I have a older cast iron "Franklin Wood Stove", it is very large, and works great. It has two cast iron doors, and I would like to install glass into them so we can see the fire. Does anyone know who could cut the cast iron out and install the correct glass. I have tried to leave the doors open , but like most Franklins I've been around, they seem to smoke back. I've also thought about removing the doors and installing glass doors. I would think that someone could cut out some cast iron in these doors and put in the glass. ANY ideas would be appreciated, Thanks....

-- Allan from Minnesota (burthus@kilowatt.net), December 31, 2001

Answers

Ask at a machine shop about cutting the doors, or perhaps a welding shop could do the job. Then ask at a glass specialty store (the ones who do replacement glass for window, etc) if they could do the glass for the doors.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), December 31, 2001.

Cast iron is sawable, just drill a hole inside of the area you want to remove, insert a mechanically driven metal designated sawblade, such as a jigsaw or a sawsall, take your time and move gently, cast iron is brittle and can crack if impacted. Any glass shop should have or can order the proper type glass, any person with basic skills can do this, just because it is metal does not mean that it is not doable. A frame to hold the glass can be made at any welding shop worth its salt.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), December 31, 2001.

You could use mica instead of glass (like in the old days). It cuts to size with scissors. Get it from a rock shop or a gem and mineral show.

-- Susan from almost Northern MI (smb7705@aol.com), December 31, 2001.

Installing the glass doors sounds like the better way to go.

-- David R In TN. (srimmer@earthlink.net), December 31, 2001.

Get ready to empty you pockets of any extra money, I replace two 6 X 8 inch pieces and was out 25.00 each, they should be made of the new (?) ceramic glass. Mine was only 3/16 of an inch thick.

-- Wayne & (LYN) Roach (R-Way@msn.com), January 01, 2002.

Yes, you MUST use heat-proof glass in woodstoves! Regular glass WILL crack. --Happy trails, CF

-- Cabin Fever (Cabinfever_mn@yahoo.com), January 02, 2002.