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Wood burning stove

Vtbow

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Mar 21, 2018
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If I ever build a cabin, Tulikivi.

I have two Vermont Castings stoves sitting in my garage.
I"m a big Vermont Castings Fan, and have had several in my houses. I"m currently running an "Energy Harverster" made in Mass. Its approx 50,000 BTU when running efficiently.... ITs a great, deep stove...
 
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kyler1945

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SH Member
Dec 4, 2016
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Willis, TX
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Willis, TX
Current stove is a Vermont Encore.

The stove was being used more for fun than necessity.

We got a big fan to move air throughout the main chunk of the house, so now using the stove to compliment radiant heat makes more sense.

Exterior wall, free standing in a corner. 6 or 8”, can’t remember, pipe going up at least 12’, maybe 15’ inside before turning out near roofline.

It will not be the primary source of heat, or at least it will not be required to be. The whole house can be heated by propane boiler and radiant baseboards. Propane is expensive, we have wood and like making fires. Combining all of that is the goal.

If the difference in a fun stove and the best stove is 3k all in versus 15k, we want a fun stove. If it’s 1000.00, and getting just the right Goldilocks, that’s different.

Want to stay in similar envelope as the encore.

I can cut wood here and haul up on occasion, but it’s cheaper to have it cut there. The last load we got was 18” or less in length. Doubt I can ask them for 20” or special length to get more heat.

Goal is to set thermostat for heating system to a minimum temp. Fire up stove when we’re there and want to use it. Less propane gets used as stove does its job.
 

kyler1945

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Dec 4, 2016
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We like glass doors to see a fire. We like it a certain dollar amount I’m sure.
 
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Plebe

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Sep 14, 2020
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I"m a big Vermont Castings Fan, and have had several in my houses. I"m currently running an "Energy Harverster" made in Mass. Its approx 50,000 BTU when running efficiently.... ITs a great, deep stove...

The VC swing out Ash Pan is convenient.

Those EHs are really neat.

EB37E997-5198-4576-9360-029A238E543D.jpeg
 
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ericabbott

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SH Member
Sep 20, 2018
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Jonesborough TN
I have the Ideal Steel from Woodstock Soapstone that heats my entire house (1500 sq ft). They have several selections if you need something smaller. Blaze King is another good brand. Both will let you go overnight without loading!!! You can often get a NC-30 New Englander ( I think that is the brand and model) from the big box stores on a great clearance. That one is one of the best budget ones around.
My buddy from New Hampshire swears by Woodstock. Heats his house with it year round. Also comes with a cast iron cooking surface, which is nice if you lose power. They’re pricy but reasonable since you’re splitting it 4 ways.
 

kyler1945

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Dec 4, 2016
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Willis, TX
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Willis, TX
Look for a Vermont Castings Encore. You'll be very happy.

That’s what’s there now.

Just trying to decide if a 4K price tag, plus getting it there or having it installed is worth the extra money, when compared to cheaper options
 
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Vtbow

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Mar 21, 2018
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That’s what’s there now.

Just trying to decide if a 4K price tag, plus getting it there or having it installed is worth the extra money, when compared to cheaper options
Short answer. Yes. The damper and catalytic efficiency is amazing. You go to a standard box stove and youre goin to be like *** ..why I I have to feed this thing so often an it's not that hot?

Never go back in quality. It's like selling a Tikka and buying a savage....it'll get the job done...but you'll notice the difference..
 
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kyler1945

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SH Member
Dec 4, 2016
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Willis, TX
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Willis, TX
IMG_7825.jpeg

Fireplace guy’s assessment. Obviously, he’s biased because he sells and installs new ones. Spoke with him over phone, and he didn’t feel comfortable breaking ours down to repair because he wasn’t confident it didn’t end in a new one being purchased anyway after us being out labor costs to discover that fact.

Basically said he’ll do anything we want, but thinks it’s dumb to try and salvage it.
 

Vtbow

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2018
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Where is it warped?
Is it catalytic or non?
Doors no big deal. Oversize the gasket.
Fire it upa dhokd a piece of paper to all the seams. If it sticks,it's sucking air there. Buy a tube of stove cement. Fill seam. Repeat. Run stove for another 10 years
If catalytic..
Different story...
 
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JC3

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Mar 26, 2019
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My buddy from New Hampshire swears by Woodstock. Heats his house with it year round. Also comes with a cast iron cooking surface, which is nice if you lose power. They’re pricy but reasonable since you’re splitting it 4 ways.
I second the Woodstock Soapstone stoves, have used one (had it rebuilt once) for 30+ years.
The soapstone warms slowly and cools slowly, has a glass front and heats my 1800 sq. ft log house easily (Hunterdon Cty., NJ)
 

Iron_llama

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2020
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NW MN
If you have the space (and foundation) you might look into a masonry heater. A buddy built an off-grid house with a masonry heater with multiple fireboxes. IIRC, 1 in the living room and 1 in the kitchen (other side of the wall) plus a pizza oven in the kitchen. He paid a couple of ducats for it but, c'mon... pizza oven.
 
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CooterBrown

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SH Member
Sep 1, 2020
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Tulikivi. Do you have one? I have looked at these and other Masonry Heaters for years. I think I would like to have one. @Plebe
 
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