Suggestions- Rear Exit Stoves

[Cluttermagnet]

BeGreen- The Woodstock IS has been on my radar almost as long as the Buck 261.
It looks like a real good way for me to go. And it's prettier...

 

[Ashful]

BeGreen- The Woodstock IS has been on my radar almost as long as the Buck 261.
It looks like a real good way for me to go. And it's prettier...

At risk of being accused of falling on the wrong side of the perpetual "Woodstock vs. Blaze King" rivalry (we all know BK is far better!), you can't really go comparing Buck to one of the two premier catalytic stove manufacturers in the market today. I have no specific negative things to say about Buck, the southerners on this forum seem to love them, but Woodstock is one of the two companies who have really gone beyond and above all others, in forwarding the quality and technology of catalytic stoves.

 

[Cluttermagnet]

Yep, point taken. I don't particularly intend to compare anything. It's more like
I am trying to establish the limits of the very small universe of rear exit stoves
which would fit in my situation- something that is more efficient than the tired
old stove I've been using. So far I've found about 5 candidates. I'd like to know
about anything else out there that would work for me. Cat or non cat (or hybrid).
New or used. Aside from the mechanics of what fits, I think I would like to rule
out heavier stoves like soapstone or cast iron, and stick with welded steel to
keep the weight down. 6 inch flue size is greatly preferred.

Woodstock Ideal Steel (hybrid w/cat)
Buck 261
Jotul F55, F500
Quadrafire Explorer 2 and 3
PE Super 27

Edit: 04 Sep 2017
Took the PE Super 27 off my list because it's top flue only, no rear exit.

 

[begreen]

Of those stoves the PE Super 27 is the anomaly. While and exceptional performer, at 2 cu ft it is the smallest and is strictly top-vent. The Jotul F500 is a great stove but primarily a side-loader and cast iron, though I don't think you should worry about weight. The IS is large and the best value of the group.

 

[Cluttermagnet]

Yep, I think the excellent PE Super 27 snuck in there while I was briefly
considering whether a stove would fit inside the fireplace. I'm dropping
it from my small list. Agree the Woodstock IS is looking mighty good
right now.

 

[JA600L]

I have the Ideal Steel. I have one of the early production units. They made a lot of changes and modifications since mine ( I got some of them for free) so I imagine a new one is even better. It has been a fantastic stove and the best part about a hybrid is it would still work even if the cat failed. I will warn you though, this stove requires a superior chimney and properly seasoned firewood. The same could be said about any of these stoves, but anytime you increase a stoves efficiency the stack temperature drops. A lower stack temperature in a cold or poor drafting chimney could be a disaster. Wet wood lowers the stoves internal temperature and discourages secondary combustion. This would lead to slow smoky start ups and lack of stove top temperature. It's a three stranded cord.

 

[Highbeam]

The IS is large and the best value of the group.

It's 3.2 CF "reportedly" but plenty large for the OP's application and the one I would pick for sure.

Be warned though, it is not a north/south loader. This means that you have to open the front door and chuck wood in sideways and hope it doesn't roll out. There are andirons to help prevent some of this but you will have a hard time loading it full. Partial loads will reduce burn time.

https://www.woodstove.com/ideal-steel-hybrid

 

[JA600L]

It's 3.2 CF "reportedly" but plenty large for the OP's application and the one I would pick for sure.

Be warned though, it is not a north/south loader. This means that you have to open the front door and chuck wood in sideways and hope it doesn't roll out. There are andirons to help prevent some of this but you will have a hard time loading it full. Partial loads will reduce burn time.

https://www.woodstove.com/ideal-steel-hybrid

You can load north and south just fine. I do it all the time.

 

[lalitntaparia]

Since you are looking for a non catalytic EPA type stove, I can think of Quadrafire (Explorer 2, 3) or Jotuls (F55, F500). I am using Quadrafire explorer 2 which is a decent option.

 

[Highbeam]

You can load north and south just fine. I do it all the time.

That's great news, you wouldn't know it by the marketing. Every single picture shows wood sideways and the andirons there to hold logs from rolling out. How much depth is there from the back of andirons to the back of the firebox? Woodstock doesn't even list firebox dimensions.

I certainly hope you're not cutting little 8" long splits of wood and then boasting about this stove being a north/south loader!

 

[JA600L]

That's great news, you wouldn't know it by the marketing. Every single picture shows wood sideways and the andirons there to hold logs from rolling out. How much depth is there from the back of andirons to the back of the firebox? Woodstock doesn't even list firebox dimensions.

I certainly hope you're not cutting little 8" long splits of wood and then boasting about this stove being a north/south loader!

I'll have to check when I get home. It's in the neighborhood of 18" because i don't have any problem doing it. You can take the andirons out in about 5 seconds and leave them out if you don't need or want them.

 

[JA600L]

I'll have to check when I get home. It's in the neighborhood of 18" because i don't have any problem doing it. You can take the andirons out in about 5 seconds and leave them out if you don't need or want them.

 

[Highbeam]

Look out! One is about to fall onto your hearth!

 

[Cluttermagnet]

Since you are looking for a non catalytic EPA type stove, I can think of Quadrafire (Explorer 2, 3) or Jotuls (F55, F500). I am using Quadrafire explorer 2 which is a decent option.

You're the 2nd person to suggest the Explorer 2. That's one I'm looking at. Thanks!
Looked real nice as I read their product pages.

 

[Cluttermagnet]

Revisiting this thread, I noticed the Quadrafire Explorer II appears to be top exhaust only-
unless someone can tell me different. I am looking at the manual on the Explorer II. It is top
exhaust- unless there is some factory optional cowling available that converts it to
rear exhaust?

Four years later I am back to looking for a rear exhaust stove, now for a different location.
The lintel height is about 39 inches. I'd lose several inches to whatever fireproof materials
are used for the hearth buildout in front of the present fireplace bottom ledge (about
11-1/2in high). The stove would sit on that buildout area. Horizontal pipe and an elbow
up, then through the blockoff plate above. Or, since the stove would be free standing out
front, perhaps better a Tee for cleanouts...

I simply would not consider an insert. Besides, It would be a nightmare
to clean, and might even have to be uninstalled each and every time I wanted the
flue swept. This has a reasonably tall masonry chimney which appears to be in great shape.
Modified for a fireplace stainless flue, looks like 8in or larger diameter and appears to
have insulating fill around it. A nice stainless screened cap on top. It always drew well
for starts as a fireplace. It's an end chimney, though.

I plan a self install if and when I become sure I do know what I'm doing. I have such an
installation at another location which is an old free standing shop stove with rear
exhaust. Run successfully since 2007. It discharges into a blockoff plate in the top of
that fireplace, which is unique BTW. It is open on two sides, front and back. Never drew
worth a darn as a fireplace, but came to life running with a free standing stove.

One person recently told me the Buck 261 is now considered obsolete, BTW.
I'm still looking for suggestions as to the limited number of stoves having a rear exhaust.
Any more models you guys know about? I may well consider used as well, although
I am focusing on new stoves right now. TIA for all suggestions!

 

[begreen]

The Explorer II has a reversible flue collar. Sorry that the Quad has not continued this line. It was good looking and came in 3 sizes.

 

[Cluttermagnet]

Thanks! But dang, I am sorry to hear that. Maybe I go look for one used?