My decades old DUTCHWEST Cast Iron wood stove (extra large capacity) had a blower vent on the right, front outside wall of the stove to circulate air around the firebox. My new DUTCHWEST Cast Iron (extra large capacity) is identical in every way except the blower vent hole is visible, but it was intentionally sealed shut during the cast of the iron.
VC's parts list show right hand DUTCHWEST Cast Iron wood stove walls for stoves manufactured before 9/97 (part #7001218, RIGHT SIDE (BEFORE 9/97 SLOT FOR OUTSIDE AIR).
1. Can I drill-out the filled cast iron hole on my new stove and essentially make it into my old stove's air circulation system? To do this I'd like some assurance that VC simply filled the hole and did not change the interior dramatically so I'd be drilling into the fire box, effectively wrecking my stove.
2. Why did VC eliminate the air circulation system in 9/97 anyway?
3. Could I purchase part #7001218, disassemble my current stove and reassemble it with the new side wall?
The last time I contacted VC's customer service it was impossible to talk with anyone who was born before 1997, let alone find anyone speaking English who was working with VC in 1997 - any help from any Old DutchWest pro's is gratefully appreciated
VC's parts list show right hand DUTCHWEST Cast Iron wood stove walls for stoves manufactured before 9/97 (part #7001218, RIGHT SIDE (BEFORE 9/97 SLOT FOR OUTSIDE AIR).
1. Can I drill-out the filled cast iron hole on my new stove and essentially make it into my old stove's air circulation system? To do this I'd like some assurance that VC simply filled the hole and did not change the interior dramatically so I'd be drilling into the fire box, effectively wrecking my stove.
2. Why did VC eliminate the air circulation system in 9/97 anyway?
3. Could I purchase part #7001218, disassemble my current stove and reassemble it with the new side wall?
The last time I contacted VC's customer service it was impossible to talk with anyone who was born before 1997, let alone find anyone speaking English who was working with VC in 1997 - any help from any Old DutchWest pro's is gratefully appreciated