Hello--
I recently rescued a long disused VC Vigilant multifuel stove, and am using wood. I searched everywhere and can find no manual for this 1400 stove. I am concerned that I may be harming the stove, and just want to verify what I am doing is okay.
I did find some information about older older wood-only versions of the Vigilant. Apparently they had no grates or ash pan; and wood was burned directly on the floor of the stove, just using an inch or so of ash (or sand!) as insulation/protection.
So, basically to increase the firebox size, I removed the ash pan, which simply sits behind the doors on the floor under the coal grates, as well as the crazy shaker grates, and I have been burning wood directly on the floor. I left the rear grate support, not finding an easy way to remove it, and concerned about creating new openings in the interior wall of the stove where the support plugs in.
The stove seems to work great this way, much better than with the ash pan and the grates: very long overnight burns, powerful draft, plenty of heat. I can't open the doors without ash falling out, but that's not a problem. I only open the doors to empty ashes or to start up cold.
I just don't know if this is altogether a good idea. I'm pretty inexperienced with wood stoves, and could be proceeding cluelessly.
Thanks for any comments, thoughts, wisdom etc.
Marc
I recently rescued a long disused VC Vigilant multifuel stove, and am using wood. I searched everywhere and can find no manual for this 1400 stove. I am concerned that I may be harming the stove, and just want to verify what I am doing is okay.
I did find some information about older older wood-only versions of the Vigilant. Apparently they had no grates or ash pan; and wood was burned directly on the floor of the stove, just using an inch or so of ash (or sand!) as insulation/protection.
So, basically to increase the firebox size, I removed the ash pan, which simply sits behind the doors on the floor under the coal grates, as well as the crazy shaker grates, and I have been burning wood directly on the floor. I left the rear grate support, not finding an easy way to remove it, and concerned about creating new openings in the interior wall of the stove where the support plugs in.
The stove seems to work great this way, much better than with the ash pan and the grates: very long overnight burns, powerful draft, plenty of heat. I can't open the doors without ash falling out, but that's not a problem. I only open the doors to empty ashes or to start up cold.
I just don't know if this is altogether a good idea. I'm pretty inexperienced with wood stoves, and could be proceeding cluelessly.
Thanks for any comments, thoughts, wisdom etc.
Marc
