Torn on which of these 2 stoves to purchase

[Seanm]

I load my super 27 up at 11 pm and around 9 am I rake the coals forward and throw more splits on. This is done with Larch which is a softwood albeit a good softwood. I would expect that decent hard woods will last even longer. I have the ash pan but many say they leak so I just keep the space packed with ash and use a shovel and bucket like others have said.

 

[mfetcho]

If the F55 has a 2.9cu/ft firebox, I'd compare it to the T6 with its 3.0cu/ft box. I can't speak for the F55, but my T6 has performed well for me. I would also suggest researching the CAT stoves as well and choose to fit your needs.

 

[begreen]

Agreed that the T6 is a better comparison. How are you determining the firebox capacity for the Jotul?

 

[begreen]

Thanks for that detail, begreen! Jotul seems pretty proud of the stainless baffle design of their newer F55 and F45. They are guaranteeing it for life now. Do you know if the F55 and F45 baffle design is now on par to the PE in terms of being a lifetime baffle? Jotul's is certainly not time tested. Or is PE's T5 baffle still better than any of Jotul's?

Also, I was wondering about PE's secondary control. Is that related to PE's "Boost air for easy lighting" feature?

Boost air is different, it comes from the front center bottom toward the base of the fire. The F55 may also have this feature, not sure. The F55 baffle is pretty nicely designed. I see no reason why it wouldn't stand up well.

 

[7acres]

So I familiarized myself with the catalytic burn process and checked out the Blaze King line. I showed my wife pics of the Ashford 30 and the Princess. She didn't like the looks of the Princess. She really likes the classic cast iron look but wasn't excited at all about the Ashford costing about $1,000 more. The price might be a deal-breaker.

So I was driving and thinking about how the BKs can burn for ~30 hours on Low and ~10 hours solid at full bore and how non-cat stoves only get one-third of that. I just kept thinking there must be some big time trade offs for anybody to want a non-catalytic stove. Other than the price, and catalytic combustors that must be replaced over time what are some reasons knowledgeable people would prefer a non-cat stove who've had burned both stoves and know the differences?

I'm sure I'm not the first person to pose that question on this forum. So I'll try to find threads that go into depth on it. Thanks for bearing with me as I wrap my arms around this whole wood stove concept!

 

[brokenknee]

I do not have a cat stove, however I have seen it posted here that you do not get the "light show" with a cat stove once the cat is engaged. I do remember one member did not agree with that statement, again I do not have a cat stove so I do not speak from first hand experience.

I do have a top load, down draft stove with after burn and I can tell you from first hand experience you do not get the "light show" once the after burn is kicked in.

We went with the Harman as the wife did not like the looks of the BK, we didn't know about the light show. We still most likely would have purchase it since I did not want a tube stove and the wife liked the looks. It has been a good stove so far (only had it a month installed) get 8 to 10 hour burn times.

Just thought I would throw that out there as the wife was not happy she could not see flames all the time.

 

[mfetcho]

So I familiarized myself with the catalytic burn process and checked out the Blaze King line. I showed my wife pics of the Ashford 30 and the Princess. She didn't like the looks of the Princess. She really likes the classic cast iron look but wasn't excited at all about the Ashford costing about $1,000 more. The price might be a deal-breaker.

So I was driving and thinking about how the BKs can burn for ~30 hours on Low and ~10 hours solid at full bore and how non-cat stoves only get one-third of that. I just kept thinking there must be some big time trade offs for anybody to want a non-catalytic stove. Other than the price, and catalytic combustors that must be replaced over time what are some reasons knowledgeable people would prefer a non-cat stove who've had burned both stoves and know the differences?

I'm sure I'm not the first person to pose that question on this forum. So I'll try to find threads that go into depth on it. Thanks for bearing with me as I wrap my arms around this whole wood stove concept!

There has been a lot of debate on here regarding this issue. I to have wondered how the CAT stoves can run hotter longer. Wood only has so much energy it can produce while burning. The only way I can think to produce more heat over a longer period of time is to not allow as much heat loss out the flue. Do CAT stoves have cooler flue temps? Can a CAT stove run at 600 degrees for 10 hours?

 

[7acres]

I just explained that to my wife and she totally wants the light show. At this point we can't do the BK because it would be $1000 over our budget plus no light show, plus the whole stove doesn't radiate heat. Just the top plate more or less. My wife wants the warm radiating heat coming off the cast iron. Since this will be in the middle of the house we really want the aesthetic appeal of cast iron plus a light show when the weather permits. Both my wife and I don't like the idea of parts wearing out on the catalytics. While there are a lot of practical benefits to cat stoves and the BKs specifically I think I can say my wife and I prefer the non-cat experience. Including the temp swings throughout the night. She doesn't mind that the house might start out 76 at bedtime and be 66 when we wake up. I can't say I mind one bit either.

