I was wondering if anyone could comment on the quality, reliability, and issues with the Defiant 1610?
2015/2016 VC Owners thread
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Trust me mine overflows!! Usually, I get one full overflowing pan and enough overspill to fill 3/4 full second pan. A bit messy but I made a small scoop to remove any overspill from behind the pan.
At the back of the stove you will find a small cap. Once removed there will be a hole where you place the probe. I believe the flexburn is the same as other encores.
speaking of cat thermometers, here is a picture of the VC supplied cat thermometer.
![[Hearth.com] 2015/2016 VC Owners thread](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/171/171973-90612dabc5697e3f000a633927f9a442.jpg?hash=n7i6dVPqU3 "[Hearth.com] 2015/2016 VC Owners thread")
Does anyone know how the temp range compares? its odd that there are no numbers..... I think it looks pretty close to something like this, but can't really tell:
![[Hearth.com] 2015/2016 VC Owners thread](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/171/171974-4254b851f514984451d2356507d2ae3e.jpg?hash=vHUOkkF3kc "[Hearth.com] 2015/2016 VC Owners thread")
Does anyone know how the temp range compares? its odd that there are no numbers..... I think it looks pretty close to something like this, but can't really tell:
I haven't owned or operated one, but I have read some of the threads on the non-cat everburns such as the 1610. One of the biggest issues discussed was the soft refractory material disintegrating over time and being costly to replace. Another issue affected people with tall chimneys, the increased draft could cause some stoves to overheat.
Haven't heard any complaints about build quality, I'm sure the castings on that model are top notch like the ones on the VC's I have owned.
![[Hearth.com] 2015/2016 VC Owners thread](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/171/171979-bd70de113b6d236139209789f2b6f432.jpg?hash=Y0mt0DsM3o "[Hearth.com] 2015/2016 VC Owners thread")
I used to have the 1450 non-cat encore (everburn).
It either ran hot like a freight train (the back glowing cherry red) or it smoldred and smoked like a steam locomotive. There was no in between.
The glowing part made me get rid of it!!
Zkx14
Member
Hello Fellow VC owners. New to the forum, just checking in. After near 10 years of using my Dutchwest XL, I decided it was time to replace the inner top. It was already warped when I got it used from my father in law, but got much worse in the last year or so. I happened to find this site as I was beginning the rebuild, so did a thread on it. I've had mixed results burning this thing over the years (surprise, right?). As I read some of the posts here, I am already getting a better understanding of what it will take to get the most out of it more consistently. I can see that I really need to do a better job managing my wood supply. Right now I have some nice oak, but a lot of mixed stuff that is past its prime...
With the new parts, all you need is some good, dry, solid wood, and it should run great for you, and be totally predictable once you learn how all the variables affect the cat light-off. Stove top temp, wood dryness, how much wood gets burning in the temp ramp-up, all come into play. These are good, reliable heaters, and I love the ash-handling system. Too bad the window isn't a bit bigger.
Looking at single-digit temps with double-digit wind Sunday night. Might have to fire up the blower to recover room temp in the morning.
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RandyBoBandy
Minister of Fire
I'm not familiar with the newer style stoves but on my difiant and encore there is a plug just above the secondary air inlet on the back of the stove.
RandyBoBandy
Minister of Fire
I would suggest picking up the AT100 from Auber instruments. A digital display that tells the temp in numbers at all times. Plus it has two alarms. Really helps run the stove. Plus you don't have to look behind the stove everytime you want to know how hot you are running.
RandyBoBandy
Minister of Fire
This maybe a dumb question but are you leaving a bed of ash in the firebox or sifting it all done to the ash pan on reloads?
Zkx14
Member
While I have little experience with stoves other than this one, as a mechanic/maintenance guy for 30 + years I have had the opportunity to work on lots of different equipment. To me this is just trying to get a machine working right. With the rebuild, I now have the 'machine' back to original specs. Next is to control the variables. I just never really understood or thought about how big of a variable the wood quality is. I will 'get by' with the wood I have, but will be a lot more picky about what I bring home to feed the beast from now on. Probably even more of a factor than what I've been burning is what I do with it prior to putting it in the stove. I've had some laying in piles, some not even split, wood on ground, trees dropping debris on stacks etc. I plan to sort whatever I have left this spring and get anything solid off the ground and under cover. Not sure yet what that cover will be. Been checking out the shed thread for ideas. Also need to get a moisture reader. Luckily this is not my only or even primary heat source. I have a heat pump and oil burner. But they are not much fun to watch.
