Hearthstone out Woodstock in

[Randy Acton]

I was new to woodburning when we bought our house. It came with a Hearthstone Heritage 8020 and a steep learning curve. It has taken 4 years and I still have much to learn but I think I finally have this stove figured out.

I can now go from a cold start, completely clean stove to heat output in about an hour without over firing. I don't rely on any cold coals, never use kindling wood and my stack temp never exceeds 350F. The biggest problem I have is that no matter what I do I cant get more than a 3-4 hour burn time with another 2-3 hours of usable heat. After that there are still hot embers but not enough to relight even a matchstick.

Considering that both my wife and I work, the stove is cold by the time we get home and we are always using up propane to bring the house up to temp while the stove gets going.

I have read every word that has been posted regarding the Ideal Steel Hybrid and think that is what we will get this summer as the learning curve on the Heritage has done its damage and needs replacing.

Is anyone out there getting better results from their Heritage? Is it worth rebuilding and hanging on to it? Other than looks is there any reason not to buy the Ideal Steel?

 

[begreen]

Assuming that you are not away for for more than 10 hrs or so, there are lots of 3 cu ft stoves on the market that should still have a bed of hot coals in it when you get home, the Ideal Steel being one of them. If longer then also consider the Blaze King Sirocco, Princess or Ashford.

 

[Smoked]

I loaded my stoves at 7 ish and got back from work at 5 and had coals for an easy relight in both. The old dog was the coldest but still fired right up. I am burning white oak right now and that is about the hottest stuff we have around here. It coals really well too! Both of mine rear vent and I have dampers in the snouts of both tees. I am still on a learning curve with the dampers because this is the first year with the second stove and the first year with the dampers. I believe I am getting longer burns with them in there. If it is cold and dry, I close them about 3/4 as soon as I get decent secondaries going and down to 7/8 if really cold.

The Hearthstones have a rep for running a hot stack and wasting heat that way. The trade off is a clean liner. Ill know next cleaning if the damper hurts the liner cleanup process. If you have a strong draft and it is an easy install, a $10 damper is an easy experiment. Just have to remember to open them if hot loading or you will stink up the house

I use a very large blocky split in the back of the stove for the longer burning loads. something like 6x6x20. Sometimes it is big round I intentionally split square and sometime it is gnarly stuff I saw into block that size. Sometimes the one split is the whole back half of the firebox. Then I do medium and smaller stuff to get it going. If you are like me and worried about stuff hitting the glass, it is hard to get a really good load. Did you see that thread about how do you load your stove a couple of days back?

How tall is your stack? What kind of wood? Do you have a moisture meter?

 

[JA600L]

You have plenty of good options in that range as previously stated. If you do choose the Ideal Steel you will not be disappointed. This is assuming that you have the proper chimney, location, and less then 20% seasoned firewood.

I personally love the fact that it has a cat and secondary air. Both technologies have their advantages so having both is awesome. Many will argue that it is not good at either.

They are wrong. It burns very low and slow or high and fast. But what it does perfectly is provide you with 10-14 hours of strong burn time. That's what is important to me. I'm away 10-12 hours everyday. No problem.

 

[Elbinwyp]

You have plenty of good options in that range as previously stated. If you do choose the Ideal Steel you will not be disappointed. This is assuming that you have the proper chimney, location, and less then 20% seasoned firewood.

I personally love the fact that it has a cat and secondary air. Both technologies have their advantages so having both is awesome. Many will argue that it is not good at either.

They are wrong. It burns very low and slow or high and fast. But what it does perfectly is provide you with 10-14 hours of strong burn time. That's what is important to me. I'm away 10-12 hours everyday. No problem.

This. I feel like I have two stoves with my IS. One for shoulder season and another for nights like tonight (4F and windy). Very versatile.

 

[Randy Acton]

Assuming that you are not away for for more than 10 hrs or so, there are lots of 3 cu ft stoves on the market that should still have a bed of hot coals in it when you get home, the Ideal Steel being one of them. If longer then also consider the Blaze King Sirocco, Princess or Ashford.

Not necessarily looking for longer but for much less cash the I.S. seems on par with the BK's

 

[Randy Acton]

I loaded my stoves at 7 ish and got back from work at 5 and had coals for an easy relight in both. The old dog was the coldest but still fired right up. I am burning white oak right now and that is about the hottest stuff we have around here. It coals really well too! Both of mine rear vent and I have dampers in the snouts of both tees. I am still on a learning curve with the dampers because this is the first year with the second stove and the first year with the dampers. I believe I am getting longer burns with them in there. If it is cold and dry, I close them about 3/4 as soon as I get decent secondaries going and down to 7/8 if really cold.

