Anyone know about Century Stoves? Good....Bad?

[jeffatus]

I am looking at buying a wood stove this month. I am trying to stay in a budget and found a woodburning stove from Century on clearance at a local store. Are they a good stove manufacturer? I am not big on it being a steel stove, since I really wanted an iron one, but the whole "staying in a budget" thing put a damper on that....and I found a really good deal as well.

It's a fairly large stove (2.1 cu. ft.), takes 20 inch logs, rated for 50,000+ Btu's, so I think it should suit me ok. The model number, if interested, is CJW2000LO2. It is going in my basement, so I guess I can live with in not being exactly what I wanted; and it has a big window for viewing the fire.

Also, I am trying to find a place to buy the chimney/piping inexpensively. I live in Michigan and would be fine with ordering by phone or online. Is there a brand that is less expensive, but still good quality.

Any input you have is appreciated.

thanks

Jeff

 

[Tendencies]

Sounds like the same model my Dutchwest is, both are made by Vermont Casting, does it look like this ?

Only problem so far has been ash escapes out the front when I open the door, not too good of a lip there to retain it but if your careful no problem, in fact I'm tearing out my hearth pad in front of the fireplace and replacing it with some semi smooth porcelin tiles which will make clean up a lot easier, other than that I love mine and it really puts out the heat!! Will post some pic's of the before/during and after of the hearth project soon!! (laid the durarock and tiles yesterday and hope to grout today)

T

 

[elkimmeg]

Centry stoves are an economy line of Vermont castings sold to box stores
similar quality to Englanders

 

[Rob From Wisconsin]

The house we currently are living in (we are
in the process of moving) has two (2) Century
244's in it (the smallest Century Stove). We are
very pleased w/ its operation & effeciency. Works
a lot better than its cast-iron European predicessor,
and for a $1000 less!! Not big on the "looks" catagory,
but what can you expect for the price!

Note: The Century line is in the process of being
re-named to the Dutchwest line (also a Vermont
Castings product). From what I can tell, they look
the same, just having a Dutchwest name instead.

Rob

 

[baitzj]

We have a century stove (Don't remember the model off hand but it is one of the larger ones) and I think it does a good job heating our old house.

Justin

 

[MaryAnn]

Supervent chimney at Lowe's is the least expensive I found. I'm happy with it so far.

 

[Yogi]

I bought a Century stove at Lowes, right before Y2K, just in case. It does a fair job of heating my house. We lost power a few years ago and it kept the house at 65 deg. on a 0 deg night, not bad for 12000sqft house! I would like to upgrade, but it works so well and the others are so expensive!! Been happy with mine, expcialy for the money I spent on it.

 

[BikeMedic2709]

12,000 square foot house! WOW That is a BIG house

 

[Dave_1]

12,000 square foot house! WOW That is a BIG house

Yep, sure glad that we don't own it!

Just imagine the time it takes to clean the windows? :lol:

Dave

 

[Yogi]

WOW Sorry, I hit one to mayn butons, 1,200 sqft house, I'd get lost in a house that big!

 

[BikeMedic2709]

I thought you might live in a gymnasium or something. Hahahaha!
Seriously though, I almost bought one a few weeks ago from Lowes. The price was right, but I decided to justdo a rebuild and save my money on other toys!

 

[jeffatus]

I saw the Duchwest Stove at Lowes, the one I have is the same one (except mine has gold trim doors/accents and legs). While my wife and I are not fans of the gold trim, but it's growing on us; besides, it goes ok with our beige painted basement. I like the legs better than the pedestal as well.

thanks for the feedback

jeff

 

[njtomatoguy]

Got mine deliverd today !!



CFM model 240007

Can't wait to fire it up.!!

Lowes- $440

Minus employee discount-

$403

I wil absolutely make my money back this year-- so in feb/ march-- FREE HEAT!!

 

[seaken]

I saw the Duchwest Stove at Lowes, the one I have is the same one (except mine has gold trim doors/accents and legs). While my wife and I are not fans of the gold trim, but it's growing on us; besides, it goes ok with our beige painted basement. I like the legs better than the pedestal as well.

thanks for the feedback

jeff

Jeff,

was that a "Dutchwest" branded stove at Lowes? I thought they only had "Century" or "CFM" models.

 

[seaken]

Sounds like the same model my Dutchwest is, both are made by Vermont Casting, does it look like this ?

Only problem so far has been ash escapes out the front when I open the door, not too good of a lip there to retain it but if your careful no problem, in fact I'm tearing out my hearth pad in front of the fireplace and replacing it with some semi smooth porcelin tiles which will make clean up a lot easier, other than that I love mine and it really puts out the heat!! Will post some pic's of the before/during and after of the hearth project soon!! (laid the durarock and tiles yesterday and hope to grout today)

T

Well, actually, they are made by CFM, who also owns VC.

The Century will have a "CW" in the model instead of the "DW" you are showing. The guts of the Century is virually the same as the Dutchwest Plate Steel line but they are not identical stoves. We had a guy give us a part number for his "Century" insert but it turned out not to fit. He used the part number from the "Dutchwest" manual. Be careful to keep the brands seperate.

Sean

 

[seaken]

Centry stoves are an economy line of Vermont castings sold to box stores
similar quality to Englanders

For all onlookers, I would like to point out that Century is not a Vermont Castings stove. They are owned by the same parent company but they are not equivalent product lines. VC is no more a 'high end line of Century' than 'Century is an economy line of VC'.

Century is not remotely a Vermont Casting stove. They can be considered a near equivalent to the Dutchwest Plate Steel stoves. These ARE all CFM products but a Century does not a Vermont Castings make. Now, that may change someday. I can't speak for what CFM will do in the future. For now, Century is not manufactured by the Vermont Casting folks in Bethel. They do make the castings for the Dutchwest Plate Steel line, I think.

Sean

 

[jeffatus]

From what I can see, the Century Stove I just bought and the Duchwest Steel Plate Stove are identical. The similarities in looks go down to the handle, steel trim on the lip in front of the door, etc. Also, all of the ratings listed in the online specifications (firebox size, max BTU's, max log length, weight, efficiency etc.) are identical as well.

I just checked the stoves on Vermont Castings website; they are listed as CDW...... and the Century stove I bought is CJW..... I am supprised to hear that the parts are not interchangeable, especially since the specifications are identical. But I am by no means an expert on the subject of stoves.

hope that helps.

jeff

 

[BrotherBart]

VC may cast the iron Dutchwest stoves in Bethel but I can't see CFM owning a plate steel fab facility and not manufacturing all of the stoves with identical specs in that one plant.

In fact if you go to the Majestic web site, look up Dutchwest non-cat plate steel stoves and click on the warranty link the warranty starts out:

"CENTURY WOOD STOVES
WARRANTY GUIDELINES"

I bet those Dutchwest plate stoves come off of the same line and are delivered on the same train as Century with an engineer that says "Eh?".