Can a cast iron part be replaced with steel?

I have a 2001 Waterford Ashling that has a cracked cast door part called the side door protection plate. This will be the second time it has cracked and had to be replaced. Lehman's wants $100 + shipping, and a 3-6 month wait to get it from Ireland. I don't have an issue with Lehman's, I doubt this is a big money maker for them. I was wondering if I can have a local fabricator make the part out of steel. The part does take on full woodbox heat and presumably protects the exterior door from becoming a safety hazard should anyone accidentally touch it. Would a steel part warp immediately? Would the exterior door itself warp? Any thoughts on durability or something else I am missing anything else?

begreen said:

It could be would be worth a try with some 1/4 steel plate cut to fit. Is there a layer of kaowool insulation between the door and this plate? If not, maybe add one for the steel substitute?

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No it doesn't, but that would be a good addition to help protect the stove exterior. I'll take some photos to a fabricator and see if they think they can do it for less than ~$125.00.

begreen said:

Bring the part to the fabricator as a template. It should be easy to make one with a plasma cutter.

How is this part held in place? How many bolts?

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Just one bolt in the center.

I was under the impression you cannot weld cast materials?

Thanks for all of the great suggestions. I'll see what a fabricator wants for the job in thick steel. If I feel that is too much, I'll see what they think about welding, or if they can or want to even do it. This is at least the third of fourth replacement for this part, and I have given up on the cast andiron bracket many years ago. I could only get 2-4 years out of them before they warped and cracked. We use the stove for 90-95% of our heating in a 1500 sq foot house and we do like it warm.

I think some of theses stoves are more for looks than durability. We had a 1980's Kent stove that was the best. I wish I could still buy one; basically a square box, no special reburner that I remember, no window, no enamel, but could hold a fire all night, and probably cost $4-500 bucks back in the day. Ahh, the good old dirty burning days.