Beta testing Woodstock's Ideal Steel Hybrid

[HollowHill]

I usually clean my cat once a week, just because that schedule works for me, it doesn't need it. I don't reload in the morning as I normally would and clean it in the early afternoon, which takes about 2 minutes, most of which is spent walking it out to the back porch to do the brushing. Pop it back in, clean the glass, and I restart on the coals still in the firebox. I haven't found it to be a big deal.

 

[chipsoflyin]

On our PH the screen needs to be cleaned every couple of weeks (of 24/7 burning) as it is almost completely plugged by then, and the cat needs to be cleaned at the same time. The screen is cumbersome to remove/reinstall. The stove needs to be cold/cool to do this and that takes a fair amount of time given the mass of this stove.

This is a major gripe I have with this stove - try going without useful heat from the stove for a long stretch in the heart of burn season! We're lifetime 24/7 burners, have had 5 cat stoves and have never had to bring any stove except for the PH down for any reason - have only cleaned out cats at the end of the season with other stoves and I'm not sure it was ever really necessary. I contrast the PH's maintenance intensive nature to the Jotul Cat Firelight we burn now which has never needed cat maintenance during any burn season since we got it in '98. While it's only one guy's opinion, I try to dissuade friends from buying the PH for this reason and consider it an example of the "incomplete engineering" of this stove - especially the screen. Flame suit on ;-)

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Draft may have a lot to do with the screen clogging. With this cold weather our draft is strong as ive ever seen it. We've been running the 3rd gen screen for 2 months and there is very little build up. It looks like we will be able to go all season without touching it.

 

[teutonicking]

The screen has been redesigned, (third iteration) and, according to those who have it, is great.

I wasn't aware that they were on their third screen. What's the difference between number two and three?

 

[dznam]

Hey, given your list of stoves and experience, no one can claim you don't know what you are talking about. All opinions are welcome.......here.

Thanks, appreciate the different (as in "supportive") environment here

I was not aware that the screen is on its 3rd generation - when did that happen? I am now on screen gen2 which was (re) engineered to make removal/installation for the required routine cleanings easier. Unless the gen3 was re-re-engineered to specifically reduce ash build up, it's unlikely to constitute a solution to the need to bring the stove down to do the cleaning. I will have to give them a call to find out.

I realize this will be less of an issue for non 24/7 burners, but man, I just hate to hear that furnace click on in our cold climate!

 

[begreen]

It sounds like the topic of Progress Hybrid screen is worthy of a new thread. This one is getting off track.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Yup. Getting back on track, the Ideal Steel uses the same catalyst that is in the Fireview. As to how often it needs cleaning, we've mostly done once in winter and once during the annual summer cleaning and checking of stove but we could really do it only once per year. They also are continuing to improve the cats and I'll be curious with each shipment if they've made more improvements. That is good as it is never good to stop improving.

 

[Comanche79p]

Any updates on the Ideal Steel?

 

[Flamestead]

Any updates on the Ideal Steel?

We've put about 3 cord through the Ideal Steel now, and are finding nothing to complain about - it feels more like a production-quality stove than a trial model. The winter weather isn't giving us much opportunity to enjoy slower burns - we had mornings at -6, -10, and -12 this past week, and are expecting more of the same in a couple of days. We are keeping stovetop temp up around 600 as much as possible, so the stove is getting a good workout.

There is one piece of metal inside the firebox, at the top, back, holding the soapstone in place that is showing some fatigue from the heat, but when we passed that along they said the design had already been modified for that piece.

They have added a cut-out in the ash lip to indicate where the draft is set, which looks quite nice from the photos I've seen of it on newer versions of the stove.

Still no backpuffs, at all, and we all (wife and daughters) think the draft control is one of the best aspects of running this stove - very responsive, no run-aways, able to easily level off at desired stovetop temp.

We never flip the new, shorter andirons down to load. I almost always load with gloves on, and never loaded the PH with gloves on.

With the big front-loading door it is not as clean as the PH to run. No ash came out the door on the PH, but with this stove ash can collect at the seam of the door and stove body. If you are paying attention, you can just crack the door slightly and the draft will blow the ash back into the stove. If you are paying attention.

I never had a coal come out the door on the PH, but have raked coals too far forward in the Ideal Steel and had them come out onto the ash lip.

Definitely less cleaning of the cat than with the PH for our conditions. It would be interesting to try 3-yr wood or a different wood species in the PH to see if we noticed a difference. Our 2-yr Red Maple can have the PH drafting noticeably slower after two weeks of hard burning.

The glass gets a slight haze after a week of hard burning. I have not yet burned my hand on the andiron while cleaning the glass (impatient PH owners will understand that).

Woodstock has a few more beta-testers now, and there are some photos of different paint schemes on their website. My wife says if we buy one of these she wants to get a rack mounted on the side to dry things like mittens, etc.

