broken vermiculite baffle

[enordy]

Swept the chimney today - while removing the 4 secondary tubes I over-rotated one of the tubes and the vermiculite baffle broke in half. Stupid move on my part.

Opinions - ok to run the stove with a broken baffle? Clean break, it basically rests on top of the tubes -

Drolet has them on their site for $50.00, it just irritates the the snot out of me that I broke it -

 

[Highbeam]

A crack, no problem. A hole bigger problem.

Heck, many stoves use two boards sort of close together so an intentional crack.

 

[begreen]

Bummer, vermiculite baffles are fragile. You could try pinning it together with some stove cement. Let that set up and then ginergly put back in place. Still, I would order a new one for next season.

 

[ABMax24]

Now would be your chance to upgrade to the C-Cast baffle. Osburn Part # 21521, except these are more expensive, $115, but will last longer and are not as fragile.

 

[enordy]

Fair enough and thanks - so what's the difference between c-cast and vermiculite? Just curious -

 

[begreen]

Now would be your chance to upgrade to the C-Cast baffle. Osburn Part # 21521, except these are more expensive, $115, but will last longer and are not as fragile.

Good tip. I was looking for an equivalent firebox. The c-cast baffle will be more expensive, but it's made from a tougher lightweight ceramic. It's what SBI uses on their better stoves.

C-cast baffle better? OEM Vermiculite Baffle cracks every year.

Drolet 1800i wood insert: Every single year for 5 years when I do the cleaning in the fall, my OEM baffle is cracked in half. Is it cracked even earlier throughout some of the previous burning season? Probably. I have never tried to glue them yet I just replace. I now see there's this...

www.hearth.com

 

[enordy]

Thanks for the links - Anyone with experience cutting the c-cast product? I see the mfr. (Lynn) has it in myriad sizes - curious if its worth buying a larger piece for the inevitable need down the road, or a less expensive piece and just cutting it to size -

 

[ABMax24]

By my understanding Lynn makes Superwool, which is a different product than C-Cast. However from what I can find Superwool is supposed to have slightly better insulating properties.

If it's anything like C-Cast you should be able to cut it with a sharp utility knife or hacksaw blade. By the looks of it Lynn also makes baffle boards already cut to replace most standard stove baffle boards.

 

[enordy]

I like the idea of getting a 5'x4'x1" roll and cutting to size to replace the broken vermiculite - keep the leftovers for future use or beef up the insulation above the damper plate.

One question is if the baffle/stove performance would be different because its a non-rigid material....

 

[Highbeam]

I’m watching the thread because the fragile oem baffle boards. Non c-cast I guess? For my Englander are getting worn after 8 years of abuse.

 

[ABMax24]

I like the idea of getting a 5'x4'x1" roll and cutting to size to replace the broken vermiculite - keep the leftovers for future use or beef up the insulation above the damper plate.

One question is if the baffle/stove performance would be different because its a non-rigid material....

That's not the same stuff, and that's definitely not what you want. You need to have a hard board to go back in. There is a Superwool variety of the hardboard.

The hardboard variety of Superwool is almost the same price as buying the C-Cast baffle from SBI (at least for me in Canada), for that reason I'd likely go C-Cast and not have to worry about cutting it. Unless I could get the precut Superwool baffle direct from Lynn, then I'd probably try that out.

 

[begreen]

I’m watching the thread because the fragile oem baffle boards. Non c-cast I guess? For my Englander are getting worn after 8 years of abuse.

Is it 8 years already!? And still on the original baffle? That's great. You've done well.

 

[enordy]

By my understanding Lynn makes Superwool, which is a different product than C-Cast. However from what I can find Superwool is supposed to have slightly better insulating properties.

If it's anything like C-Cast you should be able to cut it with a sharp utility knife or hacksaw blade. By the looks of it Lynn also makes baffle boards already cut to replace most standard stove baffle boards.

So I did find the Osburn #21521 c-cast online for about $99 all-in vs. $130 from Osburn with shipping.

A slightly oversized Lynn board (would need to trim it a bit) on Amazon is only $56, but according to the description its been "rigidized for added durability". Makes my spider-sense tingle, especially cutting the edge and exposing the superwool -

C-cast it is.

 

[Highbeam]

Is it 8 years already!? And still on the original baffle? That's great. You've done well.

Seems like just yesterday, the stove is a 2013 and the boards are hunched up a bit in the middle with some scratches but no cracks. I really think these noncats are pretty maintenance free if you can avoid physically abusing them or burning driftwood!

 

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

Fair enough and thanks - so what's the difference between c-cast and vermiculite? Just curious -

I had two or three break, just from the thermal expansion, so don't worry that it was your fault.

They all broke while under warranty. SBI just wanted a picture or two, and they sent new ones, no charge.

Finally, when the last one broke, I asked them for a c-cast. They sent one that was a little too big, north-south. So I fretted about cutting it, and ultimately used a serrated bread knife. It cut like stale bread.

The c-cast is far superior to vermiculite, for durability. I'd find one on ebay that's the right size, and put broken baffles behind you, even if it costs more up front.

 

[enordy]

I had two or three break, just from the thermal expansion, so don't worry that it was your fault.

They all broke while under warranty. SBI just wanted a picture or two, and they sent new ones, no charge.

Finally, when the last one broke, I asked them for a c-cast. They sent one that was a little too big, north-south. So I fretted about cutting it, and ultimately used a serrated bread knife. It cut like stale bread.

The c-cast is far superior to vermiculite, for durability. I'd find one on ebay that's the right size, and put broken baffles behind you, even if it costs more up front.

I think that's the way to go - much rather get quality over quantity and eliminate a bi-annual facepalm moment when it inevitably breaks again -