Hungry Stove Repair
OK Joe, here goes.
Too much air, no burn control. Older stoves did that.
So:
1. Measure ALL the air intakes--doors, plates, top, bottom, outlet to pipe.
2. Get a tub of furnace cement to fill the gaps between plates that are too small/narrow for gaskets. Fingers are best for this :censored:
3. Measure the spaces when closed of the loading and/or ash doors. Buy the smallest gasket "rope" that will fit the openings when closed.
4. Grind/sand, scrape the contacts areas.
5. Using gasket cement on one of the surfaces to glue the gasket...shut the opening so it'll dry. Give it a day.
Rebuilding cast iron stoves is messy using furnace cement and the black gasket cement. Use plastic procto gloves
disposable.
Tip: Use a drop light at night inside the stove to find the air spaces to fill with furnace cement or gaskets.
Last solution: buy a used EPA approved stove. Cat or non-cat. A good one works well, saves you wood, burns clean. Stay away from "Vermont Castings" brand. They are not what they once were when really made in Vermont, poor QC, expensive parts, no service.
Go for it.
PS You should be cutting NEXT winter's wood now