Trouble finding a N/S loading stove....

[MontanaSam]

Hello all,

First post here, have been hounding these forums for a few months now though.

I live in Northwest Montana, and building a new house...1200sq, small bedrooms above the main living room, very compact, tight and efficient design. That said, in this part of the country we mostly burn larch, doug-fir and pine.....not the best I know.

I have a lot of experience with wood stoves....mainly very old, front loading barrel stoves and smaller/older Vogelzang stoves.....and a crazy assortment of top-loading home made stoves. What I love about them all is the N/S log orientation....I don't see how anything can be as handy.

I know exactly what I am looking for, but can't seem to find it:

A medium sized, front loading wood stove, non-catalytic, with a glass door, pedestal base, and a firebox larger than 1.9 cubic feet.

I thought the True North TN19 seemed like the perfect stove...but seems that many of the reviews people wish they went slightly bigger, and 1.9 cu. ft. does seem pretty small.

The house has forced hot air, so stove is not the soul source; however, I would like to be able to comfortably heat the house if need be.

Can anybody point me in the right direction?

 

[Knots]

I run a Jotul F55 and load it N-S. 18" splits.

 

[corcorancmc]

Hello all,

First post here, have been hounding these forums for a few months now though.

I live in Northwest Montana, and building a new house...1200sq, small bedrooms above the main living room, very compact, tight and efficient design. That said, in this part of the country we mostly burn larch, doug-fir and pine.....not the best I know.

I have a lot of experience with wood stoves....mainly very old, front loading barrel stoves and smaller/older Vogelzang stoves.....and a crazy assortment of top-loading home made stoves. What I love about them all is the N/S log orientation....I don't see how anything can be as handy.

I know exactly what I am looking for, but can't seem to find it:

A medium sized, front loading wood stove, non-catalytic, with a glass door, pedestal base, and a firebox larger than 1.9 cubic feet.

I thought the True North TN19 seemed like the perfect stove...but seems that many of the reviews people wish they went slightly bigger, and 1.9 cu. ft. does seem pretty small.

The house has forced hot air, so stove is not the soul source; however, I would like to be able to comfortably heat the house if need be.

Can anybody point me in the right direction?

 

[corcorancmc]

The Kuma wood classic is a great N-S 2.5 cf stove with pedestal and a large easy to use ash pan.

 

[mopar440_6]

Take a look at the QuadraFire 3100 Millenium or 3100 Step Top. Firebox is pretty much square so you could load N/S pretty easily and the construction of the Quads is great. I looked at a couple of Enerzone stoves too that might be worth taking a look at.

 

[RopeS]

If I were you, I'd seriously consider an Englander Madison. You can see my threads on it, but overall I'm very happy with mine, and it has everything you're looking for in a stove, and with only an ember protection hearth requirement.

 

[Oldman47]

The Napoleon 1900 is intended to load N/S but I have zero experience with it.

 

[jeff_t]

A compact and tight 1200 sq ft can be a challenge to heat with wood, without overdoing it. I certainly wouldn't be looking at larger stoves.

Are you looking for longer burns?

Check out PE's Super 27. I don't think you'll find a 2 cu ft stove that will burn longer. It differs from the TN on that it has a secondary air control linked with the primary. It gives really good control and some pretty long burns.

Honestly, you are a good candidate for a cat stove, but I don't want to start that discussion.

 

[Seanm]

Check out PE's Super 27. I don't think you'll find a 2 cu ft stove that will burn longer. It differs from the TN on that it has a secondary air control linked with the primary. It gives really good control and some pretty long burns.

I loaded my super 27 last night at 11:30 with larch for my overnight burn and just now (9:45 am) raked the coals forward for reload so Im happy with the burn time. Stove top isnt overly warm but with the IR it was 230 f.

OP, is that 1200 sq ft total or 1200 plus a basement? I live one hour north of Eureka Montana and burn the same wood as you (my pine is lodgepole) I have a 2600 sq ft house and this stove keeps us warm unless it gets real cold. I would check this stove out if I were you. Also I know you say you don't want to go with a cat but many in our area like blaze king stoves that can give a nice even heat during milder times burning exclusively soft woods.

