ALL STANLESS STEEL STOVE

eco-one said:

This stove is all 409 stainless steel inside and out only thing mild steel is the door,ashpan,legs, made by brooten ind.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brooten-Industries-Inc/168367069888464#!/pages/Brooten-Industries-Inc/168367069888464

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I had to look up 409.

Even as a fabricator with over thirty years experience, this is a new alloy to me.

From what I have read about it, 409 is likely suitable for wood stove construction.
It is not to be confused with the most common grade (18-8, the group wich includes 304 and 316) as the following commentary will show.

Couple factoids;

Cheapest alloy.
Chrome content approximate 10%
Nickel content .5 % ( for comparison the 18-8 group, which includes the familiar 304 and 316 alloys are 18% chrome, 8% nickel)

Because of the vast difference in chrome and nickel content, this S.S. (409) cannot be compared in any way to 304-316 alloys.

Chrome is hard and resists oxidation, 409 has just over half as much chrome as 304.
Nickel is tough and resists oxidation, 409 has 1/16th as much nickel as 304. Of course, this accounts for the marked difference in price.

In spite of my ignorance of this alloy, I have welded it; yesterday I welded a long crack in a 409 SS pipe connected to a catalytic converter from a BMW car.
It welded fine with 316 filler rod. (higher alloys usualy mix well with lower alloys). I didn't know it was 409 until today when I looked it up.

The only thing I can say about it is that if it were 304-316 (18-8 SS group) it would not have needed welding, because it wouldn't have cracked, especialy the way it did (linearly).
On the positive side, my woodhauler/service vehicle has the original exhaust pipe made from the same alloy, 23 years ago.

Overall, it should make a good alloy for stove construction (though not the best choice)
and if it does ever crack, any half decent welder can fix it.

Is this an Aqua-Therm clone or an actual Aqua-Therm? Eco-One Aqua-Therm boiler? My neighbor had a mild steel one that was repaired(leaking) numerous times under warranty. Dealer replaced it with stainless model quite a few yrs ago and has had no problems since.

Eco-one, are you thinking of buying one of these or do you already own a wood boiler?

Dune, interesting stuff. My boiler is the 1/4" 304. (I have my fingers crossed it will hold up well.)

NNYorker. Where abouts are you in "Northern NY"? I am close to the St. Lawrence River on the Canadian Border. Just curious.

NNYorker. Where abouts are you in "Northern NY"? I am close to the St. Lawrence River on the Canadian Border. Just curious.[/quote] Adams Center----probably not too far from you, up Nort eh?