I received my 18" yesterday. Out of the box, the door hinge was bent, but i got it straight easily. Legs screwed on by hand. I left the leg extensions off. I did check, leg stud is a standard 3/8-16 thread. I did run a hex nut on the legs after my first burn to clean the threads, and then applied never sieze to the leg studs.
I've burnt it twice. Small seasoned hardwood splits.
First burn- Applied never sieze to the stove pipe sections. They went together easily. I let it get pretty hot, 650° on my infrared temp gun. It did smoke as it cooked the paint the first half hour. After 2 hours I could get the pipes apart wearing welding gloves. This morning, after cooling all night, the pipe was solid, not coming apart. I heated each joint with a torch and got them apart. Then I made my relief cuts. I used an angle grinder and cutting wheel first, but found a Sawzall worked better.
2nd burn- Today I fired it up again, not quite as hot, about 550°,and then let it cool. Afterward, the pipe was stuck again, but after tapping on the joints, they came right apart.
Thoughts- It's a bit finicky to start. I need to be more patient, I tend to use a little paper and a lot of wood. It worked best for me to start with very small slivers off wood, taking my time to build up to bigger pieces as it started. Once it got going, I didn't have issues with it smoking. It does throw off the heat! I think I could roast my small shelter. A 3-4 hr burn time isn't out of the question if you load it up. I'm impressed by the length of pieces you can get in the 18" stove.
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