 

[begreen]

If the house is well built, tight and efficient the PE Super 27 series is what I would be looking at or a cat stove like a BK. A 3 cu ft in a small house would be overkill. The Super 27 has a remarkable long burn time in part due to the regulated secondary.

 

[Kaptain]

Hello all,

First post here, have been hounding these forums for a few months now though.

I live in Northwest Montana, and building a new house...1200sq, small bedrooms above the main living room, very compact, tight and efficient design. That said, in this part of the country we mostly burn larch, doug-fir and pine.....not the best I know.

I have a lot of experience with wood stoves....mainly very old, front loading barrel stoves and smaller/older Vogelzang stoves.....and a crazy assortment of top-loading home made stoves. What I love about them all is the N/S log orientation....I don't see how anything can be as handy.

I know exactly what I am looking for, but can't seem to find it:

A medium sized, front loading wood stove, non-catalytic, with a glass door, pedestal base, and a firebox larger than 1.9 cubic feet.

I thought the True North TN19 seemed like the perfect stove...but seems that many of the reviews people wish they went slightly bigger, and 1.9 cu. ft. does seem pretty small.

The house has forced hot air, so stove is not the soul source; however, I would like to be able to comfortably heat the house if need be.

Can anybody point me in the right direction?

Englander NC-30

 

[nikolays]

Check into Drolet Sahara, I have Myriad simple and dependable but it might be too big for your house.

 

[skysong]

The Buck 85 and 91 load N/S and come with an optional pedestal...see the descriptions... (broken link removed to http://www.buckstove.com/wood-stoves.html) I have the 91 as a second stove and can burn it with a small fire or large as necessary. Check out the others for a smaller stove...pedestal option, wood length and direction are listed in the descriptions.

 

[UPswede]

Regency ' s F2400 has a 2.3 cu. ft. square firebox that can be loaded N-S ( or E-W ). It's a simple, well built, steel stove that has heated my 1350 sq. ft. ranch very well so far this winter.

There are a lot of good stoves available . Good luck on finding the one that is right for your situation.

 

[MontanaSam]

I live one hour north of Eureka Montana and burn the same wood as you

Well, I live in Columbia Falls, so we're close enough. No basement, just living space.


Thank you all for the responses. I have some research to do. Some of the referrals seem extravagantly priced, upwards of $2000 is not in my budget. Like anything else, I am sure there is an effective medium....but then again, am I wrong to be shopping for a good wood stove in the $600-$1200 price range?

Perhaps this is no place for the question, but why would a small, tight and efficient house be a good candidate for a catalytic stove vs. non cat?

 

[bholler]

Perhaps this is no place for the question, but why would a small, tight and efficient house be a good candidate for a catalytic stove vs. non cat?

Because cat stoves can be run at lower heat outputs much better than not cat stoves

 

[Creekheat]

Jotul f55 here too.

 

[Bagelboy]

Osburn 2300. I have it, and like it!

 

[bholler]

shopping for a good wood stove in the $600-$1200 price range?

That would be an englaner then probably the nc 30

 

[begreen]

1200 sq ft, small bedrooms above the main living room, very compact, tight and efficient design. If correct, this place should not need a 3 cu ft stove.

 

[Mr.Stroker]

Is your budget just the stove or do you want it all for that much. You could probably get the mid size englander and pipe for around 1400 I

 

[realstihl]

Drolet 1800. N/S or E/W loading. It should be in your price range.

 

[begreen]

I thought the Drolet Escape 1800 was more of a E/W loader. The firebricks only look about 13" deep. Is this different from your stove?

 

[stovelark]

For good bargains, check out Osburn and Enviro. For your budget, mid size England stove works or maybe Heatilator eco choice WS18 or WS22, both good values.

 

[Cynnergy]

Lol this thread is hilarious - almost everyone is chiming in with their own stove!

I may as well join the party - I have a PE Super 27 in a 900 sq ft leaky cabin on the BC Coast - I can get good burn times (10 hrs+) with it if I burn dry doug fir and load E-W (requires splits <15"), but I mostly load it N-S for ease and quick heat-ups from cold. If it's mild out, we sometimes have to open the doors because it gets too hot.