Woodstock Soapstone Up and Running

So AP and I went to pick up my Fireview this past Saturday. Not as bad to move as we originally thought. I installed by dinner time and did a couple of break in fires. Did my first real burn the next day.

Although this has been shoulder season burning, the stove is meeting expectations (which were fairly high). Probably done 7-8 burns and the stovetop always gets above 400 F. Highest I've had is 525 so far. I have not pushed the stove much. I've been burning a mixture of 50 year old dry pine timbers (no nails) and these sort-of-dry splits that I have left from this past season . . . you know how it goes. I wait for 260-270 F and engage the CAT. Very nice. I also bought a stove pipe damper, but have not installed it because I haven't needed it during this shoulder season.

My verdict so far . . . . not expecting optimum anything right now.

Pros: Very attractive stove. Great Woodstock customer service so far. Looks like longer burn times even from these 2/3 loads with just passable wood. I like the side loading door. No smoke infiltration into the room when opening door. Double layer of soapstone holds heat longer than my old stove. CAT easy to use so far . . . I know I'm not optimum right now, but so what, it's shoulder season.

Cons: Smaller viewing area for the fire. Fire less dynamic . . . my Hearthstone really put a on GREAT show when the burn tubes engaged. This stove's fire is still interesting to look at. Hearthstone fire grade: A. Woodstock: B. It is taking forever to burn the paint off of the new stove pipe. Can still smell it somewhat after this many burns.

My wife prefers the Fireview's appearance. I like both my old stove and this one's appearance equally. . . . they are just different.

Overall I am very happy so far. But, I'll have to see what happens when the temps really start going down in December. Thanks for all the advice. It has been a long process.

Thanks Herb.

Highbeam,
So far the andirons has changed how I load. Don't have to worry about glass as much. Also, since I am not opening from the front, the log roll out just can not happen. Glass is good so far. I can't say about the cold start warm up yet. You would expect it to be different because this stove has more soapstone than my HS, but I'm not sure . . . it hasn't been significant so far. I've been using VERY DRY 80 year old lathe pine for the start ups though. Its all gone by the time I jump to CAT power.

The door knob on the Fireview is flat metal turnkey . . . picture a old style brass key head that is attached to the latch mechanism. The weight may come from the size. The physical dimensions of the Fireview are 28 x26x 20 compared to the Heritages 29 x 29 x 22 ish. It's possible that the soapstone densities are different too . . . . I have this soapstone frog that I would expect to be much heavier.

Yes, the HS soapstone walls are 1.25 inches.

I believe that WS is 2 pieces that in total stone thickness are just below 2 inches in thickness. I think that there is a 1 inch space between the 2.

Oh yeah, you might be right.

Yes, that's right on for sizes. Gap is 1/8".

How does that mug work? Does the stone take some of the heat and make the coffee stay kind of hot? Or perhaps the mug is too hot to pick up for a while . . . unless the handle is further out or made from some other material. . . . or maybe it's not meant for coffee. A heavy mug like that might just be a combat mug.

Always loved the "rat on fire" picture . . . and thanks.