What do you think is the most desirable wood burning unit missing from the market?

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Corie

Corie

Minister of Fire
Nov 18, 2005
2,442
Camp Hill, PA
I'm just wondering about this one. I've had a few ideas lately of things that I really think would do well if they were on the market, but the manufacturers either aren't giving them attention, or can't get them to comply.

Anyone have any ideas that they think are solid gold?

I'm currently working on something similar to an Aspen in size, but with longer burn times and sturdier. That's what I thought was missing.
 
OK, I'll take a stab at it. How about an insert that is NOT just plain boring. Something with a little style to it. Yes, it has to have function, but give it some looks that are not in the 1970's (no, I don't wear leather pants), and are not outrageously priced. I'm sure "stylish ones are out there, but, they don't seem to be that common and I'm sure they are really pricey.

Maybe a vermont castings type style (look) to a nice monster of an insert. Maybe some way to relatively easily change the looks as well. For example, instead of buying a brass or nickel plated door for 300 to 500 bucks, how about a stamped decortive plate designed to fit over the current door that is brass, or nickel, (or whatever) satin vs gloss, etc. When an owner changes decor, they can change the appearance of the insert as well, without breaking the bank Heck, even webbing on the glass doors could be made that just sits in place against the glass (fake webbing-kind of like they do with house windows that have the fake internal window pane frames). If the owner decides they want a change, they can buy a new one (different color or style) and switch it out.

Inserts in different colors would be nice as well. Other than above, how about an insert that has aan adjustable flu location on the top. Place an order for an insert, give the manufacturer the dimensions or desired location of the top flu, wait your 6 weeks, and tada, fits perfect. Also an option (right or left hinge) for door hinge locations would be nice. KD
 
When an owner changes decor, they can change the appearance of the insert as well, without breaking the bank
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I can I just stick that 20 pound holding cell screen on the front after I take the 2-50 pound doors
off, walla instant fireplace, heck I can even spot paint her on the fly, flat black, hightemp black, stove black, all kindsa choices.
 
Judging from some of the recent discussions, a clean-burning outdoor boiler!
 
An affordable effecient stove. what the Mini mac did for Apple. I know that some manufactures are working on even cleaner more effecient burning.
To those that diss the cat combustors I know that the cat is not going to go away. I also know R&d has advanced the cat technology, approching uper 80's in effeciency

I know that the ETB or similar technology is being tested with the super effecient cats. The entire secondary combustion chamber is being re- designed,
where it alone approaches todays cleaner burning and the secondary function of the cat takes it to new levels.

I predict that and hope this new cat technology can be retrofitted into existing cat stoves. It has already started,some off market cats can ignite as low as 380 degrees and on the back
end of the burn cycle keep ignition till 380 degrees. There is room to further improve the ignition range. There is room to increase their effeciency so that they burn even more secondary smoke

IT is possible the cat stoves could become vogue
 
kd460 said:
How about an insert that is NOT just plain boring. Something with a little style to it. Yes, it has to have function, but give it some looks that are not in the 1970's
Inserts in different colors would be nice as well.
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Hmmm... like my Iron colored Kennebec?


And no comment on the leather pants...

-- Mike
 
Technology like EBT on all stoves. There aren't many excuses for them not having it these days except for re-certifications. Hell, it isn't that much different from the thermostatically controlled air on indoor wood furnaces since the 70's.

In fact somebody is bound to come up with a retrofit kit. It could be designed go on that 3" outside air port that so many stoves have already.

Ya out there Craig? Mr. inventor man.
 
hardwood715 said:
Hmmm… like my Iron colored Kennebec ?
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Nice, Very Nice.
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Hahaha - That's the exact question I asked when I started looking for the new insert last year. They all looked kinda 'blah'. I stumbled onto the Kennebec and never looked back.... well, actually I did have a weak moment when I saw the Lopi Declaration, but we didn't really hit it off, so back to my sweet baby J I went.

Whoops... maybe a little too personal this time!
 
Top loading soapstone stove, with optional grill and rotisserie. Also incorporate both an everburn/catalytic burn system.
 
Corie said:
Man I had an idea squirt into my head this morning that is so good, I'm afraid to post it.
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Spill it!
 
I've heard of a "Brain Fart" but dont recall a "Brain Squirt" being mentioned before.
 
Corrie, maybe you should compile a list of the best suggestions in this thread & post it as a poll "Which of these things would you pay extra for"

Of course, the Hearth.net community is skewed - people here are more knowledgable than many wood burners, so Joe Pyro who doesn't think about his stove beyond lighting it up may have diffrent interests.
 
Roospike said:
I've heard of a "Brain Fart" but dont recall a "Brain Squirt" being mentioned before.
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Maybe it's oil powered instead of "natural" gassed?
 
