Fun Topic... help me pick a stove!

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johnstra

johnstra

Feeling the Heat
Sep 6, 2010
334
Northern Colorado
Hey guys and gals -

I'm putting a wood stove in my new shop. Footprint is 30'x40' w/ lots of vertical space. It has a 5 inch uninsulated slab and the walls/roof are uninsulated for the time being (will get around to spraying insulation some day). So I have no aspirations of making the space *warm*, I just want to be able work without freezing my fingers and have a heat source to go to when I do get cold.

I'm trying decide between an newer stove or an older non-EPA one. I know I want something that can slam a lot of radiant heat. I don't need even heat over long intervals. Heat from the stove will be needed for periods of a 2-8 hours at a time, usually starting cold. I think I'm going to go ahead and put an 8" chimney in. Costs a little more, but it gives me more options.

My Dad has an old Hearthstone H2 he'll give me. It's not perfect, but it's functional. I like that it's free, but I've burned in soapstone stove before, so I know they have a slow ramp-up. I think a steel stove will work better for me as it'll throw heat quickly. I can find older stoves here in the $200-400 range. I can find used EPA stoves in the $600-800 range. I kind of hate to pay that for a used EPA stove, though as I can get a new 30NC for $900 shipped free right now.

So what do ya'll think? Old non-EPA steel dragon, newer EPA steel stove, something else?

thanks,
-john
 
NC-30 brand new if you can swing it, don't inherit someone else's stove problem unless you know what your looking for. The NC-30 is the best bang for $$ IMO, plus you will benefit with a longer cleaner burn.
 
I would go with free! But you could go with an old steel or cast iron dragon as long as its safe. I have a shop similar to yours and have an old Vogelzang Boxwood stove in there that will throw some quick heat. I had been thinking about a quality Englander for the shop but just couldn't justify a new stove for as little as I burn out there. Ended up trading a buddy half a pickup load of firewood for the Vogelzang. Its not a great stove, and I never really leave it unattended, but works for us.
edit: I guess I should clarify that we only light the stove in the shop a handful of times a year. Obviously, if I was going to be spending lots of time in the shop that would change what I'd want.
 
They don't commercially make a woodstove big enough for what you want to do and where you live. Maybe you can find an old oil tank converted into a woodstove that will put off enough BTUs to change the temperature inside of an un insulated 1200 sq ft room with a high ceiling within 2 hours. If that structure was broken up into smaller spaces you could use a nc30. It just takes time to heat a large space. In order to do that in 2 hours you need to put a massive amount of energy into the place.
 
Matt - I don't expect it to actually raise the temperature in the space in 2 hours (I'm not that naïve :)). My thinking is that a strong radiant stove will throw heat that I can feel - even if it doesn't actually heat up the space.
 
they are alos called summerheat at lowes and timberridge at northern
 
interesting... I hadn't considered a wood furnace. It would definitely be better at heating the space, but how is it as a radiant heater?
 
I'll second the Englander furnace. A friend of mine heats a 40 x 80 x 16 block building easily with a clayton furnace. I'm not impressed with the quality but I am the output. Thats why I'd get the Englander. If a free standing stove is what you want get the 30-NC. I just traded my smoke dragon for one and I wouldn't go back.
 
when i build my shop im getting a englander furnace because im now going to heat it all the time so i dont need the epa like my house i just need instant heat
 
johnstra said:
Hey guys and gals -

I'm trying decide between an newer stove or an older non-EPA one.
Click to expand...

As someone who just switched from a 1970's smokedragon to a very well built EPA stove, I will say this:

Whether you go with a cheaper model (vogelzang, century, etc) or higher end (osburn, woodstock, blaze king, etc), do yourself a favor and get an EPA stove.

Those higher efficiencies mean more of your heat is staying in your heated space and not being lost up the chimney. I would not be made to believe how much better they are, but trust me, running this stove has shown me the error of my ways.

If I heat my shop with wood, I will buy a new woodstove for it. The heat difference (if you have dry wood) is AMAZING.
 
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