Cast Iron Stoves to be avoided?

[David.Ervin]

Ok, burners, I've got a conundrum for you. I've been looking to put a medium size wood stove in my basement to compliment my ZC insert in the living room, and have been doing some homework in eager anticipation. I really like the looks and reputation of the Jotul stoves in general, and my in-laws have a Vermont Castings Defiant that keeps most of their house toasty without much trouble. That said, I ran into this "wood stove guide" at(broken link removed) that asserts due to the way cast iron stoves are cemented together, they break down, loose efficiency, and generally should be avoided.

Does this make any sense at all? I find it hard to believe that major wood stove companies with fantastic reputations would be in the positions they are if this were really a problem. What's fear-mongering, and what's reality?

 

[SteveKG]

Not an expert on any sort of stoves, but I've heated exclusively with wood stoves since 1974. I have had experience with many cast-iron stoves, and, indeed, I have one right now in my kitchen [see avatar there]. I have only had one for which I had problems with "cement" and that was a very cheap Asian import ["morning stove" style I bought used for $25]. The parts, even when re-caulked or cemented] did not fit together tightly and every year I had to disassemble it and clean the seams and reseal.

However, with my better-made stoves, including the kitchen cookstove there, which is used daily, I have never had an issue and have never had to effect a repair. Sooner or later, of course, I will have to replace some door gaskets, but after several years, those are looking near perfect. And one can have those parts and replacements on stoves of any construction.

I have never owned a Jotul, but they have a tremendous reputation, and I cannot believe that would be the case if they experienced those problems you mention. But I shall let other cast-iron owners add more info'.

 

[mellow]

I wouldn't own a VC cast iron stove even if it was given to me, you can't lump all cast iron stoves in the same pot.

You can't go wrong with a Jotul cast iron stove.

 

[BrotherBart]

Yeah that guy has been discussed before. He is a dealer for the Lennox Country Stove steel stove line and uses that site to throw rocks at the competition.

A total bunch of crap and a waste of good electrons.

 

[Paul L]

In my experience, the more generalized a statement is, the less useful information it contains. Ridiculous to lump all cast iron stoves together like that.

 

[David.Ervin]

He is a dealer for the Lennox Country Stove steel stove line

Which explains the love for the Lennox stoves I've never heard of.

Ridiculous to lump all cast iron stoves together like that.

That was my impression too. How could so many stove makers be so wrong? I suppose it makes sense that you get what you pay for, and a cheaply made stove will have it's problems, but the big names must know what they're doing or they wouldn't be big names after all.

 

[begreen]

That guy puts out more hot air than the stoves he sells. There are a lot of great cast iron stove on the market. Jotul, Morso, Hearthstone, VC, Franco Belge, Dovre, Stanley, and many other foundries have been making them for a long time. They are in millions of home around the globe. You can also get cast iron jacketed steel stoves that offer the look of castiron with the welded heart of a steel stove. Quadrafire, Jotul, Pacific Energy, Enviro, and others make excellent choices in this style. Even Blaze King has come out with their version in the Ashford.

 

[Dakotas Dad]

ALL cast iron stoves are to be avoided.. lol.. go stone.


(but.. yeah there are some bad ones.. decades ago I would have given about anything for a VC, now.. I wouldn't have one in the flower bed. But PLENTY of cast stoves burn and run great. My sister has a Jotul 500, I do like it very much... except the looks.

 

[begreen]

The problem with the non-cat VC stoves is not with the castings. VC foundry castings are still superb and used on many other American cast iron stoves. VC's stove problem is with the interior refractory design, particularly on their downdraft models. They have been improving this, but we don't have a lot of data on how long the latest models will last without repair yet.

 

[David.Ervin]

VC's stove problem is with the interior refractory design, particularly on their downdraft models.

I know we're wandering from the original topic now, but does anybody know why this is? I've heard the same thing from a couple difference sources now.

 

[BrotherBart]

I know we're wandering from the original topic now, but does anybody know why this is? I've heard the same thing from a couple difference sources now.

Because it is delicate refractory material. VC likes it because it is easy to mold to the shape needed and will take high heat. Stove owners hate it because it breaks easily.

 

[webby3650]

The problem with the non-cat VC stoves is not with the castings. VC foundry castings are still superb and used on many other American cast iron stoves. VC's stove problem is with the interior refractory design, particularly on their downdraft models. They have been improving this, but we don't have a lot of data on how long the latest models will last without repair yet.

Unless its a non-cat Dutchwest. I regularly see failed casting on these. Although its likely from overfiring caused by the faulty combustion system.

 

[begreen]

Does VC cast the Dutchwest now? Or are they Taiwan cast?

 

[Jags]

they break down, loose efficiency, and generally should be avoided.

Better not tell that to my stove or its liable to whoop somebody's butt.

 

[webby3650]

Does VC cast the Dutchwest now? Or are they Taiwan cast?

I thought VC did it, not sure now.

 

[begreen]

Me neither, that's why I asked. I'm pretty sure it's assembled here, but not sure about the casting.

 

[webby3650]

Better not tell that to my stove or its liable to whoop somebody's butt.

It's true, they do break down over time and need to be rebuilt. After 25 years of continuous service!

 

[begreen]

At that point even a steel stove is going to be showing its age.

 

[mellow]

I beg to differ, 25 year old Fisher Vs Vermont Castings I would take the Fisher any day. I only refurb steel stoves for this very reason, no way am I going to break down a VC and rebuild it and buy the expensive refractory parts. Those things can go to the recycle bin if you ask me.

 

[Jags]

This isn't about one specific stove. I wouldn't deal with a VC refrac stove - period. But I wouldn't let that detract me from other cast stoves.

Besides that - plate steel should be reserved for snow plows. (tis joke - ha).

 

[jharkin]

To the original article - what a piece of maketing garbage. Ask Woodstock and Blaze king owners if they think catalytic stoves are dinosaurs

The problem with the non-cat VC stoves is not with the castings. VC foundry castings are still superb and used on many other American cast iron stoves. VC's stove problem is with the interior refractory design, particularly on their downdraft models. They have been improving this, but we don't have a lot of data on how long the latest models will last without repair yet.

Agree on the quality of the metal. I was amazed at how good the casting where in my 16 year old stove that I just rebuilt.

As to the downdraft struggles, well yeah that is pretty much every unit VC makes except for some of the inserts like the winterwarm. the refractory problem isnt unique - I know that the Jotul F12 has the same material - but the problems with downdrafting designs in general cant be denied. Its really the only way VC can make the stoves the way they are without giving up the signature top loading door, but it sure is more fussy than updraft. Having a catalytic downdraft makes the setup at least tolerable, but non-catalytic downdrafts from what I read can be a real PIA... I wonder if the Harman firedome downdraft is as bad as VC neverburn....

 

[begreen]

I beg to differ, 25 year old Fisher Vs Vermont Castings I would take the Fisher any day. I only refurb steel stoves for this very reason, no way am I going to break down a VC and rebuild it and buy the expensive refractory parts. Those things can go to the recycle bin if you ask me.

A 25 yr old VC stove has no refractory parts. And their cat stoves had minimal refractory components.

 

[mellow]

Still sealed by furnace cement and needs to be torn down and rebuilt even if it has minimal refractory. Just saying steel is much easier to deal with.

 

[Laurent Cyr]

Well, this is my second year with a Jotul, and I just love it!

 

[Ashful]

I'm running two Jotuls from 1993 and 1994, and no such breakdowns, yet. If you don't abuse them, they seem to last. Not saying you'll never have to do any maintenance, but the OPs quoted point seems to be grossly exaggerated.