Fixing a pellet burnpot burned out bottom?

[Don2222]

Hello
This burnpot similar to it not the same as US Stove 5660 steel burnpot and many others, is burned through in the middle of the bottom just below where the hot Igniter air comes in. The Saranac has been out of production for many years and not fully supported anymore. Some parts are still available, but parts like an Auger is no longer available so a small fix like this may help to keep it going longer.
Therefore since I do not like the slats in the bottom, I just got a sheet of 11 Guage perforated Steel with 1/4” holes. Enviro uses 1/4” holes in their high Ash Burnpot.
Here is the link to the metal
https://www.metalsdepot.com/shape/Perforated-Sheet
Burning fuels other than wood pellets, the hole size maybe smaller. You can get it in stainless steel also from metalsdepot.com The Pot is 12 Gauge so 11 is thicker!
I order a 1 foot by 2 foot sheet so I can fix a lot of pots.
Anyway, the easiest way to cut it is to just zip it out with a Plasma cutter but those cutters do not like perforated material unless you get a Hypotherm with extended mode.
So we just put a small piece of aluminum flashing over it to keep a nice arc and cut them both!
Then just cut out the bottom of the Burn pot and weld the new piece on. Grind and paint for good looks.
The Plasma cutter when the trigger on the cutter gun is depressed should be 75 PSI to get a good arc and cut.
Anyone else do this?

Pic 1-3 - Burn Pot with burned out slay in the middle
Pic 4 - trace burn pot bottom on aluminum on top of perforated Steel.
Pic 5 - Set up Plasma cutter to 40-50 amps
Pic 6 - cut out perforated Steel
Pic 7 - burnpot with bottom cut out
Pic 8 - grind flatter to accept new bottom
Pic 9 - put in 4 tack welds then spot welded the rest

 

[Don2222]

More pics

Pics 10 & 11 - Grind and paint - all done

 

[Don2222]

Just did 2 more burned out burn pots.

Anyone else do this??

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[chamas]

Anyone else do this??

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

No, but it gives me ideas. Seems simple enough. Makes me wonder why the basic Enviro EF-series screens are so expensive.

Do they perform the same? Just curious to see if the perforated flow rates are similar to the slats.

 

[Don2222]

No, but it gives me ideas. Seems simple enough. Makes me wonder why the basic Enviro EF-series screens are so expensive.

Do they perform the same? Just curious to see if the perforated flow rates are similar to the slats.

I think the airflow is more evenly distributed and also it is 1 Guage thicker so much stronger

Got the new perforated metal here
https://www.metalsdepot.com/shape/Perforated-Sheet

 

[vinny11950]

Just did 2 more burned out burn pots.

Anyone else do this??

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Nice work, Don.

Is there anything you can't do?