Restoring and Installing a Vintage Little John Wood Stove and Chimney

Evaluating and Preparing Your Little John Wood Stove

The Little John wood stove has been a popular and reliable heating option for off-grid homes and cabins for decades. However, before installing your vintage Little John stove you'll want to thoroughly examine it to ensure it's in proper working order. Look for cracks or gaps in the metal, examine the stove joints to make sure they are tight, inspect the stove door to ensure it seals properly, and check the damper handle to confirm it opens and closes easily.

Once you've determined your Little John stove is structurally sound, give it a good cleaning. Sweep out ash remnants from previous fires and scrub out any creosote deposits from the stove walls and chimney connector pipe with a wire chimney cleaning brush. Creosote is a byproduct of burning wood and can cause dangerous chimney fires if allowed to build up. After cleaning, paint the stove with high-temperature stove paint to help protect the metal surfaces from future corrosion.

Setting Up the Stovepipe and Chimney

Your vintage Little John will require a properly installed stovepipe and chimney to function safely and efficiently. The general rule is that the chimney must extend at least 3 feet above the roofline and 2 feet higher than any portion of the roof within 10 feet.

If possible, use a prefabricated insulated stainless steel chimney liner rather than an unlined masonry chimney. This will improve draft for the stove. Single wall stovepipe sections are used to transition from the stove collar to the chimney. Join sections with the crimped ends pointing downward to prevent creosote dripping out of joints.

The stovepipe should be as short and straight as possible, without sharp turns that can impede draft. Seal all joints and connections with high-temperature metal tape to prevent smoke leaks. Ensure clearances from combustible materials are maintained around the stovepipe - usually 18 inches.

Floor Protection for Your Stove

A Little John wood stove can weigh over 300 pounds and reach temperatures over 600°F on its surface. Therefore proper floor protection is crucial for fire safety.

The flooring under and around the Little John should be covered with a non-combustible hearth material like brick, tile, or a special hearth pad. The floor protection should extend at least 18 inches beyond the front and 8 inches beyond each side of the stove.

Never install a Little John wood stove on a flammable surface like carpeting or wood flooring without adequate hearth protection. The floor pad helps prevent sparks from escaping under the stove and reduces risk of fire from radiant heat.

Operating Your Vintage Little John Stove

Breaking in a New Stove

If your Little John is new or newly refurbished, you'll need to properly break it in before regular use. This helps prevent metal warping and buckling from thermal shock. Start by burning small, hot fires using kindling only for the first 3 fires. Let the stove cool completely between each break-in fire.

After these initial short fires, build slightly larger fires using small splits of seasoned firewood. Limit each of these break-in fires to 30 minutes. Avoid creating large flames that lick above the stove top until the break-in process is complete.

Starting and Maintaining Fires

With your vintage Little John wood stove properly broken in, you can now build fires for heating. Start by opening the stove's draft regulators fully and placing several balls of newspaper in the firebox. Arrange kindling in a crisscross pattern over the newspaper then ignite the paper below.

Once the kindling is actively burning, add a couple small splits of firewood. Once those take fire, continue adding larger pieces of split firewood but take care not to overfill the firebox. Allow plenty of airspace between pieces for combustion airflow.

Use a stove tool to regularly arrange and stir the burning logs. This allows air to fully circulate and produces a more efficient fire. You can begin reducing the draft regulator opening once the fire is well established to better control the burn rate.

Add fresh logs periodically as needed to maintain the fire, but avoid overfilling. Use a moisture meter to ensure your firewood has been properly seasoned to under 20% moisture content for clean, efficient burning.

Ash Removal

Remove accumulated ash from your Little John regularly, at least once a week during the heating season. Let the stove cool fully before scooping ash into a metal container with a lid. Ash should be placed outdoors away from combustible materials until fully cooled.

Never allow ash to build up and block airflow through the grate. However do leave a thin layer to help insulate the stove bottom. After ash removal, replace the grate and you can restart your fire.

Maintaining Your Little John Wood Stove

Creosote Cleaning

Creosote, a byproduct of burning wood, will gradually coat the inside of the stovepipe and chimney. Failure to regularly clean out creosote can lead to a dangerous chimney fire.

Use a chimney brush at least monthly during the heating season to scrub out creosote deposits. Remove the stovepipe and thoroughly scrub the entire length of chimney from the top down. Sweep all loose creosote ash from the cleanout door at the chimney base.

Gasket Inspection

Examine door, glass, and damper gaskets periodically for damage or deterioration. Replace damaged or worn gaskets to prevent smoke leakage and promote firebox efficiency. Quality stove gasket kits can be purchased from wood stove retailers and are simple to install.

Paint Touch-ups

Touch up any cracks or peeling paint on your Little John stove with fresh high-temp stove paint. Maintaining good paint coverage prevents rust damage from occurring. Sand damaged areas before repainting and apply thin coats in successive layers for best results.

A well-maintained vintage Little John wood stove is a charming and reliable heat source. With proper operation and routine cleaning, your Little John can continue heating your off-grid home for many more years to come. Just be sure to follow all safety guidelines and enjoy the cozy radiant warmth.

FAQs

How do I know if my old Little John stove needs repairs?

Inspect your vintage Little John thoroughly for any cracks, gaps, or corrosion in the metal surfaces. Check that all joints and seams are tight, and confirm the stove door seals properly and damper handles move freely before use. Look for signs of wear like missing bricks inside the firebox.

What maintenance does my wood stove need?

Critical maintenance includes creosote removal every 1-2 months using a chimney brush. Inspect gaskets yearly and replace any that are cracked or compressed. Remove ash regularly and check for stovepipe leaks. Paint worn spots to prevent rust. Also clean the glass as needed.

What is the proper way to start a fire in my Little John?

Open the draft regulators fully and place crumpled newspaper in the firebox. Arrange kindling in a crisscross stack over the newspaper and ignite. Once kindling is burning strongly, add small splits of seasoned firewood. Allow plenty of airspace between pieces for airflow. Once fire is established, adjust the draft regulators.

How do I know if my chimney setup is correct?

The chimney must extend 3 feet above the roofline and 2 feet higher than any roof surface within 10 feet horizontally. Use a stainless steel liner if possible for best draft. Make sure pipe connections are tight and clearances from combustibles are maintained. Chimney and stovepipe must be installed to manufacturers' specifications.

What floor protection does a wood stove need?

The floor under and around the wood stove should be covered with a non-combustible hearth pad. It should extend at least 18 inches in front of the door opening and 8 inches to the sides. An approved hearth pad helps prevent sparks and radiant heat from igniting the floor.