Happy Heat! Wood Stove Help

[EMB5530]

How well do the Pacific Energy hold up to high heat.
My primary wood source is Osage Orange(Extremely hard hot burning wood) which will destroy a normal stove. That is why I was leaning toward this hybrid(steel&cast). It is fully welded and is extremely heavy which translates to a lot of metal having to be heated before any warp-age.
But I will check into them as I have not read any reviews on Pacific Energy yet and if there is a better stove to be had I am all for it.
Thanks

 

[westcliffe01]

I think the internal construction of the PE stoves is the best in the industry. The baffle assembly is welded stainless steel and it "floats" on a pair of supports so it is not constrained from expanding and contracting so it does not crack. The VC stoves and Harmon had endless trouble with fragile fiber board baffles and other refractory parts which could be broken just by hitting them with a piece of firewood.

I did not say so, but all the PE stoves are made from welded steel plate, the cast iron forms an outer convective layer and the external surface is not as hot as a single wall stove. It is definitely the best stove I have ever owned. This dealer in the pacific northwest lists prices and provides a description of all the models https://www.chimneysweeponline.com/pacaldert5.htm

If you get the chance, take an up close look at a PE stove. I don't believe that anyone else comes close. My mid size model with the fancy castings was $1500 a few years ago. I know I paid more than that for the smaller Morso I had before it and double that for the corn stove I had prior to that.... When corn went from $1.98 to $6/bushel in just a few months... Was the worst timed choice I could possibly have made, but no-one seemed to see that coming.

 

[sd455dan]

Hello Everybody,

The wife and I are looking at (finally) putting in a wood stove. The first stoves we looked at were Vermont Castings which are very beautiful stoves, but the headaches that it seems they can give their owners seems a bit more than I want to deal w/ especally for the price. I also looked at napolean as many owners seem to like them but, most of their stoves seem to have a smaller fire box though, still nice stoves. Also, Lopi which seem good but not anything that seems to draw me towards them besides the solid reviews.There are several others that seem to be nice stoves but after finding this certain stove I may have my mind set. It is a Jotul F50TL Rangeley this stove seems to be built like a tank! Very heavy, but relatively simple. Not a lot of fancy about it, except the top load, which I could do without, but I like the idea of throwing food up top and cooking when we lose power or when I don't feel like going out in the cold.

I guess I am wondering if anyone here has any experience w/ Jotul and more specificly the F50TL. If so tell me all about it. I would sure appreciate it.
Also, if anyone knows any other good info pertaining to wood stoves I am all ears. I grew up in a house w/ wood heat but there is always something a person doesn't know. Any info on flue setup is always good. Such as installing a flue damper or not.

Thanks all.


Here is some Technical spec
Emission:2.84 gram/hr
Heating capacity:Up to 2,500 SQFT
Approx weight:569 lbs
Log size:Up to 20 in
Flue Outlet:6 in
Efficiency:Over 84%
Flue exit options:Top and Rear
Effect Max output:83,000 btuAccessories
Ash solution:Yes
View attachment 359451

one other thing to check into -if your going to use the stove as the main heat source.
Burn time

Not familiar with the Jotul but on our new home - went with another Blaze King.
they aren't the best looking stoves but they hold a fire with the very best ...
It was a major concern for us that the stove be able to keep a fire over a very long time, we asked about the Lopis in comparison to the Blaze kings (dealer sold both) and he laughed and said the Lopis are a fine stove but if using it for a main heat source and running it over night -forget it...

just something to consider - because it can get old getting up in the middle of the night - (EVERY NIGHT) to re-load the wood stove... now if you are only burning a wood stove as (supplemental heat) - please disregard

Good Luck on your search, and research will pay off :thumbsup:

 

[EMB5530]

The PE stoves look really well built. I need to make it somewhere that has them in a showroom to see one.

