When choosing an outdoor boiler, one of the factors that you will need to consider is what material the firebox, water jacket, and other components are made of. There are a few types of steel available to manufacturers. Each have their own characteristics, making them either the right choice or the wrong choice when used in the extreme environment that is the firebox of an outdoor boiler. When manufacturing an industry leading product, the steel needs to withstand high temperatures as well as drastic changes in temperatures, prolonged exposure to water and be able to transfer heat effectively. Let’s compare 409 Stainless Steel to a couple other materials and see why it is our top pick.
Heat Tolerance – 409 Stainless Steel can withstand temperatures up to 1600°F (871°C). Other steels begin oxidizing and breaking down at 800°F.
Thermal Expansion – Just as the firebox needs to endure high temperatures, it also needs to respond to changes in temperatures with minimal expansion and contraction. When compared to 304 Stainless Steel, 409 SS has much lower thermal expansion and as a result is much less susceptible to warp or crack throughout the seasons.
Corrosion Resistance – The 11% Chromium content in 409 Stainless Steel acts as a barrier, keeping oxygen from corroding the material. Other steels without this protective layer are subject to corrosion early on in their lifespan.
Heat Transfer – Steel used in a firebox needs to easily transfer heat to the water jacket surrounding it. 409 Stainless Steel surpasses other steels by about 60% with its heat transfer capabilities.
Here at Crown Royal Stoves, we’ve done the research and chose only the superior materials so that we can offer you a high quality outdoor boiler that will last for years. What sets our 409 Stainless Steel apart from the rest? We use only DOMESTIC 409 Stainless Steel, always made in the USA. We welcome you to ask for our mill test reports. Every sheet of our 409 stainless received is traceable by the provided mill test report to each one of our stoves by serial number.
A lot of competitors are using imported stainless steel which have lower quality control standards that can result in varying wall thickness, heavy inclusions from rolling, lamination and inconsistent annealing. These variables can all lead to excessive corrosion, material failures and leaks in the firebox and water jacket.
Slowly, but surely, other outdoor boiler manufactures are catching on and switching to 409 Stainless Steel. Crown Royal Stoves have always used 409 Titanium Enhanced Stainless Steel because it is the best choice for outdoor wood boiler applications. That’s why Crown Royal Stoves are a leader in the industry.