New to the board

[Stella]

Don't know if you accept members from outside of the USA but I came across your forum and wanted to share my experience as a wood burner novice. I have had my existing chimney breast removed and a wood burner fitter. It is a Supra Mulhouse, a French make, and thus far I have been delighted with it. I am burning mainly olive wood which is a hard wood as I live in an olive grove in Southern Greece. Up until the beginning of December we have not needed any heat in the house, quite the reverse in fact. Now the winter rains have arrived and although the temperature is not very low, a little bit of heat is welcome. I am only sorry that I did not have my huge open fireplace removed ages ago as the difference is fantastic.

Sorry if I have put this in the wrong forum!

 

[Seanm]

Welcome to the forum Stella. I think it's great to hear experiences from people all over the globe.

 

[begreen]

Welcome Stella, we have several members from abroad. I removed our fireplace several years ago and installed a stove. It is a much better arrangement.

 

[Dix]

Welcome to the forums, Stella.

Always nice to have another "Sistah" here

 

[Pallet Pete]

Welcome Stella it is great to see others from around the world here. I love the stove pic in your avatar it looks beautiful ! We rarely come by olive in my area but the one time I have had some it burned great. Enjoy the heat and comfort.

Pete

 

[mattjm1017]

I am burning mainly olive wood which is a hard wood as I live in an olive grove in Southern Greece

I bet that smells good I bought my wife a little carved figurine of olive wood when I was overseas and sent it home she said when she opened the box there was a strong oder of olive oil.

 

[Mitch Newton]

Don't know if you accept members from outside of the USA but I came across your forum and wanted to share my experience as a wood burner novice. I have had my existing chimney breast removed and a wood burner fitter. It is a Supra Mulhouse, a French make, and thus far I have been delighted with it. I am burning mainly olive wood which is a hard wood as I live in an olive grove in Southern Greece. Up until the beginning of December we have not needed any heat in the house, quite the reverse in fact. Now the winter rains have arrived and although the temperature is not very low, a little bit of heat is welcome. I am only sorry that I did not have my huge open fireplace removed ages ago as the difference is fantastic.

Sorry if I have put this in the wrong forum!

Stella, I like how high up your stove is sitting. Nice.

 

[DianeB]

Your stove and set up looks great. Nice spot near the window, must be very cozy as the rains fall. It is always so interesting to see how people use stoves - Those from other countries show us other brands that may not be offered in our locales.

 

[Stella]

Stella, I like how high up your stove is sitting. Nice.

Thanks to everyone who has responded, I feel thoroughly welcomed! My stove is positioned about a foot above the stone floor because there was an existing hearth of concrete, brick and marble which I did not like as both brick and marble marks when something hot drops on it so I had the hearth tiled as you see and the stove fitted on top. My only query at the moment is how to clean the glass door which gets dirty very quickly, I suspect because I used pine cones to get the fire going and also burn pine mixed with olive. I have been advised either to use oven cleaner or the cold ash from the fire rubbed into the glass with a damp cloth. I am worried that either of these solution may be abrasive and wonder what others use and how often?

 

[Stella]

Your stove and set up looks great. Nice spot near the window, must be very cozy as the rains fall. It is always so interesting to see how people use stoves - Those from other countries show us other brands that may not be offered in our locales.

Yes, it would be ideal if I could keep the windows open - problem is they are wood and open inward so when the rain comes off the mountains at the back of the house, I have to close the shutters to stop the rain coming in underneath the windows. I have just ordered some aluminium wood effect double glazing which should eliminate this but have to say that I do enjoy the traditional Greek way of building with stones walls and wooden windows and shutters, cool in the heat of the summer but not so brilliant in the wet winters!

 

[Pallet Pete]

Thanks to everyone who has responded, I feel thoroughly welcomed! My stove is positioned about a foot above the stone floor because there was an existing hearth of concrete, brick and marble which I did not like as both brick and marble marks when something hot drops on it so I had the hearth tiled as you see and the stove fitted on top. My only query at the moment is how to clean the glass door which gets dirty very quickly, I suspect because I used pine cones to get the fire going and also burn pine mixed with olive. I have been advised either to use oven cleaner or the cold ash from the fire rubbed into the glass with a damp cloth. I am worried that either of these solution may be abrasive and wonder what others use and how often?

We use ash and have no problems at all with scratching the glass. Just dip a rag into some water then dip it in the ash and wipe it works great and it is very cost effective. How dry is your fire wood Stella ? We try to go two years one of the side effects is that the dryer wood helps keep the glass clean too.

Pete

 

[Stella]

Today my wood is soaking wet, just got a few dry bits of leylandi, pine cones and dried palm leaves to start the fire off in my little apotheki (shed) but anything to be put on the fire after that is thoroughly exposed to torrential rain today which is a pain but fortunately olive wood dries quickly and we have a better forecast for next week.

