Stove Contraption on Ebay, what is this thing? Legitimate?

[kevinmoelk]

Just another strange Ebay listing. Is this stove for real? What do you guys think?

-Kevin

(broken link removed)

 

[Jake]

Sure is interesting

 

[kd460]

I agree, interesting concept. A truly multifuel stove/heater/furnace. 10 Gauge thick? Hmm thats not very thick (.1345 in.). Notice the angle iron welded to the sides. Probably to prevent warpage of that thinner steel. Unless I missed it, I see no reference to UL listings. If thats the case, good luck with insurance.

Not trying to bash it, but, those are the immediate issues that I see. I like the design, I like the concept, I like the fact that it has no moving parts. In his website, he makes reference to the need to clean "exchange chamber buildup every 3-4 weeks". Not sure what that is all about, but it looks like a side panel needs to be removed? KD

 

[VT-Woodburner]

I just wonder if the EPA would approve the emissions numbers. If my stove's gotta pass, so should this.

 

[mtarbert]

This dosen't look very diffrent from an Old coal heater I had in the 70s and it was probably made in the 30s.I am sure the guy who makes these is very proud of his self but I can see this thing rusting away in a few years in my basement all summer.I wish he had had some plate steel some where on this contraption.
Mike

 

[webbie]

If it is advertised as corn and biomass, it may not be subject to EPA. That standard is for room heaters.

The steel thickness may not be that important. Both ELK and I had early Efel stoves with the firebox made out of sheet metal vastly thinner than that - about 20 gauge. They lasted 20 years plus!

We have a Forum member who is going into production of a similar combustion design... the Sedore stove or something like that. He claims it works to beat the band. Most of these use downdraft combustion, so it is the right idea. Of course, there is only a certain market for utility stoves - webwidow would not allow that thing in our living room. But there are probably lots of farmers who have biomass to spare and a shop to heat.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

lot of welding in that thing, angle pieces to stiffen the sides, lot of metal surface to radiate heat with , 10 ga steel is kinda thin for a BTu range as high as estimated welding didnt look that clean, but may have been all flat welds, doesnt look like vertical passes i'd have to see if the unit has passed safety tests by ul listed agency before i'd even consider it

 

[EatenByLimestone]

It reminds me of the Improved Shaker Stove designed by the Shakers in the mid 1800s.

 

[begreen]

AKA BUS: Big, Ugly Stove. Looks ok for shop duty though.

 

[kevinmoelk]

Stoveguy, I agree the welds don't look to be that of a very skilled person, looks like the penetration is pretty shallow. I weld mostly for strength, but even my amateur welding jobs come out cleaner looking than that. Spike probably wouldn't let welds like that leave his shop.

I'm most curious about the pellet/shelled corn option and how it's augerless, with no moving parts. Seems simple enough, why don't other manufacturers include augerless designs? Granted, I know absolutely nothing about pellet stoves, so you pros out there educate me.

-Kevin

 

[Roospike]

Ummmmmmm ummm ummm ...............

The welds ? We call that ..... buttering the bread < kinda of gobing it on top , dont really mix but its togother >

The fit and finish? Look at the attachment pic of the bottom cutout hole in the stove . -------------> U be the judge .

Here is a picture of another stove he/she sold for a hair over 2 grand.

Other than that .......... NO COMMENT

 

[kevinmoelk]

Hey Roospike... good eye, I didn't notice the lack of craftsmanship there (your circle), lol. I saw the second stove picture you posted too. I was laughing thinking about how it looked like you could slide a pizza on that shelf in the middle.

-Kevin

 

[restorer]

Stoveguy, I agree the welds don't look to be that of a very skilled person, looks like the penetration is pretty shallow. I weld mostly for strength, but even my amateur welding jobs come out cleaner looking than that. Spike probably wouldn't let welds like that leave his shop.
I'm most curious about the pellet/shelled corn option and how it's augerless, with no moving parts. Seems simple enough, why don't other manufacturers include augerless designs? Granted, I know absolutely nothing about pellet stoves, so you pros out there educate me.

-Kevin

I looked at this stove for my shop last Spring. I couldn't get a handle on the feed system for pellets. Not only is it not powered for an auger, but it has no blower for combustion air. As far as I understand, you need supplied air for the successful burning of pellets, and other bio-mass fuels. I have seen a sloped ramp bottom fed burn system, but I think that was for a sawdust burning furnace (250kBtu type). That unit had an air injection system to control the burn.

I tried to ask some questions by email, but got no response as I was too far out of his area. I don't think it would be an effective pellet, corn, bio-mass burner, but it looks like a nasty wood burner.

He sells the stoves, but you have to rig your own blower for heat transfer. He claims you can hook some models in series with a forced air heating system. Leaves a lot for the buyer to think through. Seriously doubt it's had any outside testing.