Avalon Olympic #1190 General discussion thread

[12pack]

Alright lets see if this works. (first time posting a pic)

Having owned an Avalon Olympic for a little over a year now, I am pretty pleased with this stove. It is my first stove. It is stuffed into my fireplace. (see pics)

I have a 1912 Sears kit house which is called the Avondale, could be bought new for $2100.00. Came in by rail from what I know. Would be built on site all lumber, built ins etc... from sears. My fireplace looks just like the catalog as does the built in China cabinet etc... A few minor changes in layout over the years like 2 full baths on 1st floor but basically as built in 1912.

Anyway, I wanted to start a discussion thread just for anyone who may own or may be thinking about an Avalon Olympic. I was searching around for discussion concerning the Olympic and had to jump around, thought this may be a worthwhile thing. Any questions, thoughts or whatever lets discuss here.

I really like this stove, it is my first but I have been around stoves for years. I do not get that great (long) burn times, but 6 hours on a stuffed stove is OK because my wood is not the best, poplar, oak, maple, willow, some ash but not seasoned , still working on that.

alright lets talk some Avalon Olympic... or anything else
Link Removed

 

[12pack]

Geez, it worked, time for another cocktail now to celebrate

 

[lopiliberty]

I have almost the same stove as your with a different door. For starters you figured out its easier to burn front to back. Ok first off I see no secondary burn going on in the picture but that could be the result of unseasoned wood. What are you stove temps running. Any chance you could get that thermometer up on the top of the stove by the bypass rod? That's where the stove seems to register the hottest temperature. Six hour burn is alittle low but I figure your probably giving it more air to get more heat out of the unseasoned wood. I can get 8 to 12 hours out of my liberty sometimes even longer. If you love this stove now, I bet when you get some good seasoned wood your going to love it even more

 

[12pack]

Hey there, by front to back I will assume you mean raking coals forward and loading the rear. yea, no secondary burn in the pictures, I just reloaded when I took the picture. stove temps are usually in the 450 range + or - where thermometer is now.

I keep the thermometer there so I can see it. I didnt like it on top. I have an IR thermometer also to check things out.

the thermometer where it is now lets say it reads 425, the IR will say 450-460 right next to it, and the IR on top of stove will be about 500 deg + or - I usually like to be able to glance at it the thermometer even if not accurate.... I know what the temp is...

 

[12pack]

same fire 2 hours later

 

[lopiliberty]

Hey there, by front to back I will assume you mean raking coals forward and loading the rear. yea,

when I say front to back I mean load the wood straight in instead of side to side. It should take a max of 16in split front to back and yes its better to rake the coals to the front in a row and load the wood so the stove doesn't take off like a rocket

 

[lopiliberty]

When you say 6 hours on a packed stove is it usually more wood than what is in the pics. I ask because people have different views of what a packed stove is

 

[12pack]

I usually load straight in or (North /south) only when starting the stove,,,, this seems to allow the air to flow better for a quicker start.......after a good coal bed I will load left to right or (east/west) as I think it slows down the burn time, but I am willing to hear any and all recommendations.

keep 'em coming

 

[12pack]

I was typing while you where,,,

yes when I say a packed stove I mean I cant squeeze anymore in

 

[lopiliberty]

I load mine 95% of the time north/south because I can get a lot more wood in there than east/west. Try doing a full load north/south and see how that works out for you. But be carful not to load on too big of a coal bed or you will have a run away stove

 

[12pack]

Ha... Ive done that ,,,,,, most of my wood I cut too large for straight in or (north/south), still splitting though

 

[12pack]

 

[lopiliberty]

Well.... i'm all out of suggestions. Maybe some other members with have some.

 

[dave_376]

I have an 1196, the predecessor to your stove. When I first got it I made the same mistake you did, I cut all my wood too long. I can put in 21" EW or 16"NS. Now I cut all my wood to 16" and smaller splits because the stove works better like that. The first year with the stove it was great up until it started to get cold outside. When the temps dipped into the single digits the house was chilly, thats when I heard of the NS/EW load debate. I grabbed the saw and cut 4" off and haven't looked back since. I burned all of the small cut offs too. they work great for trying to fill in little gaps in between the stacks or for burning on the days when you have all day to watch the stove. I ended up building a rack to hold my splits in a neat stack while I trimmed them down to 16".

 

[Beer Belly]

12pack....that house wouldn't happen to be in Ossining, would it ??

 

[12pack]

I guess I could cut the remaining wood on hand to 16" and try that approach. although I have about 5 cords cut already,,,,,,,

Beer belly, no not Ossining, I'm in Katonah.

 

[Lighting Up]

I have the Avalon Pendleton the..."very little tiny sister" to yours. Looking at your pictures only thing I could add is you may want to look into a blower. With this little firebox I have and the blower and very dry season wood, I can get great heat from it, and longer burns because of the dry dry wood. With a insert my blower helps blowing the heat in the room keeping it from going up the chimney because of the stove sitting back in the FP. I have notice as my wood became more season from last year the times became better on burning. I love my stove and the brand, nothing like wood heat...good luck this year!
MD

 

[dave_376]

I guess I could cut the remaining wood on hand to 16" and try that approach. although I have about 5 cords cut already,,,,,,,

Beer belly, no not Ossining, I'm in Katonah.

I had 11 cord cut to 20"...It was a pain but it was worth it because it burned so much better and I could actually fit more wood in the stove.

Looking at your pictures only thing I could add is you may want to look into a blower. MD

It looks like he has a rear mounted blower, see the control under the stove.

 

[Beer Belly]

We have an Avalon Ranier Insert....once the house gets up to temp, it easily keeps pace, but IMO it's a little undersized for our !,700 sq. ft. home. We did like the Olympic, but it wouldn't fit our fireplace. Our burn times are also not impressive.

 

[4barrel]

I have had an olympic for 5 years now. Built like a tank, starts up nice and quick, has a wonderful convection system on it ( best feature of the stove IMO), but like alot of other owners I am getting short burn times with it. I cannot get more than 41/2 hours out of it. Unfortunately, I cannot fit a blaze king in my fireplace.

 

[12pack]

Lighting up: I do have a rear mounted blower, works like a charm. (only wish it would turn off sooner

Dave 376 : my god you have alot of energy...... i'm too lazy to do that.....

Beer Belly: Where in Ct are ya, I got a beer belly also.. HA HA HA... I need a new drinking buddy,,, Tonight I have too much blood in my alcohol system but i'm working on that as I type......all my friends are either dead or in A.A. HA HA HA (just kidding)

4 Barrel: I hear ya on the short burn times... it depends (with me) I think the longest I have gotten is 8 hours or so and still had a coal bed good enough to re-light without help. But my wood is not seasoned as it should. I know I can do better and I will. I am very happy w/this stove

 

[Beer Belly]

Located in Bethel, not far from the NY border.....born and raised in Ossining, NY....moved to Ct back around 1999....my Aunt had a Craftsman house

 

[12pack]

Located in Bethel, not far from the NY border.....born and raised in Ossining, NY....moved to Ct back around 1999....my Aunt had a Craftsman house

Not too far.... I bought my stove from yankee doodle on rt7 in wilton near georgetown

just got done stacking another 1/2 cord on the front porch

 

[Beer Belly]

Not too far.... I bought my stove from yankee doodle on rt7 in wilton near georgetown

just got done stacking another 1/2 cord on the front porch

I visited that store before buying ours....ended up buying from V&V woodstoves House of Warmth on Rt.7 in New Milford

 

[webbie]

Does that bass on the wall talk when you walk by it? I saw one at a store that did that.....should have bought it!

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