First off thanks for all the help from everyone, it was harder to do than I thought. Just to many nice stoves but I had to choose just one. As you remember I have a weekend cabin, that we use in winter, and do not heat when we are not there. For this reason I decided not to get a soapstone, even though I think they are the nicest looking. Still might get one when I retire.
I liked the Pacific Energy, Dutch West, Lopi, Isle Roayl, and Morso 3610. Each one had a few options that were interesting, not one stove has every bell and whistle. Even the Morso has a few quirks i.e. the handle.
Got a new Morso at a good price and that made my mind up for me. Every few days it seems like I changed my mind, or you heard something good or bad about this or that stove. I read over the stove ratings of every stove that I liked. But found that some of the remarks made me think there could be some user error, or draft issue, and not so much a problem with the stove.
I picked up my stove from the dealer and sure enough it rained all day, bad luck I guess. The dealer wrapped the stove real nice, then I put a movers blanket over it, and then a plastic tarp, and then the dealer wrapped it in plastic that sticks to itself. I put two ratchet straps around the stove and off I went.
While updating the stove I decided to go with double wall adjustable pipe, made the installation a breeze. I had three big friends help me pull out the old stove and install the new one. I think it took 5 minuets for the switch. While waiting for my buddies to arrive I pulled out the old chimney and ran the brush up and down a few times to make sure it was clean.
One thing I didn't like was the side door gasket was in with the hot pad. So I had to glue it in, you would think a new stove would have the gaskets installed. Lucky I had the cement glue to install the gasket. Once the stove is connected to the chimney you gotta have a fire asap.
During the weekend I had three very small break in fires. The flames really lick the top of the stove, very decorative fire. Starting the fire while using the front door, works extremely well, because the ash pan is open under the grate. There is no separate door for the ash pan.
We have a black leather couch and two matching chairs, and the black cast stove fits right in with the decor.
I notice a little better draft and I am going to attribute it to the stainless interior chimney, because it's double wall. My chimney was pretty clean so I don't think running the brush up there increased the draft any. By the way the double wall pipe looks nicer than my single wall steel pipe.
I originally had a steel stove and I can feel a different kind of heat from the cast. I am not crazy about the handle, because of the spring on it. So I am going to pull the spring off and see if I like that better. Might grind off the nub on the handle also. I guess it's a child proof issue, or maybe a liability issue. I don't have small children so for me I don't need a pop out handle.
Choosing cast iron was a big debate, because steel does get up to temperature fast and seems to give off a lot of heat. But this stove has a big firebox, I have a furnace also, and while the house is warming up, my wife and I go out for a few drinks. By the time we get home were both toasted, I mean toasty.
My initial or gut reaction after working with the stove for a few days, I think I am going to like it allot. Just hope I don't have any problems down the road. One additional reason I liked this stove is you can get a screen that fits in it. So on those not so chilly nights you can have the doors open for a nice entertaining fire, and lock the doors when you go to bed.
I checked out all the dealers to see what lines they carried. For some of the stoves recommended here I did a dealer search on the web and then drove to these places to look over these stoves. I asked lots of questions, got some very strange answers and some good answers. (gonna post the bazaar ones later on) Nothing is better than trying the locks on the doors, looking at how the hinges attach, asking the dealerto fire up the stove your interested in. Look at how the ash is going to be removed. etc.
It looks like a well made stove and I hope to have many years of enjoyment using it.
I liked the Pacific Energy, Dutch West, Lopi, Isle Roayl, and Morso 3610. Each one had a few options that were interesting, not one stove has every bell and whistle. Even the Morso has a few quirks i.e. the handle.
Got a new Morso at a good price and that made my mind up for me. Every few days it seems like I changed my mind, or you heard something good or bad about this or that stove. I read over the stove ratings of every stove that I liked. But found that some of the remarks made me think there could be some user error, or draft issue, and not so much a problem with the stove.
I picked up my stove from the dealer and sure enough it rained all day, bad luck I guess. The dealer wrapped the stove real nice, then I put a movers blanket over it, and then a plastic tarp, and then the dealer wrapped it in plastic that sticks to itself. I put two ratchet straps around the stove and off I went.
While updating the stove I decided to go with double wall adjustable pipe, made the installation a breeze. I had three big friends help me pull out the old stove and install the new one. I think it took 5 minuets for the switch. While waiting for my buddies to arrive I pulled out the old chimney and ran the brush up and down a few times to make sure it was clean.
One thing I didn't like was the side door gasket was in with the hot pad. So I had to glue it in, you would think a new stove would have the gaskets installed. Lucky I had the cement glue to install the gasket. Once the stove is connected to the chimney you gotta have a fire asap.
During the weekend I had three very small break in fires. The flames really lick the top of the stove, very decorative fire. Starting the fire while using the front door, works extremely well, because the ash pan is open under the grate. There is no separate door for the ash pan.
We have a black leather couch and two matching chairs, and the black cast stove fits right in with the decor.
I notice a little better draft and I am going to attribute it to the stainless interior chimney, because it's double wall. My chimney was pretty clean so I don't think running the brush up there increased the draft any. By the way the double wall pipe looks nicer than my single wall steel pipe.
I originally had a steel stove and I can feel a different kind of heat from the cast. I am not crazy about the handle, because of the spring on it. So I am going to pull the spring off and see if I like that better. Might grind off the nub on the handle also. I guess it's a child proof issue, or maybe a liability issue. I don't have small children so for me I don't need a pop out handle.
Choosing cast iron was a big debate, because steel does get up to temperature fast and seems to give off a lot of heat. But this stove has a big firebox, I have a furnace also, and while the house is warming up, my wife and I go out for a few drinks. By the time we get home were both toasted, I mean toasty.
My initial or gut reaction after working with the stove for a few days, I think I am going to like it allot. Just hope I don't have any problems down the road. One additional reason I liked this stove is you can get a screen that fits in it. So on those not so chilly nights you can have the doors open for a nice entertaining fire, and lock the doors when you go to bed.
I checked out all the dealers to see what lines they carried. For some of the stoves recommended here I did a dealer search on the web and then drove to these places to look over these stoves. I asked lots of questions, got some very strange answers and some good answers. (gonna post the bazaar ones later on) Nothing is better than trying the locks on the doors, looking at how the hinges attach, asking the dealerto fire up the stove your interested in. Look at how the ash is going to be removed. etc.
It looks like a well made stove and I hope to have many years of enjoyment using it.
