Help me with a Moravian

Free standing model.

A friend has one for sale - knows nothing about it and neither do I. <g>

I am debating just what to do to replace my New Mac furnace - which I am abandoning.

I have a stove designed in my head that I want to build but it's tempting to just install the Moravian (101 I think?) and be done with it.

Of course the Moravian is about 25 years old too. Do they have any known weak-spots? Flaws? Common failure points? What should I be looking for in terms of accessing the Moravian's condition? Do they crack or burn though especially?

Any opinions? Thoughts? Considerations?

PHM
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How come you are abandoning the Newmac?

You might try the "classic stoves" section.. it's new, but all the guys who might have the knowledge you seek seem to be checking in there...

Personally, unless I had some history with an old stove, I would buy a new stove that is known shape and probably uses way less wood..

Here's the only info I could find on here:
http://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/wiki/Quaker_Stove_Company/

The NewMac is a ducted furnace. When I got it I installed a 90% natural gas downflow to blow into the side of the NewMac and then put the A/C coil on top of the NewMac's air discharge opening. I wired it onto a two-stage room thermostat so the gas furnace would fire when the fire was burned down. The system worked well.

But . . . it's a mess of ducting and takes up a lot of room and I mow want to hang the 90% furnace from the floor joists and put a big tool cabinet under it.

I make a lot of hot water now with my solar panels and there's no easy way to incorporate a large hydronic heating coil into the existing return ducts.

I keep saying that I'm going to install under-floor radiant to utilize the solar heated water but let's face facts here: it won't be for years - if ever. <g>

I have motorcycles and a sailboat whispering to me all the time:

"Come on! You can work later - let's get the hell out of here buddy . . . "

And also: sometimes I just want to change things. I change my mind. I want to try out new ideas. I want to build something. I want to re-convince myself that I Can Do It.

I guess the short answer to your question is: Because I Want To. <g>

PHM
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The one in Mt. Laurel: yes.

PHM
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Thank you Mister Moderator. Very gracious of you to better locate my questions.

Although it did at first make me think I was crazy. <g>

PHM
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The NewMac is fine - I'm just tired of it and don't want it any more.

Some years ago I got sick of hearing BS from my neighbors about the smell. Hell; I knew it was them them making the wood-burning smells the whole time. And the proof is that I am the only who stopped burning wood and they are still complaining. <g>

Now I want to re-sort my heating / ducting arrangements here and the NewMac no longer fits my Vision: I want a stove - not a furnace. <g>

PHM
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