New cook top for Woodstock's Progress

[Backwoods Savage]

Woodstock sent out an email today offering this as a free option for anyone who places an order for the Progress this week. More information can be found on their web site: (Sorry but for some odd reason the browser would not allow me to make this a link so you'll have to copy it and paste into your browser.

http://woodstocksoapstoneco.blogspot.com/2012/04/new-progress-hybrid-cook-topsoapstone.html


Three different spots, three different temperatures for cooking.

 

[HollowHill]

That is so cool. Love that there are 3 different temps. Way to go, WS!

 

[pen]

That is slick

 

[Todd]

I like it, it will save that top soapstone from cooking damage and scratches. Too bad they couldn't come up with an open grill option.

 

[HollowHill]

I'm blown away. I just went to their blog to read some more about the grill, and pine a little, and it says there that they will be making this design improvement available to those of us who have already purchased a Progress "at no charge" Wow. I love my top as it is, but that grill sure is mighty tempting...

 

[ditchrider]

Wow! You know, to compare pricing and customer service Woodstock seems like it's trying to earn your business. If I wasn't such a stubborn Dutchman I might regret not giving them consideration before. I'm happy with the stove I have, but I have to admit they are either pushing their lines very hard or just going out of their way to have satisfied customers. I think I'm liking whats coming from their company.

 

[fishingpol]

Now, that is what I call progress...

 

[begreen]

That's great and a real good idea. It must have been fun testing that in the shop.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Wow! You know, to compare pricing and customer service Woodstock seems like it's trying to earn your business. If I wasn't such a stubborn Dutchman I might regret not giving them consideration before. I'm happy with the stove I have, but I have to admit they are either pushing their lines very hard or just going out of their way to have satisfied customers. I think I'm liking whats coming from their company.

ditchrider, this is nothing new for them. This, along with great products is what makes this company! They continue to amaze me.

 

[fishingpol]

Dennis, was this a popular request from customers to have this feature? Kudos to them for the option. More good stuff comes out of Woodstock . Wish it were the same for politicians.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Just something that Woodstock has been working on Jon. Glad they got it done. This is one of those things I had in mind that time I posted about some exciting things coming from Woodstock. More to come yet!

 

[ditchrider]

ditchrider, this is nothing new for them. This, along with great products is what makes this company! They continue to amaze me.

I'd like to tread cautiously about Hearthstone, because I have had two great stoves from them... I'm happy with what I have and wish to be careful not to give them a bad rep for what I am about to write... But in my ownership of their products, their (my) dealer has taken good care of me. I cannot say it's been anything about the stove company nor their company policies with which my dilemmas were handled, but good dealer service (Poulsen Ace Hardware).
As for Woodstock Stove Company, they reach right out to John Q. Public, face to face. I really admire that.

It will be very interesting to see what comes from their labs in the coming years. The hybrid stove was extremely innovative and I expect to see more ideas along that line. It would be very cool to be a part of that.

 

[Flamestead]

I'd like to tread cautiously about Hearthstone, because I have had two great stoves from them... I'm happy with what I have and wish to be careful not to give them a bad rep for what I am about to write... But in my ownership of their products, their (my) dealer has taken good care of me. I cannot say it's been anything about the stove company nor their company policies with which my dilemmas were handled, but good dealer service (Poulsen Ace Hardware).
As for Woodstock Stove Company, they reach right out to John Q. Public, face to face. I really admire that.

It will be very interesting to see what comes from their labs in the coming years. The hybrid stove was extremely innovative and I expect to see more ideas along that line. It would be very cool to be a part of that.

Ditchrider,

I've had the pleasure of dealing with both Poulsens (in their old store and new) and with Woodstock. Just picture the Poulsens making, as well as servicing, the stoves they sell (and not distracted by selling anything else), and you are close to the Woodstock experience. I've got about the same distance drive to Woodstock as you do to Eaton. Beautiful country out there - brings back a lot of memories!

 

[ditchrider]

Ditchrider,

Just picture the Poulsens making, as well as servicing, the stoves they sell (and not distracted by selling anything else), and you are close to the Woodstock experience.

