Anyone burning the newer drolet II versions of the Baltic or Myriad

[Mark Richards]

I liked the redesign of the drolet's last year but haven't been able to find out how they are performing for people. Anybody have some experience with one this year. I'm on year 3 with a Escape and it does an excellent job for 90% of my heating requirements. Would like to go bigger next year with a drolet again.

 

[begreen]

There have been a couple posts and the reports so far are favorable. The design has a strong family resemblance to the Osburn 2300 which is a winner.

 

[Mark Richards]

Thanks begreen, I'll search the Osburn.

 

[Swedishchef]

2300 owner here. Very pleased with the unit.

Andrew

 

[MNSawshop]

Does the Austral II count? I believe it's of the same family just different legs?

I switched from a 30NC I wasn't happy with to this new Austral II at Christmas time and couldn't be happier with it. The bypass works great at loading and it really pumps out a nice duration of heat for many hours. Glass is super clean and the secondary burns are excellent. We burn 24/7 in this stove and have no regrets on the purchase.

 

[begreen]

How does the Austral II differ from the 30NC burning in your installation?

 

[MNSawshop]

Night and day difference...I never got the results others on Hearth did with their 30NC, mine never burned hard from day 1. With that stove I always had smoke out the chimney, black glass half way up, and hours of charcoal-where talking a third to half a stove full. I tried every combo of burn settings, wood arrangement I could think of for burning and none ever worked that much better than the previous. I think something was not right with mine but I looked it over the best I could and never saw any thing that looked out of sort, but I know it was not operating correctly.

With the Austral II same SST liner, same firewood. I am able to get a hot fire going in about 10-15 minutes where I start backing off the air control. The glass stays clean, the wood burns with great secondary flames and burns from front to back at an even rate. Leaves a nice small pile of charcoal at the vary back of the stove I can pull forward and re-light off of. The heat output is great and lasts for a long time until the wood is just about gone. It's been so easy to operate and doesn't take much time to get a fire going I've really enjoyed the Austral II stove.

 

[Swedishchef]

I think the Austral II is the same box as the 2300. Do you often use the bypass when reloading?

Andrew

 

[MNSawshop]

So far only need the bypass if I'm reloading over good bed of coals. I can't fill the stove fast enough with splits and close the door before the bottom ones start burning.

I've got the timing down better now so I do a full load in the morning, a 2/3 load when I get home from work and full one again at bedtime. The burn cycle works out to leave just small amount of coals in the ash to relight off of usually and I don't need the bypass then.

 

[KindredSpiritzz]

Do you often use the bypass when reloading?

I never use that bypass anymore and i have grown to dislike it. Has a tendency to get bumped either on the handle outside or on the flaps inside when I reload and swing open without me realizing it and the next thing i know the chimney temp is over 500. I've gotten to where i don't even need to use it to get a good fire going. I do love the stove, just don't care for that bypass. Course mines the older solid baffle version too.