I'm baffled by the stainless steel baffle in my Buck 18 (effect on air flow)

[DawsonBuck18]

Hello,

I have been operating a Buck Model 18 since November and I have zero prior wood stove experience. I am experiencing airflow challenges related to proper baffle installation.

Inside the Buck 18, there are three gas tubes, each one sites slightly lower, from front to rear, as you look into the stove (about a 20 degree slope). There is a stainless steel baffle (plate) located above the tubes with a fiber glass blanket that sits on top of the SS baffle. Above the blanket is the stove top and exit flue.

I am not sure if the SS plate should be positioned all the way back, flush againts the rear wall of the stove or sit about an 1.5 inches forward and up, flush against a metal tab that appears to be in place to prevent the baffle from going any father forward towards the front of the stove. When the plate sits all the way back flush against the rear wall of the stove, hot air and gases cannot flow rearward, up and out. Additionally, the front most gas tube ends up being the only one that the baffle does NOT sit on top off. If I pull the baffle forward to the metal stopper tab, the baffle provides top cover for all three gas tubes and this also creates a 1.5 inch gap at the rear of the stove where hot air and gases can flow up and out.

I also notice that when the baffle is pulled forward and hot air and gases can escape up and out from both the rear of the stove and the front, I get much increased airflow in the stove and sometimes have to throttle back on the damper control to keep the stove from overheating. With the baffle all the way to the rear, I can barely keep logs burning.

Does anyone have any insight into the proper installation location of the Buck 18 baffle? I might call Buck on Friday.

I appreciate this forum. It has been a wealth of knowledge and there are a lot of great enthusiast here at Hearth. Thank you.

Steve

 

[begreen]

Calling Buck is what I would do. I think you want the baffle all the way back, but haven't run this stove. Ask Buck.

 

[DawsonBuck18]

Thanks Begreen.

This photo of my outer most gas tube might be helpful. You can see the metal tab sticking out in the upper left corner and you can see that the baffle and blanket is not directly above the first gas tube. If this tab is not a guide for the baffle, then I am not sure why it is there. Will be calling Buck in the AM

 

[PLAYS WITH FIRE]

My guess also would be all the way back and only allow the heat escape up the front of the stove. That is how my buddies and mine are. Mine came with a ceramic fiber board and his came with your set up. He bought his used and the metal baffle was warped pretty bad so we took it out and pounded it flat. Maybe yours is really warped that causes it not to cover the first tube. On his we have since replaced it with a ceramic fiber board we have outsourced and this actually makes his fan kick on waaaay sooner as it keeps the box hotter.

 

[Woody Stover]

I agree, I think it should be back. You want all the smoke to be burned up in the tube area, not escaping up the back. But yeah, call or email Buck to make sure. They are very responsive. Manual didn't say anything about it?

 

[Fireshoppe]

The baffle sits directly on the tubes with no air space. Also, the ceramic fiber blanket sits all the way rearward on the plate.

After a few cycles the (plate will curl up like a big smiley face. You can also contact your dealer for a Model 21 baffle board (next year and boost the combustion efficiency by ~ 10-15%

 

[DawsonBuck18]

Fireshoppe, Yes, the plate is starting to smile. I thought that maybe I overheated my stove already and ruined the plate but curved baffles seam to be common on this forum. Thanks for the advice on the Model 21 baffle board and baffle/blanket placement. The Buck 18 is my first stove. It only has a 1.3 cubic ft box but that little guy is keeping my entire first floor (2,500 sq ft) at a comfortable 73 deg. My heat pump for the first floor never runs. The upstairs heat pump cycles much less often when the stove is cranking.

 

[Fireshoppe]

I'm glad you are having good luck with the stove. Enjoy

 

[A A Ron]

The baffle sits directly on the tubes with no air space. Also, the ceramic fiber blanket sits all the way rearward on the plate.

After a few cycles the (plate will curl up like a big smiley face. You can also contact your dealer for a Model 21 baffle board (next year and boost the combustion efficiency by ~ 10-15%

I have been having the same problem with baffle and the secondary burn is not efficient and the amount of smoke that comes out of the flu is excisive . I called Buck and they were not helpful at all. I ordered the Model 21 baffle board and will try that in my Model 18 as soon as it gets here. I had a Quadrafire 2100 and it burned way more efficient and was very clean. I do get longer burn times with the Buck 18 though and the damper is way more responsive. Overall I am very pleased with the stove, I just hope the baffle board solves the secondary burn problem.

A-A-Ron

 

[A A Ron]

Ordered the Model 21 board, don't do that. It does not fit but you can make it work. The best thing to do is google baffle fiber board and buy one that is fairly large or go to ebay or efireplacestore has a 2 pack. You'll have to trim it with either a fine toothed saw or even a steak knife. Remove the first three tubes on the stove and you'll be able to fit the board in. Once I replaced the steel baffle an obvious difference in efficiency was noted.

 

[DawsonBuck18]

Ordered the Model 21 board, don't do that. It does not fit but you can make it work. The best thing to do is google baffle fiber board and buy one that is fairly large or go to ebay or efireplacestore has a 2 pack. You'll have to trim it with either a fine toothed saw or even a steak knife. Remove the first three tubes on the stove and you'll be able to fit the board in. Once I replaced the steel baffle an obvious difference in efficiency was noted.

Ron, really appreciate you testing this theory out. I'll check out the baffle boards on eBay you mention. But in overall still satisfied with my little stove. Heats the entire 2,500 Sq ft first floor if my house.