Deciding on wood insert

[Paine]

This is my first post and couldn't resist giving some input.
First let me say I wish I would have found this forum sooner! Good info and people on here!!

Next the stove..
I am a little bias because I am new to the wood burner scene, I am 28 years old and bought my first/older house 3 years ago. My house had a masonry fireplace that looked to have not been used much in many years.

My dad has a large Aurora stove and he loves it and has had zero complaints.

I am a huge believer in buying everything I can manufactured in America, and when it came to a stove it was no different!!
It is sad that it is now difficult to find a stove that is made in the US, there are a few and I had a local dealer that sells Kuma stoves. Did some reading and called them also, it's a small family owned company and I was impressed with their products.

Anyway I ended up with the Kuma Ashwood insert which can be used freestanding also. The stove comes with a great warranty too, lifetime on firebox. I don't work for them or anything just thought I would give my input and try and sway another sale towards keeping cash in our country!

Check out Kumastoves.com
I did a little reading on this fourm and there isn't a ton on info but all the info I see is good info.

Good luck in your search and congrats on the new home!

 

[JRJ]

2,200 sq ft and 18' ceilings, go with a 3 cu ft firebox stove.

Pacific Energy Summit if you have to go with an insert. The Osburn 2400 Insert would also work.

The Enviro is a smaller stove (2.5 cu ft). Go larger.

2,200 sq ft and 18' ceilings, go with a 3 cu ft firebox stove.

Pacific Energy Summit if you have to go with an insert. The Osburn 2400 Insert would also work.

The Enviro is a smaller stove (2.5 cu ft). Go larger.

Hey thanks browning. I really appreciate it. I will defiantly check them out!

 

[JRJ]

Looks like a Napoleon 1402 would fit your dimensions. I found this link with the manual and specs. I recently installed and am burning one. I am very happy with it. (broken link removed to http://www.rockfordchimneysupply.com/napoleon1402.php)

Hey thanks Pierre! I will check that one out as well

 

[JRJ]

This is my first post and couldn't resist giving some input.
First let me say I wish I would have found this forum sooner! Good info and people on here!!

Next the stove..
I am a little bias because I am new to the wood burner scene, I am 28 years old and bought my first/older house 3 years ago. My house had a masonry fireplace that looked to have not been used much in many years.

My dad has a large Aurora stove and he loves it and has had zero complaints.

I am a huge believer in buying everything I can manufactured in America, and when it came to a stove it was no different!!
It is sad that it is now difficult to find a stove that is made in the US, there are a few and I had a local dealer that carrys Kuma stoves. Did some reading and called them also, it's a small famliy owned company and I really liked their products.

Anyway I ended up with the Kuma Ashwood insert which can be used freestanding also. The stove comes with a great warranty too, lifetime on firebox. I don't work for them or anything just thought I would give my input and try and sway another sale towords keeping cash in our country!

Check out Kumastoves.com
I did a little reading on this fourm and there isn't a ton on info but all the info I see is good info.

Good luck in your search and congrats on the new home!

OOk Paine thank you for the response! Looks like I have a little more research to do. thanks guys for all your time helping us un-informed ! I really appreciate it very much

 

[JRJ]

Thanks for all the feedback. Im not all that worried if i don't get the "Sale" pricing. I just don't want to go a year or so and always think to myself"I wish i wouldve spent the extra $ and buy the ________stove "

 

[JRJ]

Is there just one kuma stove owner here? The Ashwood looks like it would be a nice one as well!

 

[Paine]

Is there just one kuma stove owner here? The Ashwood looks like it would be a nice one as well!

I guess there are not maybe Kuma owners on this forum, As I said I was not able to find a whole lot of info on them when I made my decision. I was able to talk to some people at Kuma, their warranty is good (have not had to take advantage of it and hope not too) and I just liked the looks and features of the stove over the others.

I was looking at an Aurora but their prices and the fact that they are owned by a large company and it is hard to contact a person pushed me away from them.

The kuma has been great so far, I can load it up and turn the air down and have very nice hot coals after an 8hr+ over night burn. Once it gets cold enough the stove is lit for the rest of the season and I never had to re-light it unless I wanted to do a full clean out.

 

[brian89gp]

Brand depends a lot on what part of the country you are in, certain brands are much more common in some parts then others. Around here is Buck country (also made in the USA, Paine) and certain brands that you see recommended a lot on the forum are almost impossible here to find unless you special order them.

Might take a look on craigslist to find a used newer stove, if you are patient you can probably find one for half the price of new or better. I bought my Buck 85 insert off of craigslist for 1/4 the price of new because the previous guy couldn't figure out how to use a secondary burn EPA stove (as was evident by the 1/4" of creasote built up on all metal surfaces INSIDE the firebox). I wasn't necessairly looking for that brand and model, but it was for sale and it fit the hole I was trying to put it in and that was that.

 

[clemsonfor]

This is my first post and couldn't resist giving some input.
First let me say I wish I would have found this forum sooner! Good info and people on here!!

Next the stove..
I am a little bias because I am new to the wood burner scene, I am 28 years old and bought my first/older house 3 years ago. My house had a masonry fireplace that looked to have not been used much in many years.

My dad has a large Aurora stove and he loves it and has had zero complaints.

I am a huge believer in buying everything I can manufactured in America, and when it came to a stove it was no different!!
It is sad that it is now difficult to find a stove that is made in the US, there are a few and I had a local dealer that sells Kuma stoves. Did some reading and called them also, it's a small family owned company and I was impressed with their products.

Anyway I ended up with the Kuma Ashwood insert which can be used freestanding also. The stove comes with a great warranty too, lifetime on firebox. I don't work for them or anything just thought I would give my input and try and sway another sale towards keeping cash in our country!

