I saw a thread on here that talked about the baffling that sits above the rods to displace heat instead of having it go straight up. This was stove focused but now I want to ask about versatility The problems were that people dented them and some warped. The replacements are kinda expensive for mine online. 90 bucks. I also saw you can buy a bulk order of it and just likely measure your current one for size and replace. Expensive but an option. Other person said he omitted the board and just found a plate of metal and that seemed to work well. I don't want to do this if its not wise or worse dangerous. Not condoning myself to make an alteration to the stove itself but is there a way around this as another piece of material can be used? How long do these really last in the first place until you replace them if you don't beat them to death? Im glad I noticed this now because it seems like this becomes a fragile piece or in my case pieces.
Most of 'em last a good long time as long as you don't beat the pizz outta it. The ceramic fiber board that is used is probably the best thing to use...metal will warp pretty quickly unless you get a pretty thick piece of high grade stainless...and even that wouldn't perform as well as the ceramic because of the poor insulation value. Most of the time a cracked baffle can continue being used until you get a new one...generally don't just fall into pieces all of a sudden
I just have to ask if there's a possible better source for one maybe? I figure if I see how well this one i have lasts, I can order a back up for good measure. Maybe just need to know where from.
The boards, although known by several names, are simply vacuum formed ceramic fiber board, to expand on what brenndatomu said. It can be bought in bulk by way of a regional refractory supplier/warehouse (try setting up a group buy), or try to search out scrapped pieces through local suppliers? BrianK has established some relationships with suppliers in his area for vacuum formed CFB... perhaps he can speak to the ins and outs of dealing with the industry providers.
Ok that would be nice to know! Thanks Eric VW! I hear welding shops or glass blowing shops may have these? We have a lot of art sources for glass blowing, colleges and learning centers. Wonder if these might be adequate places that might help me find something that might even be better than the one I currently have. Better heat insulation value perhaps?
I hate to say this but there are no equivalent or cheaper options. I've been researching refractory materials for high temp rocket stoves (in fact I built a whole stove out of ceramic fiber materials) and there's just nothing comparable to ceramic fiber board. A member here, NW Walker, has a website on rocket stoves and might be able to help you since he's also in the Pacific Northwest/northern Washington. He's done fantastic work on stove design using ceramic fiber board and might know where to direct you locally. You can contact him at Contact - WalkerStoves.com
Thank you BrianK! Good info to know and fantastic project! Wow! Hope that stove gets good use over its life.
Places that deal with kilns usually sell the insulation (boards and blankets) too. There is a place on fleabay that I bought mine from....still not "cheap" though https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...r.html&usg=AFQjCNE8KuAluzF21Ljs0KopD6YqctE7yQ
This was the site i was talking about selling in bulk. Might have been you who posted it back in January Where I read the time stamps on the thread.
I wish we could put it above there but might put pressure on the rods it sits above. The only real difference is its weight but then again brick is meant to hold a fire together in its "box" with wood weight. Purpose and function.
Well if you're stove has ceramic board that's what it's designed for, mine is designed for and uses firebrick in the top
Normal firebrick absorbs tremendous amounts of heat while ceramic fiber board is insulative. Insulating ("soft") firebrick would be similar to ceramic fiber board but requires twice (?) the thickness to achieve the same R value.
I've been thinking for a while now about re bricking the stove with some type of insulating brick but not sure what to buy a where to get it to avoid just buying the same thing that's in it, which is stock from Lopi, standard inch and 1/4
I wouldn't replace standard hard firebrick with insulating soft firebrick. When they say "soft" they mean you can cut it easily - or break it easily.