It is on the list, but right now not in the budget. I have a wish list of an AT100, griddle thermometer, pipe thermometer, new splitting axe, woodshed, decorative wood rack, dry wood, a few more feet of chimney, and a new chainsaw thats better for in-tree work....
The Fireview and Keystone also have the probe on the back. My install has the back of the stove about in the same plane as the fireplace opening, so it's hard to see. I bent a paper clip and wrapped it around the bolt in the dial face so I could look down from the top and have an idea where the probe needle was. At least then I didn't have to use a mirror.
![[Hearth.com] 2015/2016 VC Owners thread](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/172/172089-4542c319b47d550f4a9cb676a7ecb1db.jpg?hash=tOG3wd6Akn "[Hearth.com] 2015/2016 VC Owners thread")
![[Hearth.com] 2015/2016 VC Owners thread](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/172/172090-8880289d70fac804a55c911771cbd4be.jpg?hash=GXKsTdcsEp "[Hearth.com] 2015/2016 VC Owners thread")
Reckless
Feeling the Heat
I leave my ashpan full since the stove operates better. I now just take a shovel or two from the firebox every 2 days or so. I like sleeping late and finding hidden red coals 12hrs later.
Great. Sounds like you're a tech/mech nerd like me. Looking forward to detailed reports on the Brillo-pad combustor.
I like your wish list!! No one ever said that wood burning is cheap!
RandyBoBandy
Minister of Fire
Your wish list is about as long as mine. The at100 will be the cheapest thing on there for about 45 bucks. I ended up using the coupler from my condar digital thermo so I can not lead in the direction for one from Auber. A lot of people on here have the fiskars splitting axe. I chose to go the hand made route and got a gransfors bruk small splitting axe and must say I love it.
The more time yu spend on this forum, the more wood related toys you will end up buying
Charles1981
Minister of Fire
Leaving the ash pan full has its pros and cons.
A full to the brim ash pan with lots of ash in the main firebox with warm weather will lead to decreased draft and primary air and a poor start to reloads imo. But overall after 12-14 hours there will be lots of coals in that blanket of ash for sure.
I tend to keep the ash pan empty on a regular basis when it is warmer (25 degrees and up)
A full to the brim ash pan with colder weather usually works very very well for me as there is a much better draft overall but I will still empty it out after 10-14 days because the ash buildup does get a little bit of a pain to work with and sometimes reloading takes too long because I waited so long and while there are coals, there just isn't as much air to get it going without leaving the front doors open for a bit.
That said I also think when the ash builds up to heavily it impedes flow into the catalyst chamber if you don't scoop it away incessantly with each reload.
Always playing with the ash amount constantly especially this winter since it is warmer.
But one thing is for sure. They stove takes off like a freight train and burns hot as hell when you clear all the ash out and start from scratch.
A full to the brim ash pan with lots of ash in the main firebox with warm weather will lead to decreased draft and primary air and a poor start to reloads imo. But overall after 12-14 hours there will be lots of coals in that blanket of ash for sure.
I tend to keep the ash pan empty on a regular basis when it is warmer (25 degrees and up)
A full to the brim ash pan with colder weather usually works very very well for me as there is a much better draft overall but I will still empty it out after 10-14 days because the ash buildup does get a little bit of a pain to work with and sometimes reloading takes too long because I waited so long and while there are coals, there just isn't as much air to get it going without leaving the front doors open for a bit.
That said I also think when the ash builds up to heavily it impedes flow into the catalyst chamber if you don't scoop it away incessantly with each reload.
Always playing with the ash amount constantly especially this winter since it is warmer.
But one thing is for sure. They stove takes off like a freight train and burns hot as hell when you clear all the ash out and start from scratch.
Excavator
Feeling the Heat
Yup when ash pan is empty you have to pay attention and not leave the stove until she settles down and that could be an hour
Ive always been in the habit of raking the coals forward at each reload to help the new wood light off quickly. That always dumps all the ash into the pan. Maybe I should stop doing that?
Excavator
Feeling the Heat
Yes I would see if that helps. They are temperamental. It's a love hate thing these VC stoves[emoji13]
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