Started Woodstock Keystone Install (pics)

Well I dove in today and chiseled out enough face brick to expose the fireplace heatform. Next is taking out the heatform piece by piece then call the mason to build the new hearth for the Keystone.

Is it all rusted out?

Yeah, pretty well shot and I think the heat tubes were too close to that paneling and header board behind it. It's going to be fun cutting it out, I'll try a recipricating saw and grinder first and if that goes bad I'll take a torch to her.

good job thus far, cant wait to see the finished product.

This morning the heatform came out. What a pain in the ash! Cut it out piece by piece with reciprocating saw and other assorted tools until the top above the damper was out then the whole thing slid out. There was a huge rusted out hole in the back. Now I'm ready for the mason to come do his thing.

Man I wish I was closer, looks like a fun time you are having there. What are you going to have a mason do?


I am resisting the urge to point out it's just stone/rocks/bricks and mortar, you got the skills, you just need to find 'em.. If you were willing to tackle the tear out, the install should be a breeze.


EDIT: *resist fail*

I wish I had the skills to build the hearth. The mason will cover all that crap up with a brick Rumsford style hearth and leave a hole in the top for the liner. Something like this.
http://www.duclosmasonry.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/scan0023.jpg.w300h260.jpg

Picked her up today, what a beautiful little stove. Heavy sucker too!

Ha! Yes they are pretty heavy. I hate moving them.

That they are. Woodstock makes a great looking stove!

It's going to be half in and half out. I should have just enough room to load her. If not I can bring it out further.

+1
Is that "charcoal?"

Yes

Todd,

How's the Keystone install going?

Your Keystone (from the pics) has much more grain than mine - looks great!

Bill

Still waiting on the mason, he's a busy guy but does a great job so i'm willing to wait. Hope he starts soon, i'm tired of staring into that big ugly hole in the wall.

I was surprised to see all the great viening on the Keystone, looks twice as nice as my Fireview. It's going to be interesting to see the burn comparison of the two stoves. There is not much difference in usable fire box size and overall weight between the two. I'm betting I can get a good 10+ hour burn out of the Keystone with 4 good sized splits just like the Fireview.

Modified my old Fireview OAK to fit my Keystone and will hook it up via the old ash dump. Also painted the air control numbers for better visibility and took some pics for your enjoyment.

Todd, I'll be curious how things go this coming winter.

Thanks for the pics. The WS site, well none of them really, show the kind of shots that indicate how you will actually be using it. So you think the firebox sizes are similar? Being able to fill the firebox to the roof sure gets you a lot more space than the non-cats. The huge rear clearance requirement on the keystone is a killer.

According to my measurements the Keystone comes in at 1.4 cu ft and the Fireview at 1.8 and that's measuring the usable space from andirons to back wall, top to bottom and side to side. Just looking at them you really can't tell much diff. I figure now I won't have to sacrifice those 12 hour burns mid winter with the Fireview to pick up the slack now that I have the Keystone and the whole house will have a much more even heat.

I am excited for you Todd. The first fire is gonna be real neat. Cheers to a extra warm house this winter. I wouldnt mind having one of those upstairs when we get into the -40s. Have fun.

Beauteeful. How many hours do you get on a 12er? Couldn't find any Keystone lager for the photo shoot? FV take a longer split?