If you could "test drive" 3 different stoves, what would they be and why?
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SpaceBus
Minister of Fire
It is. But really just designed for a very specific very limited market
BKVP
Minister of Fire
WoodBurnerInWI
Feeling the Heat
Yup, that's what the original stove was called, then it evolved into the Survival Hybrid Wood Stove.
Here's a neat write up about the whole project on Woodstock's website:
Woodstock Soapstone Co.
Woodstock Soapstone Company has been providing clean, radiant heat to homes throughout the United States, and the world
www.woodstove.com
SpaceBus
Minister of Fire
I just read this before you posted it. What a great story.Yup, that's what the original stove was called, then it evolved into the Survival Hybrid Wood Stove.
Here's a neat write up about the whole project on Woodstock's website:
Woodstock Soapstone Co.
Woodstock Soapstone Company has been providing clean, radiant heat to homes throughout the United States, and the world
Yes I read that before thanks. And I just read it again. It does seem the cat is not used when burning coal. It is stored in a "garage" to protect it from the coalYup, that's what the original stove was called, then it evolved into the Survival Hybrid Wood Stove.
Here's a neat write up about the whole project on Woodstock's website:
Woodstock Soapstone Co.
Woodstock Soapstone Company has been providing clean, radiant heat to homes throughout the United States, and the world
Can anyone comment on their EBT. Does it actually work to give a long efficient burn, as they claim it does?
1. Quadrafires Explorer II, the recently discontinued stove that I'd initially intended to purchase before getting the PE Alderlea T5. I want to know if it's advertised 12 hour burn time was that much better than the Aldrlea, if it's start up timer system was useful and how it heats and withstands use over time.
2. Blaze Kings Ashford 30. I'd want to know if it's increased sensitivity to wood type and condition dramatically affects the cat performance and lifespan and if the greatly decreased flameshow and smoky front window would bother me (I suspect it would a lot). Also, curious what the cost of maintenance is over 15 - 20 years compared to a well made non cat like my Alderlea.
3. The Vermont Bun Baker. I bought my stove primarily because I love wood heat but I'm also working towards increased off grid sustainability. I wonder how well a combo heating and cook stove like the Vermont Bun Baker does either, and if it's durable and trouble free.
That said, I researched the hell out of stoves and am very satisfied with my choice with regards to my heating and homesteading goals.
2. Blaze Kings Ashford 30. I'd want to know if it's increased sensitivity to wood type and condition dramatically affects the cat performance and lifespan and if the greatly decreased flameshow and smoky front window would bother me (I suspect it would a lot). Also, curious what the cost of maintenance is over 15 - 20 years compared to a well made non cat like my Alderlea.
3. The Vermont Bun Baker. I bought my stove primarily because I love wood heat but I'm also working towards increased off grid sustainability. I wonder how well a combo heating and cook stove like the Vermont Bun Baker does either, and if it's durable and trouble free.
That said, I researched the hell out of stoves and am very satisfied with my choice with regards to my heating and homesteading goals.
His is the earlier version, not the EBT2 that they now use, but it has the same basic function..to give the stove more secondary air when it is hotter in the early stages of the load and there is more smoke to burn. They added it to the smaller Spectrum LE for 2020.
It makes sense that supplying less secondary air later in the burn would extend burn times. The T5 I got my SIL doesn't have EBT2, it has direct linkage between the primary and secondary air shutters, but the stove still burns long. I haven't run other non-cats though, so I can't compare burn times.
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Survival hybrid stove. On sale now for $1300. https://www.woodstove.com/index.php/new-survival-hybrid
I’m hoping to order my WS Ideal Steel next month. I have heard and read great things about how low and slow it can burn. You have been happy with yours?My choices would be:
1). Blaze King-either a King or a Princess. Would love to see how those over 24 hr burns would fit my schedule, as well as seeing how it burns some of the less desirable wood in my piles (pine, etc).
2). Englander 30-NC. This is the stove I almost bought because I loved the ease of use, firebox size, user reviews and burn time for a non catalytic stove. Ended up going with the ideal steel because my wife liked the colors and the artwork you can get on it. And as it turns out its just as easy to use and operate as the 30-NC would have been.
3). Qudra Fire Isle Royale. This is the stove I saw years ago that made me want a wood stove in my house no matter where I lived. The enamel was just beautiful (especially that greenish color), large firebox, great burn times, top loading, super easy to use, and great reviews. They did everything right with that one and its a shame it went out of production. I saw one on Craigslist near Madison years ago and it sucks I didn't have any way to get it as we were living in a condo at the time.
All of my choices, as well as my current stove are leagues above the VC Resolute Acclaim I suffered through for a few years. Not my choice, came with a previous house I lived in and boy was that thing awful to run
Care to provide some details of the space to be heated? Sq.ft, layout, insulation and air-sealing? You live in a pretty mild climate (my BIL lives on Whidbey.)
