Newbie-- Looking for big glass & warmth for 2700 sq ft home

[countrychick]

Thank you Tifferstwo, you gotta tell us what you thought of them! Can you tell us what you think of the Jotuls? Yes I will probably post photos of the hearth when it is done this week and pix of the stove after the install too. Not sure if I should start a new thread or just post it here. Thinking it is ok to post here though.

I really loved the Jotul line....I like how they have a grate ash system....the ones that have the ashpan. The F55 doesn't have a ashpan...one reason I was not sure if I wanted to buy it. I thought I would want a ashpan. But then I figured well I clean the barn....how difficult can it be to clean a woodstove floor. lol. Besides it just means more muscle and less flab. And I am all for that! =) Course chopping wood will help with that too. Buff arms....everyone's goal! =)

 

[Woody Stover]

Congrats on choosing your stove, it's a good one! Hope you enjoy it for many years.

thought I would want a ashpan. But then I figured well I clean the barn....how difficult can it be to clean a woodstove floor. lol.

The stoves I have now have grated ash-handling, but when I've shoveled in the past I took precautions to minimize the amount of dust escaping. If I just scooped out a shovel full of ash and dumped it haphazardly into a bucket, I had dust flying everywhere. First thing I changed was that I tried to remove ash only when it was cold out so that draft was strong and would pull any stray ash back into the stove box. I used a shallow pan which was about twice as long as it was wide. To empty ashes, I held the pan lengthwise, as close to the stove as I could, directly beneath the door opening. I would then carefully scoop up a shovel full of ash and put the shovel in the left end of the pan (I'm right-handed) at a slant, with the end of the shovel touching the bottom of the pan and the handle at a 45* or so angle. I tilted the handle up to get the ash sliding off of the shovel, then drew the handle to the right, maybe even raising my right hand to create more angle, depositing the ash in the bottom of the pan and creating the least amount of dust possible. At no time did I want ash falling off the shovel as it would result in a cloud of dust that the draft of the stove might not be able to capture completely. With some practice, I got pretty good at minimizing the amount of dust that escaped.

 

[Ashful]

We can always change to a different stove down the road....people have done that here.

I started burning one Jotul Firelight in fall 2011. By spring 2015 I was on my fourth and fifth stoves, the aforementioned BK Ashfords. The first three stoves were all Jotuls.

 

[Ashful]

Shovel your ash when the stove is warm, and any dust gets pulled in and up the chimney. Shoveling cold ash on a warm day is the way you get ash in the house.

Grate systems are great (pun intended), but I've learned to live without. Not the end of the world, and its one major thing that can't go wrong, as ashpan gasket failures can be fatal to your stove.

 

[countrychick]

Hey guys! Does this look like a decent price for this stuff? Which wood would you be buying? http://firewoodportland.com/portland_firewood.php

 

[bcrtops]

Hey guys! Does this look like a decent price for this stuff? Which wood would you be buying? http://firewoodportland.com/portland_firewood.php

Pretty high priced, but not bad, I guess, if any of it dry enough to burn.
Green fir from some logger dude, looking for Xmas money, out here in "Axeman" country will run about $175-200/cord. Firewood logs that you have to cut/split yourself will run about $75-80 a cord. Cut your own in the woods, may cost you up to $30/cord stumpage or get a permit to cut several cords from the state for $20-30. Alder, maple, Douglas fir, hemlock, & true firs all about the same pricing. Oak, from over in the valley or east side will bring $300/cord, even green & if you can find it!

 

[begreen]

Go for the doug fir. One year seasoned is good and it's a nice, low ash firewood. I burn a lot of it. Price for seasoned is good for an urban supplier, but most importantly it's seasoned.

 

[Squisher]

That is quite a nice site for a firewood seller. Good for them. I'd say go for the fir too, it's my go to wood.

 

[tifferstwo]

Thank you Tifferstwo, you gotta tell us what you thought of them! Can you tell us what you think of the Jotuls? Yes I will probably post photos of the hearth when it is done this week and pix of the stove after the install too. Not sure if I should start a new thread or just post it here. Thinking it is ok to post here though.

I really loved the Jotul line....I like how they have a grate ash system....the ones that have the ashpan. The F55 doesn't have a ashpan...one reason I was not sure if I wanted to buy it. I thought I would want a ashpan. But then I figured well I clean the barn....how difficult can it be to clean a woodstove floor. lol. Besides it just means more muscle and less flab. And I am all for that! =) Course chopping wood will help with that too. Buff arms....everyone's goal! =)

I'm sure posting here would be fine! everyone involved in helping your decision would be notified of a new post and be able to see how it all turns out!

