I need a small stove with a big punch!

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skinnykid

New Member
May 6, 2008
655
Next to a lake in NH
Ok ya'll, my little qaudra fire is doing well for us but I cannot get burn times more than 4-5 hours. When I close the air completely I get hot ambers in the morning but have already had a clogged chimney from doing that. I need a stove that has a bigger fire box but is not real big in over all size.

I don't need to get overnight fires but the less that the propane burns, the more money me and my young family saves.

The stove will be kitty cornered in my living room, I would rather not take up very much space than I have to for a stove.

This is what I would like to accomplish.

Smaller over all sized stove with decent size fire box or one that I can load with Oak, Maple, Birch, Ash, Hemlock and achieve or come close to achieving all night burn.

I would prefer rear and side heat shields so I can lessen the tolerances from walls.

A blower is a must and the stove has to be "cute" says the G/F

I would love to hear any suggestions that ya'll might have for me. So far the Englander stoves have the biggest fire boxes in small sized stoves (according to them)

My Chimney guy Highly recommends JOTUL but I am not sure one will fit the bill.

I have no problem buying used as long as it is quality and safe.

Thanks guys!
 
I thought I was told once that Jotuls don't have blowers available. Maybe that's hogwash, I dunno. As far as Englanders go, I'm probably one of the few people on the planet who would unhesitatingly classify them as being "cute"...but then I think a nice drill press is pretty cute, too. Less is more...form follows function. I don't need no stinkin' "cute" from a wood stove, all I want is heat. Rick

EDIT: Just re-read my own post, and realized it could be interpreted two ways. Let me just say in no uncertain terms that I think Englander makes a terrific stove, and I want one for next time.
 
If you like your Quad, why not just upgrade to the next size?
 
Rick, Englander is fine but I was cautioned away from buying stoves from HD or lowes as the are of lower quality. Don't wanna start a debate on the subject but I was told they ARE NOT the same. Maybe Englander has a higher up line sold by shops. I would buy one in a minute if i was assured of the quality.

Todd, I am not brand specific, I like my quad and plan to look and compare them to my other options. I just wanna spend $$ once, get the best I can and forget about it for a long while.

thanks peeps!
 
Englander doesn't make stoves of lower quality to sell in the big box stores. An Englander is an Englander. Don't take my word for it, PM Mike Holton (stoveguy2esw), a member here who works for them...or BrotherBart, a diehard Englander burner. Rick
 
When people say that a certain stove or line is of lower quality, it's best to ask why they think that. Do they feel it's unsafe? Is it the fit and finish (looks) of the stove that some don't like? Material it's made of? I bet you will get a run of answers.

There are many here who burn Englanders. (I'm not one, I have a Century.) I'd ask them if they felt they had a quality stove.

Matt
 
as I said, not looking to say that others have a "low Quality" stove. I guess they guy who told me that just wants me to have what he thinks is the best. I am gonna go to the Englander web-site now.
 
I installed a PE Summit this year and was amazed by the clearance requirements. Although not so important to me (except the rear clearance) it seems you could stick one of these in a fairly limited space. Looks good, but not special (ours is all black).
 
the measurements that the Englander site gives me on the 13-NC confuse me!

I will look into PE thanks.
 
skinnykid said:
Rick, Englander is fine but I was cautioned away from buying stoves from HD or lowes as the are of lower quality. Don't wanna start a debate on the subject but I was told they ARE NOT the same. Maybe Englander has a higher up line sold by shops. I would buy one in a minute if i was assured of the quality.

Todd, I am not brand specific, I like my quad and plan to look and compare them to my other options. I just wanna spend $$ once, get the best I can and forget about it for a long while.

thanks peeps!
Click to expand...

Big box stores sell other stoves besides Englander. There are lower quality stove sold there. But that doesn't mean that "all" the stoves sold there are low quality. True, the Englanders are basic, but they are stout and well built.
 
skinnykid said:
This is what I would like to accomplish.

Smaller over all sized stove with decent size fire box or one that I can load with Oak, Maple, Birch, Ash, Hemlock and achieve or come close to achieving all night burn.

I would prefer rear and side heat shields so I can lessen the tolerances from walls.

A blower is a must and the stove has to be "cute" says the G/F

My Chimney guy Highly recommends JOTUL but I am not sure one will fit the bill.
Click to expand...

