I picked this stove up last year for $175, not knowing anything about it. Turns out it's a 1C model, long doors, glass, two piece fireback. I've found out that it's a good one to own. I've gone through about two cords of wood and I just love this thing. Mine was missing the primary air tube and ash fettle. I was able to get a primary air tube, but I believe the lack of the ash fettle caused the front doors to get too hot. I eventually ordered a fettle, but in the mean time I put some firebrick along the front and those problems disappeared. I kept reading on this forum that this stove is a "smoke dragon." No problem, a few minutes of searching this forum and I found the answer to my problems in the form of the Soot-Eater chimney cleaning system.
This forum is an amazing resource. I searched "Vigilant" and learned a lot! I would have probably given up if it were not for the people here who posted their experience with the Vigilant. Thank you all![shock !!! !!!](/talk/styles/default/xenforo/smileys/shock.gif)
So why so much love? Well it sure is a pretty stove. My house was built in 1895 or so and while not "correct" for my Victorian, it doesn't look out of place. I love the top loading and the glass doors that stay pretty clean if I burn hot. Speaking of hot, this stove really throws some heat! All night burns… not yet, but I think with splits cut to the proper (maximum) length and loaded properly that it may be possible. That said, I'd wake up to a cool stove but was usually able to throw some thin splits on top of the ash and get it going again without much trouble.
So about two weeks ago I ran out of wood (hey, I'm new at this and didn't know if the stove would even work with my chimney). So I went on Craig's List and found a coal kit. I read that the stove wasn't a very good coal burner but I wanted to see for myself. I've burned coal in antique oak or parlor stoves for years so I figured "how bad could it be?" The coal version of this forum is over at nepacrossroads.com and there were a few guys over there who had given advice to others on burning coal in this stove. I'm very happy to report that I've had a coal fire going in my Vigilant for the past four days. With proper shaking of the grates and "slicing" of the coal bed, burn times are at least 9 hours and I think if I burn cooler that can go to 12 or more. The coal kit was very well though out I think. Getting wood for free (if you don't count my labor) is great, but if I'm going to pay for fuel, it's gonna be coal. It takes up very little room, I can put it all just outside of my back door and it can get rained on without causing any issues. I also like that I can burn cool and not worry about creosote!
Just thought I'd share. It's a great little stove and I think we are going to be together for a long time![Smile :) :)](/talk/styles/default/xenforo/smileys/grin.gif)
This forum is an amazing resource. I searched "Vigilant" and learned a lot! I would have probably given up if it were not for the people here who posted their experience with the Vigilant. Thank you all
![shock !!! !!!](/talk/styles/default/xenforo/smileys/shock.gif)
So why so much love? Well it sure is a pretty stove. My house was built in 1895 or so and while not "correct" for my Victorian, it doesn't look out of place. I love the top loading and the glass doors that stay pretty clean if I burn hot. Speaking of hot, this stove really throws some heat! All night burns… not yet, but I think with splits cut to the proper (maximum) length and loaded properly that it may be possible. That said, I'd wake up to a cool stove but was usually able to throw some thin splits on top of the ash and get it going again without much trouble.
So about two weeks ago I ran out of wood (hey, I'm new at this and didn't know if the stove would even work with my chimney). So I went on Craig's List and found a coal kit. I read that the stove wasn't a very good coal burner but I wanted to see for myself. I've burned coal in antique oak or parlor stoves for years so I figured "how bad could it be?" The coal version of this forum is over at nepacrossroads.com and there were a few guys over there who had given advice to others on burning coal in this stove. I'm very happy to report that I've had a coal fire going in my Vigilant for the past four days. With proper shaking of the grates and "slicing" of the coal bed, burn times are at least 9 hours and I think if I burn cooler that can go to 12 or more. The coal kit was very well though out I think. Getting wood for free (if you don't count my labor) is great, but if I'm going to pay for fuel, it's gonna be coal. It takes up very little room, I can put it all just outside of my back door and it can get rained on without causing any issues. I also like that I can burn cool and not worry about creosote!
Just thought I'd share. It's a great little stove and I think we are going to be together for a long time
![Smile :) :)](/talk/styles/default/xenforo/smileys/grin.gif)
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