I bet you're going to love it! I doubt you'll have any problems getting 10.5 hours. WS really is conservative with their ratings. I wish more companies were like that. I wonder how many stoves they don't sell because someone sees 10 to 12 hours and compares that to the BS marketing of other companies. I'm also with you on the super long smoldering burns. I really don't see the appeal, but that depends on heating needs, schedule, etc. I'm sure it is great for some. I just don't want folks to be expecting their new stove to do something it isn't really designed to do. I'm sure it'll work great for you. I can't wait to see all the posts on the IS next winter.
IdealSteel Hybrid Woodstock up close today!
- Thread starter NE WOOD BURNER
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
- Status
I bet you're going to love it! I doubt you'll have any problems getting 10.5 hours. WS really is conservative with their ratings. I wish more companies were like that. I wonder how many stoves they don't sell because someone sees 10 to 12 hours and compares that to the BS marketing of other companies. I'm also with you on the super long smoldering burns. I really don't see the appeal, but that depends on heating needs, schedule, etc. I'm sure it is great for some. I just don't want folks to be expecting their new stove to do something it isn't really designed to do. I'm sure it'll work great for you. I can't wait to see all the posts on the IS next winter.
Like who? I've found burn time specs to be the most dependable of all published specs. Woodstock has been known to publish bs firebox size specs, so they aren't perfect either.
I've been looking into the ideal steel and have not seen many comments about the ashpan. Do people like it or hate it?
Does anyone other than me have a problem with front loading only? I don't think I could live with that. The Dutchwest I will be replacing has both front and side load, and in the 26 years I have owned it I have never loaded logs in from the front. It is way too messy, plus it prevents you from fully loading the stove for those long overnight burns. And I'll bet that the presence of those andirons takes a chunk out of the claimed 3.2 cu. ft. firebox volume.
I was going to seriously consider the Ideal Steel as a good, economical alternative to the Progress Hybrid until I looked at the details tonight and realized it was front load only. Think I'll reserve my Progress Hybrid tomorrow morning. They just dropped the sale price by another $100. Wish it was a little lower still, but $500 off puts it in the range of the possible, if not Ideal
(pun intended).
I was going to seriously consider the Ideal Steel as a good, economical alternative to the Progress Hybrid until I looked at the details tonight and realized it was front load only. Think I'll reserve my Progress Hybrid tomorrow morning. They just dropped the sale price by another $100. Wish it was a little lower still, but $500 off puts it in the range of the possible, if not Ideal
(pun intended).
Last edited:
Does anyone other than I have a problem with front loading only? I don't think I could live with that. The Dutchwest I will be replacing has both front and side load, and in the 26 years I have owned it I have never loaded logs in from the front. It is way too mess, plus it prevents you from fully loading the stove for those long overnight burns. And I'll bet that the presence of those andirons take a chunk out of the claimed 3.2 cu. ft. firebox volume.
I was going to seriously consider the Ideal Steel as a good, economical alternative to the Progress Hybrid until I looked at the details tonight and realized it was front load only. Think I'll reserve my Progress Hybrid tomorrow morning. They just dropped the sale price by another $100. Wish it was a little lower still, but $500 off puts it in the range of the possible. if not Ideal
How does loading from the front prevent loading for long overnight burns? The stove is made for n/s loading(straight in) you can fill it full without any trouble. Why is loading from the front more messy? Are you talking about ash falling out when you open the door? It sounds like your experience is with a stove designed for side loading but has a front door. Plenty of stoves like that are messy if you open the front door due to ash build up. I don't see the IS having any more ash falling out than your side loader if you load it n/s.
If I get the IS I would get it without the andirons, I load N/S so side doors not a problem, I guess if your used to it it's probably a feature you'd want to always have. If I don't get the IS I will get the PH. I didn't realize they knocked more off, now it's making my decision harder.Does anyone other than I have a problem with front loading only? I don't think I could live with that. The Dutchwest I will be replacing has both front and side load, and in the 26 years I have owned it I have never loaded logs in from the front. It is way too mess, plus it prevents you from fully loading the stove for those long overnight burns. And I'll bet that the presence of those andirons takes a chunk out of the claimed 3.2 cu. ft. firebox volume.
I was going to seriously consider the Ideal Steel as a good, economical alternative to the Progress Hybrid until I looked at the details tonight and realized it was front load only. Think I'll reserve my Progress Hybrid tomorrow morning. They just dropped the sale price by another $100. Wish it was a little lower still, but $500 off puts it in the range of the possible. if not Ideal
I've read good things about it from the beta testers that have it. If I get the IS I'll get the ash pan. I'll have to find the blogs I read and link them for you.
Does anyone other than I have a problem with front loading only? I don't think I could live with that. The Dutchwest I will be replacing has both front and side load, and in the 26 years I have owned it I have never loaded logs in from the front. It is way too mess, plus it prevents you from fully loading the stove for those long overnight burns. And I'll bet that the presence of those andirons takes a chunk out of the claimed 3.2 cu. ft. firebox volume.
I was going to seriously consider the Ideal Steel as a good, economical alternative to the Progress Hybrid until I looked at the details tonight and realized it was front load only. Think I'll reserve my Progress Hybrid tomorrow morning. They just dropped the sale price by another $100. Wish it was a little lower still, but $500 off puts it in the range of the possible. if not Ideal
It depends on stove design. Many side loaders are not the best front loaders if that is an option. But a stove designed to front load can be delightful. Many with a corner install can't use a side loader. This is a good alternative as long as clearances are met.
