Question ,First hot fire in Ashford 30,2

[TmanBKAsh30]

I would have to buy a lock from Hearthstone and lock the left side door if I wanted a standard size ember protection hearth. That's just a non-starter for me.

Wow, lots to consider! I wasn't aware they made a lock for it but it makes sense. I bought the black ashford 30 in 2021 and installed it 4 days after first hearing of Blaze King. Had been burning a 1983 Lopi M520 for 20 years. I never imagined a stove could run like the Ashford 30 does. After hearing my glowing praise for 2 years my buddy had me install the same stove in chestnut enamel. He loves his as well and is heating a 2500 sq ft 2 story with it and even pulling some heat with a reverse fan setup that I do to heat a basement apartment,

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

Basically if you don't have the clearances for the door if you make it inop then the standard clearances apply. I would imagine an inspector/ insurance company would probably allow handle removal or something.

I'm looking hard at The Ashford 30.2 in Chestnut Brown. I like what I hear on the forum and all the specs work for me.

 

[Egbert Souse']

That's great. I'm replacing an older stove next summer and I'm likely going to go to the Ashford 30.2 The N/S loading is the tipping point for me. My wife's only input was for a brown stove, which the Ashford has brown as an option.
I've looked over all the stoves I could, based upon what dealers in my area carried and we were pretty sold on a Hearthstone but only E/W loading convinced me to look elsewhere.

I didn't end up with a Blaze King but my wife insisted on the enamel finish for my stove and I'm telling you it is the only way to go. A quick wipe with a damp cloth or a quick sweep of the ash lip and the stove looks as it did when it was installed. I had to wait an additional 2 months for the enamel and I would wait again. Looks beautiful. My 2 cents.

 

[Tron]

Regarding the burn-in stink of a new stove, that's nothing against a dog brushing it's bushy tail against the hot stove window as it just happened...just FYI...