Bullard stove Warped Top

[DaveNY49]

I have an older stove. Made in the 80s. The previous owner never installed it and had it setting in a basement. Although it’s older I’m the first person to have fires in it. A Bullard. It had a hollow baffle. Beautiful stove but I noticed the top is slightly warped in the middle. 1/8 of an inch. I’ve only been burning in it a month and the top never gets over 600. I’m pretty sure it was warped when I got it. But it’s so minor I just now noticed it. I coukd see if it had fires in it for 10-15 years with no baffle but it’s been only a month if burning AND it had a two inch hollow baffle made of 1/4 steel.

Two questions. 1 What would cause a stove top to warp like this when it has not been used? Can just setting around cause this? Or maybe it’s a factor flaw? And 2 is it a concern? Should I measure the depth and keep checking it Throughout the year?

Every other part if this stove is straight and flawless. It’s very strange.

 

[begreen]

If the stove is essentially new, it may have been made that way. I'd go ahead and use it with a watchful eye, but it may be ok.

 

[DaveNY49]

If the stove is essentially new, it may have been made that way. I'd go ahead and use it with a watchful eye, but it may be ok.

I was beginning to wonder that. Maybe the design called for a small bow for some reason.

 

[all night moe]

My bet is a manufacturing flaw. Not familiar with Bullard stoves, but I believe they are plate steel?
Could have been warped a tad when welded up.

 

[DaveNY49]

My bet is a manufacturing flaw. Not familiar with Bullard stoves, but I believe they are plate steel?
Could have been warped a tad when welded up.

I measured it today. At the lowest point it’s almost 1/4 inch. The only reason I noticed it was because I had a piece of blue stone cut for the top and it didn’t set even. So strange that it has a warp.

 

[all night moe]

I'd guess it was welded up on a Friday afternoon. Someone was in a hurry to weld it up, and get on with their weekend.