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The infrared pics were taken by an acquaintance who works for the local megamonstercorporation. He gets to sign it out from time to time. I think he said it was closer to $40K.
The auger is a 2" tulip bulb planter I got from Forestry Products. It sees a fair amount of heat; in fact a few kernels blacken and start to burn a little shortly before they fall into the pot. It's plain steel so who knows how long it'll last. sfsg
I have no idea about whether or not I'm breaking any laws with this thing. I wonder if there would even be any that apply directly and leave me no wiggle room. So far I only run it when I'm present in the barn where I can keep an eye on it.
I have watched the temperatures closely and am very comforatble that it is safe. I exceeded all the codes about clearance to flammables, also going above and beyond with extra steel sleeves between floors and to the outside in addition to the stainless class A pipe that trasitions to outdoors.
As I have it set up, the corn needs an (at least intermittent) forced air supply to keep it going. [I think]There can never be enough air in the corn supply tube to support an unintended burn. When I go to local vendors and check out their stoves, I feel totally fine about mine. I've seen them where the corn hopper has the kernels blacken along the shared wall with the burn chamber. With current air/fuel mix, as soon as I turn it off, the fire fades and is out in a minute.
I'm not to the point yet where I would leave it on overnight.