Without going into the obvious which is maximum efficiency, ie: a little wood gives back a lot of heat for a long time, here's some features that would help:

1) no chance of a log rolling out
2) excellent ash management system
3) excellent drafting, easy starter
4) excellent air wash if it has glass
5) long heat retention

I think it's great to look at the Aspen, but I would start with the older Jotul 602. IMHO it's a better design to base off of.
 
Or maybe just that the ever-litigious american market makes it difficult to re-tool without getting the lawyers involved?
 
Dylan said:
Okay, okay, all well and good with these ideas. But are we saying that manufacturers are out of touch with their markets, or that they don't WANT to meet market needs, or that they conspire to not move forward, so as to avoid the expense of re-tooling??
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I think that what we are saying is that half or more of the wood stoves in the country aren't even EPA stoves yet. So people just burn the stove they have and never bother telling the manufacturer what they would like in a stove. They figure they aren't going to be buying another one for a lot of years anyway. They just figure that what they bought is the greatest stove in the world. Must be. The brochure said it was.

New buyers mostly want the pretty one. Bay windows and stuff. Nice flat top for the fern in the summer.
 
BeGreen said:
Without going into the obvious which is maximum efficiency, ie: a little wood gives back a lot of heat for a long time, here's some features that would help:

1) no chance of a log rolling out
2) excellent ash management system
3) excellent drafting, easy starter
4) excellent air wash if it has glass
5) long heat retention

I think it's great to look at the Aspen, but I would start with the older Jotul 602. IMHO it's a better design to base off of.
Click to expand...

I do believe we each own one of these stove already.
 
True confessions time, I wish I could say that. I've had 3 logs roll out of the Castine in the past 4 weeks. Fortunately only one hit the hearth, but it made a smokey mess. The Castine does not have a history of being a great drafter according to some users and MSG. Glass is getting dirtier quicker than on our 3CB, so I can't honestly say I've got my ideal stove right now. During the last cool spell (35-45 degrees) we went through a whole lot of wood. About 16 good sized splits in a day. Much more than it seemed to take with the 3CB, and the house was not hot, 68-70 degrees. The stove just doesn't seem as efficient as the other Jotuls we've owned.

Admitedly I am still getting used to the stove and will try some more tricks to see if I can coax more heat out of the stove. The wood is nice and dry. Soft maple, so not the highest btus, but we've burned a lot of this in the past in the small stoves with better results. Now the house is a lot tighter and better sealed so I expected to be driven out of the room with the new stove. I'm going to try using smaller splits to see if that improves things. But so far this stove is not performing as well as hoped for.
 
Bummer. Sorry to hear that BG.
 
Be green sorry to hear about your stove. I would never thought it would not match its littler sibbling and always believed in Jotul quality.
In the past 5 years my stoves with anirons no logs have rolled out. but I top load them To me glass can be cleaned and not a big issue to me

My latest $500 stove preforms beyond all expectations so far. I am not the easiest person to please nor do I often pass out praise often.

My question to you, and I totally understand you are an experienced burner and owner of Jotuls, Have you spoken to your dealer?
As I remember, you had to flip the top around on your last Jotul. You bought your stove according to implied preformance, which sounds like you are not receiving.
You know where I'm going with this but what is your dealers position? Time to let him know, the green household is totally dissatisfied so far.

I remember your post deciding and your wife's preferences I presented a valid case for alternative manufactures as did Roo
 
Well, the good news is we got our electric bill yesterday. I cringed as I opened it because we're running only the heat pump + stove now. It's been a little too warm a lot of the time (or I'm just too busy putting things back together), so we've just run on the heat pump. So far, looking good. I haven't compared degree days yet, but it looks like about $12 more than last year. I'm guessing during Oct. we would have gone through at least 15 bags of pellets. So at $3.60/per we are doing well. And that doesn't include the propane furnace bill we are no longer paying. My wife likes the quietness too.

It also looks like the insulation in the basement/crawspace is paying off. Temp has not gone below 61 degrees, even with it being about 30 overnight for a few nights.

I'm still going to give the Castine a chance. My experience with the 3CB taught me that Jotul designs a finely balanced system. Waiting to speak with MSG for his thoughts. I may need to tweak the stack somewhat.
 
Cross posted Elk. The dealer is not too helpful so far. I need to speak to their installer who is more knowledgeable or MSG. I have a great stack, but am wondering if this stove just shouldn't be rear-vented. That would be a drag, it's taller than before and the 3CB was great rear vented. But each stove is different and as noted with the 3CB, when everything is right the stove's personality changed overnight.

Yes, I know there are other options and believe me I considered them. Some got nixed due to clearance issues and some due to the better half's choice, but I do have a bit of remorse when I see my neighbor's new PE using a whole lot less wood and their house at 75. (And never a log rolling out).
 
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