Blaze King Ashford is up and running!

[Ashful]

The Ashford has the same or less BTU's to throw off, so it just distributes them more slowly. If the house is cold when we get home, because the output is turned down, we fire up the stove but it doesn't go up as high. So does it warm up the house within an hour or do we feel cold for the evening?

You've bought into someone's non-cat marketing BS. My cat stoves will burn just as hot as any non-cat, easily 600 - 700F for several hours, but they also have low-end range a non-cat can never have. I typically have them cruising at 400 - 450F in winter, but I can run them as low as 300 - 350F or as hot as 650F. A non-cat can never cruise for 12 hours at 350F on a full load of wood, it's operating range is more limited.

 

[Parallax]

I think your house will be warm after 12 hours (talking Cod here) and I think there will be plenty of coals to relight without matches. My two reservations are the price you are paying and the few question marks concerning the Cods reliability.

Travis does seem like a good company, but check the stoves warranty closely. Also, once it is out of warranty, you're on your own.

I love the Cod too and almost bought one. Instead I found a used Blaze king King with chimney for 1000 bucks and installed it myself. This stove could easily last me 20 years and has few issues.

I'd like to say go for it! But it seems there are some teething issues. Are they fixed? Maybe.

By the way, are you an astronomer?

Thanks for your reply.

If I could find a used Blaze King with chimney for $1000, I'd be all over it. Wouldn't install it myself though. You think the dealer is overcharging for the stove and install? I've attached the proposal with only my name and address redacted. There are a lot of charges and I have no idea whether they're reasonable. There are two possible locations. One is about $1,000 more than the other because it requires sending the pipe through a wall and then up, whereas the other can run straight up. The former would place the stove in the middle of the house. The latter would place it at one end, though the air would likely flow quite well across because the other end has the staircase and we know hot air wants to rise.

I'm not an astronomer. The name has more to do with my love of looking at things through different prisms. Like when you travel in a foreign culture and start noticing how life shows up differently. One has to be open to this; otherwise you're just a tourist, seeing it from the outside. But I find if I hang out somewhere for a week or two and am open, I start to see the world through their eyes. In Paris, I might notice myself slowing down to really enjoy a meal or a walk in the park or a piece of sculpture I would not normally notice. In Italy, I might find myself getting really passionate about things. In England, I might find myself allowing my eccentricities to emerge. I've not traveled beyond Europe but would like to.

 

[Parallax]

They will both do the job, the Ashford will use less wood though.
Lopi is only as good as your dealer. If your dealer isn't proactive, then you will not be happy.

In order to fix the issues with CC, first they would have to admit that there is even an issue. So far, they act like I'm the only person to experience any issues. I know that is not the case!
Have you seen an Ashford in person?

Thanks Webby. I know this is a completely subjective issue, but do you consider the Ashford as attractive as the Cape Cod? And when it's fully fired up, is the fire just as nice to look at?

Second question: How likely do you think it is that the defects with the Cape Cod would become problematic? My very limited understanding is that these stoves can usually run just fine even if there's some warping. I guess a crack would potentially make it difficult or impossible to shut down air flow and get the stove to run slow.

Lastly, do you think it might make sense to place aesthetics aside and go for a really big stove like the King? Most of the time, it's temperate here. But right now it's below freezing and there's snow all over the place. One year, it got down to 15 degrees. I'm not sure the Ashford could handle that, although it would surely help. On the other hand, the King would be overkill at least 90% of the time. If you were in my shoes, what would you buy? One of these stoves or another entirely?

Also, if you get a chance to look at the proposal I posted in my reply to Ansorge, tell me if you think it's reasonable. Really appreciate the feedback; it's so helpful.

 

[Parallax]

You've bought into someone's non-cat marketing BS. My cat stoves will burn just as hot as any non-cat, easily 600 - 700F for several hours, but they also have low-end range a non-cat can never have. I typically have them cruising at 400 - 450F in winter, but I can run them as low as 300 - 350F or as hot as 650F. A non-cat can never cruise for 12 hours at 350F on a full load of wood, it's operating range is more limited.

I was basing this on Blaze King's rating of the Ashford at having a maximum heat output of 36,269 BTUs per hour for 10 hours, whereas the manufacturer's claim for the Cape Cod is 86,000 BTUs per hour (though it appears to be a measure of peak output).

I know these are just manufacturer claims, and I don't know how 10 hour level output compares to peak output. These sorts of questions are why I'm here. I know nothing about any of this, but there are clearly people here with a great deal of knowledge.

 

[begreen]

I wan't too surprised, this Cod can do better on occasion but everything has to be just right.