Yes, the Dutchwest is very messy when you open the front doors due to ash buildup. I suppose if the stove has a lowered floor, as I know many newer stoves do, that may not be a problem. So you're probably right that my Dutchwest was designed primarily as a side loader - partly due to the shape & size of the front door opening, and partly because of the high floor level relative to the bottom of the door opening. I do load the logs side to side; I gather that is "E/W" in hearth.com parlance. I intend to continue to do that since I like to cut my wood to longer lengths - 20" - 22" in my case.
Last edited:
It's not Blazeking I had in mind. I won't pick on anyone's particular brand here. Just say I first looked at large wood stoves a few years ago at Lehmans Non electric store while on vacation. Then after some research found lots of complaints about several of the brands they sell. I also find these same brands are less desired here with exactly the same non steller reviews.
I've heard nothing bad about the ash pan and because of the design of the firebox, the ash pan very well will be the best option. I like a stove without an ash pan but on the IS, we definitely would order with the ash pan.
Side load versus front load is really meaningless. What matter is that the splits go straight in through the door (meaning they are loaded side to side for a side loader or front to back with a front loader). I had a stove with only a front door that you had to put the splits in the stove side to side. Now, that was messy and could be down right dangerous! This is actually a potential disadvantage I see with the IS. I'm sure straight in is going to be the preferred loading method most of the time but you're not going to be able to really pack it full that way due to the sloped roof. It probably won't be that big of a deal most of the time, but I could see it being a little annoying when you want to stuff it full.
Although I don't have one, I have used the ash pan on the PH quite a bit and it really is an excellent design. Everybody seems to love the ash pan on the Keystone too. So, I'd have to believe the IS will have an excellent ash pan as well.
Although I don't have one, I have used the ash pan on the PH quite a bit and it really is an excellent design. Everybody seems to love the ash pan on the Keystone too. So, I'd have to believe the IS will have an excellent ash pan as well.
- Dec 30, 2012
- 754
I looked at it from that point of view. wish I had a few logs to try but you fold down the andirons and the box looks easy to load and it is lower than the andirons. I should have brought my tape. But maybe someone could post a pic with a full load.
Its a tall stove and I was hoping to slide into my fireplace as back up but too tall. the front loader would help this scenario. It looks much easier than other front loaders I have experience with. If I had a free Hearth I would buy one to play with on the weekends. Been a long time since(1986) I have played with a cat stove. This price is under or at the price of a cat stove from then. I thought that was intriguing.
Its a tall stove and I was hoping to slide into my fireplace as back up but too tall. the front loader would help this scenario. It looks much easier than other front loaders I have experience with. If I had a free Hearth I would buy one to play with on the weekends. Been a long time since(1986) I have played with a cat stove. This price is under or at the price of a cat stove from then. I thought that was intriguing.
How high is your fireplace? Did you know its legs are adjustable so you can lower it to 30 1/2"? I think the range is 30 1/2" to 35 1/2", it may even end up 29 1/2" to 35 1/2".
- Dec 30, 2012
- 754
I think im at 28 but less than 30. I checked as soon as I saw the specs. Maybe I could lower it a bit like my road king-LOL
You do run into the back angled secondary plate at a certain point. It seems to be a much bigger issue when you haven't emptied the ash in a long time. My next one will have the ash pan.
NE Wood burner you are invited over to my place to play around with the stove if you ever want to.
Flamestead
Feeling the Heat
I like it a lot. I like the pan on the PH, too, but I like this one better. It is longer than the grate area on each end, so when you overfill it, it does not spill off the end as you remove it. Likewise for the sides. I could have fit a little more in here by giving it a shake, but it is very nice to have nothing overflowing. I can also hold it with one hand while opening the door to go outside, which is also handy.
I've burned with and without ash pans in various stoves over the years - this pan functions very well.
![[Hearth.com] IdealSteel Hybrid Woodstock up close today!](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/129/129896-17c7bcb4db257a7a8e845cc860ecc6fa.jpg?hash=k0GYEyK7z- "[Hearth.com] IdealSteel Hybrid Woodstock up close today!")
Last edited:
I just filled it for the night (supposed to be another -15 degrees) and grabbed a couple pictures (see attachments) of how much I put in. This should run a medium burn until 6a (10 hours).
Attachments
![[Hearth.com] IdealSteel Hybrid Woodstock up close today!](/talk/data/attachments/129/129903-940fcd4cd452d426b5f553032be6be29.jpg?hash=mllhUxIvOQ)
![[Hearth.com] IdealSteel Hybrid Woodstock up close today!](/talk/data/attachments/129/129904-e90426a52dfd7fad84eca9d58c54d93d.jpg?hash=smoo9cBghD)
Looks good! I guess you can get it pretty full placing one across the top like that. Do you ever have issue with them rolling up against the glass?
- Dec 30, 2012
- 754
Strangely no. I think that happened once in 6 weeks of 24/7 burning. Last stove would do that more often. l couldn't tell you why it is different. I actually load EW most times because when the ash builds up you can't put much in because you hit the top plate. I'll be fixin fixin THAT problem with an ash pan.
Flamestead
Feeling the Heat
Our stovetop sits just above 33", the ash pan is a little less than 3" off the hearth, and the damper control rod is less than 5" off the hearth. Sounds like too tight a fit no matter how you slice it.
- Dec 30, 2012
- 754
Flamestead: thanks, yeah too tight. Heading in a central gasser heat direction. Thought it would be fun to buy one for a backup and dubbing when I can find the time by the fireplace.
JA600L
Minister of Fire
Woodstock claims the value of radiant heat vs convection. My fear is that their stoves are space heaters rather than whole house heaters. Can anybody comment on that? Do they do a good job of bringing further bedrooms etc up to temperature?
- Status
Similar threads
