Fix dreaded baffle crack on awesome Kent stove?

[Edrrt]

I noticed my damper was sticking and found the dreaded baffle crack. The baffle is welded in and bowes up and splits with time. The metal is still very thick. I was unable to pound it down with a sledgehammer and chisel cold. I fired the stove outside and then was able to pound it down. My question is should I leave it split so that it has room to contract and expand? Should I put a weld bead in it? Should I weld a plate over it from the underside?

The stove has been run throughout its life with no fire brick and his hands-down the best woodstove I have ever run. We have several wood stoves at all of our properties and I would give anything to have all of them be these. Needless to say, I would like to repair it and get as much life out of it as possible. This one has been burning for 40 years at our farm.

 

[begreen]

In the least, drill a small hole at the end of the crack to stop it's spread. I'm wondiering if then a stainless steel strip could be mounted to bridge the crack.

 

[brenndatomu]

In the least, drill a small hole at the end of the crack to stop it's spread. I'm wondiering if then a stainless steel strip could be mounted to bridge the crack.

Good advice.
Welding it will do no good, it will continue to crack/move.
Personally, I'd drill that hole, but go back a bit beyond the crack that you can see by eye, because there is already a micro crack there that you can't see, so you have to drill the hole past the existing crack, but don't go too far away, or the crack may change direction and go around the hole.
Then I'd have a grade 316 stainless plate (1/4"?) cut to whatever size you can get in there (2 piece if need be?) and bolt that with SS bolts to the fire side of that baffle, so it will act as a sacrificial flame shield.