metalsped said:
I know this is an incredible database of existing threads, but I want to make sure I have the most up to date info from you folks. What can you tell me about your individual experiences (both positive and negative thoughts) on these kind of stoves?
Have you run others before? Did you switch from another to this style, or away from soap to another?
Tell me your stories!
A cat version huh? Why so? Im still in the research stage here, and everything I have (seemingly) been reading across the 'net is that the secondary reburn stoves are probably a better way to go. Ive never really thought about a soapstone stove, but I just happened to come across one for sale cheap, with seemingly everything going for it.
You asked for opinions, both positive and negative but then in your next post is seems you have your mind made up already on part of this decision. Evidently you have read some crap about the secondary stoves being better than the cat stoves. Perhaps it is where you've been reading as some of that same thing comes up on this forum occasionally just like the baloney about the cat stoves being complicated to operate and the soapstone stoves taking so long to heat up, etc.
Okay, now I have that off my chest, here is some other information for you to consider. First off, when we started shopping for a new stove we sort of figured that we wanted to stay away from the cat stoves because we had heard some baloney about them. We liked the idea of the soapstone and naturally we looked at the Hearthstone line. I have to say they are beautiful stoves and we came close to buying one. We also came close to buying a Lopi Leyden. However, we also remembered several years ago when we received literature from Woodstock and we loved the looks and the sounds of this soapstone stove. We had not bought then due to some financial pressures but we wanted to look again so sent off for their literature.
When we got their literature, OMG! That beautiful stove has a catalyst! What to do? Long story short. We talked to Woodstock and we also talked to a family who were heating their home with a Fireview. That was it. After talking to this family (and his sons and daughters also owned Woodstock stoves) we made the decision to buy the Fireview.....with a cat!
The end result of us buying the cat soapstone stove is that we cut our fuel needs in half and we stay a whole lot warmer. An additional benefit is that we have one of the most beautiful stoves on the market. It is extremely easy to operate and maintain. And yes, we've heated with steel and cast stoves too. This is the best stove we've ever owned and it does everything we need it to do. And one of the best benefits is that the stove and chimney stay clean. We've burned for 4 years and have cleaned once. We got about a cup of soot and no creosote.
Now on to your specific questions:
1. What can you tell me about your individual experiences (both positive and negative thoughts) on these kind of stoves?
a. More heat; less wood.
b. Temperature in house stays at a more even temperature rather than the more extreme highs and lows.
c. Beautiful stove. (Also, the manufacturer has a 6 month guarantee which no other company can match.)
d. Long burn times.
e. Much better to run during the spring and fall without having to worry about blackening the glass and a creosote problem (cat stoves).
2. Have you run others before?
Yes, as stated above.
3. Did you switch from another to this style, or away from soap to another?
Our previous stove was a steel stove; much larger than the present stove.
As Todd stated, you are not that far from the Woodstock factory and it may benefit you to take a drive some day for a visit. You may be very surprised by what you find and be prepared to meet some wonderful people if you go. I'm sure they will be having an Open House on a Saturday in September or October. That is a great time to get all your questions answered and if you decide to buy then, you'll get some great discounts.
Good luck.