Hi everyone, I've lurked here for about a year after buying a house with a basement Jotul C450. I had no prior experience with wood burning. After a very educational year which I think I learned a lot, I'm about start on my second season. Just got the flu swept. Also replaced the door, baffle, and glass gaskets myself. Hope I did that right. Last year I replaced the door gaskets with some stuff from Home Despot and they did great for about a month, then failed miserably. Lots of black glass.
Anyway, this year I decided to replace all the gaskets, baffles, doors, glass, everything and buy the stuff from a real dealer, not the Home Despot. Ok, so here's my question...the Jotul C450's baffle is like playing Tetris. It will physically come out and go back in, but it seems to take a maddening amount of tries. I got mine out after saying a lot of nasty words and sweating more than I would have thought proper. Since it came out, it can obviously go back in, right? Well, not in this reality I had to take off one side of the angle iron pieces that hold it in place. That is after shearing one of the bolt heads off in the process such that one side now only has one bolt holding that rail on. There must be an easier way! Especially since this is a once a year event, if not more. Also, since I'm replacing gaskets, any tips on that? Directions state to "press firmly into the channel" but I could do that 100 times all differently.
So to summarize, how to do the Tetris/Jenga game of moving the baffle in and out, especially since it moves out OK, but not back in. Then, how does the gasket cement thing set up?
Thanks so much for all the great wisdom I've accrued here already, you all collectively helped my first season be a great learning experience. I hope to only improve my efficiency as times go by.
Best Regards,
AJM
Anyway, this year I decided to replace all the gaskets, baffles, doors, glass, everything and buy the stuff from a real dealer, not the Home Despot. Ok, so here's my question...the Jotul C450's baffle is like playing Tetris. It will physically come out and go back in, but it seems to take a maddening amount of tries. I got mine out after saying a lot of nasty words and sweating more than I would have thought proper. Since it came out, it can obviously go back in, right? Well, not in this reality I had to take off one side of the angle iron pieces that hold it in place. That is after shearing one of the bolt heads off in the process such that one side now only has one bolt holding that rail on. There must be an easier way! Especially since this is a once a year event, if not more. Also, since I'm replacing gaskets, any tips on that? Directions state to "press firmly into the channel" but I could do that 100 times all differently.
So to summarize, how to do the Tetris/Jenga game of moving the baffle in and out, especially since it moves out OK, but not back in. Then, how does the gasket cement thing set up?
Thanks so much for all the great wisdom I've accrued here already, you all collectively helped my first season be a great learning experience. I hope to only improve my efficiency as times go by.
Best Regards,
AJM