Cat question Buck 91

[Locust Post]

I have a new Buck 91 cat stove that will be having it maiden journey this year. The manual say that the cat is held in by 8 bolts (I have not taken the shield loose to look). The manual says to be very careful removing the bolts and to spray with penetrating oil prior to removal. My question is would it be beneficial to take these loose now before ever using and coat the threads with never seize. I guess what I am asking is will the never seize be ok and or will the heat affect it. What do the masses say thanks.

 

[begreen]

Can't hurt. Do they use stainless steel nuts on these bolts? If not, I think I would replace them with ss nuts.

 

[Locust Post]

Can't hurt. Do they use stainless steel nuts on these bolts? If not, I think I would replace them with ss nuts.

Don't know BG what the exact set up is. I am going to drop the shield and have a gander,so don't know if it is bolts or nuts but I like the stainless idea.

 

[swagler85]

What happened to the BK?

 

[clemsonfor]

I think never seize will burn up personally. There attached to a housing that will contain cats that will reguraly get 1500F for hours!

 

[sticks]

If it is nuts I would use brass so you can just replace them and not mess up the stud. I believe Englander use to do that on their cat stoves .

 

[Locust Post]

What happened to the BK?

Never looked at BK's Swag.....Liked what I read about the Buck stoves and reviwes from guys that have had them. Plus I wanted a dealer close to home. Bought from Brunks in Salem....They have a good reputation. I know there is a dealer for BK over Dexter's way but that's a hike for me.

 

[swagler85]

Ok I thought you already had a BK, just curious cause I'm about to pull the trigger on two new stoves. Pretty sure I'm going with a BK princess for the primary and not sure yet on a second stove. Something smaller to put in the kitchen.

 

[Locust Post]

Ok I thought you already had a BK, just curious cause I'm about to pull the trigger on two new stoves. Pretty sure I'm going with a BK princess for the primary and not sure yet on a second stove. Something smaller to put in the kitchen.

Sounds like a plan Swag......Don't think I have ever heard anyone that had a BK complain. I think I am going to like this Buck 91...it's a beast. Just something about a nice big steel stove. Buck has some smaller ones, don't know if you have looked at them at all. Brunks is only about 35 or 40 minutes from you if I'm not mistaken because I think you are over around the Hartville area. Brunks is a distributor so they have a good stock.

 

[swagler85]

Sounds like a plan Swag......Don't think I have ever heard anyone that had a BK complain. I think I am going to like this Buck 91...it's a beast. Just something about a nice big steel stove. Buck has some smaller ones, don't know if you have looked at them at all. Brunks is only about 35 or 40 minutes from you if I'm not mistaken because I think you are over around the Hartville area. Brunks is a distributor so they have a good stock.

Might have to look into them, I actually have a BK dealer 5 minutes from my house but calling around a guy closer to Dex quoted me $600 less. Ill check out these Buck stoves though. The installer/ Sweep that came out to look at my chimneys sells Buck stoves and he's out of Canton. Really nice guy and said he would match any price I found for any stove he carries.

 

[swagler85]

Those Bucks are nice but wont work for me, I'm putting a liner in an existing chimney and that is limiting me to a 6" insulated liner. So any of the bigger bucks wont work for me. They all have 8" flue's.

 

[Ashful]

I use aluminum anti-seize on all my stove hardware, even the back plate that holds in the cat. Works great, assuming this hardware is outside the refractory chamber.

I'd be careful in switching hardware to something like brass. I assume the manufacturer put some thought into the materials they chose to use.

 

[Locust Post]

I use aluminum anti-seize on all my stove hardware, even the back plate that holds in the cat. Works great, assuming this hardware is outside the refractory chamber.

I'd be careful in switching hardware to something like brass. I assume the manufacturer put some thought into the materials they chose to use.

Agree Joful, I don't think I would use brass.

 

[Locust Post]

Those Bucks are nice but wont work for me, I'm putting a liner in an existing chimney and that is limiting me to a 6" insulated liner. So any of the bigger bucks wont work for me. They all have 8" flue's.

I got ya Swag....yes the big Bucks do have 8". They do have a few smaller stoves with 6 and I guess I was thinking more for your second stove because it sounded like you were set on the Princess for your primary. I bet you will like it.

