Heartland wood cookstove - can you safely make your own heatshield?

[mikeathens]

I bought a Heartland Sweetheart cookstove this past winter, and will soon be installing a chimney for it. they sell a rear heatshield for about $225. Seems pretty steep. Does anyone know if it's possible/safe to fabricate your own heatshield for this? Is it just a matter of cutting some sheet metal to the right dimensions and then attaching it, or do you really have to buy the "official" heat shield? Supposedly, the one they sell is "insulated", but I can't see any difference between the function of this and one for my Mansfield, which is just a sheet of metal.

 

[mikeathens]

Hmmmmm...insurance doesn't seem to give a crap, and...what? code inspector? What's that? no such thing where I live.

 

[seaken]

I bought a Heartland Sweetheart cookstove this past winter, and will soon be installing a chimney for it. they sell a rear heatshield for about $225. Seems pretty steep. Does anyone know if it's possible/safe to fabricate your own heatshield for this? Is it just a matter of cutting some sheet metal to the right dimensions and then attaching it, or do you really have to buy the "official" heat shield? Supposedly, the one they sell is "insulated", but I can't see any difference between the function of this and one for my Mansfield, which is just a sheet of metal.

It's been my experience that folks who are really tight on money do not buy Heartland. If you really are that strapped for cash you could use a wall protector in accordance with the NFPA-211 rules, and it may be cheaper than the heatshield. But I would just go ahead and buy the heatshield at the $225. It will cost you less in the long run. Houses are typically more expensive to replace than $225.

Sean

 

[mikeathens]

I wouldn't say I'm "strapped for cash", but I can't see paying that kinda of cash for $10 worth of metal. For example, I felt like a real sucker when I took the heatshied for my Mansfield out of the box. I could have fabricated the same thing in a matter of an hour. If it's the same deal with the Heartland, then why not? (FYI, I picked it up, barely used for $1000).

 

[grizzly2]

Mike,
I would fabricate my oun heat sheild. I also wouldn't buy new sheetmetal. I would cut the pieces I need out of a car hood or roof. I am not strapped for cash. Maybe my willingness to fabricate many things for myself is why I am not strapped for cash :exclaim:

 

[mikeathens]

I like to make my own, but maybe I should rephrase the question: Does anyone know how if heartland's heatshields are just a piece of sheetmetal (similar to my Hearthstone Mansfield), and, if so, does anynone have the dimensions of said heat shield?