Cracked top on woodburner

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Cracked top on woodburner
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vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 1:50 pm Post subject:
It's very machinable, drill, tap, countersink etc. It's not very elastic and it's brittle so it needs so room to expand and contract when exposed to heat.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 1:58 pm Post subject:
You can TIG weld it. Just use an iron filler rod.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 2:02 pm Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

You can TIG weld it. Just use an iron filler rod.

Thanks. Better get an argon bottle. I've not tried that BOC welder yet, have a TIG torch for it which is still in it's plastic wrap.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 2:17 pm Post subject:
It will help avoid cracking if you warm it up with a torch before starting to weld.

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 3:29 pm Post subject:

You can weld it with a cast rod, preheat the site first and use a cast rod. make sure you weld thoroughly to avoid fumes escaping.

You will need to V out the crack first, then infill. If you dont feel competent, any good welder could do this.

You could fit a plate underneath, sealing the join with fire cement.

So, you have 2 options.

perhaps you need to think why it happened in the first place, sounds like temperature too high....

Midland Spinner

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 2931
Location: Under a green roof

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 3:37 pm Post subject:

We had a crack in the top of a stove on the boat - the safety inspector condemmed it out of hand on safety grounds. He'd been to 2 coroners courts to give evidence on Carbon Monoxide deaths in the previous year so he was understandably worried.
If you don't have a CO detector, get out and buy one now! Especially if you intend to keep using the stove until the weather warms up - you might want to put a bit of fire cement into the crack as a temporary measure - you'll have to keep replacing it on a frequent basis, but it's what we did before the inspector called.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 3:38 pm Post subject:

Lorrainelovesplants wrote:

You can weld it with a cast rod.

You mean MMA weld?

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 3:40 pm Post subject:
Yes, manual metal arc weld it.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 4:05 pm Post subject:

Lorrainelovesplants wrote:

perhaps you need to think why it happened in the first place, sounds like temperature too high....

I'm assuming it's temperature related. My worry is that if a crack has formed once it will do it again so I need to look at how the top is secured to ensure it has some movement and yet is sealed properly.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 4:07 pm Post subject:

Midland Spinner wrote:

An excellent tip.

We have a CO detector mounted on the wall plus I have a hand held meter which provides a reading of CO levels. I'll be using that when I light the fire this evening.

Midland Spinner

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 2931
Location: Under a green roof

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 4:21 pm Post subject:

vegplot wrote:

We have a CO detector mounted on the wall plus I have a hand held meter which provides a reading of CO levels. I'll be using that when I light the fire this evening.

Good

Plenty of ventilation as well

(I know that you know, but I feel better if I say it!)

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 4:32 pm Post subject:

Midland Spinner wrote:

vegplot wrote:

We have a CO detector mounted on the wall plus I have a hand held meter which provides a reading of CO levels. I'll be using that when I light the fire this evening.

Good

Plenty of ventilation as well

(I know that you know, but I feel better if I say it!)

It never hurts to keep repeating it.

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 7:38 pm Post subject:
You could also braze it. If you do weld it pre & post heat is very important.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46288
Location: yes

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 11 7:52 pm Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

It will help avoid cracking if you warm it up with a torch before starting to weld.

heat first and after any welding cool as slowly as possible

cast is a beasty to make a good weld in

buzzy

Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 11 12:18 am Post subject:

Midland Spinner wrote:

Yes, a carbon monoxide detector is a must with cast iron stoves, since CO can diffuse through red hot cast iron, and though I realise that probably nobody deliberately heats their stove to red heat, mistakes can happen.

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