How to Build a Smoke Stack for a Wood Stove

Count the number of bends required to join the exhaust port on your stove with your chimney using straight lengths of pipe, and purchase a pipe elbow for each bend. Measure the vertical and horizontal distance between the stove and the point where your pipe will meet the chimney. Measure the diameter of the exhaust and purchase enough stovepipe of the same diameter to span the vertical and horizontal distances you measured.

Subtract the length of the pipe elbows from the horizontal distance between the stove's exhaust port and the chimney. Measure and cut lengths of pipe to fit this distance. Repeat this process using the vertical distance between the exhaust port and the chimney, then measure and cut the stovepipe to match.

Measure the diameter of the gaskets that fit over the damper's rod where it meets the stovepipe. Drill holes in the side of the pipe that will sit closest to the stove's exhaust port. Make your holes on opposite sides of the pipe and remove any metal burrs left over from drilling. Insert the damper into the holes you drilled, according to the manufacturer's specifications.

Assemble the pipes and elbows so that the majority of the smoke stack is as far away from the wall as possible. Insert the narrower end of each pipe into the wide end of the adjoining pipe or elbow to fit the pieces of the smoke stack together. Begin working at the stove's exhaust port and attach the pipe containing the damper or pipe elbow if your layout calls for it. Continue attaching sections of pipe and elbow until your smoke stack reaches the chimney. Mark and drill at least three holes for each joint in the smoke stack and fasten them together using the sheet metal screws.