Problem with door on avalon air tight wood stove

[LAYNE]

I am trying to access some reliable information regarding cast iron used in stoves.
10 years ago I purchased an Avalon airtight wood stove and use it for my main heat supply in the winter and it has worked wonderfully over the years in my underground passive solar home. Before that I had a Kodiak stove and have heated my homes over the years with wood.

This past summer I found that the handle of the Avalon was loose and brought it to the dealer who sold me the stove to be repaired and they indicated that it couldn't be done. Since then I found out from a handy man neighbor that they were full of bull. Instead they told me I would have to buy a new door and reluctantly I did so. This new door cost me over $200. It was suppose to be identical to my original door which I still have.

This past week I noticed something strange on this new "cast iron" door..upon closer look I see that the metal, whatever it is, was flaking off black paint. I have never seen this ever in all the years I have been using wood stoves. Underneath the flaking is a silvery metal. My original cast iron door is a dark grey and when you try to scrape off "paint" nothing happens. Upon contacting the retailer, I was told that I had probably burned off the "paint" and their solution was that they'd send me some paint for it.

I definately did not burn off the paint & I have NEVER heard that one painted a wood stove..one uses stove black to protect and improve the look. They insist that the stove door they sent me was identical to the original however it definately isn't and I want the real cast iron.

Is there anyone out there who knows just what they made the new door out of or have had experience with this problem. It is a totally new one for me and I think I may have gotten jyped.

I did send a email letter to the company out west who makes the Avalon but haven't heard back yet.

Is there some new type of cast iron that they now paint??? If so, it must come from China! ...and I don't want it! What consumer protection agency should I complain to?

Thanks for any input you have.

Layne

[Alice In TX/MO]

We do paint our wood stove with stove paint. We've been using it since 1979 or '80.

The other issues..... I don't know. Sorry.

[Cabin Fever]

Our Lopi stove came with a can of black "touch-up" paint. Like the Avalon, Lopi stoves are made of plate steel with cast iron doors. Never had an issue with the finish on the door.

My old Fisher stove was similar (plate steel and cast iron door). I used stove black on the steel once. I'll never did that again. The stove black turned to a powdery gray dust on the stove top....I suppose that was hottest surface on the stove.

[mayfair]

We had an Avalon stove (at another place) and it was painted steel. It came with a warning to crack the window the first few times you used it because the finish gave off something hazardous. I don't remember what the hazard was, but it was supposed to go away after 3-4 burns.

[Gianni]

Originally Posted by mayfair

We had an Avalon stove (at another place) and it was painted steel. It came with a warning to crack the window the first few times you used it because the finish gave off something hazardous. I don't remember what the hazard was, but it was supposed to go away after 3-4 burns.

When I was a stove installer/plumber apprentice/sheet metal tech we would always build a fire in the stove outside for an hour or so before the customer got to it.

[tinknal]

Ummmmm, is the door working? If so whatcha griping about?

[ronbre]

good luck...i bought a wood furnace and can't get the dealer or manufacturer to respond to any of my enquiries..at all..nothing..you phone and get a machine , you write or email and never hear..it was supposed to have a long warranty but we can't even access them to claim anything on the warranty.