strange how most hardwood burners seem to think that burning softwood is something horrible... heck, i burn 50/50 pine and white birch and no problems with it...
just season the damn wood and it doesnt matter what you burn...
IMO flexible ducts are big no-no on flues becouse they have rough surface on the inside which means tons of creasote and other crap will stick there, just stick with rigid metal ductwork...
Long as the wood isnt in ground contact and covered from rain it will last good decade or two easily that is, if you dont burn it before that... if theyre uncovered it will take couple years and theyre goner, depending on weather ofcourse...
Thats how it should work, thermosthat kicks heating on when venturi temp hits around 10c or so and shuts off when not needed... Switch is only for handle heaters...
definately fill up the boiler unless you want to buy new one in the fall... Boilers last a lifetime if its full all the time, if not it rusts in couple of months...
Well, its not my favorite past time cutting in that cold weather, but after 15-20 mins of sawing in knee-deep snow the temp is just fine :greenchainsaw:
But on other hand... i used to ride bicycle to school at -30c in the winter... :monkey:
I have that kind of mittens (well husky branded ofcourse) and theyre superb when cutting in cold weather (read below -15c) and theyre big enough to fit another gloves under them to keep my fingers from freezing...