Hello Friends, We bought an old farm house years ago that came with a Country Comfort insert. She has been a brilliant stove, I reckon from the early 1980's. She has a steel "louvered" grate that I'm assuming is simply a flame retardant, with about 3 inches to the main unit. Also tops off the fire brick at top. Well, this shield is corroding and coming apart. Got some holes, and left side along fire brick has fallen. Rest looks ready to come down any time. I've been burning it still, and everything in unit is tight, and no leaks. Is there any issue that I should be aware of burning if the box does not have this intact ? I'm careful not to overfire her at this point just to be safe. Thanks for any insight.
Well first; Welcome Doug! Good to have you here. You've came to the right place for fun, knowledge and excitement! There are many folks here with "vast" back grounds and burning skills. I personally don't know anything about your stove but I'm sure someone here will! With that said, a few pics will go a long way! Everyone here "LOVES" pics so put them up. Many of us with years of burning can help you even though we don't have your kind of stove. So, keep checking on the forum and you should get some answers. Dave
Doug, Welcome to our neck of the woods. I remember a house that had a Country Comfort insert, beautiful stove it was. Yes, a couple of pix would help.
Howdy Doug, welcome to FHC! Kinda hard to follow exactly what's wrong with your old CC...but it doesn't sound good! Some pics would definitely help. You are probably correct about the age...late 70s, early 80s. The company that made those was Orrville Products Co...they were basically a metal fabricator in Orrville Ohio, made all kinds of stuff. They are long gone now, heck even the building is long gone and the Smuckers (jelly) company parks trucks there now. I dunno if there are any parts available anymore or not, but here is something I found posted on another site about the brand: A popular brand of stoves - made in the 1980's to approx 1996. More info to come - but this tidbit from a member 2011: --------------- Hi, I have a 1985 Country Comfort 815 and have located owner's manuals, its a fine product and its UL listed. it seems there are some optional pieces, such as the optional heat sheild- that really might not be optional by today's standards. anyone owning / considering a country comfort woodstove and needs parts, might want to get in touch with them. [ B and G Woodstove ] in Canton, Ohio - (330) 492-7800 ask for susan. I promised I would mention that they have country comfort parts and manuals for a good portion of the country comfort woodstove product line. please post this very helpful american company heartland company - which has purchased the entire parts inventory from C.C. Follansbe Steel. ---------------- Orville Products of Ohio was the last known manufacturer of this brand - Orville was a large fabricator who made truck bodies and other sheet metal products.
What an amazing forum ! Thanks to all for your wonderful, and welcoming replies. I will upload some pics tomorrow.
I believe he is talking about the "shroud" that surrounds the insert. I/we can help him with that if we get some pics. Metal is Metal and we just need to see what's going on.
Here are some Pics. Please let me know if you need any more angles, but this should give you a good idea of what I'm dealing with. There than this piece, the rest of the stove is still solid, and never leaks any smoke. Thanks Again.
I see now!!! Wow! I'm not at all sure what to tell you except, is that upper flame defector removable? You may have to get one made from plate steel. It doesn't have to look exactly like that but the basic concept. I would try to investigate Country Comfort and see if there are any parts available. You can also look at Replacement Wood Stove Parts, Coal Stove Parts, Gas Stove Parts, Replacement Barbecue Parts, Pellet Stove Parts, Vermont Castings, Coalbrookdale They are a stove part company. I would google everything "wood stove parts" and work from there. Best of luck. "If" the worst case senerio comes up, there are many Fisher inserts and others floating around on Craigslist. Best of luck!
Thanks WeldrDave. Yeah, not seeing much in the way of parts. In this forums experience, there should be no issue with firing as is, correct? Above the defector is "the box" of which the flew is already exposed as it was manufactured this way. So if I keep the flames to a minimum and to the left side, once she is burning hot, and drop more wood, the flames a fairly tame anyway and really not wanting to reach beyond the defector. I at least need to heat this season out with this unit, and then see about getting something new put in over the Spring/Summer. Then come back to this board for some recommendations on what could be used in this space, and that could heat a roughly 1,900 sq foot space. I do like the older units, and have no restrictions where I live, but again, am pretty naive in this space. Thanks Again to all for any input here. Kinda desperate with another 9 degree night ahead... ; (
Sorry wildwest, I'm probably not worthy to be on this site because I don't know much about wood stoves, but I do not know the answer to that question. However, I want to learn more, and become even more dependent on them for families heat...with WOOD !
That's "EXACTLY" why you're worthy to be here! Everyone starts somewhere!!! Everyone here was in your shoes at one time so don't think in that direction. "NOBODY here will ever judge you", were all here to help! There are many walks of life end education levels on this forum and it is a site of commradery. So, ask away and together we'll figure your situation out.
Ok, I expanded your pic and looked closer, basically that plate is a form of diffuser and captures/keeps heat in the fire box so it can radiate more, I'm gonna tag Coaly who truly is a guru on these issues! He has a great amount of experience. What I am seeing is that the damage is already done and it "can't be killed and more dead"! If you know what I mean! "Only my opinion" I believe you can get through the rest of the year ok without screaming hot fires. That whole upper piece looks like one casted unit and installed when the unit was built. Let's see what Coaly has to say. I Have great trust in his word! With all said and done, I'm sure if you could get that out in the spring shut down and get some measurements, one could be made from plate steel easily by any local welding fabricator. IT may be worth the time and effort. Dave
Thanks AGAIN for this wonderful insight WeldrDave ! News I wanted to here ! Looking forward to hearing what Coaly has to say as well and thanks for tagging him.
Hey Doug, I would call the number above and pick their brain a little bit. Kinda sounds like you might not even need it? I had an old Schrader with no baffle or heat shield and currently have an Englewood without as well (both pre-epa). I hesitate though incase your stove does require one to burn safely. There's been a couple threads here that might be helpful for you too, one is Old Blaze King Stove - Add Baffle? and another one is Your nc30 needs a convection deck . Not sure if they help but thought I'd try. And WOW that is one good looking stove!!
Thanks for the info WildWest ! I did call Susan, however, she was not really able to help in that she had no information on exact identification on my unit, or if the fire shield was optional. In the meantime, I have had fire burning for last 24 hours, and find no indications at this point that the structural integrity of the unit has been compromised in any way. I will keep researching, and keep you posted if I find anything new on the unit. Thanks again to you and all for your support !
Ok, as an FYI to all interested parties, I found my Model #, and it's a CC100, circa 1982-3. Found this on a forum about a rebuild pertaining to the same issue I'm having: Rebuilding Country Comfort CC1000 Also, this post (Albeit a different model) which leaves me to believe the fire shield might not be necessary?? Country Comfort Wood Stove The chase continues....
On a metals and engineering stand point of view, There is a reason "why" it was engineered that way to begin with, so for now I would leave it alone until further investigation can determine what is the best course of action. If you completely remove the heat shield, you do "JUST" that... Remove the heat and 75% goes up the chimney. Find some folks who know your situation best and trial and error!
Would you mind sharing the manual for your cc100? I cannot find it anywhere. This is our first fireplace and we would love to use it but have no idea how to keep the fire going! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
