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Caswellian

Member
Feb 12, 2019
4
Alaska
Hello all. I live in Southcentral Alaska, at about 12,000 heating degree days. I heat a 1500 sq ft., well insulated 2 story home on 3 cords of birch a year. I've been using a Dutch West branded Century FW300006 75,000 BTU for the last 10 years and while it does the job, it burns so hot that the only time I keep a fire going throughout the day is when it's at least -20 out. So most days I light a fire in the morning and one in the evening.
I would love to be able to turn the fire down to a simmer and also have the power to heat my home if it does decide to get real cold.

Been looking over a bunch of different stoves over the years to replace my adequate burner. I have been focusing more on catalytic stoves and have a few questions.

Seems the Blaze King/King is the ultimate long time burner - but the stove is rather _g not what I'd like to look at on a daily basis.
After Blaze King then all the others fall way short in burn times, but 16 hours is better than the 6 hours I get on my EPA certified air tight stove.

The Woodstock Stoves are real nice to look at but i have one concern that i cannot find a reference to and that's if these Woodstock stoves need to be rebuilt every so often, to keep them airtight, as other caste iron stoves require?

I'm not inept or incapable of performing such tasks, but I would rather not have to worry about such things. :)
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
I'm not a huge fan of the look of the Blaze King, but the Ashford line up doesn't look all that terrible if you're keen on a Blaze King.

I wouldn't worry too much about a Woodstock needing to be rebuilt . . . from what I've read here they don't tend to be rebuilt for many, many, many years.
 
The Woodstock Stoves are real nice to look at but i have one concern that i cannot find a reference to and that's if these Woodstock stoves need to be rebuilt every so often, to keep them airtight, as other caste iron stoves require?
I'm not inept or incapable of performing such tasks, but I would rather not have to worry about such things. :)
They have the welded plate-steel hybrids, but they aren't as pretty as their stone stoves. With one of their custom paint jobs, they might be passable though.
I don't know about the burn times, but I bet they do OK on a low cat burn.
The Fireview can burn pretty low, but I don't know how it would keep up in your place at -20. :oops: It only has 1.8 cu.ft. usable volume. The PH is bigger, but I don't know if it's renowned for long burns...I don't see why not, on a low cat-only burn.
My SIL has a used Fireview that was over-fired, and I had to patch a few seam leaks inside the box. I think if you don't fire 'em hard, the cement in the stone stoves should last pretty long.
My new Keystone had an air leak from day 1, which I eventually patched. Not sure if that was from the factory, or the seam got loosened in transit. Other than seam leaks, the stone stoves should last forever. They aren't gonna eventually rust away like a steel stove would.
 
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Regarding Blaze King looks. Beauty is as beauty does. The appeal is in the performance rather than the appearance.

Sure but you can't blame someone not wanting to shell out top prices for an ugly stove they'll have to look at for years. The ashford looks nice though.
 
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Sure but you can't blame someone not wanting to shell out top prices for an ugly stove they'll have to look at for years. The ashford looks nice though.
Agreed, but sometimes you just have to make a decision. Do you want the beauty queen or someone who can get the crops in.
 
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I appreciate this forum and all I have come to learn here from the kinder folks but, all the bickering and brand wars is distasteful.
I have often wondered if the bk’s are getting free stuff from the VP for being such fan boys.
Furthermore, I have found the search feature on this forum less than adequate and unsatisfactory. Also don’t appreciate a mod telling one person they absolutely can’t do something and than tell another person it’s okay. Seems a lot of picking and choosing goes on when it comes to answering a questions too. Just my observations.
 
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Don't mistake my comments for bickering or outright support of BK. I happen to have two stoves, and if you look through my few posts you will see that I am entrhralled with my Hearthstone. However, the heavy lifting falls to the BK simply because I need steady heat over long periods when we are not here. Call me a polygamist. I have the beauty queen in the bedroom, and the BK in the kitchen.

