Updates:
The paint on the bottom rear started burning off after only one light burn.
I needed a spark arrestor so I bought 1/4" animal wire. It's labeled as wire cloth or something, but it clearly metal. The label says it is zinc coated, so I'm a bit worried about it melting. I also picked up a different rain cover at the Habitat For Humanity Restore for only $5. The one next to it in the picture was $10 from Lowes. I was able to measure the inside height and diameter of the rain cap and cut a piece of wire to fit. I rolled it up extra small and crammed it inside and let it expand against the walls. Came out pretty nice.




Next I took another piece of the wire and cut it into different shapes to experiment with what shape rolls into a cone best. Turns out it is a rectangle. Roll into a tight cone and slide into the bottom of the lowest pipe. I put mine about half way between the stove and damper. The idea here is that a cone will have more spark catching surface area, and more holes so as to not restrict the airflow through the pipe as much. Also, placing it close to the flames will help it be self cleaning. The lower one is the one I'm worried will melt. I stood back and saw 1-3 sparks when I first started the fire. Any spark that made its way out of the chimney was moving very slow and disappeared within 12" of the exit. I never saw another spark for the rest of the night. Seems to be working.

Last night it read 32 degrees


When the stove was dying down, I had my chair as pictured.


Holding the thermometer on the armrest closest to the stove, I was able to max out the thermometer


It is noticeably warmer under the metal roof. I'm concerned that once I put the cinder block walls up that it will be like sitting in a dry sauna. Here is a picture demonstrating that nothing is around to retain heat yet. The cinder blocks will run 2 inches behind where the stove is here.


I didn't notice last night when I took this picture, but noticed just now. You can see that the bottom spark arrestor has nearly fallen out of the pipe and into the stove. When everything was cold, it was jammed in there well enough that I couldn't pull it back out when I tried. I'll have to check when it is cold to see what I can change.