prong pitch fork. I even thought about gluing a piece of cement board in the bottom of the bucket for insulation but haven't.

[petefrom bearswamp]

I always cover the stack on my OWB after getting 2" of water in the firebox back in the autumn of2005
Off subject, but Raider Bill I saw a 200 qt Yeti cooler yesterday at Rural King, $795.00.
Who in the world spends that kind of dough on a cooler?
Maybe power ball winners.

[doctorb]

I have a cap on my chimney with the spark guard removed.  I'm sure a small amount of rain moisture can get down the stack, but I've never seen any water in my stove when it's shut down.  I cover it after winter shutdown until startup in the fall.