Just opened my 0028 Encore, which I (with grave reservations) rebuild 4 years ago, to clean the cat, and found it trashed inside with the cat so badly pretzeled I cannot get it out without destroying what is left of the refractory. That was the second time I had rebuilt it and it seems each rebuild lasts less time than the last, each time we get more careful and fanatical about operating it correctly -when it was new we would toss in unseasoned wood, wet wood, and wood with chunks of ice on it, and the refractory still lasted 12 years. So I can only conclude that the quality of the parts is getting worse (why doesn't someone in the aftermarket come out with a proper cast refractory box?) and no amount of care will make a rebuild last if the stove is used full time for serious heating, so there is no point in trying to squeeze a few more years out of it.
Anyhow, this is it for us, goodbye Vermont Castings. Question is, it is still a gorgeous stove, with good porcelein. What do I do with the damn thing? Too pretty to take to the dump, but can I in good conscience sell it knowing what I know about it?
I can't be the only one with this problem, must be a hell of a lot of them around with fetching exteriors and rotten guts.
Anyhow, this is it for us, goodbye Vermont Castings. Question is, it is still a gorgeous stove, with good porcelein. What do I do with the damn thing? Too pretty to take to the dump, but can I in good conscience sell it knowing what I know about it?
I can't be the only one with this problem, must be a hell of a lot of them around with fetching exteriors and rotten guts.