That was scary!

[Andy99]

I fired up my hearthstone homestead tonight after dinner. The stove was nice and Hot and I needed to add some more wood.
I opened the door and Added some nice splits. As I was closing the door I noticed it felt different. I thought maybe a small branch was sticking out causing the door not to close right. I opened it wider and looked. I didn't see anything and started closing it again. All of a sudden I heard something fall and the door shifted in my hand. Now the Fire was really taking off the door is way to hot to touch and the thing I heard fall to the ground was the Pin that holds the door onto the stove! Somehow the pin on the bottom hinge worked its way up and out! Now I have a huge fire with no way to close the door. The Door is HOT as hell but the pin was cool enough for me to pick up. I was able to slide it into the door but I couldn't get the holes on the door to line up with the holes on the stove. After working the door by the handle I was able to slide the pin down burning my hand in the process. Thank goodness I was home and It didn't happen to my wife when I was out of the house. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

 

[BrotherBart]

Hasn't happened yet but it has gotten close a bunch of times. Every stove I have ever owned had the bottom door hinge pin creep up all the time. It is a habit of mine to tap the pins down with the poker fairly often.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I had it happen on an ash door once and I had it happen on an adjustable door latch once. I don't have that stove anymore. The ash door once creosoted itself shut too. Ahh, the memories of a Cons. Dutchwest Rocky Mountain.....

Matt

 

[cmonSTART]

That is wierd. For me it's the top pin. It always seems to work it's way up and nearly out. Looking at it right now, it's about a quarter inch up as I type this.

 

[Andy99]

I will be keeping an Eye on that from now on!

 

[fossil]

Pair of welder's gloves hanging with your stove tools. My cousin had a steel baffle support fall right out of his old Lopi while he was reloading with the door wide open. Darn near red hot chunk of angle iron, bounced off the brick hearth and landed on his carpet...Yikes! Glad you got that situation under control without major incident, Andy. Watch them hinge pins! Rick

 

[bsruther]

Ok let me get this straight. You guys buy these high dollar stoves and they fall apart? Am I missing something here?

 

[Hanko]

my dutchwest never did that

 

[BrotherBart]

Ok let me get this straight. You guys buy these high dollar stoves and they fall apart? Am I missing something here?

Yeah. And believe it or not we have to put wood in them too! Weird ain't it?

 

[fossil]

We're dumb. That's why they won't let us live in Kentucky. Rick

 

[BJN644]

Another good reason to go with a top loader.

 

[Todd]

It happened to my old Homestead also, but I had gloves and slipped the pin right back in. Just checked my Fireview and the bottom pin was up about 1/8". It would be nice if these pins were just a bit longer where a cotter pin could go through to keep them in place.

 

[crazy_dan]

That is one thing I really like about my summit the pins are welded to the stove and the door slips down on them so the whole door would have to creep.

 

[pinewoodburner]

Ok let me get this straight. You guys buy these high dollar stoves and they fall apart? Am I missing something here?

I bought 3 pairs of welder gloves at Harbor Freight for about $9.00. Gave 1 pair to a friend that has a stove. I read about people using the gloves for loading a hot stove and protecting their hands.

 

[ansehnlich1]

Whoa!

I went right downstairs and give the old Jotul hinges an inspection, she turned out a-ok.

Hope I don't have nightmares of the ash door floating away............

I DO have heavy duty fire gloves, even use 'em when I load and stuff, go figure!

 

[Crowbar]

Gonna keep an eye on my pins now!

 

[Todd]

Ok let me get this straight. You guys buy these high dollar stoves and they fall apart? Am I missing something here?

I bought 3 pairs of welder gloves at Harbor Freight for about $9.00. Gave 1 pair to a friend that has a stove. I read about people using the gloves for loading a hot stove and protecting their hands.

I rarely used gloves til I bought this stove. The small iron door handle forces you to use a glove to open and close it. I didn't like it at first, but I'm use to it now, never burn myself and think of it as a built in safety feature.

 

[badger1968]

Hey Andy--

I've been burning the Homestead every night since mid-September (wife get's cold--and she's the Mainer!). Anyway, that's never happened to me. But, it's a good cautionary tale. I'll take a look at that pin you referred to. And, yeah, that glass gets HOT! :coolsmile: I was stupid enough to touch my socks to the glass just a touch and--whew--wool socks burning stink!

Anyway, Fossil is right on. If you don't have any welder's gloves get them now. $15 or so at Home Depot. I can just stick my hand right in the hottest fire. Kinda' cool.

Finally, just gotta' say, Kentucky, lay off the elitist BS. I went in to hock to get a quality stove and it works great. I'm sure yours does too.

 

[Andy99]

I have gloves but the pin is so small and the gloves are so bulky I couldn't use them.

 

[myzamboni]

That is one thing I really like about my summit the pins are welded to the stove and the door slips down on them so the whole door would have to creep.

Yep, same with the F3.

Andy99, welding gloves should be on hand. I NEVER touch a burning stove without them.

 

[Ithaca]

Andy..

Sorry to hear about your door. I'm going to go tap my pins now just in case.

Each pin has a small (looks like graphite) washer. I'm sure yours popped off when the pin went. When things cools down you might want to look for it before you clean up/throw it out by mistake.

While we are talking about homestead doors.. I noticed there is a space on the bottom hinge of mine. All the weight seems to be held by the top pin. Any other Homesteads have this or am I the lucky one?

 

[bsruther]

Finally, just gotta' say, Kentucky, lay off the elitist BS. I went in to hock to get a quality stove and it works great. I'm sure yours does too.

I'm just trying to understand why they would make a stove where the pins come out easily. Seems like a safety hazzard. I've seen hinge pins fastened on stoves a few different ways where they couldn't come out. One of the simplest pins I've seen was one that was split at the bottom and spread like a cotter pin.

 

[lazeedan]

This is my second year and I have had no issues with door. But I will definetely be looking now.

 

[chad3]

Pair of welder's gloves hanging with your stove tools. My cousin had a steel baffle support fall right out of his old Lopi while he was reloading with the door wide open. Darn near red hot chunk of angle iron, bounced off the brick hearth and landed on his carpet...Yikes! Glad you got that situation under control without major incident, Andy. Watch them hinge pins! Rick

If you have an ABCO welding supply near your house get a set of the welding gloves from them. I picked up three pairs last year for 6 bucks (might have been 6.99) each. I've grabbed plenty of wood in the stove (to rearrange, or to fix doors). Great gloves for the price.
Just a suggestion.
Chad

 

[Vic99]

Just checked my door. Bottom pin is up about 1/8 of inch. Thanks for the warning.

Never had a problem last year.

Glad it turned out ok.