Moving/sliding a Vermont Castings wodstove

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docschyde

Member
Feb 2, 2010
5
Michigan
How do you most easily and effectively move a Vermont Castings Encore 2550 woodstove?

Here are the concerns: wieght 350 lbs

Already in an alcove/fireplace

Do not want to scratch the wooden floor that in in front of the slate (approx 18 inches of slate in front of stove)

Only about 4-6 inches of clearance on either side and on top

Do not wish to damage stove of the heat shield below the ash pan

Any thoughts or experience on how to do this without wrecking either my back, the floor or the stove???
 
The way I have moved heavy cast iron stoves is to start with a stout hand truck, mine is made by Milwaukee, rated for 600#. Then cut a piece of 3/4" plywood to a bit larger than the footprint of the legs of the stove. Slide the plywood under the stove legs by tipping the stove backward (have a second person for this) until the board hit the back legs, then walk it forward until all 4 legs are centered on the plywood. Then put the hand truck's lip under the plywood. Put cardboard padding between the stove and the handtruck. Take two rachet straps and firmly strap the stove to the handtruck. Now the stove has wheels and can be safely rolled out. Use the same procedure for bringing in the replacement stove. We moved the F400 out and the heavy 585# T6 in using this method with nary a scratch on stove or house.
 
The guy that brought my stove had an electric lift hand truck, works pretty slick but you do not have much room to work with so not sure if it would fit in there.
 
Another idea along with the dolly idea is to get one of those clear plastic mats that you put under an office chair....this would allow the wheels to turn well, but also protect your floor.
 
Sounds good but, how am I getting my Summit down a flight of stairs? I am considering laying down a couple 2 x 6 and sliding it down under control of course.
 
SKIN052 said:
Sounds good but, how am I getting my Summit down a flight of stairs? I am considering laying down a couple 2 x 6 and sliding it down under control of course.
Click to expand...
The hand truck might work taking it down the stairs one step at a time (my summit came today).
 
oldspark said:
SKIN052 said:
Sounds good but, how am I getting my Summit down a flight of stairs? I am considering laying down a couple 2 x 6 and sliding it down under control of course.
Click to expand...
The hand truck might work taking it down the stairs one step at a time (my summit came today).
Click to expand...
Spark it up yet?
 
SKIN052 said:
oldspark said:
SKIN052 said:
Sounds good but, how am I getting my Summit down a flight of stairs? I am considering laying down a couple 2 x 6 and sliding it down under control of course.
Click to expand...
The hand truck might work taking it down the stairs one step at a time (my summit came today).
Click to expand...
Spark it up yet?
Click to expand...
A little later tonight, house is warm enough but I gotta try it out!
 
To get it out of that fireplace get four of the "furniture sliders" they sell everywhere from Wal-Mart to dollar stores. Lift one leg at a time about an inch and slip them under the legs one at a time. I used them to slide my 455 pound stove in and out of the fireplace and it was a piece of cake. Saves the brick/slate/wood or whatever and your back.

It is a one time use thing. The weight wrecks them but I got them at a dollar store for a buck for four and bought a backup set for next time.
 
Another possibility is using a piano dolly. The platform on one of these can usually fit between the stove's legs if the legs are not removable. Once the platform is in place, the dolly handle acts as a lever to raise the stove. If the stove is firmly attached to the dolly with web type straps, it should be fairly easy to guide it down the stairs on some sort of ramp using lots of help to avoid a runaway stove.
 
Many thanks to all for the helpful suggestions. Since it is about the end of the indoor fire season here in Michigan, I hope to slide out the stove in late April/May and conduct repairs - will post whatever worked best

Am thinking that the furniture cups (sacrificial) along with thin sheet metal will be the starting point

Also will post about putting it back which is likely to be even harder.
 
Remove the doors, the grate, the lower fire back, the loading hatch, and the rear collar, and the inner walls and the stove weighs at least a 100lbs less.

It can also be moved fairly easily with a small rolling floor jack.
 
appliance dolly worked great to get both stoves on there throne, expecially the Mansfield downstairs, just be shure to strap it down on the top and bottom with ratchet straps. Once on the hearth its a "two bagger" job to nudge it in place
 
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