What are These Brackets For?

I've got an old Kodiak fireplace insert that I believe was made by Alaska Stove Company. I'm trying to find out the purpose of the brackets inside of the firebox. They are at the rear and toward the top. They are about 4 1/2" from the top and the side brackets are about 7" from the back. The space between the side brackets is 3/4".

I've been told that they may be for some sort of baffle to divert heat toward the front of the insert before it finds it's way out of the flue. If it is for a baffle, would it be made of steel and how thick would it be?

Glad to see you followed the link over to the Hearth forum i posted for your questions Sawnami. There will be some Kodiak brainers along before too long.

Did you buy a new home with this pre unit installed ?

Thats what i was thinking ........ I told Sawnami on the chainsaw forum a steel plate baffle or a burn chamber , I dont know much of this brand or age so he was linked to the pros.

I actually bought it used and installed it in my fireplace last year. I contacted the manufacturer but they weren't real helpful. I thought I'd see if something belonged there that would would improve it's performance.

Thank you for the link! This looks like a great site.

Thanks for the information! I emailed the manufacturer again since I am armed with more information than I had the first time I contacted them.

I don't know if the baffle should be metal or ceramic and how far it extends from the back to the front of the firebox. Hopefully I will get a reply from them.

From looking at the size of those slots. as Craig posted it probably is a steel baffle. At least you have slots to set the plate in, Mine is tack welded to angle irons on both sides and rear of firebox. If you find it is steel, I'm sure you can have a replacement made at any metal fabricator or steel shop. My stove company happens to be a steel manufacuter who stopped making stoves in the 80s, that was suggested to me have ever I need to replace it, My firebox is 24 inches wide, 17 deep, So a good welder would be able to do it

Good information. Any idea on how much space should be between the front of the firebox and the baffle? The firebox is 22" deep X 27" wide X 16" tall and the flue hole is 6 1/2" in diameter. I've gotten more information in the last two days on this website than I have in the last year!

Now reading your last post, maybe i was mistaken about my firebox size maybe 17 high and 20 deep X 24 wide, regardless, I am at work now but when I get home if anyone hasen't replied I can check to see how much space is from the front to where the baffle starts, I think it is only like 2 fire brick deep, but don't quote me on that, i can see for sure later. I know it isnt much for the reason i was told is the baffle deflects the smoke back towards the firebox, keeping it longer in there to burn off combustibles, I know mine takes a hell of alot of heat from flames and remains sturdy and turns white sometimes when the firebox is at max flame the smoke has to curl around it to leave via the top rear slide damper, I dont have a round flu, mine opens up length of stove identical to fireplace damper size, as mine is an insert.

correction to last post, As mine is an insert i see so is yours, but i guess mine is manufactured differently with the slide damper compared to round flue opening, 1980 date, pre all the regs, ul listed but not epa !

In my stove the baffle sits 9.5 inches from the front , approx 2 fire bricks deep. Hope that gives you an idea, and i was correct firebox is 24W X 17 Deep.

Thanks much hardwood715 for your persistance in getting some information to me. I think that this will help greatly. I'm going to start looking for some steel plate to make up a baffle with.

Man, you guys are great!

I already thought about making up a template so I can see what will fit through the front opening and sit in the brackets. Thanks for reinforcing my idea. I have several sources for metal around here so I guess I'll shop them and find the best price for the material.

Your welcome, glad I could help, hope it goes well, as posted earlier, I agree most of your heat right now would be going up the chimney without the baffle, friend of mine has exact stove as mine, but has used it since the 80's mine sat for 20 years +, so its like fairly new just old, anyway - he has burned right thru his baffle, and I can tell the difference of heat output from mine and his, he just dosen't care, I try to get him into reading this forum, so he can get into the
Safe Stove, Safe Home frame of mind!

Well, cut my template tonight and installed and removed multiple times to make sure that it installed easily. Also remembered to compensate for the actual thickness of the baffle. Going to check on prices and types of materials available tomorrow.

I failed to mention that the front edge of my baffle is tapered, or rounded so to say, probably to help curve the smoke trail towards the damper

Thanks for the added information.

It's curved inward, I should say rounded, kind of like a stair tread bullnose and the flames and exhaust lap around it , draft pulling towards rear of firebox above baffle. My stove exit is rear top slide damper opening approx 30 X 3 square inches

the more I think about it, the more I think what you mean as outward- is what im trying to explain
If my understanding of convex is right than it curves outward as in a rounded stair down towards the firebox, hence a rounded edge for smoke to follow up and back ____ ) > front of stove