Upgrading Encore 2N1 for a Blaze King?

[mellow]

With a catalytic stove you can smoulder the wood and the cats stay engaged with enough smoke going through them, the nice thing with the BK stoves is the Bi-metallic thermostat that regulates the air to keep the cat in the active zone and producing heat. Pretty much a set and forget stove.

I would recommend getting double wall as with a stove like this that idles so low you want to keep the temps in the chimney higher so you don't loose draft.

 

[bobdog2o02]

Thanks for your reply. Couple questions for my application. Can I spray paint it biscuit? Can I hook up to 6 inch single wall pipe? Is princess too big for my home? I understand it isn't 400 degrees all around the stove but operating at that temp all the time sounds like too much heat. What happens when it isn't getting enough air and it goes into non-active range? Does the fire simply just go out?

With a 400 degree stove top its not TOO much heat just a nice steady output. With the BK thermostatic control the stove will adjust its own airflow to match the stove temp you set. And yes, the princess can RIP too, less burn time but hey.

 

[Highbeam]

Thanks for your reply. Couple questions for my application. Can I spray paint it biscuit? Can I hook up to 6 inch single wall pipe? Is princess too big for my home? I understand it isn't 400 degrees all around the stove but operating at that temp all the time sounds like too much heat. What happens when it isn't getting enough air and it goes into non-active range? Does the fire simply just go out?

1) You can spray paint it any color you want so long as you use the proper paint product. We've seen red, gold, brown, etc. I like OEM black but this is totally up to you and reversible. It won't be baked on enamel.

2) Yes, you can use 6" single wall. Double wall is better for a few reasons but that wasn't your question.

3) No. The size of the stove is not as closely related to low end heat output with cat stoves as it is with non-cats. The larger stove just holds more fuel. At high outputs, the size of the stove becomes more and more important. On "low" the princess stove only puts out a small amount of heat. If that's too much then you can let it die and fire every other day.

4) If the cat goes inactive, it stops eating the smoke and your wood load smolders until either extinguishing itself or running out of fuel. That can be a smokey stinky mess in the firebox, up the flue, and out the stack. You will learn, through trial and error, what the lowest stat setting is that will maintain cat lightoff. It's pretty low.

 

[Calentarse]

With a 400 degree stove top its not TOO much heat just a nice steady output. With the BK thermostatic control the stove will adjust its own airflow to match the stove temp you set. And yes, the princess can RIP too, less burn time but hey.

I'm sorry, what do you mean by RIP?

 

[Highbeam]

RIP, like kick butt, rippin hot.

 

[mellow]

How was fireplace supply's showroom? What pricing did he quote for the princess?

 

[Calentarse]

just got back from going there this afternoon. they were unable to give me any quotes as they were told by their distributor that blaze King will be selling directly to the dealers. she has contacted blaze King and has not yet heard from them.

the showroom is nice, new and features a third wood stoves a third pellet and a third fireplace. For woodstoves, there are hearthstone displays and heritage as well.

 

[jeff_t]

just got back from going there this afternoon. they were unable to give me any quotes as they were told by their distributor that blaze King will be selling directly to the dealers. she has contacted blaze King and has not yet heard from them.

This was touched upon in another thread
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/first-24-hour-burn.131826/page-2#post-1773526

You could probably contact Chris if you're not getting anywhere.

 

[Highbeam]

For woodstoves, there are hearthstone displays and heritage as well.

I had a heritage and dumped it for the BK. The HS stoves are pretty and perform as advertised but they are not built to last. Don't be tempted.

 

[begreen]

There are lots of 20+ yr old Hearthstone's in service. Our neighbor has a 34 yr old H1 still heating his house. The nice thing is that Hearthstone still supplies parts for older units.

 

[Charles1981]

I would like to know how much you get for the encore 2n1 when you sell it...

I have entertained the thought of selling mine online or craigslist and trying to get 1500$ for and it turning around and purchasing an ideal steel or bk princess...The IS being the more reasonable choice financially. Would love a bk king, but i'm not going so far as to replace my 6in liner.

 

[mellow]

IMHO, you would be hard pressed to get more than $800-$1000 for any VC stove. The only exception to that would be one that has been rebuilt using all new parts.

 

[begreen]

A 3 year old Encore 2n1 should bring in about $1500 if it is in excellent condition, especially during peak season. They went to a harder refractory in the newer model. Of course it will likely sell to someone that is not a stove enthusiast and hanging out here.