I ran an Earthstove equipped with a cat for 16 years in a house with no other heat. I have had the BK here for 9 years. In addition, I have had other stoves including a barrel stove, an old cast parlor stove, a non cat Earthstove, pellet stove, and probably more I have forgotten about. The cat Earthstove was my favorite for steady reliable heat. It is no longer available, but the similarities to the BK are why I have one now. I believe there was some tie between the two companies in the distant past.

I need steady reliable heat from my woodstove. You may not. I apologize if I offfended you by offering an opinion based on 40+ years of heating with wood.
 
Hello all. I live in Southcentral Alaska, at about 12,000 heating degree days. I heat a 1500 sq ft., well insulated 2 story home on 3 cords of birch a year. I've been using a Dutch West branded Century FW300006 75,000 BTU for the last 10 years and while it does the job, it burns so hot that the only time I keep a fire going throughout the day is when it's at least -20 out. So most days I light a fire in the morning and one in the evening.
I would love to be able to turn the fire down to a simmer and also have the power to heat my home if it does decide to get real cold.

Been looking over a bunch of different stoves over the years to replace my adequate burner. I have been focusing more on catalytic stoves and have a few questions.

Seems the Blaze King/King is the ultimate long time burner - but the stove is rather _g not what I'd like to look at on a daily basis.
After Blaze King then all the others fall way short in burn times, but 16 hours is better than the 6 hours I get on my EPA certified air tight stove.

The Woodstock Stoves are real nice to look at but i have one concern that i cannot find a reference to and that's if these Woodstock stoves need to be rebuilt every so often, to keep them airtight, as other caste iron stoves require?

I'm not inept or incapable of performing such tasks, but I would rather not have to worry about such things. :)
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I would go with a WoodStock if I had the dough.
 
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I would go with a WoodStock if I had the dough.

If they weren’t so ugly, I’d agree with you, and I have the dough. Woodstock is a top-notch company, and makes excellent stoves... if you can stand the looks of them. They are not for me, but in fairness... neither is any BK, except the Ashford. Looks are subjective, and they need to make stoves that appeal to people with poor taste, too.

If you’re looking for lower burn capability, based on your prior stove burning too hot for the space, then you’ll be mostly looking at cat stoves. Then it really does come down to BK vs. Woodstock in most cases, as these two brands are head and shoulders above the rest, in that tech.

Of course, there may be non-cat options. Moderator @begreen adores his PE Alderlea, and his house is not huge, he calls it “the gentle giant”. With a cast over steel convective jacket, it seems to do a great job of softening the heat, even though it can’t turn down as far as a cat stove. They are also very nice looking stoves, definitely an option I’d consider, if I were to ever go non-cat.
 
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I'm not a huge fan of the look of the Blaze King, but the Ashford line up doesn't look all that terrible if you're keen on a Blaze King.

I wouldn't worry too much about a Woodstock needing to be rebuilt . . . from what I've read here they don't tend to be rebuilt for many, many, many years.

I'd say the Ashford deserves a little better than that :), it looks pretty decent not just by BK standards, but standing next to almost anything.
I'd have to say the Vermont casting stoves look the best, but I'd never buy one.

Agree, about Woodstock being a good choice, one of their welded steel hybrids is 3.2 cuft and owners will tell you the advertised burn times are achievable and conservative (same thing with BK).
 
There are many homes in the area, that still have there 1980's Blaze King stoves installed. This speaks tons for their longevity.The looks have improved, over the years, but they are very utilitarian looking. They are still used as a benchmark for wood heating around here.
I spoke with Woodstock Stoves and they told me they did have a steel firebox, with a few seems, that should last for many years. Gaskets and movable parts needing replacement most often.
I can drive down the road and get a Blaze King from a few places, but the cost of shipping the Woodstock up to Alaska is going to push the price significantly higher than the BK.
 
No offense taken whatsoever. I get it.
The OP very bluntly stated they are not interested in a BK. You had to jump in and defend your royal king of blaze.. it’s redundant.

