Small Wood Stove Advice

[zaxxon]

Hi,

I am looking for a small wood stove from this era for a 500 sf cottage. I know of the Jotul 602 but I imagine that there are other stoves out there in that class that I don't know about. I want something I can hopefully find on Craigslist for not too much money. If anyone has any ideas, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,

Zach

 

[zaxxon]

By the way, I am in upstate New York in an insulated (pretty leaky) cottage.

 

[begreen]

Look for Morso 2B, Lange 6303, Vermont Castings Aspen, Vermont Castings Resolute in used stoves or get a new Englander 17-VL and have a modern clean burner for under $650.

 

[defiant3]

The Vermont Castings Intrepid should not be overlooked either, but the Englander gets my vote.

 

[rkshed]

Partial to the Garrison II stove.
1000sf ranch I heated nicely with one all winter. Tiny too.

 

[zaxxon]

Thank you all so much for the suggestions! I've been looking them up.

 

[dafattkidd]

If possible can you post a pic of the place. Sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[tcassavaugh]

any decisions yet?? small leaky "insulated" house in upstate n.y. sounds like you might need a bigger stove than you are talking about. what part of "upstate" i've got folks in rensselaer and essex counties and both can get pretty chilly.

cass

 

[zaxxon]

Dafattkidd, I don't have any photos now. It's nice here, my girlfriend and I are very cosy here, but it would be great with a wood stove. They help me get through winters. Cass, you know, I was wondering the same thing about the stove size. I am not that far upstate, the Hudson Valley, but it used to get cold up here in the winters before all this strange weather. I think when the windows are replaced in this cottage though, it will retain heat a lot better. I found a douglas elite model s131e 20, and have arranged to buy it tomorrow. It seems to be on the small side but bigger than a Jotul 602. I thought it would be warmer and possibly more efficient than a box stove, but I could be wrong. It's $125 and the seller says there are no cracks or warping and it is in good condition. Any thoughts anyone?

 

[zaxxon]

I ended up getting the Douglas Elite, it is made by Haugh's (I'm wondering how to pronounce this. Maybe like "laughs"?) Products. I'm accustomed to cast iron, so I'm still undecided about using steel. But the stove is in good shape and was inexpensive. Anyone have any thoughts on steel stoves? Thank you.

 

[begreen]

I think Haugh became Century stoves. A well made steel stove can last a long time, especially if it hasn't been abused. Can you post some shots of the stove?

 

[zaxxon]

Here's a photo of the stove. I put a half gallon milk container by it for scale. It's about 19" wide, 19" deep, and 25" tall.

 

[begreen]

Looks like a simple stove. Is there a plate on the back with clearances and certification?

 

[eclecticcottage]

Welcome to a fellow full time cottage dweller! You're cottage is a bit smaller than ours, sq ft wise (we're really a little under 700 but it's easier to just say 700). I'll be interested to see how a small stove keeps up in the winter for you. We're right on the lakeshore so we do get wholloped by the winds here (we're smack dab between the lake and cornfields so we have no windbreaks), but the Republic has ended up being the right size for us so far based on last winter.

 

[zaxxon]

Begreen, here are some photos of the sticker. Sorry about the delay!

Thanks Eclectic! Yes, I wonder how the stove will heat this little place too. Thanks for the info, it's good to have comparisons. I am looking forward to not having a gas bill as well. My girlfriend and I are amazed at the miniscule amount of gas we used for cooking with the propane heater off during the warm months.

 

[zaxxon]

The floor protection requirement given on the sticker is a 3/8" asbestos pad or equivalent. I haven't found much online providing an R value for 3/8" asbestos. Does anyone know of a definite equivalent for 3/8" asbestos? According to a couple of threads on this forum, it could be R .42-R .45. That seems to be a pretty undemanding requirement. I had planned on building something with a lot more insulation. I believe the regulations require micore where I live. I also want the pad elevated, I just don't like the idea of the pad touching the floor underneath. I also want to conserve weight, and want tiles, and don't want any combustible materials in the pad. If anyone has any suggestions for using micore and getting the pad stiff enough for the tiles, please let me know. I thought steel studs on end, 1/4 hardiebacker, micore, 1/4 hardiebacker, tile. Thinset between the sheets. Would the two layers of 1/4 HB be insufficient for rigidity?

I also want to trim the pad in wood. I see a lot of hearth pads trimmed in wood, and I like how it looks. But it seems counterintuitive that there would be a combustible material closer than 36" from the stove. Also, in making the rear floating heat shield, I've read there should be a gap between it and the floor, to provide for convection. What about the strip of drywall that's exposed by this gap, would it be vulnerable to high heat?

Thanks,

Zach

Here are the threads that mention 3/8" asbestos:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/millboard-the-truth.7226/

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/hearth-pad.23410/

 

[zaxxon]

Also, they only carry 25g studs at my local hardware store, can I get away with them if I use more, or should I order 16g?

 

[begreen]

You are seriously overthinking this unless you are trying to make a pad for the worst case requirements for another brand of stove. Most of us have pads right on the floor. It's simply not an issue as long as you meet or exceed the requirements. 3/8" millboard protection is a common term in the stove industry. As long as the insulator is non-combustible you will be fine.

Use a sheet of 3/4" plywood, then a couple sheets of Durock Next Gen for your tile base and you will be well covered. Don't worry about it setting on the floor, just be sure the hearth is at least as large as specced for the stove.

 

[Dune]

I ended up getting the Douglas Elite, it is made by Haugh's (I'm wondering how to pronounce this. Maybe like "laughs"?) Products. I'm accustomed to cast iron, so I'm still undecided about using steel. But the stove is in good shape and was inexpensive. Anyone have any thoughts on steel stoves? Thank you.

Steel stoves are fine. Far less work to maintain than cast iron.

 

[eclecticcottage]

You are seriously overthinking this unless you are trying to make a pad for the worst case requirements for another brand of stove. Most of us have pads right on the floor. It's simply not an issue as long as you meet or exceed the requirements. 3/8" millboard protection is a common term in the stove industry. As long as the insulator is non-combustible you will be fine.

Use a sheet of 3/4" plywood, then a couple sheets of Durock Next Gen for your tile base and you will be well covered. Don't worry about it setting on the floor, just be sure the hearth is at least as large as specced for the stove.

Hm...ours is on a platform of 2x4's with a 3/4" ply base for the durock the stones sit on. I'd take a look at different hearth pads and see which way you prefer.

I'd make it a bit bigger than your current stove requires IF you're building so it would be hard to add to if you decide to swap stoves to something a little bigger later. I love our stove but I didn't really think about this-it's a little bigger than it needed to be for it but if 'd have gone just a few extra inches I'd have a lot more options later if we did decide to change to a new stove.

 

[zaxxon]

Thanks Begreen, that does simplify things. The plan you describe of help to me.

Dune, I appreciate the reassurance. I can't wait to get this one going.

Eclectic, thanks that is something to consider. I hadn't thought of that. And again, it's helpful to hear what you used.
I do think they require micore here. Any thoughts on what would be the most lightweight way to use it and have the pad stiff enough for tiles? Do I need to sandwich it between two sheets of Durock, or would 3/4 ply, micore, durock, tile work?

 

[begreen]

Micore is not necessary unless you have very high R value requirements. An inch of Durock Next Gen (2 sheets) is R=.78 and completely non-combustible.

 

[zaxxon]

Thank you Begreen!

 

[dafattkidd]

Thank you Begreen!

Watch out that guy's trouble.

 

[begreen]

You better believe it. LOL