soap stone woodstoves?

[looch]

I said Hearthstone because that's what Boondox referred to. I actually meant Woodstock. They are running a sale right now, actually. I was just wondering if the stone stoves were worth the extra bucks. If it were only a matter of looks (not $$$), the stone would win hands down.

Paul, That's a nice looking unit - more permanent than what I am considering. I would imagine that for something like that you would either have to install it in the basement or have a special footing under the floor. I think I saw one being installed on This Old House. It comes in pieces and I believe they are assembled with some kind of special glue. If I were to install one, I'd be sure it had an oven - nothing like pizza and home-made bread from a wood burning oven. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif (closest thing to a salivating emoticon that I could find).

 

[Youare]

My folks purchased a soapstone stove somewhere around 20 years ago, my brother now lives in the house and he uses it also. There are some nice features about soapstone stoves, they are very different than cast iron or steel plate stoves.

There is a large thermal mass with the stone panels, which is why they are so heavy. Soapstone stoves give off an even heat for many hours even after the fire has gone out, they also take many hours to reach this thermal state. A cast iron wood stove startes giving out heat shortly after you start the fire and they stop giving heat shortly after the fire dies. With a soapstone stove it takes longer before you feel the heat.

Soapstone stoves need to be seasoned correctly, you start out building a small fire and gradually you add wood and heat to the stove or else you will damage the stove. Once the stove is up to temp. the best thing to do is keep it going.

The heat they produce is very even for a long period of time. Many have glass panels so you can see the glow of the fire as you sip your tea sitting next to your favorite person gazing at the stove as the snow softly falls outside.

Randy

 

[Chillimau]

I like those Tulikivis but have been afraid to price one. Gotta be pricey, the stove is assembled on site by the dealer, I believe. My guess is that it would cost a bunch to get one built in OK.

Keep us informed, I hope to build in a year or two and am starting to look at all stuff that goes into a house.

Did you ever decide on heating choice? Is your house the victorian that was posting a few weeks back?

Gary

 

[s1120]

I think we are talking about 8 to 10 grand for the stove. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif But they are nice. And should last the rest of my life.

no that was not my plan posted. This is what we are planing.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.frankbetz.com/x_plan_info.html?pn=3553>http://www.frankbetz.com/x_plan_info.html?pn=3553</A>

 

[Boondox]

Paul -- Ditto what Andy said, but after my experience with the Jotul I went with the Hearthstone because it was a non-catalytic model. I find the stove a very convenient way of getting rid of isolated pieces of paper, dog fur, etc, and the catalytic didn't care much for the fine ash generated. Also, as previously mentioned, the air flow over the glass keeps it really clean.

My cast iron stoves begin giving off heat much more quickly, but they also lose it quickly. The stone acts as an enormous heat sink that my oldest dog really appreciates in the winter months.

Never owned a Vermont Castings. When I was in the market for a stove their Defiant model was having warpage problems (since fixed), so they were ruled out.

Hope this helps. Pete

 

[looch]

Thanks, Pete. I'll be heading on over to Hearthstone's web site to check them out.

 

[Boondox]

One drawback about non-catalytic models is they generally rely on a double-burn system with perforated air pipes inside the box that diminish the space available for wood...so you can't stuff them so full before going to bed.

I use an old Garrison stove in my woodshop. No catalyst, made of boiler plate so it doubles as an anvil,/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif, glows a faint reddish color when it's screaming. When I get up the shop is pretty cold (10 degrees) so I start a hot fire and let her rip for an hour. After that, scraps keep the inside temp in the 70s or 80s. The dogs love it, but I often open the door to cool off!

Pete

 

[pdxman]

The nice thing about having a digital camera is that instead of typing up what I like about it, I can just walk over and snap a picture. Picture attached is what my dog thinks of our Jotul...

BoonDox; I do agree with you on the Jotuls catalyst clogging up though...even burning a few envelopes with the clear plastic window can clog the catayst. We only start fires with newspaper now.

 

[s1120]

I can see my one dog doing that. As it is we have a old house with steam heat and the big cast radaitors, and he will lay down right next to it. He wil be tuching it. Of course he has the least fur of the 3 so he must be cold.

 

[RonL]

pdxman

Nice looking dog! BullMastiff?

RonL