I’m looking at the IS for buying in near future. I like the hybrid design. I like the flame show in non-cats. When the bypass is engaged in the IS, do you still get that rolling secondaries look or does is look more like a cat stove at that point?
Ideal steel burn
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WoodBurnerInWI
Feeling the Heat
As an IS user myself, the short answer is yes you can see secondary combustion with the catalyst activated. Generally it will occur when the stove top temp is over 500 and the cat temps are over 1,000. In my case I noticed them every time regardless of wood type if my cat temps were in the 1,100 to 1,200 range. The secondaries are absolutely mesmerizing!
WoodBurnerInWI
Feeling the Heat
Here is a video of my stove from last winter with secondaries going after the catalyst has been activated:
Great to know! I love that video. It’s cool how the secondaries are lit off to such an even degree. Looks like a very controllable stove
WoodBurnerInWI
Feeling the Heat
Yes the air control on the Ideal Steel is great! There's a large lever at the bottom of the stove with different "notches" that tell you where the air setting is. I don't have a good photo of that part but the different lines are very easy to read. When I shut the stove down to prep for a long burn, I will usually set it a few notches underneath the mark for the 1/4 air setting. Even at just 1/4 air it will run for a decent amount of time with good hardwoods.
Highbeam
Minister of Fire
The bypass just lets firebox smoke shoot right up the flue during warmup or when opening the door. After the bypass is closed (like 99% of the burning life) then all of the hybrid air sources are in play. You can choose low and slow with no flames, or gates of hell with high flames, or anywhere in between. The secondary air plate on the back/roof of the IS is pretty unique in how it shoots the secondary air into the firebox. Not like rows of tubes on the more basic stoves.
I like that it is reasonably large at 3.2 cubic feet and a front loader.
I like that it is reasonably large at 3.2 cubic feet and a front loader.
Secondary air plate? Anyone have any pictures of this?
Did WS ever get the crack remedied on the IS?
Did WS ever get the crack remedied on the IS?
WoodBurnerInWI
Feeling the Heat
Here's the inside of my stove right after it was installed (you'll ever see it that clean again lol!!) The plate where the secondaries happen is the metal sheet on top of the firebox with the holes.
I don't know about any issues with cracks in the secondary plate or any other metal parts/areas of the stove but sometimes the firebricks or soapstone blocks on the inside of the stove can crack during shipping but they'll send you the correct sized replacement for free if you notice one is broke after you get the stove put in.
Highbeam
Minister of Fire
Highbeam ... yep. I heard they were working on it, but I never did revisit the thread where I read about it.
I was two days from ordering that very stove when I seen that. Thought I’d hold out for awhile. That gave me time to look at other stoves. Even bought a few used ones to try before buying, and eventually changed my mind.
I was two days from ordering that very stove when I seen that. Thought I’d hold out for awhile. That gave me time to look at other stoves. Even bought a few used ones to try before buying, and eventually changed my mind.
Highbeam
Minister of Fire
I actually think the secondaries are BETTER in the Ideal than in non-cats, thanks to it being a hybrid. Sometimes while the stove is cruising I will open up the air for a few moments and then shut it back down, just to get a quick show of rolling "ghost flames" (which can be blue, at times).
Yes, the video clip that Woodburner posted is cool. FWIW, many stove will show ghost flames at the right moment. The T6 gets them too. And the light show in the Castine with its blue fountain of fire was great.
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