Opinions on this Buck Stove 91

Hi everyone! New poster to the forum but you all have helped educate me quite well. I've found a seller of a Buck Stove Model 91. I'm going to post up a few pictures and I'd like opinions if you'd be willing. The negotiated price on this bad boy is $550 cash. Do you think it's worth it? I'm not sure the year it was made but the front cover of the manual suggests 94 or newer?

The inside photo is what has me concerned. Is the firebox supposed to look like that? Most everything i'm seeing looks less... concerning.

I thank you in advance for any opinions.

begreen said:

That's a great deal, even if it needs a new catalyst. The tarry interior probably means it was run low and slow. Perhaps it was too much for their location?

Do you need an insert this large? It will require an 8" liner. Will it fit your fireplace?

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We have a 2100 square foot ranch with very poor insulation (that's another project) and a broken heat pump (also another project.) It was a foreclosure so we got a good deal, but also a lot of challenges to overcome. The fireplace is more than large enough to fit this unit. I have checked measurements.

I'm mostly concerned with what I'm seeing inside that firebox. Is that rust colored stuff normal?

The person selling it has offered everything that currently is used with it - he wants to get back to just a plain old fireplace for some reason or another, so it should come with everything needed to install it properly.

Fastdonzi said:

I'm burning one right now I'll put 4-5 pieces in in a few minutes and when I get up at 5;30 the cat will still be active ( But I'll add a few pieces for the wife) its a great Heater...it doesnt go more than 10-12 hrs but for 10-12 hrs you will be Happy And that price is a freakin Deal....

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That's encouraging. So you're not seeing anything scary here?

begreen said:

Sounds like a go. If you can inspect it look for any obvious defects like cracked welds, warped parts, light grey or whitish paint around the flue collar. If it looks good this could be a very good deal. The cat may be plugged or damaged but I wouldn't let that be a show stopper.

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What would the light gray/white paint indicate? Not too worried about the cat; I was noticing that isn't terribly expensive to replace if required.

begreen said:

It would indicate possible overfiring.

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Gotcha. I just did some reading on over-firing indicators and will keep an eye out when we're removing it. It sounds like nobody so far is scared away by this thing so that's encouraging. The seller is pretty far from me so I was definitely interested in getting some other opinions on the photos, as that's all I have to go on right now.

I've arranged to pick it up this Saturday so any and all opinions by then would be super helpful. Thanks everyone!

Woody Stover said:

Not sure what I'm seeing in the 4th pic. Is that the airwash channel with no screen on it? Where is the cat heat shield (below airwash screen in my pic?) I don't see any firebricks in the stove...older model that didn't have them? Mine is an '08. I don't know....I would take a real close look at that stove.
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I'm not sure either. I have a friend I asked about the fire bricks, and he said his (same model) is all metal inside with a brick bottom. I saw that photo online too and was concerned until I asked my buddy about it. As far as the other differences maybe just model differences over the years? Any other thoughts?

revdocjim said:

I don't know how talkative the seller is, but if you can get him/her to divulge more about the reasons for wanting to sell it that would be good. Wanting to go back to a regular fireplace suggests one of two things... either something is wrong with the stove or the owner doesn't know how to use it. Of course there could be other, more personalized reasons, but I would definitely want to know more about the current owner's dissatisfaction.

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I did ask a little bit of those types of questions. He's recently purchased the house and the stove was included with it. He says he just wants to find it a good home because they will never use it - maybe afraid of fire? They might want gas logs? I haven't really discussed the exact reason for dumping it other than just not having a desire for a wood burner. The guy seems to be up and up from my assessment of his character though.

begreen said:

Good deals like this don't hang around for long. Do you have a good supply of fully seasoned wood?

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Sure do. We have several suppliers of seasoned wood in our neck of the woods. I've got a little over a cord sitting out on the covered porch right now and more available a phone call away. I've arranged with the seller to pick the stove up on Saturday. Hopefully I'm not buying a money pit.

Although, I guess even if the catalyst and blower are hosed that's STILL a decent deal - just a lot more than I was originally wanting to spend. We had looked at spending around $400 for a decent older model like a Buck 27000 or something comparable, but then this one showed up on my radar and we struck a deal so I wanted to get after some opinions of those more experienced than myself.

If this winds up being a $900 project I'm going to be pretty irritated, but it seems like too good a deal to pass up.

mellow said:

You are not factoring in the insulated 8" liner that will be required for this to operate correctly, that right there is going to be $800+ depending on the height of your chimney.

$550 for insert - fixed cost
$800+ for liner - possible cost depending on if this comes with insert and is still usable and long enough for your chimney
$100 for catalyst housing - possible cost if warped
$275 for cat - possible cost if crumbled

Parts for this stove can be found here: http://www.buckstove.com/partsstore/home.php?cat=130

Btw, that "seasoned" wood is probably not as seasoned as you would like to think it is unless they kiln dried it. I would recommend buying a moisture meter to test it, these stoves like true dry seasoned wood to operate correctly.

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It's currently installed in a fireplace and I'm getting everything that goes with it - I surely hope it was installed properly where it's been in use for seemingly a good while. I have a single story ranch, so I can't imagine many chimneys being shorter than mine is but we'll see. At worst case maybe just an extension will be in order?

The wood seems dry enough when I burn it in the fireplace so hopefully that'll do.

I will inspect the cat when I get there. I'm hesitant to have the seller inspect it for me because he doesn't seem to know a whole lot about the unit and I'd hate for him to damage it in some way accidentally. I'll just take the risk of it needing replacement I suppose.

Excellent points to look out for.

mellow said:

http://www.buckstove.com/manuals/wood/91/91-Manual - 01 10 2013.pdf

In case you haven't looked at it yet, there is the manual for it.

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Thanks. Yeah I've taken a look through it already to familiarize myself with the unit and installation procedures.

I think it's safe to say I'm moving forward with the purchase. Thanks again to everyone who contributed insight. I really do appreciate it!