If you could do it over again - which stove would you choose?
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BKVP
Minister of Fire
Well I am 100% USA and I own shares as do many US residents and employees!
BuckyBeaver524
Member
So what's your point..........I just wish BK was a USA owned company. So very glad to hear you have generous stock options.
WoodyIsGoody
Minister of Fire
Canada, US, I've spent my entire life within a few miles of Canada, I don't see a lot of difference. I cross the border to ski some of the most beautiful mountains in the world and millions of them do the same thing down here. Canada has always been a strong ally and Canadian values are very similar to American values. We both love to burn wood and cuddle up to a warm fire on a cold night. We both like to drink cold beer, even on the coldest nights and we both love our families. What's the difference? We're all good people. I'm not so nationalistic that I care more about the people who live south of the border than those on the other side. It's just a political boundary and people are what matters. There are those who would love to divide the good people of the world and try to make it all about "us" vs. "them" but the truth is, we're all one people sharing the same planet. We're not in Middle School anymore.
The only thing that makes Canadians a bit suspect is their inexplicable love of hockey!
WoodyIsGoody
Minister of Fire
BuckyBeaver524
Member
I agree. I feel the same way about Mexico. Buy your stoves from Canada and your cars and A/C from Mexico. All good people. A good stove is a good stove. I would just prefer the profits from my stove purchases to remain in the good old US of A. That just happens to be a criteria for any of my future stoves. Is there anything wrong with that? I hope I haven't offended anyone.Canada, US, I've spent my entire life within a few miles of Canada, I don't see a lot of difference. I cross the border to ski some of the most beautiful mountains in the world and millions of them do the same thing down here. Canada has always been a strong ally and Canadian values are very similar to American values. We both love to burn wood and cuddle up to a warm fire on a cold night. We both like to drink cold beer, even on the coldest nights and we both love our families. What's the difference? We're all good people. I'm not so nationalistic that I care more about the people who live south of the border than those on the other side. It's just a political boundary and people are what matters. There are those who would love to divide the good people of the world and try to make it all about "us" vs. "them" but the truth is, we're all one people sharing the same planet. We're not in Middle School anymore.
The only thing that makes Canadians a bit suspect is their inexplicable love of hockey!
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Just a curious question to you BK owners. I almost bought one when I was shopping around for a stove. How many of you Insert BK owners are living in cold climates and have houses larger than 2500 sqft? How does the Princess heat as an insert? Down the road I may sell this house and move into another around the 2500-3000 sqft size and have an opportunity to buy another all over again.
Yep. I opened every window in the house. It still fills the house with smoke, but I was able to vent it out pretty quickly.
BKVP
Minister of Fire
The owners of any traded company are the share holders. If all the share holders live in the USA (which is not the case here) it would be owned by them. There is no stock or share program for us BK employees, sadly. We BOUGHT the stock across the counter, just the same as you can, if you so choose.
BKVP
Minister of Fire
But their beer has a higher % alcohol, they need it on the ice!Canada, US, I've spent my entire life within a few miles of Canada, I don't see a lot of difference. I cross the border to ski some of the most beautiful mountains in the world and millions of them do the same thing down here. Canada has always been a strong ally and Canadian values are very similar to American values. We both love to burn wood and cuddle up to a warm fire on a cold night. We both like to drink cold beer, even on the coldest nights and we both love our families. What's the difference? We're all good people. I'm not so nationalistic that I care more about the people who live south of the border than those on the other side. It's just a political boundary and people are what matters. There are those who would love to divide the good people of the world and try to make it all about "us" vs. "them" but the truth is, we're all one people sharing the same planet. We're not in Middle School anymore.
The only thing that makes Canadians a bit suspect is their inexplicable love of hockey!
BKVP
Minister of Fire
When you purchase a BK, you are supporting USA jobs, right here in Walla Walla. I get your point certainly, but as employees and some as stock/share holders, we are in a good place. And yes, Walla Walla is beautiful...unless we speak of that -9F day last week
I have a BK King.
Really not pleased with it.
Am considering dumping it at a loss, if I can find a better heat source.
I'll happily trade 30 hours off the burn time for some actual heat output when I want it. If I wanted a 40 hour burn, I can light a candle for heat.
Cheers
Trev
Really not pleased with it.
Am considering dumping it at a loss, if I can find a better heat source.
I'll happily trade 30 hours off the burn time for some actual heat output when I want it. If I wanted a 40 hour burn, I can light a candle for heat.
Cheers
Trev
BuckyBeaver524
Member
They work very well in Florida. 40 hour burns and little heat are welcome down here.
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BuckyBeaver524
Member
Over the last few years I have read more then a few 'BK smoke smell problems' here. Usually it results from not following the manufacturers installation recommendations to the letter. Sounds like you need a stove that is more forgiving and an easier breather. My suggestion would be a Woodstock IS. It's not very pretty, but heats like a beast with long burn times. Woodstock does not use a dealer network; you work directly with the manufacturer - and their customer service is second to none. But before you dump the BK, try to work it out with the fanboys on here or BKVP. You have a sizeable investment there and it would be a shame to take a loss.