Is it ok to run with the cracked base? Did you cement fill the crack?

 

[begreen]

I was basing this on Blaze King's rating of the Ashford at having a maximum heat output of 36,269 BTUs per hour for 10 hours, whereas the manufacturer's claim for the Cape Cod is 86,000 BTUs per hour (though it appears to be a measure of peak output).

I know these are just manufacturer claims, and I don't know how 10 hour level output compares to peak output. These sorts of questions are why I'm here. I know nothing about any of this, but there are clearly people here with a great deal of knowledge.

Welcome Parallax. You should start a new thread so that we can provide better attention to your specific stove needs. Can you start it off by describing the house and stove location? Also do you have an existing stove? If so, include the make and model.

 

[Parallax]

Welcome Parallax. You should start a new thread so that we can provide better attention to your specific stove needs. Can you start it off by describing the house and stove location? Also do you have an existing stove? If so, include the make and model.

Thanks, Begreen. Will do.

 

[webby3650]

Is it ok to run with the cracked base? Did you cement fill the crack?

They said it is fine and that the crack would pose no problems. But they will replace it anyway.
I can see light through it, that's not good!

 

[webby3650]

Thanks Webby. I know this is a completely subjective issue, but do you consider the Ashford as attractive as the Cape Cod? And when it's fully fired up, is the fire just as nice to look at?

Second question: How likely do you think it is that the defects with the Cape Cod would become problematic? My very limited understanding is that these stoves can usually run just fine even if there's some warping. I guess a crack would potentially make it difficult or impossible to shut down air flow and get the stove to run slow.

Lastly, do you think it might make sense to place aesthetics aside and go for a really big stove like the King? Most of the time, it's temperate here. But right now it's below freezing and there's snow all over the place. One year, it got down to 15 degrees. I'm not sure the Ashford could handle that, although it would surely help. On the other hand, the King would be overkill at least 90% of the time. If you were in my shoes, what would you buy? One of these stoves or another entirely?

Also, if you get a chance to look at the proposal I posted in my reply to Ansorge, tell me if you think it's reasonable. Really appreciate the feedback; it's so helpful.

The Cape Cod is a very attractive stove, one of the nicest. The fireview is unlike any other stove I have ever seen in action. It's a very nice burning stove! Cat stoves will not have the same kind of fire view, no comparison! But it comes at a cost, way more wood is being consumed! Not to mention possible build issues. Yes it will work with the warped parts, I don't know about you but as much as they cost it should last a few years at least without warping!

 

[Parallax]

The Cape Cod is a very attractive stove, one of the nicest. The fireview is unlike any other stove I have ever seen in action. It's a very nice burning stove! Cat stoves will not have the same kind of fire view, no comparison! But it comes at a cost, way more wood is being consumed! Not to mention possible build issues. Yes it will work with the warped parts, I don't know about you but as much as they cost it should last a few years at least without warping!

Of course I agree with you. To what extent would the warping compromise the operation and/or aesthetics of the stove?

Also, what's your sense of the relative ratios of wood use between these two stoves? We were told it might take 3 to 5 chords to heat our home with the Cape Cod. How much less wood would be use if we bought the Ashford? I know this question is impossible to answer with any certainty. But you know a lot more than I do so an educated guess is welcome.

Lastly, what do you think of the attached cost estimate to install this stove? Someone said it seemed high. You do these installations so your input would be really helpful. It includes not only the enamel finish but the blower and quick start feature. One location is $1,000 more than the other because of the requirement to bend the pipe out through the wall and then up as opposed to running straight up. Obviously it would be better to go straight up but the bending would allow us to place the stove where it would be most attractive and central. We're starting with nothing so it also includes the pad under the stove, which I've not yet seen but was told is in a tile similar to our entry way.

 

[Ashful]

Welcome Parallax. You should start a new thread so that we can provide better attention to your specific stove needs. Can you start it off by describing the house and stove location? Also do you have an existing stove? If so, include the make and model.

Begreen, could you simply move the last dozen posts off this thread to a new thread, or merge it with any new thread that Parallax creates? There's already a good bit of info exchanged, here.

I was basing this on Blaze King's rating of the Ashford at having a maximum heat output of 36,269 BTUs per hour for 10 hours, whereas the manufacturer's claim for the Cape Cod is 86,000 BTUs per hour (though it appears to be a measure of peak output).

Blaze King is a little unique, so webby3650 will have to tell us if he can chew thru a full load faster than 10 hours, but the number given is what that stove can do continuously for 10 hours. I suspect that, like most other cat stoves, you can set it to burn at a faster rate than that. The complicating factor here is Blaze King's secret alien technology catalytic air control system, which may put a limit on max burn rate.

