Loving my new to me Isle Royale

[bushman]

Friday the 13th was a lucky day for me this year. I picked up a Quadrafire Isle Royale that did not work out for another family. I have learned a lot from Hearth.com over the years and the folks I bought the stove from had a lousy chimney set up, 4' wide brick chimney from an old bricked over fire place with a 6" hole for the stove pipe. I brought a headlamp and a tactical flashlight to go over the stove before I said " I do". All that I saw inside of it was chunky creosote and lots of it. Can not imagine how they ever got a draft with that poor setup.

When I got home the refurb began, the shop vac choked down a lot of ash and clinkers. Dollied the stove inside then started looking at the gaskets. Made it to Emmett Brick and Block in Petoskey at 4:45 pm and bought 20' of 1/2 &1/4 Rutland Graphite gasket. Went home and read as much as possible about gasket,cement.

Saturday morn after a can of Kona Monster coffee energy drink Istarted ripping out the old gaskets and scraping the channels. Noticed that Quad used red silicone but I used tried and true Meecos fiberglass cement. If I had the patience I would have tried the silicone but I needed to burn this baby asap.

3:00pm Saturday came around as the temp started to go below zero just as I got out the drill to back out the screws on my stovepipe to my Lopi Liberty, it was a significant moment and I will remember it because it was like telling a trusted friend to get lost cause you found new more exciting friends. Almost a betrayal but I'm sentimental with stoves. Moved the big steel heater out and then had the cast iron stove on the hearth within 45 minutes.

My 1st fire started by 5:00 and was an easy transition from the routine that I had with the Liberty. That fire has been going since and I am very happy with how the Quadrafire is running. Top loading is a new luxury and the ash pan is keeping it clean. I find long burns and high heat. Nothing but good things so far.

 

[Jags]

Welcome aboard the Isle Royale train. It will be interesting to hear the comparison of the IR to the Liberty (advertised 3.1 cuft firebox). They are both big stoves and right in the same neighborhood for size. Both are well respected units. Please keep us posted.

 

[bushman]

It's been 20 below zero for a few days and I notice less ash. The ash pan comes out every other day full and no mess. My wife is not 100% on board because she's tiny and the top load is more scary than a feature. I hope she can become comfortable with the front doors. Wife's friend burnt her forearm on a woodstove recently and although I gave my wife a set of Linesmans gauntlet gloves she's still Leary of putting her arms in the cast iron inferno. I never heard a peep about the Liberty, Elm or the dammed coal stokers. I have also not had to sweep up around the hearth like I did everyday. To me this is progress.

 

[Jags]

How is the heat output in comparison?

 

[bushman]

I can get more radiant heat out of the IR, it seems. With this cold snap starting the day I installed the IR, we have been warm and have used a little less wood it seems. My Liberty had a thermo switch on the blower, that was nice. IR just hast variable speed, that's fine. I have wanted an Isle Royale for some time and it has lived up to my expectations. Very happy.

 

[begreen]

Yes the IR was on my very short list until the T6 with closer clearances happened. It's a great heater and a very good looking stove too.

 

[BobUrban]

Nice looking stove and your dog seems to not have noticed any change at all I am impressed with your mid season swap out during a vortex!! Takes stones to make that move.

Rocking the old school 3 wheeler as well - not that is being resourceful!!

 

[brad wilton]

it's the siberian express this year

 

[bushman]

The heavy burning is over for this season and I am on the Quadrafire Isle Royale wagon. I came out of hibernation a few weeks ago and started cutting,splitting and even unstacked a row and a half to move to the front of the woodshed. The leftover wood is significant compared to the last few. Without a doubt this cast iron stove gets hotter than my Liberty, just saying. I could not tell you why it's hotter, it just is and we use less wood. I notice that on reloads I would pack the Liberty to the gills and on the Isle Royale we drop in a couple of pieces at a time and that is to do with the area to load but it works just fine. This stove has been on my list for a while and without a doubt it lived up to my expectations.

 

[stovelark]

Hey Bushman There are a lot of happy IR burners- remember the burn videos from Quad years ago, had a green Isle Royale with a steamer on top- she was steaming too. Beautiful burning stove, congrats.

 

[bushman]

I tried looking around the interweb for pictures of a green Isle Royale, imagine it would look beautiful. Really can't find a picture of a Dovre Isle Royale for that matter.

 

[Jags]

Not owned by Dovre anymore. Just stick to isle royale for your search