Refractory box repair: safe?

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cmcramer

Member
Feb 19, 2007
123
www.cramersoftware.com
Here's my before/after pics of VC Encore 2550 Refractory box repair. Local dealer gave me a section of damaged Refractory, and I just cut out the my mangled part, wetted both surfaces, and used wetted stove cement to hold it in place. The cement was the consistency of carpenters glue as I spread it.

Is it safe is the obvious #1 question.

If the repair fails, and the piece falls onto the cat, what happens then? A glowing spot on top of the stove above the hole in the Refractory, maybe?

I appreciate any advice from the more experienced woodstove rebuild folks!
 

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I did a repair like that on an old encore. It was 20 years ago, but I think I took a bunch of paperclips and straightened them out to make pins that were about 4 inches long and used them, kinda like rebar,(one half dug into each end of refractory) then did the stove cement trick. That cement will get dry and brittle after a time
 
Franks said:
I did a repair like that on an old encore. It was 20 years ago, but I think I took a bunch of paperclips and straightened them out to make pins that were about 4 inches long and used them, kinda like rebar,(one half dug into each end of refractory) then did the stove cement trick. That cement will get dry and brittle after a time

How did your repair hold up over time?
 
I would also recommend using some paper clip pins to help support the repair. If you notice the front panel of the refractory is attached to the body using screws, same idea. I've used this methode in repairs in the past and have had good sucess.
 
cmcramer said:
Here's my before/after pics of VC Encore 2550 Refractory box repair. Local dealer gave me a section of damaged Refractory, and I just cut out the my mangled part, wetted both surfaces, and used wetted stove cement to hold it in place. The cement was the consistency of carpenters glue as I spread it.

Is it safe is the obvious #1 question.

If the repair fails, and the piece falls onto the cat, what happens then? A glowing spot on top of the stove above the hole in the Refractory, maybe?

I appreciate any advice from the more experienced woodstove rebuild folks!

If you can get your hands on an old electric dryer element or similar the heater wire is made from Ni-chrome and can withstand lots of heat and fashion staples to reinforce the refractory repair it will last quite a while...

Good Luck,
Ray
 
Re-inforcing wire is a great idea - thanks!

Also, when I place the Refractory box in place....I can see its entire top surface through the stove's flue. I can see the top of my repair. So why not cut another piece of Refractory material from the damaged one I acquired....put a few dabs of stove cement on it...and lay it over top the entire present top surface? Double up the entire top of the Refractory?! There appears to be enough room, and I can't think of any down side. If my little patch falls down onto the Cat, there will be another layer of Refractory material left in place to protect the cast iron above...

Is this a reasonable?
 
cmcramer said:
Re-inforcing wire is a great idea - thanks!

Also, when I place the Refractory box in place....I can see its entire top surface through the stove's flue. I can see the top of my repair. So why not cut another piece of Refractory material from the damaged one I acquired....put a few dabs of stove cement on it...and lay it over top the entire present top surface? Double up the entire top of the Refractory?! There appears to be enough room, and I can't think of any down side. If my little patch falls down onto the Cat, there will be another layer of Refractory material left in place to protect the cast iron above...

Is this a reasonable?

JUst found this site and found it pretty sool and a good way to protect that fragile refractory mat'l...

http://www.bwire.com/nichrome_wire_cloth.htm

Ray
 
cmcramer said:
Franks said:
I did a repair like that on an old encore. It was 20 years ago, but I think I took a bunch of paperclips and straightened them out to make pins that were about 4 inches long and used them, kinda like rebar,(one half dug into each end of refractory) then did the stove cement trick. That cement will get dry and brittle after a time

How did your repair hold up over time?

Never heard from the customer again, so either they were very happy with the repair or......
 
BeGreen said:


Good link and well written too! Gordo is a pretty funny guy like when he said "for some stupid reason I nailed it instead of screwing it together and I don't know why" LOL too funny! If I had to buy refactory pieces I would do what Gordo did too...

Thanx for the link!

Ray
 
Very informative piece - thanks for the link.

The Refractory box on a VC Encore seems to be made another material - very light, low density, obviously not a cast part. I've read that is a "ceramic fiberboard". I Googled it, and it looks like it is available online - haven't seen it priced for retail, though - wonder how expensive it is?

When a 4 inch by 12 inch by 14 inch box of it retails for $200-$300....makes you wonder if this material could really be the subject of a DIY project.

Anyway, I wired / cemented my missing piece in place, and cemented a larger patch on top. We'll see if it holds!
 
SO DID IT HOLD?

More on the point does the refractory come out through the firebox or did you take the back of the stove off?
 
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