I went today to check out the Jotuls and he had Lopi too...I can see why you liked the Cape Cod, nice looking stove and big! I really like the Jotuls...and am leaning towards it now..probably the Oslo because I liked he arches on the window. I enjoyed the dealer and they have an offer that kinda sweetens the pot. So unless something really negative pops up, and after chatting with my husband, I'm think it's what I will do!

 

[countrychick]

Woodystover: Thanks for the tips on scooping ash! I appreciate it! Great ideas! And it works so that is good to know!!

Ashful: Good to know about your stoves! Yes the Ashford is a beauty too! I may consider that in the future..... It is likely down the road we would want a different stove, never know. But there are so many great ones out there! I just love the Jotuls....so giving this brand a try.

Ashful: Also great pointers on when to clean your stove....how to keep the ash from poofing out into the room. Good information! Thank you, thank you! We can use all the pointers we can get! =)

bcrtops: Thank you for the pointers on what to pay and what is going rates.....appreciate that! Also good to know about what type of wood etc to pay for what prices. All good to know for us newbies.....want dry wood and honest people selling it.

begreen: Thank you! Appreciate that knowledge of yours! You guys are the greatest! We really appreciate your thoughts on this! Good to know about the low ash being doug fir....boy have we got alot of that here in Oregon.....lol. I look out my back window and pretty much that is all I see for miles! Beautiful cascade mountain range! And tons and tons of christmas trees....some of which are doug fir. This is fir country!

Squisher: Thank you! Good to know that people use alot of fir! I wasn't sure which kind to get! My hubby was saying get hardwood.....but I am teaching him that isn't what people get....cause you guys are telling me that! And he listens to other men! so I got that working for me. lol

Tifferstwo: Ok we will post photos here then on our hearth project and install.
WOW I am glad to hear you liked the jotul dealer! Yes the Lopi cape cod is such a sweet stove! Loved it so much! But then the dealer said nope can't cook on it. I had actually gone to that dealer to see the Jotuls and my daughter who was with me fell in love with the cape cod....and I loved the big window so I switched but then switched back to Jotul...then someone told me about the Woodstock Progress but for a few reasons we went back to the Jotul choice. We are really happy with our choice....can't wait to get it!

The oslo is really a pretty stove! You can get it with the arches or have it be a plain window without them. I like that they give people choices on that. Also the ashpan on the oslo I thought was really nice! And the side door for side loading. I wish the F55 had that....but I am good with how it is. I kinda wanted to start with a stove without too many bells and whistles so I am good with our decision.

Keep us posted! Looking forward to hearing what you guys chose!

Our rock gets installed tomorrow......they put up the cement board today. Looking forward to it! Will post photos later tomorrow...

 

[begreen]

I keep a collection of softwood (doug fir and alder) and hardwood (locust, eucalyptus, cherry) on hand in the shed. Most of the time we burn doug fir, alder and sometimes big leaf maple. That's what's common locally. But I like having hardwood for those times when it gets into the mid 20s to the teens. The heat that locust puts out is impressive.

 

[countrychick]

begreen: Thank you, that is good to know about the different type of wood. So hardwood is a better wood to burn in the 20's.....we have some of those coming up I just heard possibly for next week. Wishing my Jotul was here already.....but it's ok....winter is just beginning.

 

[countrychick]

It's coming along, should be finished with main hearth tomorrow.

 

[countrychick]

If you look really hard you can see the air vent. Lol

 

[Ashful]

I wasn't sure which kind to get! My hubby was saying get hardwood.....but I am teaching him that isn't what people get....cause you guys are telling me that! And he listens to other men! so I got that working for me. lol

Hardwood always packs more BTU's than softwood, in some cases almost 2x more (eg. oak or locust vs. pine or cedar). However, hardwoods take 18 - 36 months to properly dry for burning, depending on conditions and species. Many softwoods can season to 20% MC in as little as one summer outside.

Folks like softwoods for a few purposes:

1. Aforementioned fast seasoning. They are the go-to for new burners, who need wood ready to burn without waiting a few years. As you obtain wood, make separate stacks for the hardwoods and softwoods, as you'll need to let those hardwoods sit at least 2 summers before burning.

2. Lower BTU output. In non-cat stoves (like those Jotuls), you are more limited in how far you can turn the stove down, which is why the enormous Jotul Firelight 600 has a burn time that's one third of a similar sized catalytic stove. So, think of all the milder times of year when you need heat, but don't need to be blasted out of the room. This is when the non-cat burner can turn to the softwoods.