The Hearthstones have a rep for running a hot stack and wasting heat that way. The trade off is a clean liner. Ill know next cleaning if the damper hurts the liner cleanup process. If you have a strong draft and it is an easy install, a $10 damper is an easy experiment. Just have to remember to open them if hot loading or you will stink up the house

I use a very large blocky split in the back of the stove for the longer burning loads. something like 6x6x20. Sometimes it is big round I intentionally split square and sometime it is gnarly stuff I saw into block that size. Sometimes the one split is the whole back half of the firebox. Then I do medium and smaller stuff to get it going. If you are like me and worried about stuff hitting the glass, it is hard to get a really good load. Did you see that thread about how do you load your stove a couple of days back?

How tall is your stack? What kind of wood? Do you have a moisture meter?

Stack is about 15'. 6' of 6" then 8" for 9'. Don't have a moisture meter but burn that has been felled from my property. Combination of ash, oak, maple, cherry, beech, hickory and hemlock that has all been split and stacked for at least a year.

 

[Warm_in_NH]

Are the cast iron Hearth Stones a totally different beast from the full soap stone stoves?
I load my Shelburne (2 cubic foot box) at 6 am on coals, again at 6 PM on coals (small splits) and again at 930 PM to carry it through to the 6 am re load.
I heat 1000 square feet on the shady side of a hill in NH with it while working all day, house swings from 60 to 75 in a in floor rooms.
I'm pretty sure if I science it all out, I get a longer burn time on the Shelburne than the Oslo. ...

 

[Randy Acton]

This. I feel like I have two stoves with my IS. One for shoulder season and another for nights like tonight (4F and windy). Very versatile.

How do you burn for nights like tonight? Cat still engaged? How open is the air control? What is the show like, lots of flames?

 

[Smoked]

Stack is about 15'. 6' of 6" then 8" for 9'. Don't have a moisture meter but burn that has been felled from my property. Combination of ash, oak, maple, cherry, beech, hickory and hemlock that has all been split and stacked for at least a year.

Also, I put new gaskets in my old one this year as well. Hearthstone told me to smoke test it with something like a punk while at operating temp to check for leakage. That might also be a though. I know it is more but if you like the stone the Progress Hybrid would be super nice. I was seriously thinking about that one for my second stove but did not think I could make it fit.

Big chunks of the hickory are probably you best bet for the longest burn.

 

[Randy Acton]

Are the cast iron Hearth Stones a totally different beast from the full soap stone stoves?
I load my Shelburne (2 cubic foot box) at 6 am on coals, again at 6 PM on coals (small splits) and again at 930 PM to carry it through to the 6 am re load.
I heat 1000 square feet on the shady side of a hill in NH with it while working all day, house swings from 60 to 75 in a in floor rooms.
I'm pretty sure if I science it all out, I get a longer burn time on the Shelburne than the Oslo. ...

Not sure on that, mine is full soapstone. I will load a hot stove full at 9:30 p.m., let the load char and slowly shut air to "off". When I wake up for work at 4:45 a.m. there are still some embers but not enough to light toilet paper

 

[Elbinwyp]

How do you burn for nights like tonight? Cat still engaged? How open is the air control? What is the show like, lots of flames?

Tonight there will be active secondaries and a glowing cat. Stove top is sitting at 525. Front is 750. My air setting is 1/4 (see pic) which is what Woodstock recommends for most efficient burn. I will reload at 9-10 hr mark. During shoulder season I will dial this down to kill secondaries and go cat only burn. Have hickory and ash in there. Right under 20% MC

 

[JA600L]

On a cold windy night like tonight with a real feel of 0, I run on notch 5. This will give the stove some secondary and cat. It will also even out the burn and burn down my coals better. If I burn any lower, half of the box is full of huge glowing coals in the morning. I expect the house to be nice and toasty when I wake up.

 

[Babaganoosh]

Tonight there will be active secondaries and a glowing cat. Stove top is sitting at 525. Front is 750. My air setting is 1/4 (see pic) which is what Woodstock recommends for most efficient burn. I will reload at 9-10 hr mark. During shoulder season I will dial this down to kill secondaries and go cat only burn. Have hickory and ash in there. Right under 20% MC

Why is your ash lip so....ashy?

 

[Clydeburner]

Have you checked the door gaskets/seals? Do you have control of the fire? How do you load the stove, stuffed full or just a few splits?
this is my overnight load, like a puzzle finding splits that fit.

[/Quote]I load my Shelburne (2 cubic foot box) at 6 am on coals, again at 6 PM on coals (small splits) and again at 930 PM to carry it through to the 6 am re load.[/Quote]

I do similar to this and have similar results, load big splits in the rear and medium splits up front stuffed full, easily last till morning or until my wife or I get home. Plenty of coals for a fast re-light....

Combination of ash, oak, maple, cherry, beech, hickory and hemlock that has all been split and stacked for at least a year.

Some of your wood may take 18 mo or more to fully season and give adequate heat output, especially the harder woods.

