Baffle, Drolet 1400 insert

[T Nichols]

Guys,
I followed this site for a year now & just started burning wood last Jan. in this Drolet Insert. First liner cleaning, I broke the baffle (myself) and started the process of getting a new(I paid for it). Now after 3 new ones & all 3 arrived broken just like the one that I broke.

My question is, do I have to have a baffle in this stove? I ask this because it appears that It's going to be impossible to get a new one.
Can I leave it out, remove the 3 tubes up there & just burn wood in it?

thanks
terry

 

[begreen]

No, don't do that. It would seriously degrade the stove performance and you would see wood consumption skyrocket. Also, secondary air would flow in unchecked. Whoever is shipping them is doing a lousy job of packing and certainly not learning from the returns. Where did you order from?

 

[Huntindog1]

Use some wood stove cement and glue them back together, I used some of that mesh screen used to top gutters and carefully drilled some holes and put some small bolts with washers and the nuts to hold the mesh gutter screen for a support of the two pieces that are broken. Then I took the high temp wood stove cement used to glue in the stove door gaskets and poured some of it into the spaces of the mesh screen that I bolted the two pieces of broken baffle board. I let it all dry and carefully put it back in the stove and its worked all last winter and all of this winter so far. The ceramic board isnt real durable so be carefull but it will work.

 

[T Nichols]

Thanks Guy's, I knew I could get a correct answer here. begreen, I figured I would get that answer. SBI has been seending them to me. I sent them an email today thanking them for doing the best that they could, and I really thought they did because these things we're packahed between 2 pices of wood & then shrink wrapped, no damage to package or box. I do think this vermiculite baffle is a very poor design though, if you can't replace it & lord did that original one break easy.

Huntindog, thank you, I will give that a try, I don't know anything else to do, it's like 11 mths old & I cant efford another new stove.

c/s/s 2 cords of red & post oak last year & 3 cord of white oak this year & was really starting to enjoy this wood burning. Not any of these 5 cords though(remember been lurking here for a year & learned to let oak dry for 2-3 years).

terry

 

[begreen]

I'm wondering if the Osburn's c-cast baffles are tougher and if any would fit your Drolet?

Whatever you fit in there, don't load the stove so much that it is near the burn tubes or baffle board. And stay away from the board with the poker. Also be careful when sweeping the stove.

 

[T Nichols]

IDK about the Osburn. Yeah, thats how I broke it by removing it prior to sweeping.

Thanks begreen.

 

[gregbesia]

I have a different insert (englander 13), my buffle board is 10 3/8 x 21 x 1/2 thick. I was thinking if you bought one from englander could you some how make it work. When I bought mine it came in perfect condition. I tried to find your insert online and it looks like yours takes a buffle 9 x 20 1/2 Is this correct? I wonder if the bord could be cut with a utility knife or a hack saw. Good luck.

 

[T Nichols]

greg, mine is 1 1/4 thich, I wonder if i get 2 and cut them down then it would only be 1/4 less. Wonder if that would work. I'm gonna try the glue that Huntendog suggested also.

 

[gregbesia]

Oops, missed that.

 

[Huntindog1]

Make sure you use the mesh expanded metal used as gutter guard a small piece for support and mount it on top side of baffle board to protect from heat. The glue by its self will not be strong enough to hold the two pieces together. Mine has held together nicely for most of last season and all of this season so far. I took to out a while back and coated it with that ITC-100 ceramic coating and put it back into place , it was still holding together well. Just make sure your not hitting your baffles all the time forcing too much wood into your stove.

 

[BrotherBart]

Ceramic fiber board is available from vendors on eBay in different sizes for pretty reasonable prices.

 

[begreen]

Yes, I checked yesterday and saw a 1" thick sheet for about $60, but wasn't sure about the Drolet thickness or size.

 

[BrotherBart]

A lot of it is one inch. Don't think that quarter inch is gonna make a huge difference. Especially as opposed to no baffle at all. And the stuff is a tad tougher than vermiculite.

 

[blades]

Check in your area for a company that sells, builds and / or services heat treat ovens or kilns. They will have various types of Hi temp insulation board.

 

[T Nichols]

Wow, thanks guys. Now at least I have several options. I did make it to TSC and got a tube of the oven glue & will try that in the morning....

terry