Vermont Castings Paint Recall?

[ravenh6]

So, first of all, let me apologize if I do not use the proper wood stove terminology. Although we have used a wood stove to heat our house for the last 15 years I still don't know all the proper names.

We currently we have an old Kent Tile Fire that we are using as the main source of heat for the house. Recently the flue became very difficult to open and close. After a thorough inspection we noticed that the top of the insert had a crack right next to the opening to the stove pipe. This crack is interfering with the opening and closing of the flue.

In November we started looking at all the different models that were available because we knew that our stove would not carry us through the winter. After visiting several dealers, we decided to purchase a red bordeaux Vermont Castings 2in1 Defiant. Originally, we were told that the stove would be delivered in 7-10 days. Perfect, since I'm not sure how much life is left in the Kent..... After waiting 2 weeks, we received a call stating that our stove would be delivered that following Tuesday (another week of waiting). Now we were told that Vermont Castings has a recall on the paint and won't be restarting production until December 23rd!! I'm assuming that means my stove won't be delivered until the middle of January?? I'm not sure if we can wait that long. I'm ready to cancel this order and purchase a different model although we really did like the color.

My question is: has anyone else heard of this paint recall? or is the dealer just making excuses for not being able to deliver?

Thanks for you help.

 

[webbie]

Can't speak to this exact situation, but Vermont Castings has an enameling works - that is, porcelain enamel. This is not paint, but a complicated multi-step process whereas powered glass is baked into the castings at very high temperatures.

Quality control is very important - and it is not rare for one color or another to have problems....based on the chemistry of the supplies, etc....

Red is the hardest color to use in enameling, so over the years that has usually been the color with the most difficulty.

 

[ravenh6]

Can't speak to this exact situation, but Vermont Castings has an enameling works - that is, porcelain enamel. This is not paint, but a complicated multi-step process whereas powered glass is baked into the castings at very high temperatures.

Quality control is very important - and it is not rare for one color or another to have problems....based on the chemistry of the supplies, etc....

Red is the hardest color to use in enameling, so over the years that has usually been the color with the most difficulty.

Thanks for the explanation on the enamel. It sounds like the process you're describing will definitely add several weeks to the wait. Right now the dealer can't even tell me when he thinks the stove would be ready.

 

[jrems]

I would look to get a different stove if the vc won't be available for awhile. There are quite a few that would perform better and look similar to the vc for less $

 

[Toploader]

I don't want to scare you but a friend of mine had this stove and sold it after only one season because he couldn't control it. On cold days it was burning way too hot even with the air closed all the way and then in warmer shoulder season weather it was back puffing. He was always fussing with the stove and never felt like he could predict what it was going to do even though he had a lot of wood burning experience. You could also consider the Jotul F600, Quadrafire Isle Royale or the Hearthstone Manchester if you decide you don't want to wait for the Defiant.

 

[Valhalla]

Roger that. Had an original VC Defiant for many years. Then bought a new VC Encore NC 5 years ago, big mistake... sold it after just 2 years.
Now have a Jotul F500 for 3 years and love it!

 

[Charles1981]

Sounds like a New Defiant 2n1. I have the Encore 2n1 and an on season 2 of burning and loving it. My Stove/Chimney installer runs a Defiant and Encore 2n1 to heat his 4500 square foot house and loves his as well.

but alas, yes, many people on this board have no been happy with their recent vermont casting purchases. I am not sure how different the 2n1 systems will fare in the long run but again so far I couldn't be happier (unless i had gotten a blaze king probably).

Anyway, this doesn't really help you but were you set on the red defiant? I just got the jet black cast iron with no enameling as I wasn't to hip to pay extra dollars for the enameling and you could probably get one immediately. but if you were dead set on the red enamel...I don't know what else to say there is a brown and black enameling as well i believe and you could see if those were available.

 

[ravenh6]

Thank you for all the replies and feedback on the Defiant.

I did call the dealer today, however Wednesday's is his day off... I'll have to wait until tomorrow. I want to talk to him about changing colors, changing stove brands, or getting a refund. We ordered the stove a week before Thanksgiving hoping to have it in time for Christmas. Had I known that it was going to be 2months I would have ordered something different.

Although I do like the red, I would be ok with a brown enamel. I called another dealer today to get some pricing and lead times on the Quadrafire Isle Royal in brown. He stated that since Christmas is next week I wouldn't be able to get it until the first or second week of January. I also asked him about the VC enamel recall and he hadn't heard anything. Regardless, it looks like I won't have anything until after the New Year.
There goes my oil bill......

 

[Charles1981]

Well just make sure you get what you want and not rush into anything. I don't think anyone has to much bad to say about the Quad IR, but just make sure you read up about it as much as you can.

The red enamel VC will be beautiful and will be quite the centerpiece so many might wait the few extra weeks... But I understand you concerns about not having the stove when its cold outside and you were expecting it.

Make sure you know what you are getting into with a VC too. Again there are satisfied customers but there does seem to be a larger proportion of unsatisfied customers posting here...