Q on barrel clearance

I am installing a 6" batch box.

Here are a couple pics of my heat shield.

My question is. Which may be stupid.

Can I put the barrel 1" away from that heat shield.

If no, would a layer of brick on the inside backside of the barrel make it possible?

I'm looking for a way I can be sure it will be safe. I'm sure many will say just move it farther, but that would be difficult because the hearth is already in place. I'd prefer to modify the wall if I had to.

Here are the pics...

You dont mention what type of heater you are using but even a basic J tube will chuck out 5-600f near the top of the barrel so you cant really expect anyone to say yes that is fine!
Not that I am going to recommend putting you stove so close to a wooden  wall but something insulating is what you would need, a steel plate will just get really hot.
A sheet  of vermiculite would be far more effective than a steel plate but the sheets are 1’’  thick to start with.
You really need a 6’’ air gap as a minium and even then a protective layer to cover the wood will still be required.

Its a 6" batch box using firebrick and the 5 min riser

I have some extra superwool. What about putting that behind the heat shield. I also thought about putting the supperwool on the inside of the barrel just on the back 1/3 of the barrel inside....

Fox James wrote:You dont mention what type of heater you are using but even a basic J tube will chuck out 5-600f near the top of the barrel so you cant really expect anyone to say yes that is fine!
Not that I am going to recommend putting you stove so close to a wooden  wall but something insulating is what you would need, a steel plate will just get really hot.
A sheet  of vermiculite would be far more effective than a steel plate but the sheets are 1’’  thick to start with.
You really need a 6’’ air gap as a minium and even then a protective layer to cover the wood will still be required.

Hi Nico,
My 6” batchbox was in my shop huddled between fixed shelving, a work bench and a wall, all made out of wood. There was maybe a 2” gap between the barrel and metal heat shield, then another 2” gap to the wooden items mentioned behind that.
With the air gap, I was constantly able to monitor the temperature of the wood to make sure it was safe. A general rule of thumb is that if you can’t comfortably hold your hand on the wood (or other flammable surface your trying to protect) then it’s too hot.
It never reached that state so that was good.  
Placing a layer of superwool or wall of bricks inside the barrel on the side your trying to protect is a good way to help slow the rate of heat exchange on that side of the barrel for sure. It’s not the type of stove that’s generally burned all day anyway so buildup of heat on this protected side would be far less likely.
Just be sure it doesn’t interfere or restrict with airflow into your manifold or make the barrel removal difficult if you don’t have a removable top for cleaning and inspection.
Are you positioning your barrel so that it’s offset from the riser? Leaving a very small gap between the riser and the barrel on the side you want to protect also helps to encourage the hot air flow to the front where you want it to radiate to.
Having a remote temperature gauge between the wall and the back side of the heat shield would also be a good thing to have and be able to inspect at a glance.
One more thing: if the heat shield was all silver or white (shiny) instead of black, it would help reflect the heat much better... perhaps a negative of your current art work?

Thanks Gerry,

Sounds like my clearance is about the same...2” to the heat shield.

I plan to monitor it by touch and also with my laser temp gauge.

The barrel will be offset towards the front by about 2"... I could go more.

Perhaps I'll install it without the extra wool and monitor the first couple of burns and then decide.

Interesting idea about the color. I could actually turn the heat shield around, the other side is still silver. That I will do. I'm actually done with that art work anyway, time for something new.

Thanks for your response.

Gerry Parent wrote:Hi Nico,
My 6” batchbox was in my shop huddled between fixed shelving, a work bench and a wall, all made out of wood. There was maybe a 2” gap between the barrel and metal heat shield, then another 2” gap to the wooden items mentioned behind that.
With the air gap, I was constantly able to monitor the temperature of the wood to make sure it was safe. A general rule of thumb is that if you can’t comfortably hold your hand on the wood (or other flammable surface your trying to protect) then it’s too hot.
It never reached that state so that was good.  
Placing a layer of superwool or wall of bricks inside the barrel on the side your trying to protect is a good way to help slow the rate of heat exchange on that side of the barrel for sure. It’s not the type of stove that’s generally burned all day anyway so buildup of heat on this protected side would be far less likely.
Just be sure it doesn’t interfere or restrict with airflow into your manifold or make the barrel removal difficult if you don’t have a removable top for cleaning and inspection.
Are you positioning your barrel so that it’s offset from the riser? Leaving a very small gap between the riser and the barrel on the side you want to protect also helps to encourage the hot air flow to the front where you want it to radiate to.
Having a remote temperature gauge between the wall and the back side of the heat shield would also be a good thing to have and be able to inspect at a glance.
One more thing: if the heat shield was all silver or white (shiny) instead of black, it would help reflect the heat much better... perhaps a negative of your current art work?