If your reading comprehension was as great as your arrogance, you would recognize that he stated the BK was ugly, and not something he would want to look at. This is far different from stating bluntly that he was not interested. Furthermore, as far as appearance goes, you might upon closer reading of the thread understand that I was agreeing with him and only pointing out that the sole appeal of a BK was its burn time. This too agreed with his statement.

I'll offer one more opinion, the person that you are unhappy with is probably the one that looks back at you from the mirror.
 
If your reading comprehension was as great as your arrogance, you would recognize that he stated the BK was ugly, and not something he would want to look at. This is far different from stating bluntly that he was not interested. Furthermore, as far as appearance goes, you might upon closer reading of the thread understand that I was agreeing with him and only pointing out that the sole appeal of a BK was its burn time. This too agreed with his statement.

I'll offer one more opinion, the person that you are unhappy with is probably the one that looks back at you from the mirror.

Wow you are so sensitive! Still no offense taken. I don’t have teen angst or anger management problems.

OP said it’s not what they would want to look at every day. It’s as simple as that.
 
I too am looking for a new stove. Been looking at buck 74. Any opinions very appreciated. Sorry new and couldn't figure out where new thread icon was
 
I too am looking for a new stove. Been looking at buck 74. Any opinions very appreciated. Sorry new and couldn't figure out where new thread icon was
New thread can be created at the top of the topic page. I had the 74's sister, the 91 cat. It is a simple, well-engineered rig, and built like a tank; No 1/8" sidewalls on the box here. ;)
 
New thread can be created at the top of the topic page. I had the 74's sister, the 91 cat. It is a simple, well-engineered rig, and built like a tank; No 1/8" sidewalls on the box here. ;)
Thanks woody...I finally figured it out. That's good to hear as well. Always been partial to bucks for their build quality and customer service....which is becoming rarer and rarer these days
 
Thanks woody...I finally figured it out. That's good to hear as well. Always been partial to bucks for their build quality and customer service....which is becoming rarer and rarer these days
There are lots of high quality manufacturers out there with good customer service. I have nothing against buck stoves but there are lots of other options as well.
 
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about 12,000 heating degree days.
I haven't looked too far yet, but does anyone know how to find historical average heating degree days for a location? I would think I'd have about half of what they do in AK, depending if the OP is in Anchorage or inland..
If they weren’t so ugly....Woodstock is a top-notch company, and makes excellent stoves... if you can stand the looks of them. They are not for me, but in fairness... neither is any BK, except the Ashford. Looks are subjective, and they need to make stoves that appeal to people with poor taste, too
begreen adores his PE Alderlea
If you don't think the Fireview is cool-looking, or don't think that the PH looks OK, I have to question your taste. :p I think the Ashford is pretty generic-looking, but not ugly. Cast enamel stoves look the best, I think most would agree. My Keystone looks OK to me. But as you said, different strokes for different folks.
The Fireview had drawbacks for me; No ash grate and small window. I could use the extra output about now, though. :oops: Time so seal more air leaks in this place. The BKs have got several drawbacks in my book, but they wouldn't work for me anyway, since I want to vent into the masonry fireplace, and not look at a connector pipe. That may be one reason that people elect to go out the wall...
sometimes you just have to make a decision. Do you want the beauty queen or someone who can get the crops in.
A Ws will bring home the bacon. And it won't be the one that looked good in high school but got dumpy fast. ;)
I'd say the Ashford deserves a little better than that :), it looks pretty decent not just by BK standards, but standing next to almost anything
Where have you been looking, Home Depot and Menards? ;lol
still have there 1980's Blaze King stoves installed. This speaks tons for their longevity...
I can drive down the road and get a Blaze King from a few places, but the cost of shipping the Woodstock up to Alaska is going to push the price significantly higher than the BK.
I would compare their construction in the '80s, before cats, to what they are putting out now. I'd be willing to wager that they are totally different stoves.
 
