After having this Quadrafire for 10 years we are looking for a stove to cook and heat water on with out the catalytic problems mentioned on the newer models of Vermont American. Looking at an early Resolute or Encore model. Stove must have 6" pipe option for venting . Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.
Quadrafire being replaced with Vermont American
- Thread starter Shado
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We were considering a vigilant but have not found close by yet. Trying to limit our travel time to a couple hours on the road. We are near Syracuse NY.
The chimney needs to be 6" and the early model Vigilant were 8" according to the spec sheet so they won't work.
Which model Quadrafire and what's wrong with it? There are several stoves that might work depending on the budget. Finding an old Resolute or Vigilant in excellent working condition could be challenging, especially now that the heating season has started. What is most important - capacity, looks, clearances, or ??
Quadrafire Explorer 2 medium wood stove. Purchased 10 years ago and works great but a little to big for our living area. No thermostatic control and an updraft type instead of a horizontal type draft like the VC. The main reason for considering the change is we want the griddle option to cook and heat water. We are sitting here nice and warm then running the electric griddle and electric water heater for meals.....
They’re out there all over and a great stove, you want a 2 piece back, start looking for one with tall doors and multi piece handles. Look for an “eyebrow” above the vent holes, this shows it’s a 2 piece and you can not only buy new firebacks to replace worn or cracked ones, as you see mine is, I have a couple waiting in the wings for rebuilds, personally I have never seen a Vigilant with cast or glass inserts in the doors that wasn’t a 2 piece.
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It looks like the Resolute model will have to be the choice due to needing a 6 inch pipe. I see there are a few with single door drop down type, not sure of the correct name for that type of door. If anyone has owned one I was wondering how they perform loading etc or the double door being better?
Vigilant is suitable for 6” pipe but you can’t burn in fireplace mode, I never did anyway.
I think we have decided on the Resolute due to size and style and will be looking for one in good condition or restored if possible. Would like the warming shelves to be able to be used But am finding info that not all stoves will accept these? They have to have mounting holes possibly? Yes, I like the dragon brackets. If anyone has had the opportunity to add the warming shelves to an early resolute model I would be interested how it was attached.
Consider the wood size, 16” is an absolute max for a Resolute, if it’s at all gnarly you want even shorter. If this is ok with you, that’s just fine, if like me it means 2 different split lengths, that’s a pain. My FIL has a resolute I did for him, he says he has 16” wood but reality is that its 12”
Thank you for the info on wood size. Most of our wood has already been cut at 16" or larger to fit the Quadrafire. We really want something to cook on. We have about 30 face cord on the ground and lots of small pieces mixed in. I can sort it out if needed, I guess moving wood around is what I do best right now.
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