Recommendations from you pros

I don't know what you see in a 30NC, the ash pan is worthless, the area your heating varies 5 to 8 degrees, you get a lot of hot coals you need to rake to the front
to burn then the stove goes down to 200-250 deg., you spend more time baby setting the stove then cutting up and hauling and stacking the wood.
The stove is built heavy enough. When you load it to the top for the night, the secondary air helps burn the wood so you have to close the air off almost all the way.
When the wood burns down now only the primary air is burning the wood but you have it shut off.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

My Endeavor has the original tubes. They're in good shape after 10 years. Original bricks and gasket as well. Don't let the tubes scare you away from a Lopi, they're very well built and easy to use.

wyosioux said:

FFJake-- Sorry, but I have to listen to the locals, you know?

There is a chance our climates could be a little different. We can go, especially where I am located, a week to 10 days and not get above zero. I used to have a sister in law that lived in ME, and I know that below zero was rare. Maybe not where you are, but needless to say, Jotul is out for me.

PS -- Don't run her so hard and maybe she'll put out just right for ya! (were we talking about stoves???) HAHA

Click to expand...

No argument on different climates . . . but we too can get a week or more of sub-zero temps . . . typically in January . . . not all that rare. However, I wonder if being at or close to sea level here and a bit higher where you are would make a big difference . . . .

Sorry Wyosioux I wasn't thinking of you when I gave my opinion pertaining to the 30 NC.
I purchased the 30 NC because of the reviews here and it's one of my worst buys. Maybe all the new stoves without grates work the same way.
I don't know why they can't put a $10 coil thermostat on the stove to regulate the primary air so you have a more constant surface temp.
I would rather burn more wood then have to baby-sit the stove...efficiency isn't everything...

The Quad Isle Royale does just fine in my walkout basement of approx.800 square feet plus the 1300 square feet upstairs.
We use wood heat 24/7. The furnace kicks on only when we're gone overnight.

I am on my second season with my PE summit insert. It takes care of 60% of my heating needs when it is sub zero and all of it when it gets above 25. It is installed 20 feet from the stairs in a 3700 sq house. It heats the basement to 70 and the rest goes up stairs. I put a fan at the top of the stairs to blow the heat down the hall to the bed rooms. I havnt tried any other stove but what i liked was the simplicity the idea of cook top (keeps The coffee warm) and the rustic styling.

LoschCoalStoker said:

I don't know what you see in a 30NC, the ash pan is worthless, the area your heating varies 5 to 8 degrees, you get a lot of hot coals you need to rake to the front
to burn then the stove goes down to 200-250 deg., you spend more time baby setting the stove then cutting up and hauling and stacking the wood.
The stove is built heavy enough. When you load it to the top for the night, the secondary air helps burn the wood so you have to close the air off almost all the way.
When the wood burns down now only the primary air is burning the wood but you have it shut off.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

Click to expand...

...?

I'm not sure where your complaint is.

You are describing the operation of just about every stove on the market. When you are down to coals in any stove, you don't want the primary going because you are asleep and you want the coals in there to relight the fire. If you're NOT asleep, then it means it's time to add more wood, or let the stove sit there with mostly dormant coals since the house is already warm, so you can add wood when you need more heat.

Far worse are stoves that don't let you close the primary all the way because if you have a good draft(such as from a tall centrally located chimney), the primary keeps spraying air on the coals and leaves you with nothing for a relight in the morning.

Can you tell me how your experience with another, more expensive stove differs? Are you saying you want a small handful of coals to keep the surface temp of the stove at 600, and your more expensive stove you currently own is doing exactly this?