An update for anyone who may stumble across this frivolous thread...

I ended up just using stove cement to put it back together. I figured it would be another 10years before I tear it down again anyway. Works nice, sofar.

Also, I shitcanned the idea of welding the cast iron. Instead, where the tabs broke, I took a cutoff wheel, cleaned up the areas, and drilled and tapped bolts in to replicate the tabs. Seemed to work well, and now they're maintainable to an extent.

I've been burning as much wood as I can in the stove, and mix it with coal at night or when I'm at work to lengthen the burn time.

I did replace the fiberglass gasket on the front door, and that helped seal everything up, and the damper works like it should

Viva CPS deterrent!!!!!

Will