Woodstove question

I have a VC Defiant 1910 that I purchased in about 2000. I run it from Oct 31st to about April 15th every year. This year I need to replace basically the inside of the stove....approx. $800 in parts. I am considering purchasing a new Defiant for about $2800. Any pros and cons? Any cons that I should be aware of in rebuilding the older defiant.
My Defiant was over fired due to my wife leaving the ash pan not locked so I must replace the refractory, cat, Lower fireback, grate etc.
Thank you

 

Welcome to FHC.
Cons: As you've already experienced, expensive parts. Seem to be prone to cracking. Customer service/warranty issues.
I have no firsthand experience, just things I've read a lot about over the years. VC has been sold again recently, can't remember who bought them this time. Hopefully someone will bring that company back to its former good name.

 

I would look into something else. There are a lot better options out there for a quality woodstove.

 

Don't let your wife operate the new stove!!!

 

I heard VC is now employee owned and the QC is making a sharp upturn.... just what I heard. That said I would wait 5 years before considering buying a new one. If you like the cat stove check into the Woodstock or Blaze king stoves.....

 

unless you want a new stove.

 

X2 with what Bobdog says.

Or you can slum it and buy a new NC-30 like I did. Non-cat but a good cheaper stove. Check out the Durango HD deal and tax credit if you have not used that. Just another option.

I am just not so sure how much I want to get involved with heating 100% with wood again. I have an OWB that does a great job and is simple and easy. But processing all the wood and feeding it is another matter.

That said if I knew that was the route I definitely wanted to travel and heat 100% with wood then I would also be looking at the Ideal Steel and Blaze King models which cost a pretty penny but I'd be willing to go the extra expense for quality and performance. You get what you pay for with almost everything. Reading about the IS and BK's seems to hold true. There are costs eventually to replace cats etc;

I dropped a bunch on a new Harman P68 pellet stove Oct. 2014 and do not regret that one bit. Money well spent concerning a pellet stove and reliability etc; I'd say the same holds true with known performers in the wood stove world. Look around and do your research because it is you that will be dealing with what you buy and your bank account taking the hit.

 

Holy crap, that p68 is like 4k. I'd never reach the break even point with that bad boy.

 

Welcome Michigan woodcutter, there is a good thread on stove companies you can trust in everything else...

As I live in Vermont and have cousins that work at VC. I would say wait..
my top 3 stoves are.

700 dollar range NC 30 coupon for 520 is
2000 ^ ^ Woodstock soapstone
4000 BK. King if you got 8 inch flue


There are many others out there just ones I have seen and stayed in houses they heated.. Good luck

 

I wasn't even thinking break even when I sprung for it. More like get the wife off of my back and stop the beeootching. I was working out of town during winters and we were heating with the OWB. Needless to say one morning she slipped, fell, and busted her azz pretty good one morning in the snow and ice outside. That was the straw that broke the camels back.

She works full time, we have three kids, I was out of town and not pitching in any help due to being gone. Plus the added time and stress as she HATES cold weather. $4,000 grand and a quick self install with pellet delivery...... Problem solved. The only thing that is still sore in my wallet.

Fixed the back and ear problems though. LOL!

 

When you look at it that way 4k is pretty cheap if it keeps beotching out of your life. I'd say you broke even already.

 

And your back if you're that used to sitting on a fat wallet!!!!

 

If you have 2800 bucks to spend I think there are better options for you.

Your wood burning life would be so much easier for around $2K operating an Ideal Steel.

Only have to load that puppy twice a day. And not get ran out of room as the heat control is very good , you can turn the heat down really low.

 

2800 buys a real nice stove, from around a dozen great companies. How about PE, pacific emergy.

 

Thank you for the replies,
I have had very good luck with that Defiant. Unfortunately, That refractory unit is a bit brittle and you have to be cautious with it when cleaning as I broke the access panel cleaning it once. Over all it came apart real easy and I probably should fix it but I just tend to over analyze things too much. The newer Defiants refractories seem to be made with better materials.

Without a doubt my BIGGEST problem here is I have spoiled my wife. For 15 years she has been loading the wood stove from the top and now she thinks that is the only way to do it. In fact, she has never opened the front of it ever (except for that damm ashpan) and we have looked at models that front load and she just doesn't want to do it.
We have looked at side loaders and I probably could convince her of that but strictly front loaders are just out of the question.
The woodstocks are something I would like to consider but I tend to over analyze things and I need to see how easy they are to clean, how big the woodbox is etc.....In summary, I would have to see this in person.

 

Here is another top loader for you to consider

 

oh just saw Todd 2, just posted a BK. princess for 1750.. in for sale in classified.. just thought I'd mention it good stove 4 months old looks new in Ohio. ..

 

Good luck getting all those parts to all fit back together again. I took my Resolute apart to replace the refractory and found so many plates warped. The lower fireback finally broke in two right down the center last year. Sometimes you need to recognize it's time to put that good money into the new product, especially if it's not a guarantee it'll hold up.

A new Defiant for $2800. How about a Woodstock Progress Hybrid, or a Ideal Steel or their new Absolute Steel, depending on your needs. Or one of many other nice stoves out there that have great reputations. The Vermont Casting name has been booted from one company to another and their overall reliability and maintainability has suffered.