Osburn 2400 or Appalachian 52 Bay??

[Alan W]

I was all set today to pull the trigger on a Osburn 2400... Then I saw the more "efficient" Appalachian 52 Bay. Gosh I hate that! Anyhow, this is my story, and just looking for some pov. I have a dutchwest stove, which glass has cracked, and it doesn't meet my needs- so I figured a good replacement. This will be my third insert purchase and the 6" liner is in good shape so I dont see a need to replace it. 2 years ago, I installed a hybrid Fyre with the green start. Its been a great stove, but too costly to do another one. I also want more of a traditional stove, where I can put a pot on top and boil some water for dryness or tea. So I found the Osborne. Seems like a good simple stove with a decent background, and will hold a good size log and burn time. I was not enthralled about the 78% efficiency.

My fireplace is a big Brick opening (41w x 30h x 24d) The Osborn being 31 wide, would sit nicely and stick out about 9 inches for my kettle (I have a 2 foot raised hearth). I have a 3000 sq foot colonial house, and this chimney is sort of in the middle 1/3 of the house but does not have living space directly above it - but it is the main part of our activity. So I do worry about overheating potential. Early fall and late spring, my Dutchwest can bring the room to over 80, but I barely get 6 hours burning with it so its a cold start in the morning.

The Appalachian seems to be more efficient, and obviously is a catalytic stove. I like the 90% efficiency but I've never had a cat stove. Further, I don't see it as popular as osburn. However, several here seem to have it. Its a bit more fancy in the design than I would like, but I can live with that. Thoughts...??

 

[webbie]

I'm not convinced the 52 is truly any more efficient in everyday operation. You can, of course, buy that fine 1/2 Kettle that condar sells.

We don't usually suggest one brand over another, but I do think you might be happy with the tried and true if you are looking for "simple". The 90% efficiency figure doesn't mean anything...

 

[BrotherBart]

You can, of course, buy that fine 1/2 Kettle that condar sells.

Anybody know who invented that 1/2 kettle?

Either one will get the job done. The App is a nice stove but will need an 8" liner and has a smaller firebox.

Order our Osburne.

 

[Grisu]

2 years ago, I installed a hybrid Fyre with the green start. Its been a great stove, but too costly to do another one.

What happened to that insert?

I have a 3000 sq foot colonial house, and this chimney is sort of in the middle 1/3 of the house but does not have living space directly above it - but it is the main part of our activity. So I do worry about overheating potential.

Could be the reason that you seem to need to replace your stoves so regularly. 3000 sqft is a lot to heat for any single stove. Instead of replacing another one I would think about installing a second stove or go for some central wood furnace/boiler. The only inserts that may be able to do it would be the Kuma Sequoia and the Buck 91 but both will need an 8" liner. Other option would be the Hearthstone Equinox installed as a rear-mounted hearth stove but the same liner requirement applies. Still, judging from your post I would be skeptical even with those when used as sole heat source.

 

[dafattkidd]

Bi Al,
Welcome to the forum. The Osburn 2400 insert is a well built beast of a heater. It is a true 3.2 cf firebox which takes 22" logs EW and 20" logs NS. It burns clean (with good dry fuel) and easily get overnight burns. I found the lowest prices for this unit at www.dynamitebuys.com. That being said, I am also curious why the hybrid Fyre needs to be replaced.

 

[dafattkidd]

Also worth noting: yes the unit protrudes about 9" into the room, but realistically you have just over 6" x 29" of surface area for a kettle. I regularly boil teas in a small stainless steel pot on my stove top.

 

[Alan W]

["What happened to that insert? Could be the reason that you seem to need to replace your stoves so regularly."]

Sorry for the confusion. I know my house, I forget maybe you haven't been their!! Hybrid Fyre- still their running strong- at the other end of the house. great stove. Green start is also wonderful. I ended up drilling a hole through the hearth floor to mount the compressor in the basement as their was no real good place to put it- and also quieter then. That insert is a good workhorse. Thought about cutting some holes in the ceiling to bring some heat to the kids bedrooms above.

The one I'm replacing is the dutchwest. 2 fireplaces. 2 inserts. I bought it as a used display from a store, that was apparently giving up (or lost) the Vermont castings line. Other than the blower giving out (which VC stood by and replaced via another dealer) and now the crack in the glass, has been fine. I did toy with replacing the glass - but it still does not have anywhere the burn time of what I am looking for.. so rather than fix the stove for someone else, I figured I'd replace it.

