Feedback on THE SAWDUST STOVE
(Page 2 of 2)
There's really no way to determine the degree of incomplete
combustion—and corresponding danger—in a stove
such as the one described in the article. The device must
certainly be used with adequate ventilation, as the author
stated, but this might make it ineffective as a heat
source. At any rate, it would seem inadvisable to use the
non-vented heater in a sickroom or other area in which the
occupants are sleeping or incapacitated (I'm thinking
especially of babies and elderly persons). If combustion
were poor, one average night's rest could turn into an
eternity.
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The larger models of the stove appear safer, since a flue
would likely be used to vent any fumes. Nevertheless,
anyone who uses either this or the smaller heater for long
periods should immediately seek fresh air—preferably
outdoors—if headache or dizziness develops.
In case you're wondering, I'm by no means an expert on
combustion. As a chemical engineer now working for a
government agency on air pollution control, however, I'm
often concerned with incineration and with the use of wood
waste as fuel . . . and I must emphasize one point:
Although various efforts have been made to control air
pollution from the burning of wood by controlling the
combustion process, such operations have proven very
tricky. With many types of combustion devices it's possible
to reduce the amount of smoke produced, but not the amount
of carbon monoxide. Deaths from poisoning by this deadly
gas have resulted in the past from the use of charcoal as
an indoor fuel . . . and the principle of the sawdust stove
is very similar. I offer these comments in the hope of
preventing MOTHER's readers from injuring themselves.
Although I have my doubts about the sawdust stove in the
form described, I thank B. R. Saubolle for sharing his
knowledge.
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