Vermont Castings Paint Recall?

So, first of all, let me apologize if I do not use the proper wood stove terminology. Although we have used a wood stove to heat our house for the last 15 years I still don't know all the proper names.

We currently we have an old Kent Tile Fire that we are using as the main source of heat for the house. Recently the flue became very difficult to open and close. After a thorough inspection we noticed that the top of the insert had a crack right next to the opening to the stove pipe. This crack is interfering with the opening and closing of the flue.

In November we started looking at all the different models that were available because we knew that our stove would not carry us through the winter. After visiting several dealers, we decided to purchase a red bordeaux Vermont Castings 2in1 Defiant. Originally, we were told that the stove would be delivered in 7-10 days. Perfect, since I'm not sure how much life is left in the Kent..... After waiting 2 weeks, we received a call stating that our stove would be delivered that following Tuesday (another week of waiting). Now we were told that Vermont Castings has a recall on the paint and won't be restarting production until December 23rd!! I'm assuming that means my stove won't be delivered until the middle of January?? I'm not sure if we can wait that long. I'm ready to cancel this order and purchase a different model although we really did like the color.

My question is: has anyone else heard of this paint recall? or is the dealer just making excuses for not being able to deliver?

Thanks for you help.

webbie said:

Can't speak to this exact situation, but Vermont Castings has an enameling works - that is, porcelain enamel. This is not paint, but a complicated multi-step process whereas powered glass is baked into the castings at very high temperatures.

Quality control is very important - and it is not rare for one color or another to have problems....based on the chemistry of the supplies, etc....

Red is the hardest color to use in enameling, so over the years that has usually been the color with the most difficulty.

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Thanks for the explanation on the enamel. It sounds like the process you're describing will definitely add several weeks to the wait. Right now the dealer can't even tell me when he thinks the stove would be ready.

Thank you for all the replies and feedback on the Defiant.

I did call the dealer today, however Wednesday's is his day off... I'll have to wait until tomorrow. I want to talk to him about changing colors, changing stove brands, or getting a refund. We ordered the stove a week before Thanksgiving hoping to have it in time for Christmas. Had I known that it was going to be 2months I would have ordered something different.

Although I do like the red, I would be ok with a brown enamel. I called another dealer today to get some pricing and lead times on the Quadrafire Isle Royal in brown. He stated that since Christmas is next week I wouldn't be able to get it until the first or second week of January. I also asked him about the VC enamel recall and he hadn't heard anything. Regardless, it looks like I won't have anything until after the New Year.
There goes my oil bill......