Spent $200 on a firepot insert that warped on the first heat

I got this fancy cast iron firepot insert from a guy at a flea market last month. Paid $200 for it thinking it would last forever in my forge. First time I fired it up with a good coal bed, the thing started cracking and warping like cheap tin. Ended up having to pull it out after 3 hours of work and go back to my old fireclay setup that cost me $40. The worst part is the guy swore it was hand-poured by a local foundry. Has anyone else had luck with those cast iron inserts or am I just stuck with clay from now on?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_jana25d ago

@emmaclark nailed it. Bought a fancy camp stove once that melted first trip.

emmaclark25d ago

Honestly, isn't it always the fancy stuff that lets you down while the cheap, simple stuff just works? Seems like everywhere you look, people are paying a premium for something that's 'handmade' or 'artisan', but it ends up being garbage on the first real test. I'd just stick with the clay if it holds up and saves you money, you know?

elizabethmason25d ago

Oh come on, @emmaclark, "the fancy stuff always lets you down"? That's not a rule, that's just confirmation bias. My brother runs a commercial forge with a high end cast iron insert he's had for 12 years with zero issues.