I also appreciated the comment of an earlier poster that the Jotul F55 compares better to the PE T6. That kind of seals the contest for me between the PE T5 and Jotul's F55. F55 costs less than both T6 and T5 and has extra fire brick instead of an ash pan and a really generous fire box considering it's practically the same dimensions as a T5. A larger load of wood means it will heat the house all night long no problem. I'll mull this over some more. I'm not ready to pull out the checkbook quite yet. But all indications are pointing to the Jotul F55.

I do not have a cat stove, however I have seen it posted here that you do not get the "light show" with a cat stove once the cat is engaged. I do remember one member did not agree with that statement, again I do not have a cat stove so I do not speak from first hand experience.

I do have a top load, down draft stove with after burn and I can tell you from first hand experience you do not get the "light show" once the after burn is kicked in.

We went with the Harman as the wife did not like the looks of the BK, we didn't know about the light show. We still most likely would have purchase it since I did not want a tube stove and the wife liked the looks. It has been a good stove so far (only had it a month installed) get 8 to 10 hour burn times.

Just thought I would throw that out there as the wife was not happy she could not see flames all the time.

 

[tarzan]

Just a reminder. Keep them splits under 18".

Talked to a guy a few days ago who got a new stove and had to re-cut about 1/2 a cord.

 

[tfdchief]

I just explained that to my wife and she totally wants the light show. At this point we can't do the BK because it would be $1000 over our budget plus no light show, plus the whole stove doesn't radiate heat. Just the top plate more or less. My wife wants the warm radiating heat coming off the cast iron. Since this will be in the middle of the house we really want the aesthetic appeal of cast iron plus a light show when the weather permits. Both my wife and I don't like the idea of parts wearing out on the catalytics. While there are a lot of practical benefits to cat stoves and the BKs specifically I think I can say my wife and I prefer the non-cat experience. Including the temp swings throughout the night. She doesn't mind that the house might start out 76 at bedtime and be 66 when we wake up. I can't say I mind one bit either.

I also appreciated the comment of an earlier poster that the Jotul F55 compares better to the PE T6. That kind of seals the contest for me between the PE T5 and Jotul's F55. F55 costs less than both T6 and T5 and has extra fire brick instead of an ash pan and a really generous fire box considering it's practically the same dimensions as a T5. A larger load of wood means it will heat the house all night long no problem. I'll mull this over some more. I'm not ready to pull out the checkbook quite yet. But all indications are pointing to the Jotul F55.

Sounds like you have it figured out. My wife and I did the same thing when we settled on the little Hampton in the kitchen. Everyone has their own needs, wants and preferences. And there are a lot of stoves out there to satisfy anyone/everyone. Good luck, it sounds like you are going to make a good decision based one what you want and need.

 

[tcassavaugh]

7.....i have a pe summit and a jotul f3cb. your comment about a non-cat has not been exactly spot on with my experience with the summit. it spits unseasoned wood back at me. the first year i had it i cussed the stove up one side and down the other.....come to find out, it wasn't the stoves fault at all but mine for trying to force feed it not so seasoned wood. now, it runs like a champ so just keep that in the back of you mind....even though it doesn't have a cat, its picky and the T5 may be similar. my little jotul could care less what i feed it. i find the controls simple, the draft superior, and unlike the summit, it doesn't really care what you feed it. that may be the same for the jotul you are looking at but i can't say. also, i prefer the ash bin of the jotul over the one of the summit. all in all both good manufacturers but I've found the jotul more tolerant for my impatience with seasoning of wood. jmho....good luck

 

[7acres]

So glad to hear. It's getting real hard to not pull out the checkbook on the F55. I think I'm going to be in good shape on ideal firewood with the barkless standing dead I've been able to find on my property. Glad to hear the Jotul doesn't get irritable when its diet runs a little on the wet side in your experience.

7.....i have a pe summit and a jotul f3cb. your comment about a non-cat has not been exactly spot on with my experience with the summit. it spits unseasoned wood back at me. the first year i had it i cussed the stove up one side and down the other.....come to find out, it wasn't the stoves fault at all but mine for trying to force feed it not so seasoned wood. now, it runs like a champ so just keep that in the back of you mind....even though it doesn't have a cat, its picky and the T5 may be similar. my little jotul could care less what i feed it. i find the controls simple, the draft superior, and unlike the summit, it doesn't really care what you feed it. that may be the same for the jotul you are looking at but i can't say. also, i prefer the ash bin of the jotul over the one of the summit. all in all both good manufacturers but I've found the jotul more tolerant for my impatience with seasoning of wood. jmho....good luck

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Definitely not making much useful heat that point. That is shoulder season burning. Stove is warm to touch, but that's about it.

