Do you insulate the front of your evaporataor?

[maple marc]

I'm replacing the old cracked cast iron front of my 2x6 evaporator. When I bought it new years ago the front was not insulated. I'm wondering how many folks insulate their fronts. I suppose there may be some heat loss without it. And maybe it extends the life of the front. But our sugar shack is an old corn crib with plenty of ventilation so it's nice on a cold day of boiling to cozy up to that front.

PS...The cracks may have developed from the first year when I didn't know what I was doing without a stack thermometer and occasionally got that front red hot. My dad would light his cigar on it.

[82cabby]

Yep. I insulated the entire firebox on mine. If your door isn’t cast iron you’re going to want to insulate it too. It’ll still get hot enough to warm you up!

[eustis22]

My Mason came with an insulated door. My first stove did not and many is the time I cooked my thighs tending the pan or feeding. Plus, a lot of heat will go out that un-insulated door, heat you want to stay inside the stove.

Just my .02