I wish I had more 18" wood to play with the N/S burns, as this is the first stove I'd had where that was a possibility, and we really enjoyed the few N/S fires we've had.

So no complaints, and no signs of issues that will be sending them back to the drawing board.

 

[1750]

Thanks for the great update. I'm really enjoying your thoughtful observations.

I'm curious why you enjoyed the N/S fires... N/S E/W all seems about the same to me.

And the mitten-dryer on the side sounds like a great idea to me.

Thanks again.

 

[Flatbedford]

Just caught up. Sounds like Woodstock has done it again. I love our Fireview, but its just doesn't have enough oomph for my drafty old house. If the price is right, ths new stove is a better investment than insulation and air sealing (provided I keep producing my own "free" fuel).

 

[begreen]

Nah, seal up those leaks and insulate. Your wood may be "free" but gas, machinery, and new stoves aren't. Tighten up the place and in addition to burning less wood (and keeping your current stove) you will also save money in the summer on AC.

 

[Flatbedford]

Nah, seal up those leaks and insulate. Your wood may be "free" but gas, machinery, and new stoves aren't. Tighten up the place and in addition to burning less wood (and keeping your current stove) you will also save money in the summer on AC.

I know what you are saying is the right answer, but to tighten up this old place any more than I have already would cost far more than a stove upgrade and another cord of wood per year... probably even over the next 15-20 years or so that we plan to stay here. When and if I have the money to really tighten the place up I will, but for now heating more affordably is more cost effective. We are talking windows, siding, insulation, etc. Bug (big) bucks.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I have to agree with begreen. But I understand what you are saying Steve. It has to be your decision but I can also understand why you like the new stove.

Just a little jab; what are bug bucks?

 

[fire_man]

Steve,

You are probably making the right decision to throw $ at a stove rather than tightening up the house. I spent big $$ replacing all my windows and insulating the attic, and still had a cold house with the FV. Then I bought the Progress and its DEFINITELY better, but still too cold (55F at times upstairs).

A second stove would have cost MUCH less than windows/insulation and would have heated this place like the tropics.

I think the problem is my house wrap is practically non existent.

 

[Flatbedford]

; what are bug bucks?

Believe it or not, they are even bigger than big bucks. Kinda like from million to gazillion.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Gazot you!

 

[Flamestead]

...I'm curious why you enjoyed the N/S fires... N/S E/W all seems about the same to me....
.

It is a novelty, for sure, as I've never had a stove where I had the option before. But beyond that, with the primary air coming in from the top, down the glass, and then into the wood, the N/S gives you a different burn than the E/W does. The Ideal Steel's primary airflow is not as strong as the PH's is - having the butt-end of the splits, along with the gaps between splits, seems to help get the stove up to speed more quickly. I haven't had much opportunity to test, but suspect I can get the stove up to cat-temp more quickly and then start to shut down the airflow earlier, before the entire load is up to the higher temps.

Lately I save the occasional short piece, and when I want quick heat in the morning I put one short piece in running N/S, and then put the rest of the load in E/W. That allows the primaries in under the load and gets air onto the coals under there. I stay right near the stove when I load that way.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Woodstock has made a couple of new posts on their blog. http://blog.woodstove.com/

 

[Flamestead]

...snip... My wife says if we buy one of these she wants to get a rack mounted on the side to dry things like mittens, etc.

I think I need to start making all of my wishes known more widely - check out what arrived in the mail today, along with a nice note from Lorin that indicated she has seen this thread...

 

[Flatbedford]

I'll bet following this thread and spreading the word about this great new stove would be much easier with a stack of 50s in my pocket.

Had to try.

 

[1750]

I think I need to start making all of my wishes known more widely - check out what arrived in the mail today, along with a nice note from Lorin that indicated she has seen this thread...
View attachment 127221

I think that's a great idea. Maybe I can cook something up like that for the 1750.

 

[begreen]

I use the swiveling trivets on the T6 for drying wet gloves and socks a lot.

 

[firefighterjake]

I think I need to start making all of my wishes known more widely - check out what arrived in the mail today, along with a nice note from Lorin that indicated she has seen this thread...
View attachment 127221

Hmmm . . . if anyone from Subaru is out there reading this I wouldn't mind a brand new STI . . . or BRZ.

 

[Elbinwyp]

So I was on Woodstock's facebook page and they made a comment on one of the photos that the Ideal Steel is rated at 60,000 BTU while the Progress is rated at 73,000. Doesnt the Ideal Steel have a 0.4ft3 larger firebox? What would cause the Progress to achieve higher BTU's?

 

[BrotherBart]

Hmmm . . . if anyone from Subaru is out there reading this I wouldn't mind a brand new STI . . . or BRZ.

Yeah if Mike has missed the hint, I wanna beta the new ESW Smartsove too.