The house is 2,500 sq foot two story, down stairs is pretty open and the stairway is in the middle of the living room which is where the stove will go. Spray foam close cell foam in walls and between first floor ceilin. R 48 blow in fiberglass in the attic. My lopi agp is on low probably 85% of the time. I live near bow close to Bay View State park Not far from Whidbey island. I was all about the Blaze King but my wife didn’t like the looks. So I had her pick between the two stoves, figured you can’t go wrong with either.
WoodBurnerInWI
Feeling the Heat
Yes, even though its my first winter with the stove, I have no major complaints. It burns nearly 20 hrs in mild weather and over 10 hrs easily when its very cold (we get below zero usually multiple times over the course of a normal winter). I love the ability to load N/S and E/W. Regarding smoke spillage (which I explain more in a bit), loading E/W drastically reduces the smoke spillage regardless of other environmental conditions. I also love the super easy to control main air lever right at the front of the stove. You will definitely want a stove pipe temp gauge and a catalyst temp probe to make running the stove super simple and worry free.
I will say that if you are considering the stove, make sure that a) you have a proper chimney height. 15 ft or higher is strongly recommended. My chimney height is a few feet higher than Woodstock's min height of 15 ft and some days I find my draft to be difficult, especially this time of year. And b) I would say any room/house size that's like 1,800 sq ft or less will easily be overheated by the heat this stove puts out. My house is 2,200 sq ft and the stove can keep the main floor at near 80 easy. Upstairs is about 72 to 75 depending on temps outside.
There have been some issues with people saying the opening to the stove is too big and that can be a smoke spillage issue. While it won't happen all the time, yes it will happen occasionally requiring a nearby door or window to be opened to clear the smoke. Or you can crack a nearby door or window before opening the stove. A lot of variables though as to when and why it happens so be prepared for occasional smoke spillage.
Thanks for your great information! Did you ever think BK, if you did what made you go with the IS? Do the stoves come with a catalyst probe from the factory? Seems like that would be standard. My chimney should be around 24ft tall. It still blows me away to hear about 20 hour burn time!
WoodBurnerInWI
Feeling the Heat
Yeah I would have gotten a BK, money wasn't the issue for me it was lack of a good dealer. Looking online, the nearest dealer to me is in Highland, WI over an hr away. Combine the BK stove cost, fresh install and who knows what cost for someone to drive the stove from Highland to Madison and it just didn't make sense economically. It was actually my wife who saw the Woodstock stoves somewhere online and I began to research them and I liked what I saw! Custom colors, artworks, catalyst, the ability to load N/S or E/W. The icing on the cake was that they are located in Lebanon, NH where I was born
In the building my dad worked at of all places (the building was a bio tech company back in the 80's). So it was a no brainer at that point that this was the stove that was going in my living room 
That's what sold me. I looked at the used Fireview my SIL got, and though it had been overfired, I liked the heavy-duty, quality construction and the engineering that went into it. I got the Keystone, and it's exceeded my expectations. Prices of the cats and other parts are reasonable as well, and of course the support is great.
Whirled Peas
Member
I'm a bit late to this one, but this is/was a great thread! I ordered a new WS Absolute Steel two weeks ago and, aside from the demo model burning in their showroom, I haven't spent any time with one. I'm excited to see how that goes in my house. I'm coming from a Jotul F400.
My three would be:
1. Blaze King Ashford 30. I have an 800 sq/ft apartment above an unconditioned garage that my wife uses as an office. She'd be tickled to be able to set it once in the morning and leave it to run until the next morning. I'd be curious if, when run low, that stove would overwhelm that size/type of space or not.
2. Heco 420 wood cook stove. I gave this stove a long pondering when looking to replace my current stove. I have a friends/neighbors who burn a wood cook stove as their main source of heat and I love visiting it and how they use it. I live in the sticks and the power does go out somewhat regularly so keeping a cook top and oven around would be pretty sweet.
3. Jotul F602. I have second fireplace in my living room and would love to have the option of having ambiance fires when we hang out in there, but I'm unwilling to keep weird, short sized cuts of wood, stacked separately to feed it.
My three would be:
1. Blaze King Ashford 30. I have an 800 sq/ft apartment above an unconditioned garage that my wife uses as an office. She'd be tickled to be able to set it once in the morning and leave it to run until the next morning. I'd be curious if, when run low, that stove would overwhelm that size/type of space or not.
2. Heco 420 wood cook stove. I gave this stove a long pondering when looking to replace my current stove. I have a friends/neighbors who burn a wood cook stove as their main source of heat and I love visiting it and how they use it. I live in the sticks and the power does go out somewhat regularly so keeping a cook top and oven around would be pretty sweet.
3. Jotul F602. I have second fireplace in my living room and would love to have the option of having ambiance fires when we hang out in there, but I'm unwilling to keep weird, short sized cuts of wood, stacked separately to feed it.
Whirled Peas
Member
I see that on their website but when I’ve searched for reviews from owners there are lots of people saying you really need 14”s.
Anyone run one with exclusively 16”s and been happy?
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