Notched baffle plate / flame wrapping around baffle plate

[zmender]

Hey all!

Over the summer while soot-eating the flue, I noticed a small notch on the baffle plate. Had not paid much attention to this. This evening after I reloaded and enjoying the view, I noticed that the secondary flame front was wrapping around the baffle plate, and where the notch was, the flame seemed to shoot dangerously close into the exhaust!

After the off-gassing ended and the stove calmed down, the flames stops pretty much around baffle plate - but the sight of this was slightly unnerving. Couple questions -

1. Is it normal, when the stove is fully loaded with dry fuel + off gassing, that some flames will wrap over the baffle plate?
2. Replacing the notched baffle plate.... is it a) not a big deal, b) replace it next time I clean the flue, or c) stop using stove until this is done?


Thanks!

 

[begreen]

It doesn't look unusual. Some stoves have flame shields or diverters before the flue outlet.
What stove is this?

 

[zmender]

This is the VC Montiplier. It's an inherited unit from original house owner / my 2nd season with it, hence my knowledge of the age of the stove is limited.
I've cleaned the flue with SootEater before first fire this season, and replaced the door gaskets around Jan of 2023 as well.

 

[Fod01]

I thought it looked familiar. In my opinion the stove is fine, but I would listen to Begreen for final word. My baffle split almost perfectly in half a few years ago, front to back. The pieces overlap, and it actually makes it easier to remove when cleaning

Flames do wrap around the baffle occasionally. Your stove may breathe marginally better than mine.