Fisher Grandpa Bear Woodstove Users - Any out there?

Search this site, using the search feature. There is still a dedicated and loyal following. Also, there is an easy tweak for the very early models to bring up efficiency.

Shmudda said:

My Mom has one of these stoves. Her father (my grandfather) had purchased it back in the early 70's and used it each and every year to heat his home until 1993. The stove hasn't been used since, but it is in perfect shape and well cared for. I am thinking about getting her chimney lined and firing up the stove for use again, what do you think?

Any burners of these stoves out there today, after all these years? I do hear there is still a very loyal following of these stoves, but they are dwindling.

Craig

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The first year for the Grandpa was 76, unless there are stars on the doors yours is a late 70's stove most likely. My parents used a Grandma Bear for many years & they throw a ton of heat & pretty easy on wood consumption. You should have an 8" collar on this & that was so this could be used as a fireplace(did you get the screen)? Will your chimney take an 8" liner. Check with Coaly if 6" liner will draft ok. These are real nice stoves, Randy

I replaced my Grandpa Bear in the basement with a NC-30. The Fisher puts out the heat but really eats the wood. No blower big heavy stove. Think it weighs about 500lbs. Has an 8in flue. I still have the Grandpa Bear sitting on a pallet, going to replace some firebrick and try to sell it. I used it for 2 seasons with no issues.

I have been using my Grandpa Bear for 5 seasons with great success. I have it reduced to 6" right out of the stove. it drafts fine (6" supervent chiminey @30 ft) it will even burn with the doors open with no smoke. I do have to heat the chim slowly when starting cold (use one piece of newspaper at a time rolled long ways and light the top and stick vertical into the stove) a couple of these and it drafts great. i heat 2200 sq ft of living space plus my unfinished basement. I thought i would switch to a newer more efficient stove and purchased a Osburn 2000, owned it for 3 days before I am selling it to a friend of mine to heat his 1 story ranch from his basement, i am reinstalling the Grandpa because I only have to fill it 2 times a day (30 to 40 degrees) or 3 times a day (0 to 30 degrees), the Osburn is much more efficient but i cannot get the heat I need for the number of times I want to fill it (5 or 6 per 24 hr period). I do realize it is a much smaller stove but it is rated for my house according to the salesperson. Grandpa bear has made me one of those loyal fisher followers.

Should be enough here to keep you busy for a while....

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/53332/

Also I have been reading so much on this forum I am going to improve my Grandpa with a baffle and stainless burner tubes. Thanks so much for all the great information all you guys put on here. I know efficiencies are not going to compare to the newest EPA rated stoves but I love a good challenge. Do not think I will even replace the Osburn I just bought and sold to someone with a smaller house.