The Jotul 600 is not the largest stove on the market, but it is close - and it has both a very large and very accessible firebox. Some stoves are constructed in such a way that, while the firebox capacity is there, it is difficult to use because of the loading restrictions. I believe it now has a blower option as well - new this past year. I saw a Jotul 500 in operation with the blower and was simply amazed at how quiet it is. I didn't buy one as I have a 60" ceiling fan all but right over my stove, but it is the first stove I have ever seen (heard?) that I would even consider with a blower motor - the noise is simply a non-issue. The blower option also acts as a rear heat shield, and yes, clearance requirements were one of the major factors in my decision to buy a Jotul. Or you can just buy the standard heat shield. The Jotul installation manual is on their website and has excellent information on clearances in a corner installation.

On any corner installation you are going to be pretty much limited to front or top loading, and as much as I like my Jotul 500, I would not be happy with it as a front-loader. The 600 has a different door arrangement which may work better, I simply do not know. But stoves such as the Pacific Energy are designed to be front load only, and my work better.

To me the Jotul 600 is a beautiful stove, particularly in the enamel finishes. But I don't remember any manufacturer advertising their stoves as being ugly; it is all in what you like.

Mark
 
Most important. How large a space are you trying to heat?

Also, if you're getting a clogged chimney, it's most likely the wood that is the issue. Wood with high moisture will make your stove run a lot cooler and will plug your chimney, even it's a giant stove.
 
BeGreen said:
Most important. How large a space are you trying to heat?

Also, if you're getting a clogged chimney, it's most likely the wood that is the issue. Wood with high moisture will make your stove run a lot cooler and will plug your chimney, even it's a giant stove.
Click to expand...

1500 square feet up and down. Correct wood was some what of an issue, that I admit. Burning it slowly to get all night burns was a part of it and first year of burning is the rest.
 
Jotul8e2:

I would love a Jotul stove but if I remember correct. on the website it showed the medium sized stove having a from back to edge of ash try measurement or 28 inches. That seemed real big for what I want!
 
skinnykid said:
BeGreen said:
Most important. How large a space are you trying to heat?

Also, if you're getting a clogged chimney, it's most likely the wood that is the issue. Wood with high moisture will make your stove run a lot cooler and will plug your chimney, even it's a giant stove.
Click to expand...

1500 square feet up and down. Correct wood was some what of an issue, that I admit. Burning it slowly to get all night burns was a part of it and first year of burning is the rest.
Click to expand...

I'd be looking at good 2 cu ft stoves. Show your wife the Pacific Energy Alderlea T5. It should pass the aesthetics dept. and is a good heater with long burn times at heart. If Jotul, look at the Oslo. Also worth checking out would be the Napoleon 1400, Quadrafire Cumberland Gap and the Hearthstone Shelburne.
 
I was just looking at the Jotul F400. Seems like it would fit the bill but I am not sure that a blower could be attached. A blower is a must!

I looked at the PE, I will look again.
thanks
 
I had the F400 and don't think it would be a major improvement for you. The F500 would be better.

PS: also had the F3CB for awhile. Not what you want. It's a 1 cu ft stove. F400 is 1.5 cu ft, F500 is 2 cu ft. For your climate region, don't try going too small or you will be back next year looking for the next size up.
 
looked at the T5. 28 inches from front to back is to big. I know I know, now I am just being picky!

going back to look ath the F500.

Geeze BeGreen, I am gonna owe you a couple of beers after this!
 
We bought a soapstone stove from Hearthstone because the clearances were much smaller and my wife likes the look of the stone. I'm new to wood stoves so I can't compare to other models, but hope this feedback helps.
 
I went from the F400 corner install to the T6. Wife opposed it, too deep. Well, now she love the big beast. Believe me, you will love the increased depth. Look at the corner clearances for the T5 and I think you'll see it will do fine. Not that this is the only good stove. A Quad 3100 might work well for you and also a Napoleon 1400.
 
SLC Burning said:
We bought a soapstone stove from Hearthstone because the clearances were much smaller and my wife likes the look of the stone. I'm new to wood stoves so I can't compare to other models, but hope this feedback helps.
Click to expand...

Looks like the Shelburne will work for me but 1 question.

The shelburne says heat life of 10 hours but it is not made of stone. How?
 
Nice stove, built like a tank. Ignore the marketing speak. You will get maybe 6 hrs of meaningful heat from the stove and maybe 8-10 hrs for some coals left for a restart.
 
ok I have 4 stoves that I wanna look at, amazingly all sold at the same shop in the next town over.

Thanks for all the help and I will keep you posted as to what i find.
I just gotta make time to get there and look.

P.s. it is -11 right now and my little quad is doing the best it can!
 
Well it might not fit the "cute" bill. But a Blaze king Princess might be worth a look. It has long burn times, can have heat shield's, 2 blowers, and wont break the bank. It can also be installed close to the wall. It would definitely heat your sq ft if your insulation is decent.
 
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