Napolean and Osburn wood stoves

[Jason762]

I am continuing my research on wood stove inserts before I make my purchase and I stumbled across Osburn and Napolean. These stoves are about 500-800 dollars cheaper than most of the other stoves I've looked at (Travis Industries). My question first off is why? I've always believed that you get what you pay for, but I have also read some good reviews on these stoves. So if anyone can relate their experiences with these stoves to me that would be great.

 

[ertzog]

I have just finished my first weekend burning our new osburn 2400....

ecstaticly happy with it. no complaints, at all.

the view through the window mesmorized us, all weekend.

 

[wg_bent]

Well, go look at the Before the Osburn post in the Pictures forum...You'll see mine. My sister has a Lopi Answer insert. Lives near Seattle, so I don't see her much. Anyway she spent a week here in Dec. and was seriously impressed with the Osburn 1800i I have. The Osburn handles much larger logs than an Answer, probably not as big as a Revere, but a Revere and a 2200i are same firebox size. The Osburn has a view of the fire that blows the Answer away, BUT, the glass does get a little build up on it that needs cleaning once a week or so, super if cleaned every other day. Blower included is great. The stove is build very solid. From the unexperienced eye, it looks every bit as solid as the Answer. No secondary bypass, so if a fresh log end is very near the glass door and you open it, some smoke will get pushed into the room for a second or so, but then gets sucked back in.

Burn time is a solid 8 hours with Oak or Elm if really stuffed. The fire in the Osburn is very easy to control but with a really full firebox it really gets roaring for about 1/2 hour then calms down to a controllable burn after. So would I buy one again? Yes. In my lower level I'm looking at a cast stove, but if I do change my mind and go with a steel stove the 1600 is likely my choice.

 

[begreen]

Both brands have recent happy owners reporting on the forum. Try a search for each brand name.

 

[Sundeep Arole]

Well, go look at the Before the Osburn post in the Pictures forum...You'll see mine. My sister has a Lopi Answer insert. Lives near Seattle, so I don't see her much. Anyway she spent a week here in Dec. and was seriously impressed with the Osburn 1800i I have. The Osburn handles much larger logs than an Answer, probably not as big as a Revere, but a Revere and a 2200i are same firebox size. The Osburn has a view of the fire that blows the Answer away, BUT, the glass does get a little build up on it that needs cleaning once a week or so, super if cleaned every other day. Blower included is great. The stove is build very solid. From the unexperienced eye, it looks every bit as solid as the Answer. No secondary bypass, so if a fresh log end is very near the glass door and you open it, some smoke will get pushed into the room for a second or so, but then gets sucked back in.

Burn time is a solid 8 hours with Oak or Elm if really stuffed. The fire in the Osburn is very easy to control but with a really full firebox it really gets roaring for about 1/2 hour then calms down to a controllable burn after. So would I buy one again? Yes. In my lower level I'm looking at a cast stove, but if I do change my mind and go with a steel stove the 1600 is likely my choice.

The osburn is a great stove - but there is one big pro for the answer - the five sided convection chamber. It really makes a difference, and puts out very good heat without a blower. What that means is less noise, and the air doesn't dry rapidly (although it still will get dry.) We can hang our wet clothes in the room to dry, and the room humidity can be easily bought up to a stable 40% or so. The osburn wins hands down on looks, though.

 

[wingnut]

I think both are good stoves ,I happen to like the look of the Osburn I just put a post on the perfect picture so you can see it burning. I was looking at the avalon olympic and the PE Summit, all very good stoves. I think part of the big price difference is do to the dealer network, but after saying that is the olympic and the PE built better that my osburn? Maybe a slight bit but not 500 to 800 dollars different. I thing we all wonder how another brand would work in place of the stove we chose, just humane nature I think. It would be nice to be able to burn a different stove each year so you could see the difference's but who has that kind of time and money. Good Luck with your choice and let us know how it worked out.

 

[wg_bent]

I think both are good stoves ,I happen to like the look of the Osburn I just put a post on the perfect picture so you can see it burning. I was looking at the avalon olympic and the PE Summit, all very good stoves. I think part of the big price difference is do to the dealer network, but after saying that is the olympic and the PE built better that my osburn? Maybe a slight bit but not 500 to 800 dollars different. I thing we all wonder how another brand would work in place of the stove we chose, just humane nature I think. It would be nice to be able to burn a different stove each year so you could see the difference's but who has that kind of time and money. Good Luck with your choice and let us know how it worked out.

Some great points. In retrospect, I sometimes wonder if I'd have been better off with the Lopi Revere. It's a little bigger and would have fit my application. On the other hand I'm totally happy with my Osburn, and If I buy another stove, I'll think long and hard about another brand, just to try another brand. The bottom line is that no matter a Lopi or an Osburn or Napoleon, any of them will so drastically reduce your consumption of fossil fuels, that you'll be happy. I'm sitting here right now watching the Osburn with a full load of wood. Flames are dancing in the bay window nicely....Woodstoves are simply a happy thing!!

 

[wingnut]

You said it man