Generally 8-10 hours of good heat. The stove is in a 1350ish sq ft place in northern MI. It is a vacation home, and once the place is warmed up, the stove has no trouble keeping it really warm in subzero temps.

Yes, the ash dump sucks. My stove is older, so I don't know if it is improved or not. Shoveling is better.

I got my Spectrum Classic in 2009 and I have no idea how well the ash pan works as I've never used it

 

[Bigg_Redd]

So glad to hear. It's getting real hard to not pull out the checkbook on the F55. I think I'm going to be in good shape on ideal firewood with the barkless standing dead I've been able to find on my property. Glad to hear the Jotul doesn't get irritable when its diet runs a little on the wet side in your experience.

Be advised that all this information is model and set up specific: my old man has a big Jotul insert (550, maybe?) and it is far pickier than my PE. And my buddy has the PE Pacific insert (same firebox as the T5, Super, and Specrum) and it's less picky about wood than mine.

 

[begreen]

True, there is little relationship between the Jotul cast iron stoves and their cast-iron jacketed stoves. They are completely different animals, not even made in the same country. How a stove burns is dependent on several factors, best to not try to compare based on brand or even like sizing. Both the PE and Jotul will burn well. Each will have its advantages and weaknesses.

 

[webby3650]

Just for the record, my Blaze King Ashford is not picky at all. Both the Ashford and my King were very, very tolerant of less than ideal wood. They have been way more tolerant than my Oslo or the Cap Cod.

 

[begreen]

How did this tolerance show up in your observations?

 

[Doc21]

My choice came down to the F55 and Cape Cod. The Cod has a great flame show for a cat stove. I think the F55 would be a great choice as well. Don't be afraid of the cat stoves though. I was a newbie when I bought the Cod and couldn't be happier. It ain't rocket science. The only issue I've had is fly ash clogging the cat, probably due to operator error. A 3 minute swipe with a paint brush made a world of difference. Make the wife happy with aesthetics and go bigger rather than smaller. Oh . . . and keep felling and splitting.

 

[tfdchief]

How did this tolerance show up in your observations?

BG, I will be interested to see his reply to your question. For me, the Hampton, although not real picky, is a little less tolerant of less than good seasoned wood because I can't pour the air to it like I can the ole Buck.......Hell, I could get wet paper towels going in my Buck Easy, now, I am old and have feelings

 

[Bostontom]

Anything with an ash pan is awesome. You pull the pan yah some dribbles down but I've had more rise up from bucket dumpin without a pan I'll never go back to a stove I have to shovel out. My father had a vc non cat without an ash pan. He def had longer burns but cleaning was a pain in the a. I bought a vc dutchwest with a cat burn times are less but the ash pan is great. Hot coals on top and I can get rid of ash without getting rid of coals. I dump the pan put it back in move the coals around to get rid of excess ash and I'm rocking and RollinRollin

 

[begreen]

If you're burning wet paper towels I suggest you speak with ole pooky Chief. Seriously though, I am interested in what differences you are noting webby.

 

[brenndatomu]

No help with the stoves from me, sorry.
You figured out how to turn jewelry into a new wood stove...and the wife is on board!!?!! 5 bazillion cool points for YOU!

 

[webby3650]

How did this tolerance show up in your observations?

I'm not real sure what you are looking for here.
I will use the same wood in each stove. If I'm using wood that hasn't seasoned as long as I would like, or if its wet from rain it'll fire up immediately in the BK. My non-cats including the Cod would struggle to get going, even needing to leave the door cracked to encourage it. With the bypass open, the BK is more tolerant of less than stellar wood than a lot of other stoves. I'm just saying, don't pass up a good cat stove because of the theory that they can't burn wood unless its perfect.

 

[begreen]

Do you think it's the bypass that's helping start the wood and nothing to do with the fact it's a cat stove?

 

[alforit]

I'm not real sure what you are looking for here.
I will use the same wood in each stove. If I'm using wood that hasn't seasoned as long as I would like, or if its wet from rain it'll fire up immediately in the BK. My non-cats including the Cod would struggle to get going, even needing to leave the door cracked to encourage it. With the bypass open, the BK is more tolerant of less than stellar wood than a lot of other stoves. I'm just saying, don't pass up a good cat stove because of the theory that they can't burn wood unless its perfect.

Absolutely !........My BK Chinook and Ashford are by far easier to start and get a fire going than my Woodstock PH and Lennox Grandview were with less than stellar wood.
It took much longer to get a fire going on the non-cat stove and especially on the Woodstock PH ( which is also a Hybrid stove ). Sometimes up to an hour to an hour and a half on the PH .....Made me want to dump it off my deck.....heheh.

Same wood on the BK's took only 15 to 20 minutes to start up