Thanks west

 

[IXLR8]

Thanks for that IXLR8 that is kinda where I am at as far as the damper.
I live where the wind is always blowing in the winter. Normally out of the North but at times any other direction and usually about 20+ mph so the damper though maybe not always necessary could be a must in certain conditions as the chimney will be within 10 feet of where 3 different angles of roof come together so there may be some odd currents around the flue.

I did find that the damper as originally installed helped but did not provide enough dampening, especially if the winds got above 35mph, which they do occasionally. The damper plate is cast iron, but has about 3/4" gap between it and the pipe, as well as two 1" holes in it. I cut some stainless steel sheet to fit to within 1/8" of the pipe and bolted that to the damper plate and it works much better in the windy conditions. My VC stove is one of the older ones, before they started putting the refractory material on the inside. It still works great, no cracks, has survived 5 moves, burn time is over 10 hrs if I load it right, it is our main source of heat. I love the thermostat temp control. The more I use other brands, the more I appreciate this old stove. I understand that after the original VC folks sold out the quality of their stoves went downhill and for the most part they are still living on their previous reputation. IF you can find one of the older ones available, they might be a good option for you. From what I have read, I can't recommend their newer stoves.

 

[Looking4new]

I've got a Regency CS2400 upstairs (the main part of the house) which I am extremely happy with. I also have a Regency F2400 in my unfinished block wall basement.(below grade) I am really happy with both of them. I burn 2 year old dry hardwood, ONLY. Hard Maple, Oak, Yellow Birch and Beech. I use the Beech for over night. Ashes amounts to a couple of handfulls of extra fine ash in the morning. I don't use a extra damper in the pipe.

 

[charlz]

one other thing to check into -if your going to use the stove as the main heat source.
Burn time

Not familiar with the Jotul but on our new home - went with another Blaze King.
they aren't the best looking stoves but they hold a fire with the very best ...
It was a major concern for us that the stove be able to keep a fire over a very long time, we asked about the Lopis in comparison to the Blaze kings (dealer sold both) and he laughed and said the Lopis are a fine stove but if using it for a main heat source and running it over night -forget it...

just something to consider - because it can get old getting up in the middle of the night - (EVERY NIGHT) to re-load the wood stove... now if you are only burning a wood stove as (supplemental heat) - please disregard

Good Luck on your search, and research will pay off :thumbsup:

On the other hand standing there in your underwear, in the dark, shivering so bad you can barely keep a match lit to re-light a cold stove is character building!

 

[pajoube]

Ok, this thread has been going awhile but I thought I would give another thought. I have a Blaze King wood stove that I really like. They make two sizes and I have the largest the King. It contains a Catalyst combustor. The combustor is a ceramic or stainless steel honeycomb on which is coated a catalyst thereby allowing more smoke to burn, and both increasing efficiency and lowering emissions. It is a great relief to me that I will not have to worry about a chimney fire. It is manufactured in Canada and the U.S.A.
Not on this thread very much so if you have a question for me it may be better to send an email.
PJ

 

[corl]

We have been heating our houses with wood for about 40 years. I have had 2 Jotul stoves. The first one was called the Combi and worked great. When we moved into our new house (30+ years ago) which was designed for a wood stove in the kitchen we went through 3 stoves (one steel stove, one soapstone stove) and now have a Jotul F500 Oslo clean face stove. It puts out a max 70000 BTUs and heats our 2000+ square foot house completely. I doubt we will ever get another stove. Loading by the side door is the best. It takes 24 inch logs but I cut at 22 inches and don't have problems getting the wood inside the firebox. Don't need a flu damper and I now clean the chimney only once a year. With previous stoves that was done about every 8 weeks. Great stove! No catalytic converter to worry about or replace.

 

[EMB5530]

Thanks for all the replies on this subject. Like I said earlier if you have a bit of info on flue setup or stoves you recommend put it in here it gives me a place to really start digging.
I have researched several different brands already but have skipped over some that are being mentioned here that now I feel I should look into.
For example: I didn't give the PE even a thought until it was introduce to me here as to how good it was and now I am interested in the T6 as well so thanks for making the decisions harder everyone :confused2: