Hearthstone inferior cast iron stoves?

Cville4 · Jan 28, 2014

One of the stoves I'm considering for my upcoming purchase is a Hearthstone Shelburne, which is a cast iron stove that I looked at today. Hearthstone seems to have a stellar reputation regarding their soapstone stoves, but I've read a few comments on here that implied that their cast iron offerings were less than desired compared to other higher end cast iron brands (such as Jotul). No real details or explanation was given; just random comments that again Hearthstone's cast iron lineup was mediocre at best, as their main focus is soapstone.

Is this indeed the case, or are all of Hearthstone's stoves high quality regardless of material?

Highbeam · Jan 28, 2014

They are all quite expensive..... It depends on what you call "high quality". I don't consider their stone stoves to be of very high quality either. This is because I value long term durability and in my experience they are not durable.

cableman · Jan 28, 2014

I love mine. 2nd burn season and no issues. I think they have a nice look, and quality to me is excellent.
The rear heat sheild and double wall pipe makes for a nice compact hearth pad with low clearances to combustables.
Flu temps seem to run hotter but maybe its just how i run it or my wood isnt seasoned enough. If i email them they always reply back also!
Good luck i dont think you will be disappointed!

NH_Wood · Jan 28, 2014

cableman said:
I love mine. 2nd burn season and no issues. I think they have a nice look, and quality to me is excellent.
The rear heat sheild and double wall pipe makes for a nice compact hearth pad with low clearances to combustables.
Flu temps seem to run hotter but maybe its just how i run it or my wood isnt seasoned enough. If i email them they always reply back also!
Good luck i dont think you will be disappointed!

How do you e-mail them? Please post! IMO a great stove but impossible manufacturer to work with/talk with. Cheers!

Warm_in_NH · Jan 28, 2014

Yep, agree with Cableman on his view of the stove. First year owning one, several years admriring them at customers homes. My gf has a Jotul and I really like that stove too, if I could tuck it into a corner like the Shelburne I probably would've bought a Jotul just because that's what I have experience running, been very happy with the Shelburne so far.
The only let down I've had with this stove is that the ash pan is useless, poor design of the grate, door, etc... Plan on shoveling out the ashes. If you look at the way the grate needs to "slide" sideways, and also needs to be in the closed position during burning, think about how well it isn't going to slide once it's packed with ashes.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/ratings.php
Great to look up reviews on. Put Shelburne in as the model and it should turn up a few reviews.

How do you e-mail them? Please post! IMO a great stove but impossible manufacturer to work with/talk with. Cheers!

[email protected] Got back to me within a day or two when I asked how the heck the ash pan was supposed to work.

Cville4 · Jan 28, 2014

Does Jotul not offer the same clearance as Hearthstone/Shelburne? I realize that some Jotul stoves tend to be deeper, while the Shelburne is wider, but I wasn't aware that the Shelburne could be placed with less clearance.

Warm_in_NH · Jan 28, 2014

Cville4 said:
Does Jotul not offer the same clearance as Hearthstone/Shelburne? I realize that some Jotul stoves tend to be deeper, while the Shelburne is wider, but I wasn't aware that the Shelburne could be placed with less clearance.

Shelburne:
Firebox 2 cubic feet, 60,000 BTU, depth 21 width 26 Corner clearance with heat shield and double wall pipe is 6"

Jotul F 400 Castine:
Firebox 1.77 cubic feet, 55,000 BTU depth 23.25, width, 25.75 Corner clearance with heat shield and double wall pipe is 11"

Figure the stove is already 2" deeper plus the extra in the corners and it's suddenly a bit further out into the room.

Sources:
http://www.hearthstonestoves.com/store/wood-products/wood-stoves/shelburne-cast-iron
http://jotul.com/us/guides/_attachment/12849?_ts=13e1dcae425

Cville4 · Jan 28, 2014

I'm looking at the F 45 Greenville---it states that the rear clearance for a double wide pipe is 6 inches for unprotected wall, 4 inches for a protected wall. Unless I'm looking at something wrong. Meanwhile, the Shelburne rear clearance (stove will be in middle of room against wall) with double pipe and shield is 12 inches.

http://mainestoves.com/pdfs/manuals/jotul/Manual_F45.pdf (page 13)

stoveguy2esw · Jan 28, 2014

I don't know if I would call then "inferior" . Hearthstone is a fantastic manufacturer. they make quality products. now, should the cast stoves not provide all the same features or similar performance to their "stone" stoves one must first look at the materials they are using for the two.

a cast stove isn't going to possess the same "thermal mass" as a soapstone stove will, which I think may be the difference most apparent, but a cast stove made to the same quality as their soapstone stoves are made to could hardly be described in my mind as "inferior" simply different due to the limits of the materials they are constructed of.

just the 2 cents of a guy who competes with them for sales. a great company, were I looking for a job doing what I do currently (which im not) i'd be sending them one of the first copies of my resume before the ink dried.

Cville4 · Jan 28, 2014

stoveguy2esw said:
I don't know if I would call then "inferior" . Hearthstone is a fantastic manufacturer. they make quality products. now, should the cast stoves not provide all the same features or similar performance to their "stone" stoves one must first look at the materials they are using for the two.

a cast stove isn't going to possess the same "thermal mass" as a soapstone stove will, which I think may be the difference most apparent, but a cast stove made to the same quality as their soapstone stoves are made to could hardly be described in my mind as "inferior" simply different due to the limits of the materials they are constructed of.

just the 2 cents of a guy who competes with them for sales. a great company, were I looking for a job doing what I do currently (which im not) i'd be sending them one of the first copies of my resume before the ink dried.

Thanks for the input. My brother in law has a Clydesdale and absolutely loves it. Its a beautiful insert and, a few blower issues aside, its held up well for him.

stoveguy2esw · Jan 28, 2014

Cville4 said:
Thanks for the input. My brother in law has a Clydesdale and absolutely loves it. Its a beautiful insert and, a few blower issues aside, its held up well for him.

hey , I give credit where its due. I generally do not "bash" competitors (bad taste I think) but when one is exceptional, I will take the time to credit them. Hearthstone is such a company.

Warm_in_NH · Jan 28, 2014

Cville4 said:
I'm looking at the F 45 Greenville---it states that the rear clearance for a double wide pipe is 6 inches for unprotected wall, 4 inches for a protected wall. Unless I'm looking at something wrong. Meanwhile, the Shelburne rear clearance (stove will be in middle of room against wall) with double pipe and shield is 12 inches.

http://mainestoves.com/pdfs/manuals/jotul/Manual_F45.pdf (page 13)

Interesting that stove wasn't at the dealer OR in my Jotul book that I have. Would've been a good one to look at but with my situation of a corner install I think I would've still made the same choice.

BTW, you're comparing protected and unprotected surface numbers, not apples to apples. Rear clearance on a Shelburne double wall w rear heat shield to a protected surface is 3" not 12". You're also comparing a 21" deep Shelburne to a 28" deep F45. It's like trying to shop out health insurance plans, just more rewarding when you're done.

There's a lot to consider, the Shelburne was my optimal choice for my location. I'm not trying to convince you that it's your best choice, just telling you why it was mine and that I am very happy with the stove and it's performance.

Cville4 · Jan 28, 2014

stoveguy2esw said:
hey , I give credit where its due. I generally do not "bash" competitors (bad taste I think) but when one is exceptional, I will take the time to credit them. Hearthstone is such a company.

Since we're on the subject, I'm curious which other companies you also have utmost respect for as well?

Cville4 · Jan 28, 2014

Warm_in_NH said:
Interesting that stove wasn't at the dealer OR in my Jotul book that I have. Would've been a good one to look at but with my situation of a corner install I think I would've still made the same choice.

BTW, you're comparing protected and unprotected surface numbers, not apples to apples. Rear clearance on a Shelburne double wall w rear heat shield to a protected surface is 3" not 12". You're also comparing a 21" deep Shelburne to a 28" deep F45. It's like trying to shop out health insurance plans, just more rewarding when you're done.

There's a lot to consider, the Shelburne was my optimal choice for my location. I'm not trying to convince you that it's your best choice, just telling you why it was mine and that I am very happy with the stove and it's performance.

I just looked that up, and you're absolutely right. Thanks. That's quite a difference in clearance between the two, particularly when you factor in the added depth of the Jotul.

stoveguy2esw · Jan 28, 2014

actually quite a few. not to single any one out as a favorite. ive had the chance to interact with folks from many stove manufacturers look at their products, chat with a member of their team and such. HS, Woodstock, Harman (im a HUGE Dane Harman fan, got to kibbutz with im once in 08 I felt like an everyday bush pilot chatting with Neil Armstrong

) plus he did a friend of mine proud when he wanted to come home (some of our older members know him

)

only thing I worry about in "naming names' is leaving someone out. fact is most all of the manufacturers out there that "do it themselves" are welcome on my "unofficial list" of great teams. note I say "teams" as any great manufacturer has a team not a bunch of people who just work there

im a "stove guy" I love the industry, and im a big fan of most all of the teams that make the stoves we use today (especially the ones who are like we are, that do their work "in house" with American workers , as well as those up in the great white north who do the same with Canadian ones. )

im EXCEEDINGLY proud of the team I get to work with. I'm sure that my counterparts in the industry would back me in adding they are similarly proud of the teams they work with.

cableman · Jan 28, 2014

My house is 70 right now too :cool:

Corner clearances and that the shelburne is not so deep made it the perfect choice for me!
It also fits 22" splits on an angle or 20" sideways. Ive managed to fit 6-7 sideways and 9 front to back! All depends on how thick the splits are too.

DanCorcoran · Jan 28, 2014

I don't have one complaint regarding my Shelburne. I have the enamel finish and it is gorgeous...no cracking or crazing after three years. I've never tried to use the ashpan. From what I've read on this site, very few ashpans are worth bothering with.

Dakotas Dad · Jan 28, 2014

DanCorcoran said:
I don't have one complaint regarding my Shelburne. I have the enamel finish and it is gorgeous...no cracking or crazing after three years. I've never tried to use the ashpan. From what I've read on this site, very few ashpans are worth bothering with.

Agreed, it's not manufacturer specific. While some are "useable" most people just don't bother. Of the 4 different stoves I have direct personal experience with, all get shoveled. Just easier and cleaner.

Woody Stover · Jan 28, 2014

I've seen the Manchester in a stove shop here; Beautiful stove and it looked to be of good quality as far as the castings, construction etc. Not many in service yet, but it appears so far that they may have a winner there....

mstoelton · Jan 29, 2014

When I went to purchase my first Clydesdale, I asked the shop owner why they didn't try to convince me to purchase something else.

Their response was " We carry all kinds of inserts, Hearthstone is the best".

I was so happy with the Clydesdale I purchased another one for my other fireplace!

Hearthstone inferior cast iron stoves?

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