Lopi Liberty split exterior welds

I was looking at my Lopi Liberty last night thinking how much I resembles a Fisher and decided to take the side heat shields off to clean underneath. Noticed the spot welds along the rear seams which surprised me because I would have imagined them to be welded all along, then noticed the welds themselves were very shallow and were split.

The top plate is welded to the sides very nicely and presentable. Is this how they are put together with spot welds and should I have the welds repaired? I traded for this stove a couple years back and it was new then. My walls have heat shields and I am going to paint the sides of the stove so to leave the Lopi shields off.

Really not how I thought this stove was put together, it may be 100% sound solid manufacturing practice intended to be hidden behind the heat shields but seems a little skimpy and a easy way for air to get in. Unless there's welds inside or something this might be why my burns have been shorter than What I remember. New gaskets,sealed stove pipe,no cracks on baffle assembly that I have seen posted elsewhere.

That is what really bums me out, I had to take out an perfectly good Elm stove for insurance reasons and the Lopi was current UL & EPA certified and it's not the same quality. Going to buy some incense today and see if it's pulling air in through those corners. If so, I'm either going to go to Home Depot and get a NC30 or see if there's a Fisher on Craigslist. It seems I have had to fool with this Liberty a lot as of late, eating wood & running goofy. May be I'm goofy but, it's not like I am new to burning.

The stove is raw steel and I can see where the air channels are welded to the inside, along the edge where the spot welds are it looks as if they are it. May be not the case. Going to my local Lopi dealer to scope his new Liberty out. Once me and the stove cool down might push the firebricks up to check the corners for welds.

Webby, just looked at the rear heat shield, it's welded to the back plate itself. The corners are cut and welded pieces, this is the rear plate of the stove. Looks like the rear plate is brake bent and becomes the bottom of the stove.

I've used Pacific Energy Vista for about 8 years, went to coal for a few years, got an Elm which I regret having to change out for insurance and now the Liberty has ran good but this years been different. Covered all the usual bases regarding performance, now these welds seem like the bugger in the woodpile. I have a blower on this rig, was just cleaning out the cobwebs when I noticed the crappy welds.

Well, I just might be over it. I did not pick this stove out, it was a trade for a Husqvarna Enduro and it was new in its shipping crate when I got it. Back then it was just a good trade and fit my needs. If I was to buy one then it probably would have been a Pacific Energy T5 or Summit. We burned the old Vista like a Salem Witch for 8 years and it's still in use today at my old house. I'm sure this is OK, it just kills my stoke.

I have to run her as is for now. Here's some pictures inside at the corners,