Quad 4300 vs 3100

richg · Apr 8, 2010

Gang:

Hope you are well. I'm currently running a Quad 2100 and it is just too small to get the job done. Works well, but the firebox is not big enough to hold more than a few hours worth of wood and overnight burns are out of the question. I'm wondering if anyone can get an overnight burn with a 3100; there is no doubt that the 4300 will do it, but dang, I'm concerned that thing would blow us out of the house. Any input would be much appreciated, thanks.

savageactor7 · Apr 8, 2010

rick it would be helpful to know how big your house is, what state you live in.

We have a 4300ST and I don't think it would burn all night even if I cubed it out. Also the 4300 is undersized for our 3k house so 95% of the time we burn wide open since we want heat. btw the 4300 is a real improvement over our Shenandoah in everything measurable.

If you insist on an overnight fire get a stove with 3ft box and with well seasoned wood you can simmer away. Maybe some CAT's can run overnight...I dunno, not my lane. Good luck.

cjsplitter · Apr 8, 2010

I have a 3100 step top and heat my house. but it is 1280 sq. and 6in walls and three pane windows. There is enough coals in the morning to stir up new fire. If I had to do over it would be a 4300 step top. Just because you can get longer logs in it. I have to make sure it is 18 in or smaller. I love the quadra fire design.

precaud · Apr 9, 2010

richg, if your 2100 is an ACT, there are a couple pretty easy things you can do to get reliable overnight burns (i.e. hot coals in the morning), though they won't help if you are burning overnight. The key is to shut off most of the air to the stove.

First is to remove the stop that keeps the primary air from closing down:
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/5429/
with pics here: https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/5430/

Second is to put in these secondary air covers:
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/5716/

During the winter I burn my last load so the flames die before bedtime, close the air controls, and there are always plenty of hot coals to restart the next morning, 7-8 hours later.

richg · Apr 9, 2010

Folks,

Thanks for the input. My install location is a corner which limits the size of the stove I can put there due to "clearance to combustimbles" issues. Surprisingly, the Quad 4300 Step Top has corner clearances of only 2 inches which made this an easy decision....today I pulled the trigger on a 4300 Step on the premise that you can build a small fire in a big stove, but you can't build a big fire in a small stove. The dealer was pretty flexible on the price and I got it for far less than MSRP. I have an ACC blower and outside air kit, so, coupled with 12 cords of wood, should be good for a while ;-))

PapaDave · Apr 9, 2010

richg said:
Folks,

Thanks for the input. My install location is a corner which limits the size of the stove I can put there due to "clearance to combustimbles" issues. Surprisingly, the Quad 4300 Step Top has corner clearances of only 2 inches which made this an easy decision....today I pulled the trigger on a 4300 Step on the premise that you can build a small fire in a big stove, but you can't build a big fire in a small stove. The dealer was pretty flexible on the price and I got it for far less than MSRP. I have an ACC blower and outside air kit, so, coupled with 12 cords of wood, should be good for a while ;-))

Cool beans Rich,
I hope you're able to post results when you can. I considered the 4300 ST recently, but the dealer was asking more than MSRP!?
Real nice stove. They had loaded with about 6 splits that morning at about 8, and when I got there (about noon), those splits were still in there, (kind of charred, but still viable) with the stove running at 650.

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Quad 4300 vs 3100

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