3. Even cat burners will burn softwood, when that's what we have. I had a few cedar trees fall in my yard during hurricane Sandy. I'm burning them now. I'd not have sought them out, and normally burn only hardwoods, but when trees literally fall in the back yard...

 

[begreen]

East coast to midwest species availability is quite different from western wood choices. Doug fir, big leaf maple and alder are the most common firewood species here. Hardwoods are out there but they can be very pricey. We have lucked out with scrounging wild cherry and locust, but it doesn't show up too frequently. Always happy when it does.

 

[Shayne]

Do not think I would ever cook on top of our stove, that is what they make coleman stoves and bbq's for. Any liquid on a steel stove has a chance of staining it forever and no polish will fix it. Most stove are for heat but you can get them for cooking, primary heat and "maybe" emergence I would say use the coleman and do not base your decision for heat on if you can cook on it.

Regards

 

[Ashful]

Do not think I would ever cook on top of our stove, that is what they make coleman stoves and bbq's for. Any liquid on a steel stove has a chance of staining it forever and no polish will fix it. Most stove are for heat but you can get them for cooking, primary heat and "maybe" emergence I would say use the coleman and do not base your decision for heat on if you can cook on it.

Regards

Some stoves have cook tops, which are hidden during normal use. Woodstock has lift-off soapstone tiles atop some of their models, and others have swing-away cast or steel tops. This keeps any stains hidden during normal (heating) use.

 

[countrychick]

Ashful: Thank you for that additional info on wood! Good info to have! I think we are going to initially get a bunch of kiln dried fir. Two cords for 650 isn't too bad a price....delivered. I live in the boonies so it's a good price I think....better than the other place who was charging more. But I will dig a bit today to see what other prices I can find. We may also get some hardwood too with our truck.

begreen: Yes you are so right! Fir is the wood of choice out here in the NW. That is what we are finding but there are some hardwoods available in my area too. Our winters here haven't so far been frigid really so what Ashful said about mild winters......sorta applies here.

Shayne: Our decision on a stove was made with 'emergency cooking' in mind. If there was a major power outage.....maybe couldn't get gas or you ran out of propane.....it is good to have a option for cooking. I am talking real emergency long term.......EMP attack....that type of thing. Maybe you think I am nuts now....but I think of the 'what if' situations and just have a plan in case.... So for us we would not be cooking on it unless it was long term situation. We have a coleman stove no bbq here. But if propane runs out it is good to have another option. Good thoughts though! Thanks for adding your comments!

 

[countrychick]

Yes Ashful that is why I was considering the woodstock and alderleas......but in the end the Jotul won. Probably will just get some trivets to put on top when needed for cooking. Would that be the best option for cooking on top and keeping the top nice?

 

[Shayne]

Glad to hear all goes well it was just a suggestion.

My wife asked the sales guys the same thing, can we cook on it? No way are we going to cook on my new baby. Running out of propane, or camp fuel is about the likely as running out of wood at the farm. If it is mainly for heat I just suggested that I would buy the stove that does that the best. However, we can go though 2 cords of hardwood in a week here, 18 to 24 cords a season, which may not be the same for you. I am hoping the new stove reduces that and we will cook with camp fuel if need be. Now how do we run the well pump ?

Regards

 

[begreen]

Shane, 2 cords a week in a Princess!? Are those face cords or full cords? Even with face cords that is 85 cu ft of wood a week. What else is eating all this fuel, wood boiler?

 

[countrychick]

shayne: Oh no worries, yes I knew it was a suggestion. Wow that is alot of wood! We might go through 4 cords here a year. (that is what my neighbor who has been living next door for 40 yrs says, he burns wood) Big difference in temps here. Well pump......get a hand pump! Course maybe it would freeze since you guys are so cold there......not sure if hand pumps freeze up and you can't use them?

I don't have enough propane.....I'd surely run out here in an emergency so my stove will be the option for cooking if we ever have a long term emergency here. Shoot I would burn my furniture if I had to in a emergency if I were to run out of wood.....ya do what you have to do!

 

[kennyp2339]

Shoot I would burn my furniture

Look into compressed wood blocks, I think you guys have neil's out there, (1) ton = (1) cord, 6 - 8 % moisture content and might be cheaper then your kiln dry wood.

 

[countrychick]

Hi Kenny: Ok I will check into that too! I looked and am not finding any 'neils'. But they have north idaho energy logs here. Price doesn't look much different 280.00 for 240 logs.