"I built me a flame late one night. When day is done God will my flame never dies out."

It's cold in the great Northeast. Down to the single digits tonight. I was about to bring some wood in, but first scooped out some extra ash left in our stove from last winter's final fire. As I shoveled, I felt what I thought was a unburned chunk of wood. The object was half of this: A cast iron side baffle that not only collects and radiates heat but also protects the sides of the 250 lb stove from excessive heat. They hang on each side of the stove. My next door neighbor, who is very helpful and a welder, took a look at it and is going to try to link the two pieces back together. Rather than weld them back together, he is going to rig some kind of metal strap and screw them together. The split is pretty clean so we'll see. In the meantime, I called one local authorized dealer and inquired about obtaining a replacement baffle. The male who answered had to confer with a woman in the background about this. She said it would take eight, yes 8, months to get the part since it would have to come from Norway, where the stoves are manufactured. I said "What?!" They then said by then I wouldn't need it since it would be warm weather. They were right on there. These people are from a placed called Watervliet. But they might as well have been in Antarctica which is what the wind chill feels like outside. After getting off the phone with these mathematical wizards, I called another authorized dealer who was slightly more with it. He looked up the part and told me that it is $150. He said he would call Jotul parts in Philadelphia on Monday to see if they have it in stock or have to get it from their midwest warehouse. The gentleman was also kind enough to direct me to a website of a place in New Hampshire that sells parts for all sorts of stoves. I located the part and ordered it for $77, just in case the one my neighbor is mending comes apart. Or I could go to Norway to buy the damned part. The post title above is written in Norwegian above the door. The base relief on the sides depicts a horse, elk, birds, a man cutting wood and small cabin. You can make some of it out if you click on the picture above. The newer models have only a bear on the side. The stove is 30 years old and has kept us warm a long time. It's in the cellar and provides heat to the kitchen floor and some of the first floor. Jotul makes 'em to last. 

Comments

[liprap]

Uhhh, Jotul needs to make 'em with parts that are much easier to obtain, methinks.

[Marco]

I think the parts come by Caribou.

[Charlotte]

It must be cozy to sit next to the stove with the snow falling outside. And romantic.

[Marco]

TM, not really since the stove is in the cellar and the only time I see the fire is when I add wood. It's too powerful to put upstairs. It cranks serious heat.

[Charlotte]

Well fiddle de de.

[Marco]

Same to you in sub-tropical NOLA. K calls me a fiddler so.. Have a verry Merry Christmas.