Why is the paint coming off my new woodburner?

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If you’ve just bought a new wood-burning stove, the last thing you want is for the paint to start coming off the stove body.

The good news is that, if this has happened to your woodburner, there is usually quite a simple explanation.

Why does the paint come off?

When you first use a wood-burning stove, the paint still has to cure. Curing is the process in which some of the liquids within the paint start to evaporate when the stove is first heated to the extreme temperatures required for a wood-burning stove. This causes the chemical structure of the paint to change, leaving just the desired finish on the stove.

During the curing process, which typically last for three or four days of regular use, you might also notice a paint smell coming from your appliance.

What has caused the paint to come off?

Usually, if the paint has come off a new wood-burning stove, it is because someone or something has inadvertently rubbed it off during the curing process. For instance, it is easy to rub some of the paint off when handling a woodburner with a stove glove before the paint has cured because it is very soft while curing.

What should I do?

If this has happened to your stove (and even if it hasn’t) is is good idea to have a can of stove paint that matches the finish of your woodburner in your house so that you can touch up the paintwork.

It is worth covering any bare metal with a fresh lick of paint as soon as possible to reduce the risk of moisture getting a hold and causing rust on your stove.

Having a can of stove paint to hand will also help you to keep the stove looking fresh over time.

Click here to get a can of stove paint

How to check what you can burn on a wood-burning stove

What can you burn on a woodburner?

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Choosing what you burn on your wood-burning stove can have a huge impact on both the performance and lifespan of your appliance. Burning the right things can ensure that your stove burns stronger and for longer, reducing your fuel costs. Conversely, burning the wrong things can increase fuel costs and damage the internal parts of your appliance. In the worst cases it might even cause damage to the stove body or flue system, which creates further expense.

So, how can you check what you should be burning?

Stove manual

Nobody knows what your stove is built to burn better than the people who built it. With that in mind, your first port of call when finding a suitable fuel for your appliance should be your stove manual. You should be able to find a list of recommended fuels and perhaps a list of fuels that should not be burnt on the appliance.

If you haven’t got a stove manual, you might try phoning or emailing the manufacturer to see if you can get one or if they can offer advice over the phone.

Further evidence

If your attempt to track down a stove manual proved unsuccessful, you will have to muddle through by examining the evidence on display.

Is your stove’s grate raised? If so, and the burnt fuel empties into an ashpan, it is probably a multi-fuel stove, which means you can burn fuels other than wood. These are likely to include anthracite, smokeless fuel, peat and turf. If it has a flat grate, you should burn only wood.

Golden rules

You can also guide yourself towards using a suitable fuels by sticking to these golden rules, which apply to most, if not all, stoves:

Only burn seasoned wood. These are logs that have been cut, chopped and left to dry for a period of more than 12 months to lower their moisture content. Check this with a moisture meter.

Do not burn unseasoned wood. Freshly cut, green wood that has not gone through the process mentioned above is likely to lead to an inefficient burn and cause build-ups or tar and creosote, which can damage your stove system and increase the risk of chimney fires.

Do not burn household coal. Regular household coal is too volatile for use in a stove. It can lead to mini-explosions that can crack the stove glass. Learn more.

Do not burn pet coke. Pet coke and other petroleum-based fuels are unsuitable for use in a stove and can cause damage to internal part.

Do not burn treated wood. Wood that has been treated with varnish or paint is not suitable to burn on a stove.

Click here for more tips on which types of wood to burn.

Customer reviews of Gr8Fires.co.uk

We understand that when you’re shopping with a company online for the first time, there are bound to be some apprehensions about the service you will receive and the quality of the product you order. At Gr8Fires.co.uk, we do everything possible to offer reassurance in that regard, including offering a 14-day money-back guarantee and trying to provide as much information as possible about our products.

But perhaps even more reassurance is offered by the words of existing customers. Here are some of the reviews that have been left on our Facebook page (make sure you Like us and, if you’re a customer, feel free to leave a review of your own).

Its been a couple of years since we bought a multi fuel stove and ancillaries from Gr8 Fires. We had to change flues and…

Posted by Jonah MacGill on Friday, January 29, 2016

I first ordered a Rocky Mazona 6 and it was delivered within 3 days and very securely packed. Only gripe was the carrier…

Posted by Carol Young on Friday, February 5, 2016

Used Gr8 Fires a couple of times to secure spare parts for my wood burner and they have always come up with the goods. A trusted supplier.

Posted by Ian Brock on Saturday, January 30, 2016

The fire looks really nice good quality for the price . This is the 2nd fire Iv bought from this company they deliver on time don’t have u sat waitin all day .

Posted by Jooly Booly Bicci on Tuesday, February 2, 2016

It was a couple of years ago that we purchased a wood burning stove from you and we couldn’t be more pleased. Good value and it looks great.

Posted by Patsy Ann Pearcy on Friday, January 29, 2016

What a fantastic company to deal with. From ordering through to receiving my fire 3 days. I’m sitting here now in front of my fire and I’m delighted. If only all companies were like Gr8 Fires. Wonderful.

Posted by Marilyn Plant on Friday, January 29, 2016

Last year I ordered wall mounted electric fire it arrived when stated great packaging great price and it look more…

Posted by Grace Jobson Armstrong on Friday, January 29, 2016

I found the purchase of the electric fire very easy and it was as described it was fitted in a rental property that we own and feed back from the tenant as been positive.

Posted by Judith Jenkins on Friday, January 29, 2016

Ordered the Dimplex Westcott 5 SE woodburning stove on Wednesday and it arrived Friday morning , fantastic service ,…

Posted by Dave Dixon on Friday, January 29, 2016

First class Service, First class product and First class price. I tried all the major outlets from local to online and honestly this company could not be beaten for the same product I purchased anywhere.

Posted by Alistair James Barry Stevenson on Friday, January 29, 2016

well pleased with my insert electric fire it was a lot cheaper than ebay + very fast FREE DELIVERY

Posted by Dave Scutchings on Thursday, January 14, 2016

Excellent service, quick, cheap and efficient. We shopped around but these were the best prices around.

Posted by Sarah Faulder on Friday, January 29, 2016

Brilliant service and choice. Wonderful back up, tip and advice. Can’t praise them enough.

Posted by Susie Keogh on Friday, January 29, 2016

We got one of their stoves it’s fab “…………………….

Posted by Sheryl Day on Friday, January 29, 2016