 

[sticks]

So you won't use brass because the manufactuer didn't but you don't have a problem with stainless or anti-seize? I have seen plenty of stainless bolts get brittle in fireboxes.

 

[MarkinNC]

The copper based anti seize is rated up to 1800 F. It is designed for high pressure high temperature operations like mining applications for example. I don't believe it is as readily available as the aluminum based anti seize locally around me. I stock both personally.

http://www.amazon.com/Loctite-51002-Copper-Based-Anti-seize/dp/B0001X0S9Y

 

[Woody Stover]

If it is nuts I would use brass so you can just replace them and not mess up the stud. I believe Englander use to do that on their cat stoves .

I think the nuts are brass or a similar alloy IIRC; Came right off.

 

[Ashful]

So you won't use brass because the manufactuer didn't but you don't have a problem with stainless or anti-seize? I have seen plenty of stainless bolts get brittle in fireboxes.

I'm not saying stainless or brass are good or bad, just that I'd consult someone who's actually qualified to make that decision, before deviating from what the manufacturer chose. As an engineer who daily makes design decisions that I see later over-ruled by well-meaning but completely clueless customers or service personnel (often resulting in failures they did not predict), I would hesitate to switch the hardware to any material other than that chosen by the manufacturer, unless I had consulted an actual expert. If you're a materials engineer or mechanical engineer with experience in boilers, stoves, furnaces... have at it. My comment was directed at the average handy homeowner, who may make the assumption he somehow knows better than the guy who designed the stove.

As far as the anti-seize goes... I'm using an anti-seize compound designed for use at 2000*F. I do not believe the temperature of the cast iron plate holding my refractory cat cover in place will ever see any temperature near 2000*F.

 

[webby3650]

Use the brass nuts, if you don't you'll wish you had if you plan on takin it apart again. It's so much easier! Even if the nuts aren't reusable after they came off, at least they came off without breaking the stud off. Replacement nuts are cheap and easy!

 

[webby3650]

I use aluminum anti-seize on all my stove hardware, even the back plate that holds in the cat. Works great, assuming this hardware is outside the refractory chamber.

I'd be careful in switching hardware to something like brass. I assume the manufacturer put some thought into the materials they chose to use.

Manufacturers don't always think everything through when it comes to hardware or maintenance. After all, isn't that a big reason that hearth.com has grow into what it is today? If they had thought everything through we wouldn't have much to say would we?

 

[Ashful]

Manufacturers don't always think everything through when it comes to hardware or maintenance. After all, isn't that a big reason that hearth.com has grow into what it is today? If they had thought everything through we wouldn't have much to say would we?

You are correct, there is no perfect stove, all are a trade-off on cost vs. one performance aspect against another. But to assume that fasteners were chosen without giving any thought to what material would be best, is likely an incorrect assumption in most cases.

 

[Locust Post]

So you won't use brass because the manufactuer didn't but you don't have a problem with stainless or anti-seize? I have seen plenty of stainless bolts get brittle in fireboxes.

Wasn't meant to offend Sticks.....but after taking a look I think the nuts are already brass. I do think I will put a small amount of never seize on the threads.

 

[Locust Post]

We have all types of folks on here from many different backgrounds,expertise and employment fields. I appreciate everyones input and comments. No arguments needed but I know a lot of us are very strong willed and have been guilty of an argumentative stance myself several times. Ultimately I have to take all in to consideration and do the thing I think best. But very sincerely thanks fellow hearth members.

 

[webby3650]

is likely an incorrect assumption in most cases

My assumption comes from working in the field. There's lots of brass hardware out there that's doing just fine! And it was put there by the manufacturer. Just for the record, I happen to know Sticks personally. He's repaired more stoves than all of us have probably ever seen. I'd glady take his advice anyday.

 

[clemsonfor]

I read the nuts were brass so this is mute at this point. But my cats in the HV have steel nuts that hold the cat chamber in. Never had a problem taking them off each year. The heating and cool cycles actually loosen them up through the year. Just have flat washer no lock ones on there. Maybe that would make a difference, I dunno?