 

[DianeB]

Here in the US we have wood stove glass cleaner. I use the Rutland Brand. Some use a lightly dampened papertowel and ash. If you have glass top cook stove cleaner you could try that. Same concept of a cream with a mild abrasive. You scrub a bit with the cleaner, use a wet cloth to clean off the mixture and then a dry cloth to dry the glass. The rutland brand has a conditioner to make cleaning easier the next time. In our grocery stores here we can find cook stove top cleaner for those stoves with glass tops. Weiman is a common brand here. I believe the glass doors on stoves are not really glass but ceramic.
.
http://www.amazon.com/Rutland-Produ...4971126&sr=1-1&keywords=rutland+glass+cleaner

 

[DianeB]

Stella, can you put a tarp over your wood to keep it dry during the rains?

 

[Stella]

Stella, can you put a tarp over your wood to keep it dry during the rains?

Diane, if only! No, it is not possible I have no wood shed and the fierce winds lift everything. Actually once the stove is going, it burns beautifully even with rather wet wood. I have been relieved as I thought I would have a problem with smoke but so far so good. I did have to have a different cowl fitted on the top of the chimney to stop water coming down the pipe and dripping on the tiles which is what happened with the previous cowl shaped like a bird, now I have a smart silver hat thingy which twirls round in the wind. Sorry I am not very technically minded and indeed if I had discovered this forum before the stove was fitted, it is possible that I would never have taken the plunge! I had no idea there were such problems. I am not familiar with EPA here in this rural backwater it is up to you how you heat your house and a great many Greeks because of the economic crisis are turning back to old style stoves often with a cooking plate or oven. I often go to a village taverna in the mountains here where the garlic bread is prepared on such a stove.

 

[DanCorcoran]

It would be nice if you post a few larger photos of your stove and installation. Can't see much detail in the avatar photo.

I use wet paper towel and ash and it works very well on the stove window, which is not glass (really).

 

[Stella]

It would be nice if you post a few larger photos of your stove and installation. Can't see much detail in the avatar photo.

I use wet paper towel and ash and it works very well on the stove window, which is not glass (really).

Oh dear, I knew this would get difficult, I am not sure I know enough to do that - pictures I mean not cleaning!

 

[Billybonfire]

Welcome to the best woodburning forum in the world Stella.
You will find the people on here very knowledgeable and helpful.
I like the look of your stove and would love to try some Olive wood (and Black Locust), sadly none to be found in the UK.
I love the Mediteranean area and lifestyle and have visited lots of beautiful places mainly whilst on cruise ships.

Regarding cleaning your stove window I find if I run the stove hot for half an hour or so any soot soon clears up.
Occasionally I give the glass a wipe before lighting with a ball of damp newspaper.
Dry well seasoned wood is the key to clean glass and efficient creasote free burning.

Billy.

 

[Stella]

Welcome to the best woodburning forum in the world Stella.
You will find the people on here very knowledgeable and helpful.
I like the look of your stove and would love to try some Olive wood (and Black Locust), sadly none to be found in the UK.
I love the Mediteranean area and lifestyle and have visited lots of beautiful places mainly whilst on cruise ships.

Regarding cleaning your stove window I find if I run the stove hot for half an hour or so any soot soon clears up.
Occasionally I give the glass a wipe before lighting with a ball of damp newspaper.
Dry well seasoned wood is the key to clean glass and efficient creasote free burning.

Billy.

Hi Billy, Whereabouts in Lancs are you? I worked in Formby and Birkdale for many years but then I had central heating and an open fire.

 

[schlot]

Welcome! However, I'm surprised no one else has told you that the "new guy to the forum" has to bring the beer.

Nice clean install and share pics whenever you can. Even of your apotheki and wood stack. The more we all learn about each other, the better it is!

 

[Stella]

Welcome! However, I'm surprised no one else has told you that the "new guy to the forum" has to bring the beer.

Nice clean install and share pics whenever you can. Even of your apotheki and wood stack. The more we all learn about each other, the better it is!

Surely the ouzo would be more appropriate! When the weather allows I will take a picture of my wood yard and olive grove. Don't know about the apotheki though, a bit of a hell hole really!

Just googled EPA as it was meaningless to me and wow what a lot of rules and regs! Here a Greek once told me that everybody can do what they like, that is why Greece is called a democracy! No wonder Greece is in such a sorry state but I sympathise with the sentiment.

 

[Billybonfire]

Hello again Stella,
what a small world we now live in !.
I'm not far from Birkdale in a little villiage called Mere Brow just outside Southport.
We also have gas central heating which heats the bedrooms upstairs, the stove manages to keep us cozy downstairs.

I havent visited mainland Greece but have been to Cyprus a few times, my sister in law lives there, the mountain Tavernas are wonderful.

Billy.

 

[schlot]

Ouzo makes the spirit!

 

[Stella]

Hello again Stella,
what a small world we now live in !.
I'm not far from Birkdale in a little villiage called Mere Brow just outside Southport.
We also have gas central heating which heats the bedrooms upstairs, the stove manages to keep us cozy downstairs.

I havent visited mainland Greece but have been to Cyprus a few times, my sister in law lives there, the mountain Tavernas are wonderful.

Billy.

Crab and Lobster territory many years ago?

 

[Billybonfire]

Crab and Lobster territory many years ago?

I know it well, enjoyed a pint or 2 in the Legh Arms next door.
The Crab and Lobster closed for a few years recently refurbished and open again, havent been yet but heard it's very good.
(broken link removed)

Billy.