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Just a note here, I did this. Cut a new baffle board using the in tact older one. I cut the new one at an angle on one side such that it angles out from the original width to be about 1/2 inch wider. I put the angled part to the outside, figuring that any expansion would cause the angled cut to compress. I had to wiggle them around to get them in, and they're very snug. I also broke off the bolt that holds the tube in. A drill and a self tapping sheet metal screw fixed that.
Seems to work much better. I get more smoke spillage and the draft on a coldish startup (i.e. in the mornings) seems to take longer to become established with the same quality of wood. However, the stove top temps seem to be more controllable, the secondaries are better, I once again have no smoke from the chimney once startup is complete, and the loads overnight and through the day seem to be burning down a bit better. This is the case even if a marginal sizzling piece makes its way into the stove (bigger pieces from the shed that are split down, didn't dry out as well).
They work very well in Florida. 40 hour burns are welcome down here.
I imagine that they would be.
It makes the news here when they get frost there, too.
Cheers
Trev
Yeah, sounds like.
The dealer was pretty sure this was pretty much the be-all to end-all of stoves, and that my chimney would not cause any problems.
With both my previous stoves, they would spool up like a jet engine when the door was opened or cracked open, never had any troubles with smoke in the house. With the tall stack and a heated up block body on the chimney, I would have thought I would have too much draw, as a problem, over too little.
And yeah, the only thing worse than that I spent $4K on a wood stove, is that it does not seem to work very well and I am starting to frikken hate it.
My wood is DRY! I lit the side of one of my blocks of firewood with a single, pinky finger sized split of fatwood the last time I had to do a relight. My kindling bucket runneth over!
Not using much of THAT.Cheers
Trev
Bingo! If not installed properly, less than desirable results should be expected. Kinda like a car with flat tires, water in the gas etc... No reason to bash the stove, perhaps asking for advice first would be helpful.
BuckyBeaver524
Member
Hang in there Trev. If you can't fix it, replace it. No need letting this debacle ruin your life with stress.Yeah, sounds like.
The dealer was pretty sure this was pretty much the be-all to end-all of stoves, and that my chimney would not cause any problems.
With both my previous stoves, they would spool up like a jet engine when the door was opened or cracked open, never had any troubles with smoke in the house. With the tall stack and a heated up block body on the chimney, I would have thought I would have too much draw, as a problem, over too little.
And yeah, the only thing worse than that I spent $4K on a wood stove, is that it does not seem to work very well and I am starting to frikken hate it.
My wood is DRY! I lit the side of one of my blocks of firewood with a single, pinky finger sized split of fatwood the last time I had to do a relight. My kindling bucket runneth over!
Cheers
Trev
Trev... Have you talked to your dealer? My bud just finished installing his King and its a animal on a 15ft insulated flue. My Princess gets with it with a 12.5 tall insulated flue. Do not misconstrue what I am about to ask but has your chimney been checked recently? What is your chimney set up? Is it possible that the t-stat is not working properly? I ask not to insult your intelligence but to try to understand why the stove is not drawing properly.
Rearscreen
Minister of Fire
Seems that this topic has gone off topic. But back to the original question, what stove would you choose if you could do it all over again? Well a stove isn't a candy bar in the grocery check out. It's a multi year investment. I've owned maybe a dozen. But even today with my most favorite stove ever, I'd actually have to have one in my living room to make an opinion and an answer to the question.
Vigil Igne
Member
1) Quadra-Fire Explorer III Stove
2) Quadra-Fire Explorer III Stove (I am beyond pleased at this point. Does exactly what I need.)
2) Quadra-Fire Explorer III Stove (I am beyond pleased at this point. Does exactly what I need.)
Well I did "do it over again" a few times, I've went through the old smoke dragon and wood furnace that came with the house, a hearthstone, Jotul, and now pellet stove and Woodstock. I finally found the winner with the Woodstock and wouldn't do anything different there except maybe have skipped all the in between! On the other side of the house with the pellet stove, not sure. I'm really not liking how much of a pita the pellet stove is with various problems and it's more of a pain to keep clean as well. But huge advantage in being able to run all day on high heat, which is important when you're gone for 15 or 16 hours and it's zero outside. That particular hearth *may* be able to take a BK though, but I only had a 5.5" uninsulated liner in there. I think I'll just keep things how they are.
If I really had a do over I'd have 25+ acres of good hardwoods and a tight and well insulated home that only needed 1 stove, and it'd either be a nice enameled BK Ashford or a Woodstock PH or IS. I've already got the stove, now just need a do over on the house and land.
If I really had a do over I'd have 25+ acres of good hardwoods and a tight and well insulated home that only needed 1 stove, and it'd either be a nice enameled BK Ashford or a Woodstock PH or IS. I've already got the stove, now just need a do over on the house and land.
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