Yes, I get that. Nonetheless, when it comes to efficiency, there's a lot of numbers in the 70's and low 80's from a few manufacturers. And when it comes to the EPA testing, its inevitable that it drops %10 from the manufacturer rating. There's a lot of lies out there and it's too bad for the consumer. I realize that so much is in the true value and derivative of the numbers, somewhere Enron exists in the stove industry. Somehow the playing field needs to be leveled to help consumers find a purchase that fits their needs and wants.

The stove industry isn't topping out yet. But it seems Woodstock has a high degree of ambition and I wouldn't be surprised to see them innovate a 90% efficient stove. I would guess that a catalyst is not a necessity for that, either. I have some ideas that could enlighten that target, but I'd sooner not offer the power of suggestion, it's kind of embarrassing being proven how smart I'm not. They have better tools and resources than I. Good luck to them and whomever else has the drive.

 

[Waulie]

I'm blown away. I just went to their blog to read some more about the grill, and pine a little, and it says there that they will be making this design improvement available to those of us who have already purchased a Progress "at no charge" Wow. I love my top as it is, but that grill sure is mighty tempting...​

Do you still have the one-piece top, HH? I do. Obviously, that set up would be quite a pain with the one-piece top. I wonder if they send the three-piece setup with the cook top out to us folks who still have (and love) the one-piece top. It would be pretty sweet to have all the options.​

 

[ailanthus]

Love it!

 

[3fordasho]

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Do you still have the one-piece top, HH? I do. Obviously, that set up would be quite a pain with the one-piece top. I wonder if they send the three-piece setup with the cook top out to us folks who still have (and love) the one-piece top. It would be pretty sweet to have all the options.​

They would have to send you new top stones as they are thinner to work with the cast griddle.
Mentions this in the blog. Also the new stones have a stainless back edge to prevent scratching the stone when you flip them up.

 

[WarmInIowa]

Very good idea. I elected to stay with the newer three piece top design because I wanted the additional thickness and maximum heat retention of the soap stone. I also figured the soap stone was a "forever" piece, while the cast iron would eventually be a replacement item. On second thought, up in the top of the stove, it will probably last a long time. Maybe I missed the boat. Its OK, we won't be doing much cooking in the living room. I can and do use the top for boiling water and simmering soups and stews. When they told me about it I was picturing a griddle surface to put your food on, not actaully "burners" to set pots or pans on. I had a bad vision of getting in trouble after frying bacon and getting grease splatter all over the area.

 

[HollowHill]

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Do you still have the one-piece top, HH? I do. Obviously, that set up would be quite a pain with the one-piece top. I wonder if they send the three-piece setup with the cook top out to us folks who still have (and love) the one-piece top. It would be pretty sweet to have all the options.​

Yes, Waulie, I still have the one-piece top and love it. However, I just ordered the new cook top, with 3 stones, today! The more I looked at it, the more I liked it. We get a fair number of power outages here, long lasting ones, too, so I think it would come in very handy. And, I just like the idea of cooking on the stove. I really have to commend WS for coming up with such a great way to do so with the 3 different temps. They take an idea and perfect it.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Good for you HollowHill.

 

[Todd]

I had a bad vision of getting in trouble after frying bacon and getting grease splatter all over the area.

I was thinking the same thing. Probably be better to stay away from cooking bacon. When I cook anything on my stoves I use a cover to keep the splattering to a minimum. Dutch ovens work great.

 

[bjkjoseph]

do you think the stove top will change the clearances above the stove.

 

[HollowHill]

do you think the stove top will change the clearances above the stove.

No, it does not change the top clearances, first question I asked them when I called to order mine.

 

[Hiram Maxim]

That's very cool!

 

[pen]

I was thinking the same thing. Probably be better to stay away from cooking bacon. When I cook anything on my stoves I use a cover to keep the splattering to a minimum. Dutch ovens work great.

When cooking bacon or other splatter happy foods somewhere I need to stay clean, I always do the cooking / frying in a cast iron dutch oven (deep sides) and never a traditional skillet. The deep sides make a world of difference.

pen