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There are many homes in the area, that still have there 1980's Blaze King stoves installed. This speaks tons for their longevity.The looks have improved, over the years, but they are very utilitarian looking. They are still used as a benchmark for wood heating around here.
I spoke with Woodstock Stoves and they told me they did have a steel firebox, with a few seems, that should last for many years. Gaskets and movable parts needing replacement most often.
I can drive down the road and get a Blaze King from a few places, but the cost of shipping the Woodstock up to Alaska is going to push the price significantly higher than the BK.
I would call WoodStock and talk about different shipping possibilities and prices. You may be surprised.
 
I haven't looked too far yet, but does anyone know how to find historical average heating degree days for a location? I would think I'd have about half of what they do in AK, depending if the OP is in Anchorage or inland..
If you don't think the Fireview is cool-looking, or don't think that the PH looks OK, I have to question your taste. :p I think the Ashford is pretty generic-looking, but not ugly. Cast enamel stoves look the best, I think most would agree. My Keystone looks OK to me. But as you said, different strokes for different folks.
The Fireview had drawbacks for me; No ash grate and small window. I could use the extra output about now, though. :oops: Time so seal more air leaks in this place. The BKs have got several drawbacks in my book, but they wouldn't work for me anyway, since I want to vent into the masonry fireplace, and not look at a connector pipe. That may be one reason that people elect to go out the wall...
A Ws will bring home the bacon. And it won't be the one that looked good in high school but got dumpy fast. ;)
Where have you been looking, Home Depot and Menards? ;lol
I would compare their construction in the '80s, before cats, to what they are putting out now. I'd be willing to wager that they are totally different stoves.
You do realize the ashford is cast and can be ordered in enamel right?
 
I haven't looked too far yet, but does anyone know how to find historical average heating degree days for a location?
https://www.degreedays.net/
I think the Ashford is pretty generic-looking, but not ugly. Cast enamel stoves look the best, I think most would agree.
I agree, cast enamel stoves look best. Cast enamel stoves, like the BK Ashford.

I agree on the ash grate, too. I did like that feature in my Jotuls, but I also see the potential dangers and performance issues it introduces.
 
You do realize the ashford is cast and can be ordered in enamel right?
I don't realize a lot of stuff; I appreciate you having my back. ==c
But yes, I did realize that the Ashford came in enamel. It's not as stunning as a lot of enamel stoves, though..
I agree, cast enamel stoves look best. Cast enamel stoves, like the BK Ashford.
Did you get that option?
I agree on the ash grate, too. I did like that feature in my Jotuls, but I also see the potential dangers and performance issues it introduces.
I haven't so much as changed the gasket on mine, or adjusted the latch, and the stove is nine years old. Maybe I'll slap in a new gasket this summer, just for the heck of it. ;)
Thanks, I'll check that out. Interested to see how the climate here compares to AK. I get enough horror stories from my brother in WI, to ever consider living in AK. Last week, the hundred feet of his back yard between his back door and the wood shed was covered in snow, melted and re-froze turning it into an ice rink. He fell on his butt twice trying to get more wood for the F2400. :oops:
Here, it's been so sopping wet that I don't even feel bad that I haven't stacked any wood yet...it wouldn't be drying anyway. ;hm
I would love to be able to turn the fire down to a simmer and also have the power to heat my home if it does decide to get real cold. Been looking over a bunch of different stoves over the years to replace my adequate burner. I have been focusing more on catalytic stoves
In your well-insulated house, how long can you wait after the stove goes out, in average weather, before you need to raise room temp? Are you near Anchorage, or inland? In moderate weather here, I can just ride on retained heat in the house after the stove goes out, for a long time, and only lose a few degrees. Long burn times aren't as important to me, since I've been burning for years and know how to easily start a fire if I've let the stove go out. ::DT::F I think I save wood burning the way I do, as opposed to keeping a smolder going all the time.
What I'm asking here is, are you convinced that you want to make the switch to a non-cat? You described your present stove as an "adequate burner."