 

[Highbeam]

There are lots of 20+ yr old Hearthstone's in service. Our neighbor has a 34 yr old H1 still heating his house. The nice thing is that Hearthstone still supplies parts for older units.

Lot's of 20+ year old VC in operation too. Neither are available today.

 

[begreen]

How many cords did you run through the Heritage? Was it 30?

 

[Calentarse]

There are lots of 20+ yr old Hearthstone's in service. Our neighbor has a 34 yr old H1 still heating his house. The nice thing is that Hearthstone still supplies parts for older units.

Not considering Hearthstone; we aren't partial to the soapstone look. Really wanting the BK Ashford 20.1 I believe. Wife and I argue about the princess. Even with the legs instead of pedestal I don't think she'll swing for it. I'm also a little apprehensive bc I think the princess even on its lowest setting will be too much for our house and in the winter id prefer to keep a steady fire going.

What does everyone think? Think it'll be too much? Ashford is rated for 900 to 1500 square feet which is perfect for us. The black Ashford 20 is $3000.

 

[Calentarse]

I would like to know how much you get for the encore 2n1 when you sell it...

I have entertained the thought of selling mine online or craigslist and trying to get 1500$ for and it turning around and purchasing an ideal steel or bk princess...The IS being the more reasonable choice financially. Would love a bk king, but i'm not going so far as to replace my 6in liner.

I'll post the info. We've got a lot going on right now so I doubt we'll be selling it any time soon. People around here have been asking an I've let them know that I'll sell the single wall pipe to the ceiling, flashing, stove, new combustor, new access panel and firescreen all for $2000. I've offered to deliver and I'd freshly paint it as well.

I might be cementing the crack and keeping it for a while if I don't get any offers.

 

[Charles1981]

A 3 year old Encore 2n1 should bring in about $1500 if it is in excellent condition, especially during peak season. They went to a harder refractory in the newer model. Of course it will likely sell to someone that is not a stove enthusiast and hanging out here.

I would be very sad If i couldn't get 1500$. It is in immaculate condition, no cracks or breaks, refractory looks brand new. His 2in1 however has a crack in the back...might change things slightly... not sure. I would look at getting that repaired under warranty however.

 

[Calentarse]

This was touched upon in another thread
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/first-24-hour-burn.131826/page-2#post-1773526

You could probably contact Chris if you're not getting anywhere.

Nice forum topic, hadn't seen it yet and had some good Ashford info as well. BK got back to her yesterday and she emailed me some pricing for the princess and the Ashford. Of course, Ashford is $3000 and I've got that tied up in my piece of junk Encore. What to do...

 

[Calentarse]

I would be very sad If i couldn't get 1500$. It is in immaculate condition, no cracks or breaks, refractory looks brand new. His 2in1 however has a crack in the back...might change things slightly... not sure. I would look at getting that repaired under warranty however.

The claim has been submitted but the warranty states that casting is only warrantied for the first 3 years. What kind of BS is that? Who doesn't warranty IRON for at least a decade? VC has never given me warranty issues though- had access covers and the combustor both replaced covered in full. I've also emailed a guy at VC Group- no reply yet regarding the warranty info.

 

[Highbeam]

How many cords did you run through the Heritage? Was it 30?

Yes, about 30 over only 5 or 6 years. The door hinges and latch wore, became sloppy, and were ONLY repairable by a stove tear down and rebuild. It was a good stove otherwise. Performed as advertised and looked great.

Maybe that's a "lifetime" of burning to you but not to me.

 

[begreen]

I think they have upgraded the hinges and latch. The Heritage I saw at the show looked improved. I haven't run one but do know of a couple Mansfields that have been heating since the early 2000s. Not sure how much wood they've run through them though. 30 cords would be 10 yrs of use for us.

 

[Calentarse]

Just so everyone knows. VC got back to my dealer and will warranty my stove in full. They offered to pay to have it rebuilt or send me a new one. I'm very pleased. Now just have to get this one out and the new one in and hope it is better able to operate at lower temperatures than my 2010. Fingers crossed they've honed in on those air inlets...

 

[BrotherBart]

Good to hear. Keep us posted on progress.

 

[mellow]

Good to know, you can't beat that kind of service. So the BK is out of the picture?