forgive my ignorance
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DonNC
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since cast pieces are made in molds, they can easily be made much more decorative than steel.
Generally cast stoves are very reliable. But many are fully bolted together rather than welded, and therefore periodically need to be rebuilt w/ new furnace cement to seal all the joints.
I do that that steel is more forgiving.
It really comes down to preference.
I like butter, others prefer margarine, both will cover your biscuit.
pen
Generally cast stoves are very reliable. But many are fully bolted together rather than welded, and therefore periodically need to be rebuilt w/ new furnace cement to seal all the joints.
I do that that steel is more forgiving.
It really comes down to preference.
I like butter, others prefer margarine, both will cover your biscuit.
pen
Cast iron can crack. Welds can crack on steel stoves. Soapstone stoves can crack. There's no material in use that is 100% crack-proof in this application.gzecc said:
I know cast-iron stoves are available in enamel finishes. Not sure about steel. Cast iron is also slower to heat up and cool off, so you may get longer effective burn times with more even heat in a cast iron stove than in a steel stove (think steel skillet vs. cast iron skillet).
Since both materials have their problems I like stoves that take advantage of both materials and use them in areas that take advantage of their strengths. Cast might crack but is very stable under high heat. Steel even though less likely too crack is prone to warp. Also as other have mentioned, both materials deliver the heat differently. By using both in a stove you can take advantage of faster radiant heat but more carry over in cast after the fire has burned down.
I've seen cast iron stoves over 100 years old with no cracks.
As an ignoramass myself, I am not in the position to forgive you.
As an ignoramass myself, I am not in the position to forgive you.
I realized last night while grilling steaks: I paid extra for cast-iron grates for my grill, rather than use stainless steel. More even heat.
I thought the big reason for Cast Iron over Steel was longer heat retention. Similar to the advantages of Soapstone over Cast iron. Longer heat retention but slower heat output.
My cast iron warms my house from cold less quickly than steel, but it stays hotter when the fire burns out than the steel stove. Other than that... for me, I like cast for nostalgic reasons.
My cast iron warms my house from cold less quickly than steel, but it stays hotter when the fire burns out than the steel stove. Other than that... for me, I like cast for nostalgic reasons.
No idea.. I seem to remember this graph for being pro soapstone
(broken link removed to http://www.hearthstonestoves.com/stove-guide/Why-soapstone)
if its to be believed it looks like it only gives about 1 hour longer above 100 degrees on a 6 hour burn... So about 16%?
(broken link removed to http://www.hearthstonestoves.com/stove-guide/Why-soapstone)
if its to be believed it looks like it only gives about 1 hour longer above 100 degrees on a 6 hour burn... So about 16%?
Bobforsaken said:
I don't know what stoves they were comparing, but I don't think you can put a definitive number on the heat retention differences between cast and steel.
Low-carbon steel and cast iron have very similar density, thermal conductivity and specific heat. The only real difference between them would be their thickness/mass. Steel stoves can be sheet metal or heavy plate or in between.h A thin-walled steel stove will heat up real fast compared to a cast iron stove, but a steel stove that has the same thickness as a cast stove shouldn't exhibit a remarkably different temperature profile throughout the burn, all other things being equal.
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