Stoves, Steel V's Cast Iron

alleycat`

As per the title really.
I'm somewhat confused about why some stoves are all cast iron and some are a mix of steel and cast iron.

I'd have assumed, probably quite wrongly, that having stoves of mixed "metal types" would cause them stress due to the way they would expand and contract at different rates under heating / cooling?

There seem to be quite a few of the "british" ones that are made in this "mixed" way such as charnwood, aarrow, esse & clearview.

None of the above are what i'd call "cheap" and price wise compare with franco belge, morso, dovre & jotul (which are cast iron lumps).

Are there any real major pro'd and cons to this?

Finally (on a slightly different note) why do (just about) all stove sales people tell me that the defra exemption for smoke controlled zones is "just a piece of paper".

I haven't researched it but i assume they must check at installation time as part of building control / regs?

welda

You will find a steel stove will have a steel body and, parts like the door/s, bottom opening door to ash pan will be made from grey cast iron.

It is I imagine really done this way for manufacturing purposes, very easy these days to fabricate intricate shapes for the main stove body using CNC machines. Where as doors come in a wonderful array of shapes, a single door, or double doors, with aperture/s for glass, doors required to be hinged, easy to have this cast into the door at design stage. Don't get me wrong, doors can be manufactured from steel too, but I suspect they would be prone to buckle due to expansion and contraction, plus the glass would break, it is all down to design really, cast door, large glass area to view flames, steel door, the opposit. Steel mix keeps the weight down compared to an all cast stove.

Experts quote cast stove takes longer to give off heat compared to a steel bodied stove, I imagine this to be fact, due to cast being denser than mild steel.

I have a British made mixed bag stove, coming up to it's third season this october, no bells or whistles, has served me very well, little maintenance required to date, no welds, or glass cracking, fire rope in good nick too!

Regarding pro's and cons: buy what you can afford, all cast iron, or a mixed bag, I realy cant comment, as I have never used a cast stove, current one is my first.

I would say beware of cheap chinese imports, that said, there are a some members that have these too and, they serve them well, maybe they have been lucky with their purchase?

Can't help the your DEFRA Q. But salesmen will be salesmen to get a sale!!!!

Cheers.......

A._Badger

I've had both steel and cast iron - each has its advantages. The main pros of a cast iron stove is that it can be moulded to a interesting shape (modern fashion means they usually aren't though - unlike the wonderful old Esse Dragons and some of earlier Scandinavian stoves). They also give off their heat for longer. The cons are they take a lot longer to heat up from cold and are prone to wear and tear and, worst of all, cracking.

Steel stoves tend to be uglier and lose their heat faster. On the other hand, they are quicker to heat-up, they don't crack and the best modern, British made ones are technically far in advance of Franco Belges and the like.

Don't believe the stove snobs who tell you steel is inferior - some of the best and most advanced stoves made are steel.

Hope that helps.

Clare1770

Our installer man explained that the Defra approved stoves have a piece fitted that prevents you from closing the flue completely. This means that you don't get the smoke particles that Defra hate!

It's very misleading for them to tell you that "it's just a piece of paper" . There have been several people locally who have had knocks on the door asking for their certificates to prove their woodburner is approved. With the increase in stoves councils are starting to check up. I dread to think what the fine is.

It costs about £50 ish for a kit to convert the Defra approved stoves. We bought a Stovax Stockton 3 for £529 including the kit

thestoveexpert_2

You mention arrow clearview charnwood they may be fabricated steel bodies made in the uk but all the casting are produced outside the uk.
Steel and cast combinations are by far the best, arrow and clearview are fields apart, charnwood and woodwarm are both good stoves Franco belge are xxxx the choice is huge personally I would chose a stove with a good guarantee. The only thing that I dislike about clearview is the double glazed front door, this is done to keep the heat within the stove body to prevent deposits sticking to the glass. If it were single glazed the stove would get the heat into the room quicker from standing start... After all the stove is a tool not an ornament!!

savemoney

I have a Franco belge savoy 8Kwh. Had it 4 years now. I had a chimney sweep here in end of Summer took stove apart to clean and he had a job putting the inside back he said it buckled under heat which it has but I get feeling its not fit properly although works fine. I might have to get a spare flue baffle part 13 in manual

welda

I imagine all baffle plates buckle after a winter or two of usage. I recently had to make same for my villager, also log retaining bar (cast) pinged in two, it was boomerang shape after constant heat exposure. Now fixed after bronze welding it back together.

