Curious - Lopi stoves

[seaken]

By far the majority of our customers are sensitive to the look and feel of their wood stoves. We sold Lopi for years before we became an Avalon dealer. (Avalon came aboard through a company purchase, Travis became the owner of three brands, Lopi, Avalon, and Fireplace Xtrordinair). We have always had a hard time selling the Avalon wood stoves around here. But people seem to like the Lopi. It looks more rugged and the thick heavy door is more substantial than the Avalon.

The Lopi brand is well respected. But we still have far fewer people who walk in and ask for that particular brand. We usually introduce them after some conversation. And yes, both Lopi and Avalon wood stoves are trouble free. Many folks who are happy with their stoves are more silent than many who get on these forums to complain about something.

Sean

 

[got wood?]

I inherited an older Lopi endeavor and liked it so much that when it came time to replace a failed no-name stove (hi-tech) I did a bunch of research and was torn between VC Encore (friend has one) and another Lopi...my stove guy steered me toward the Lopi (pronounced low-pie, not low-pee as I was calling it) saying it was more rugged and a better `heater'.

I love how basic and simple they are. They aren't the prettiest stoves around but at least I don't have to worry about ugly-ing them up ;-)

 

[BurningIsLove]

You mean the 'basic and simple' how the air controls on your two Lopi stoves are exactly backwards of each other and you almost started a chimney fire because all the way out is wide open on your new one and completely choked on the other?

 

[got wood?]

You mean the 'basic and simple' how the air controls on your two Lopi stoves are exactly backwards of each other and you almost started a chimney fire because all the way out is wide open on your new one and completely choked on the other?

:snake: HAHA...too true! One Stove is 15+ years old and the other is 2 years...the main air controls are opposite one another...crazy yes, but simple ;-)

There's a neat Travis/Lopi tour on this site that I found a while back. Speaks to the quality of the stove.

https://www.hearth.com/articles/93_0_1_0_M7.html

 

[Shawn]

We installed our Lopi Freedom Bay last year and really enjoyed it. Not sure why others may be more "popular", but perhaps it's a geographic preference could also be a lack of problems so one does not hear as much as with some other brand. Either way, we really like ours and have had no problems. I burned about 3+cords last year and had the chimney cleaned last week - got about 1 cup of creosote out - the chimney stayed really clean (much more than I would have hoped).

Shawn

 

[Vermontster]

I have a Lopi, (as you can see in my signature) I just got the little guy, and it burned for its fourth time last night, I got it as a replacement for a Vermont Casings Madison, that I bought at a ridiculously low price. The VC just didn't "crank". It was a nice stove, but, I wasn't entirely happy, I put it on Craigslist it sold in hour. The Madison was a replacement for a Vigilant (they crank, but it was old). I sold the vigilant on craigslist in about 2 hours. (don't you just love craigslist?)
So, now I went with the Lopi, Leyden, which after the 4rth burn, I do feel a bit better about, I'll be posting an official review in the review section later this season.
I bought the Lopi, not on reputation, but based on what the claims for -
Burn time
Top Load
BTU's

thats about it, and I put in the truck and drove away.

and BTW Vermont Castings unfortunately are not made here in Vermont, I think they keep an office and perhaps a small foundry(enough to call it Vermont Castings), but I looked into it at one point and was told they are made in Canada.

Hearthstones are made here in Vermont, but for some reason the dealers here just didn't seem to want to sell me one.

 

[elkimmeg]

and BTW Vermont Castings unfortunately are not made here in Vermont, I think they keep an office and perhaps a small foundry(enough to call it Vermont Castings), but I looked into it at one point and was told they are made in Canada.

Well the plant in Randolth is cranking out stoves the plant in Bethel are cranking out stoves to the tune of about 50,000 a year to some that may seen a small operation to you but every cast stove they manufacture is made there plus the also cast stoves for other manufactures like Harman and Englander again at their facilities in Vermont.

I don't know where you got your information, but I physically walked both plants, less than a year back, and saw for myself the volume of stoves being manufactured

 

[Vermontster]

ya, figures, shooting my mouth off.

I do not remember where I heard that, guess I should have double checked....
though I thought my Madison was made in Canada... I should probably stop now.

 

[gawebster]

If I'm not mistaken, Hearthstone's is owned by a Spanish company and the castings come from Spain and assembled in the USA. Or do they come assembled from Spain. Craig do you know?

Also just heard Harmen was just sold to mega corporate monster Hon Industries (Hearth Technologies).

Gary

 

[tutu_sue]

Si, Hearthstone is owned by an espanish company: HearthStone Quality Home Heating Products manufactures and distributes high quality wood and gas fired decorative heaters worldwide. In fact, the company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hergom of Santander, Spain that purchased HearthStone in 1989.

(broken link removed to http://www.thinkvermont.com/features/feature.cfm?id=22)

 

[Gooserider]

ya, figures, shooting my mouth off.

I do not remember where I heard that, guess I should have double checked....
though I thought my Madison was made in Canada... I should probably stop now.

I was with Elk on the VC in VT tour, and yes, all the CAST VC stoves are made in VT, with the foundry in Randolph making the parts, and the other plant in Bethel doing the finish work and assembly. They also make parts for other stove companies, Cast Iron frypans, and many other cast iron products.

However VC is owned by a Canadian company, and some of the other NON-cast CFM / VC products, such as the plate steel stoves are made elsewhere.

Gooserider

 

[clkeever]

The Lopi Brand is pretty popular out here in Central Illinois: they are a higher end unit but the folks I talk to and so forth, really like them. The freedom is an awsome fireplace insert.
thanks
(broken link removed)
ck

 

[fossil]

From the LoPi website:

HOW DO YOU SAY LOPI?
We hear a lot of different pronunciations - Lopey...Loopee...Loppy!
It's actually pronounced Low-pie, and was created by our president, Kurt Rumens. The
name was inspired by a love of the Northwest, a fascination with Native American culture
and the nature and wildlife that live in this beautiful place. Lopi means beauty, strength and
independence and has become a legend all its own.

 

[BrotherBart]

From the LoPi website:

HOW DO YOU SAY LOPI?
We hear a lot of different pronunciations - Lopey...Loopee...Loppy!
It's actually pronounced Low-pie, and was created by our president, Kurt Rumens. The
name was inspired by a love of the Northwest, a fascination with Native American culture
and the nature and wildlife that live in this beautiful place. Lopi means beauty, strength and
independence and has become a legend all its own.

Toss'em dried cow-pie in your Low-pie and wigwam stay heap big warm all night.

 

[budman]

From the LoPi website:

HOW DO YOU SAY LOPI?
We hear a lot of different pronunciations - Lopey...Loopee...Loppy!
It's actually pronounced Low-pie, and was created by our president, Kurt Rumens. The
name was inspired by a love of the Northwest, a fascination with Native American culture
and the nature and wildlife that live in this beautiful place. Lopi means beauty, strength and
independence and has become a legend all its own.

I had said in a post that it had somthing to do with a native american word. :shut:

 

[titan]

"America's favorite fire"