 

[webby3650]

There is no real limit to the burn rate. It'll get as hot as any other stove I've had.

 

[Parallax]

Thanks guys. This is really helpful. Guess it's time to find a store that has the Ashford and take a look at it.

 

[aansorge]

Webby 3650 would be better at judging prices, but paying 4300 for the stove with out the fan seems high. Also, do you need a pad? The T seems high to me but I've never purchased one.

 

[Parallax]

I do need the pad since the installation would be over a hardwood floor. $600 seems like quite a bit but we did ask for tile so maybe it's reasonable; I'm not sure.

It feels like he's charging top dollar for everything. But maybe it's the going rate. I don't have the expertise to know.

I'm trying to get an estimate on the Ashford and that will help me compare, at least apples to oranges.

 

[aansorge]

When I looked at one here in Minnesota, I thought it was 3500.

 

[Parallax]

When I looked at one here in Minnesota, I thought it was 3500.

Thanks. Maybe I can find another dealer close enough to do the install, though I'm really starting to consider the Ashford.

 

[webby3650]

Webby 3650 would be better at judging prices, but paying 4300 for the stove with out the fan seems high. Also, do you need a pad? The T seems high to me but I've never purchased one.

That's the right price. Believe it or not but Lopi wants an extra $900 for enamel! These prices aren't too bad, although it's common to give a little discount if you are getting the entire package. These are prices are full retail+.

 

[Parallax]

That's the right price. Believe it or not but Lopi wants an extra $900 for enamel! These prices aren't too bad, although it's common to give a little discount if you are getting the entire package. These are prices are full retail+.

They claim to be giving me $200 off. There is another dealer I can check with, about the same distance from my home. If I decide to go with that stove, maybe I'll invite him out. For now, I'm trying to get the BK dealer to give me a quote, including installation. He's quoting $2595 for just the stove (in matte black). If the CC is $4291 with the enamel finish, that means it's $3391 without. That's $800 more than the BK. The Ashford is sounding better and better.

In your review, you said you like the regular black finish though you had initially wanted the enamel. If both are available, which one would you choose and why?

 

[TX-L]

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The Ashford has the same or less BTU's to throw off, so it just distributes them more slowly. If the house is cold when we get home, because the output is turned down, we fire up the stove but it doesn't go up as high. So does it warm up the house within an hour or do we feel cold for the evening?
Click to expand...

You've bought into someone's non-cat marketing BS. My cat stoves will burn just as hot as any non-cat, easily 600 - 700F for several hours, but they also have low-end range a non-cat can never have. I typically have them cruising at 400 - 450F in winter, but I can run them as low as 300 - 350F or as hot as 650F. A non-cat can never cruise for 12 hours at 350F on a full load of wood, it's operating range is more limited.

Absolutely correct regarding a cat stove's ability to run hot. I recently had my catalytic King stovetop temp at 760 (would have gone higher if I hadn't turned it down) and that was less than an hour after setting the stat to full open. It was also 12 hours after I loaded it the previous night . You should get quick response and hot temps if/when you want them from all of the Blaze King catalytic product line. Hope this helps in some way.

 

[Parallax]

Absolutely correct regarding a cat stove's ability to run hot. I recently had my catalytic King stovetop temp at 760 (would have gone higher if I hadn't turned it down) and that was less than an hour after setting the stat to full open. It was also 12 hours after I loaded it the previous night . You should get quick response and hot temps if/when you want them from all of the Blaze King catalytic product line. Hope this helps in some way.

Helps very much. Thanks.

 

[begreen]

It feels like he's charging top dollar for everything. But maybe it's the going rate. I don't have the expertise to know.

He is, tis the season. This is their busiest time and a lousy time to be shopping for a new stove. Check out Tom's shop for comparison, but post the results in your own thread.

 

[Parallax]

He is, tis the season. This is their busiest time and a lousy time to be shopping for a new stove. Check out Tom's shop for comparison, but post the results in your own thread.

Will do, though I don't imagine I'll have them come out and do an estimate unless that's the stove I want to buy.

Others have said that's a nicer looking stove, but the more I sit with it the more efficiency and being able to keep the stove running for long stretches seems important.

What is that weird stuff on the back of the Ashford? Seems like two pieces run behind the firebox, one on each side of the pipe. What are they for?

Also, need I be concerned that the firebox is 2.75 cubic feet, rather than 3.0 like the CC?

 

[begreen]

All worthy questions to be asked in your own thread. This one is getting hijacked.

 

[Parallax]

All worthy questions to be asked in your own thread. This one is getting hijacked.

No problem. Sorry.