The Hearthstones have a rep for running a hot stack and wasting heat that way. The trade off is a clean liner. Ill know next cleaning if the damper hurts the liner cleanup process. If you have a strong draft and it is an easy install, a $10 damper is an easy experiment. Just have to remember to open them if hot loading or you will stink up the house

I have the cast iron clydesdale 2.4cuft (Soapstone lined) and have a strong draft which definitely sucks the heat to the top of my chimney, even blued out my new chimney cap! I engineered a flue damper and a rod through the surround, this has vastly improved my burn and control. My cost was less then $5. My last cleaning showed little residue build up in the chimney. We will see now I am burning 24/7 hiw she looks when I open her up, I don't think it will be bad as the stove Burns great.

 

[LocustBurner]

These Ideal Steel Hybrids really are the best of both worlds.
Woodstock usually has a great Spring sale that included free shipping up to $250 last year.
You will not be disappointed.

 

[Elbinwyp]

Why is your ash lip so....ashy?

Ha! Great question. I personally find it easier to shovel the ashes out during this time of year. I often neglect it though which results in ash spillage when I am pulling coals forward. Definitely user error.

 

[Smoked]

Have you checked the door gaskets/seals? Do you have control of the fire? How do you load the stove, stuffed full or just a few splits?
View attachment 171858 this is my overnight load, like a puzzle finding splits that fit.

I load my Shelburne (2 cubic foot box) at 6 am on coals, again at 6 PM on coals (small splits) and again at 930 PM to carry it through to the 6 am re load.[/Quote]

I do similar to this and have similar results, load big splits in the rear and medium splits up front stuffed full, easily last till morning or until my wife or I get home. Plenty of coals for a fast re-light....




Some of your wood may take 18 mo or more to fully season and give adequate heat output, especially the harder woods.



I have the cast iron clydesdale 2.4cuft (Soapstone lined) and have a strong draft which definitely sucks the heat to the top of my chimney, even blued out my new chimney cap! I engineered a flue damper and a rod through the surround, this has vastly improved my burn and control. My cost was less then $5. My last cleaning showed little residue build up in the chimney. We will see now I am burning 24/7 hiw she looks when I open her up, I don't think it will be bad as the stove Burns great.[/QUOTE]


Yea, I am hoping so! The big thing is I keep forgetting to open the damper when loading I am liking the dampers though and your rig was cool!

 

[Rearscreen]

Woodstock will be releasing an even more efficient stove this year. Steel but less boxy than the IS.

 

[Woody Stover]

Some of your wood may take 18 mo or more to fully season and give adequate heat output, especially the harder woods.

Truly dry wood will give you a big leap in performance. You can cut the air lower, sending less heat up the flue, more into the room, and you will keep a higher stove top temp for longer.

 

[Woody Stover]

Woodstock will be releasing an even more efficient stove this year. Steel but less boxy than the IS.

I'm definitely watching what happens with the new 211. I like my side-loaders...

 

[Clydeburner]

I load my Shelburne (2 cubic foot box) at 6 am on coals, again at 6 PM on coals (small splits) and again at 930 PM to carry it through to the 6 am re load.

I do similar to this and have similar results, load big splits in the rear and medium splits up front stuffed full, easily last till morning or until my wife or I get home. Plenty of coals for a fast re-light....




Some of your wood may take 18 mo or more to fully season and give adequate heat output, especially the harder woods.



I have the cast iron clydesdale 2.4cuft (Soapstone lined) and have a strong draft which definitely sucks the heat to the top of my chimney, even blued out my new chimney cap! I engineered a flue damper and a rod through the surround, this has vastly improved my burn and control. My cost was less then $5. My last cleaning showed little residue build up in the chimney. We will see now I am burning 24/7 hiw she looks when I open her up, I don't think it will be bad as the stove Burns great.[/QUOTE]


Yea, I am hoping so! The big thing is I keep forgetting to open the damper when loading I am liking the dampers though and your rig was cool![/QUOTE]

Thank you, yea I have done the same and thought... Duh... ha ha

 

[LocustBurner]

I'm definitely watching what happens with the new 211. I like my side-loaders...

Isn't called the 'Franklin'? Probably would have been a good fit for me but very satisfied w/ the larger IS.

 

[Woody Stover]

Isn't called the 'Franklin'? Probably would have been a good fit for me but very satisfied w/ the larger IS.

Yep, the Franklin. Looks to have a bit bigger box than the Fireview which will be more than enough for our 1000 sq.ft. With your IS, a bigger box for longer burns is never a bad thing since you can also run low in cat mode and not roast yourself out.

 

[Smoked]

Not sure on that, mine is full soapstone. I will load a hot stove full at 9:30 p.m., let the load char and slowly shut air to "off". When I wake up for work at 4:45 a.m. there are still some embers but not enough to light toilet paper

Last night I loaded both stoves at 10:30. They were shut down and cruising by 11. Got up at 5:30 and both were over 225F and with plenty of coals to easily to relight without paper and cruising again by 6:00. Honestly, if you want a huge coal bed beyond 8 hours, you probably need a bigger firebox or a cat stove, but I also think you can get a little more burn time out of yours. Yours sounds just like my old one before the damper and new gaskets.