Neither one of these stoves are to completely make me oil free - like my solar does not take me off the grid.. just trying to maximize what I have and I enjoy it. I grew up with a best friend who heated his entire house and hot water with wood. Lived next to a water reservoir and before we could 'go play' we have fallen wood to collect. Other than a minor fire once with the water heater- it worked real well for them. But I'm not trying to do that. With what I have now, including the energy saving things I have done to my house, I have cut my oil consumption down from 3000 gals when I bought the house to 750 last year.

so if the 52 is not really any more efficient the osburn may be where I go- as it has a simpler look and feel. thanks for your thoughts and posts so far.. I'll wait another day to look. Thanks for the price check.. I was looking at fireplacesNOW.. as they deliver to the garage...for free.[/quote]

 

[Bagelboy]

I have the Osburn 2400 and love it. Lots of heat and it goes for many hours. Another stove in the other side of your house sounds like a smart recommendation. I have two stoves, and when temps dip below 20 degrees, the other gets cranked up. Perfect combination.

 

[Alan W]

Looks like no one can make a compelling reason for the 52 - makes for an easier decision!!

 

[KD0AXS]

We have the Osburn 2400 free standing stove. Only a couple months burning with it since we just got it at the end of last winter, but so far it seems to be great. It will definitely crank out some serious heat.

 

[wood4free]

In all due respect to BB but as an Appalachian 52 Bay owner with a 6 inch liner I can verify the stove does not require an 8 inch liner. Appalachian sells a 8 to 6 inch reducer for this purpose. Regarding the 52 Bay, this will be my second year burning. While the top of the stove is over 9 inches wide I not sure you will be able to get water to a roiling boil. The convection jacket is built so it is over an inch above the top of the firebox so it does not get that hot. I cannot recall my stove top getting much above 250 degrees on a regular basis. I like the stove but it is no Blaze King (no 20 hour plus burn times). I have experienced heat from a full firebox for up to 12 hours. On the downside, Appalachian customer service is virtually non-existent. Also, there are some issues with the door latch.

While I do like the more even heat that a catalytic stove produces, if my fireplace would have accommodated the Osburn 2400 I would have probably gone that route as I need all the heat I can get from a stove. SBI (Osburn, Drolet, Flame) builds a quality product. I never had any complaints about my previous insert from Drolet other than it was too small.

 

[webbie]

Anybody know who invented that 1/2 kettle?

Either one will get the job done. The App is a nice stove but will need an 8" liner and has a smaller firebox.

Order our Osburne.

Patent expired this year - so we can all manufacture 1/2 kettles now!
http://www.google.com/patents/US5320246

For those who want to buy one (I make no royalties - sold the whole deal cheap to Condar many moons ago)
http://www.condar.com/Aluminum-Humidifiers.html

 

[mellow]

Correct, you can run the 52 on a 6" liner and it was one of the only companies that allows that. That being said either will do a good job, if you find a blazing deal on either I would jump on it, I got mine from servicesales.com for a really good price a few years back. I have a thread link in my signature reviewing the insert and it's shortfalls, but once you get them figured out (still working on the latch) the stove runs great and puts out some heat for 10-12 hours. Support from Appalachian is a joke, I am sure that Osburn has better support.

The Appalachian being a cat stove will give a more consistent heat, the Osburn will have a peak heat cycle, the Appalachian once I get going I don't touch for 8+ hours, towards the end of the burn I might kick the air open a bit but that depends on how cold it its outside.

Whichever one you go for I would highly recommend insulating the fireplace to get the most out of them.

 

[Alan W]

Whichever one you go for I would highly recommend insulating the fireplace to get the most out of them.

Thanks all for your help. I've decided on the Osburn, which I think I can get for $2200. The Appalachian door issue and lack of support were the deal breaker.

Mellow- I know you posted somewhere your insulating your firebox. Can you label the post so I can find it again..

 

[dafattkidd]

Thanks all for your help. I've decided on the Osburn, which I think I can get for $2200. The Appalachian door issue and lack of support were the deal breaker.

Mellow- I know you posted somewhere your insulating your firebox. Can you label the post so I can find it again..

If you decide to insulate the fireplace, be sure to leave a gap between the insulation and the insert. If the insulation wraps around the insert it may over fire the unit. Check with Osburn before wrapping the unit. Either way definitely install a block off plate. Good luck! You'll love the Osburn. It really is a beast.

 

[mellow]

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...lating-my-fireplace.75755/page-2#post-1635483