I have a Lopi Declaration, for a couple years now. In attempt to get better performance I built a blockoff plate above it in the summer. The first few burns with the plate there was some odor, I think it was just from the new hardware above the stove, just regular sheet metal "weldable steel" ,not galvanized or anything to my knowledge. However it may have been from higher stove top temps now that the heat is "trapped" above it. Seemed to have mostly gone away after a few burns.
Last night however, I PACKED it with well seasoned Cherry on a good set of coals raked to front, set it to like 60% throttle, and proceeded to help my wife with homework. I got really involved with the problem, and completely forgot about it for like 45 minutes. I noticed it getting warm in the room we were in,remembered the stove, went downstairs and was hit with this crazy burnt metal chemically smell. Stove was raging, I put my IR on it and the front of the door was 700+ in places , cant measure the top since its flush but Im guessing add another hundo or two. I dropped the air to min and cranked the fan up and got it down in the low 600's in a few minutes. Ended up opening windows despite the 25 F outside temp because of the smell.
So looking at it this morning with the surround off, I noticed there were some spots on the outer jacket at the front where the paint had bubbled and was peeling a bit. Seemed like the smell ( very weak now of course ) was present coming from inside the jacket also, as well as above it.
So my questions are, 1) any idea how hot i actually had the top based on others with flush inserts ?
2) anyone else had paint bubble and peel after overfire, or nasty smell ?
3) could this be related to my blockoff materials ? i used sheet metal, not sure of exact type but it is basically smooth, steel-like, doesnt appear galvanized. I torched some to test it and it didnt seem to let off smoke but it did discolor a bit. i also used rutland furnace cement around it.
4) would this have damaged the stove? anyone else had a declaration that hot?
Last night however, I PACKED it with well seasoned Cherry on a good set of coals raked to front, set it to like 60% throttle, and proceeded to help my wife with homework. I got really involved with the problem, and completely forgot about it for like 45 minutes. I noticed it getting warm in the room we were in,remembered the stove, went downstairs and was hit with this crazy burnt metal chemically smell. Stove was raging, I put my IR on it and the front of the door was 700+ in places , cant measure the top since its flush but Im guessing add another hundo or two. I dropped the air to min and cranked the fan up and got it down in the low 600's in a few minutes. Ended up opening windows despite the 25 F outside temp because of the smell.
So looking at it this morning with the surround off, I noticed there were some spots on the outer jacket at the front where the paint had bubbled and was peeling a bit. Seemed like the smell ( very weak now of course ) was present coming from inside the jacket also, as well as above it.
So my questions are, 1) any idea how hot i actually had the top based on others with flush inserts ?
2) anyone else had paint bubble and peel after overfire, or nasty smell ?
3) could this be related to my blockoff materials ? i used sheet metal, not sure of exact type but it is basically smooth, steel-like, doesnt appear galvanized. I torched some to test it and it didnt seem to let off smoke but it did discolor a bit. i also used rutland furnace cement around it.
4) would this have damaged the stove? anyone else had a declaration that hot?
