Split my Vermiculite baffle in half... Safe to burn until replacement arrives?

[JCrean]

So cleaning my insert and chimney the other day, I split my vermiculite baffle for my Century CW2900 in half as I pulled the secondary tubes.

My question is, is it safe to burn until a replacement arrives? The baffle split right down the middle and I was able to put it back and push the two pieces together tightly.

Thanks in advance!

 

[claydogg84]

You can use the stove but the secondary combustion will not work correctly.

 

[Huntindog1]

Did you know NC30 stoves use a two piece ceramic baffle plate and just push them together.

So most likely you are fine.

One time I busted mine and I used some high temp stove gasket glue and a piece of expanded metal and fixed it.
It work great for 2 more years then I sold the stove and it was still in it.

Amount of loss your going to get from the crack left after pushing them back together will not be noticeable.

 

[begreen]

If the pieces can stay together they should work temporarily. If a gap forms between them then some unburnt wood gas can and will escape through the crack so do your best to keep them together as tightly as possible.

 

[DougA]

I broke mine with a large log last winter. I pushed them together and it's been fine.

 

[Wisneaky]

When I had my tundra furnace the vermiculite baffle cracked not one but twice. Both times I could tell instantly that I was getting worse secondary combustion and less heat.

 

[JCrean]

Once the new baffle arrives I'll try to doctor the old one up as a spare with some steel and fire caulk. Can't ruin it twice

On a side note, someone could make a killing buying vermiculite sheets and cutting them to size for folks. I just got taken for 60 bucks for a 12x20 chunk of the stuff...

 

[DougA]

On a side note, someone could make a killing buying vermiculite sheets and cutting them to size for folks. I just got taken for 60 bucks for a 12x20 chunk of the stuff...

I found the mfg. and thought about that a lot. Shipping is the big problem.

 

[Hogwildz]

I'm not familiar with those baffles, but would a temp joint of refractory cement do the job till replacement is obtained?

 

[DougA]

I'm not sure it's made of vermiculite but I don't know what most baffles are made of. My experience with vermiculite is limited to the kind you pour from bags.

 

[Huntindog1]

To fix mine I used a piece of the expanded metal used to cover gutters.
My baffle boards were the ceramic type. I carefully drilled some holes in it
and used small screws and nuts with some washers to hold the expanded metal
to the baffle board. I didnt tighten them very tight as I then used the high temp
glue used for door gaskets. I glued the pieces together held them together
with the expanded metal and screws/washers /nuts and then poured some
glue in between the expanded metal areas to glue the expanded metal
to the baffle boards. You cant tighten the screws very tight as they will pull thru
the ceramic board.

My previous stove had the Ceramic Blanket on top of the Baffle board.
So if your stove has that your crack wouldn't leak much due to the ceramic blanket laying
on top of the board.

Best to get a new board but in a pinch you can improvise.

 

[Fod01]

Mine split down the middle, but diagonally top to bottom. The joint overlaps nicely. I won't replace it until fails to do so