Check out Kumastoves.com
I did a little reading on this fourm and there isn't a ton on info but all the info I see is good info.

Good luck in your search and congrats on the new home!

There are plety of stoves made here in America. I think there are more made here than over seas? Buck, Vermont, Kuma (seen adds but know nothing other than what you said), high valley, napoleon, Englander, blaze king...... on and on. Not to much to worry about there.

 

[JRJ]

Thanks guys for all the input. I am just getting over-whelmed with this decision. Did you just pick one or how much research does a guy do! There are definitely alot of quality stoves out there. Someone make up my mind...Please!

 

[dafattkidd]

Thanks guys for all the input. I am just getting over-whelmed with this decision. Did you just pick one or how much research does a guy do! There are definitely alot of quality stoves out there. Someone make up my mind...Please!

That's funny, man. Maybe this will help. Decide freestanding stove or insert. Figure out a budget that works for you including the liner and install (if needed). 2,200 square feet so you're going to want a firebox probably 2.5 cf or larger. If you're going with an insert then your also restricted by the fireplace measurements, but you've expressed an interest in altering the existing to better accommodate a larger unit. Figure that into your budget. So with those parameters in mind, go visit a couple stove shops and see some units in person. Find the units that just look cool to you and fit those parameters. That should help narrow the field a bit.

 

[Fod01]

If you're going with an insert then your also restricted by the fireplace measurements,

+1 on this point. We chose our insert based first on size that would fit, then aesthetics. Its on the small side at 1.5cf, so we do have do reload more often. I can still pack it full for an overnight burn at 10pm and still have heat/ coals in the morning ( burning hardwoods). A larger stove would cook us out of the room. This is due to the layout of the home ( cape cod, not the most open floor plan ).

A final thought: you mentioned having access to lots of wood, but did not mention that you actually had any cut/split/stacked. It may be difficult to find good, seasoned wood for this year. You may benefit from waiting until after the heating season to purchase a stove.

My 2 cents...good luck
Gabe

 

[Huntindog1]

I will get them this weekend when at the farm. It is a vogelzang highlander, looks just like the one u see at northerntool website. I paid $500 for it. But any pedestal stove like it that can be shortened would work.

My main residence has an insert in the fireplace.

Battleaxe, a member on this forum took a Vogelzang Performer, Like the one I have , He didnt put the pedestal on it. So he could get it in his fire place. What he did was take the base off the pedestal part of the stove , which this base part is like 3" tall. He drilled holes in this base to fit the bolts coming out the bottom of the stove and bolted the stove to this 3" base. It fit in his fire place nicely.

Here I found his post and copied the pic into this post:

 

[JRJ]

That's funny, man. Maybe this will help. Decide freestanding stove or insert. Figure out a budget that works for you including the liner and install (if needed). 2,200 square feet so you're going to want a firebox probably 2.5 cf or larger. If you're going with an insert then your also restricted by the fireplace measurements, but you've expressed an interest in altering the existing to better accommodate a larger unit. Figure that into your budget. So with those parameters in mind, go visit a couple stove shops and see some units in person. Find the units that just look cool to you and fit those parameters. That should help narrow the field a bit.

Hey thanks Kidd . Headed to des Moines today to check some out again. I thought I had it narrowed down with a PE Summit until he came back to me with an estimate just shy of $5k. I sure I can do this myself for less than that.

 

[JRJ]

+1 on this point. We chose our insert based first on size that would fit, then aesthetics. Its on the small side at 1.5cf, so we do have do reload more often. I can still pack it full for an overnight burn at 10pm and still have heat/ coals in the morning ( burning hardwoods). A larger stove would cook us out of the room. This is due to the layout of the home ( cape cod, not the most open floor plan ).

A final thought: you mentioned having access to lots of wood, but did not mention that you actually had any cut/split/stacked. It may be difficult to find good, seasoned wood for this year. You may benefit from waiting until after the heating season to purchase a stove.

My 2 cents...good luck
Gabe

Thanks Gabe. My wood shed at our old house still has +-2 cords of oak with other mixed hardwood that I need to get yet. That should get me started anyway!

 

[JRJ]

Battleaxe, a member on this forum took a Vogelzang Performer, Like the one I have , He didnt put the pedestal on it. So he could get it in his fire place. What he did was take the base off the pedestal part of the stove , which this base part is like 3" tall. He drilled holes in this base to fit the bolts coming out the bottom of the stove and bolted the stove to this 3" base. It fit in his fire place nicely.

Here I found his post and copied the pic into this post:
You the man, Huntindog ! That's probably how I'm going to have to do it. That looks like an old century stove I used to have! Thanks for that pic

 

[Huntindog1]

I think Menards online has this stove onsale at $699 free ship to store but most stores have them in stock. Desmoines has several menards.

http://www.menards.com/main/heating...-the-performer-wood-stove/p-200876-c-6884.htm

 

[JRJ]

PE Alderlea T5! Love it! I've looked at it online but never in person. He won't take any less than $2425. Seems like he's in the ballpark. Any Alderlea owners out there for your opinions? This WILL be the one!

 

[dafattkidd]

PE Alderlea T5! Love it! I've looked at it online but never in person. He won't take any less than $2425. Seems like he's in the ballpark. Any Alderlea owners out there for your opinions? This WILL be the one!

Now you're getting somewhere. Do a search on the forum for that unit. You should find some happy customers. Never hear any complaints about Quadrafire's around here.

 

[JRJ]

Now you're getting somewhere. Do a search on the forum for that unit. You should find some happy customers. Never hear any complaints about Quadrafire's around here.

Thanks Kidd. Our closest dealer sells PE along with Osburn. I really like both but had to make a decision. Now for some hearth modification ! Thanks everyone!!