If your franco spare parts replacement costs are anything like my villager. Take buckled plate to your local fab shop, I'm sure they would be more than happy to replace with a new one for beers tokens??

Regards.

savemoney

Thanks I tried to pull it out and its hell of a job, I am wondering whether it could be banged back into shape I dont think its cast iron but steel

I checked price for anew one is £65, I assume mine is mak1 I have no way of knowing 100%

http://www.stovespares.co.uk/flue-baffle-mk1_franco-belge-savoy-multifuel-stove.html?PHPSESSID=febbab3e727d6fe22adfd29ae6749d11

welda

savemoney wrote: »

Thanks I tried to pull it out and its hell of a job, I am wondering whether it could be banged back into shape I dont think its cast iron but steel

I checked price for anew one is £65, I assume mine is mak1 I have no way of knowing 100%

http://www.stovespares.co.uk/flue-baffle-mk1_franco-belge-savoy-multifuel-stove.html?PHPSESSID=febbab3e727d6fe22adfd29ae6749d11

Hi, and yes it can be "banged" dressed back to near shape. I dressed my one a couple of times before making a new one, not easy tho, I have some wonderful machines that helped me, but a decent vice and mash hammer may see you through to next year?

Baffle plate will be plain ol mild steel, this is why I stated a decent fab shop could knock you one up for beer tokens.

For info purposes only and, using my own stove for an example. Original baffle plate is 6mm thick mild steel plate. After three year of use, thickness varied to 3mm at places, all down heat degredation over time.....

hushpuppy

thestoveexpert wrote: »

You mention arrow clearview charnwood they may be fabricated steel bodies made in the uk but all the casting are produced outside the uk.
Steel and cast combinations are by far the best, arrow and clearview are fields apart, charnwood and woodwarm are both good stoves Franco belge are xxxx the choice is huge personally I would chose a stove with a good guarantee. The only thing that I dislike about clearview is the double glazed front door, this is done to keep the heat within the stove body to prevent deposits sticking to the glass. If it were single glazed the stove would get the heat into the room quicker from standing start... After all the stove is a tool not an ornament!!

I'm in the same position as the OP, and I note your comments and expertsie in this field. So the big question for me is what 5Kw wood burners makes AND models would you recommend and why please?

Williwoodburner

hushpuppy wrote: »

I'm in the same position as the OP, and I note your comments and expertsie in this field. So the big question for me is what 5Kw wood burners makes AND models would you recommend and why please?

Hi,
have recently replaced our 40 year old + cast iron stove with a British made steel Yeoman Exe 5kw single door.

The reasons I chose this stove after looking at possible replacements for a long time are as follows -

A large single door with big window for a good view of the fire.
(Our old stove didnt even have a window).
The single door is easier for loading and I also prefer the simple controls with no springs to break.
British made, steel construction (as Mr Badger said gets up to temp much quicker than cast and wont crack).
Robust handle which easily adjusts when firerope squashes after time.
Large firebox for a 5kw, the stove is 600mm wide and can take 16" logs.
Cost £710, which is about mid price range.
I am very happy with this stove so far and cant forsee any problems ahead apart from the odd firebrick and possibly glass replacement if clumsy after a few whiskies.

There are lots of quality stoves to choose from but I would get the style you like best from a reputable manufacturer, have a look at stoves in as many shops as you can and have a fiddle with them and ask questions.
My reasons above are just somethings for you to ponder when making your choice.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Willie.