Small/Medium stove with front to back loading?

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RiverLogger

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Hearth Supporter
Sep 2, 2009
61
Western Oregon
What are some of the smaller stoves that load front to back? I currently have a Englander 13NC that is the perfect size for our home but I hate the side to side loading of the wood. It is dirty and I am constantly sweeping the dust and coals that fall out when I open the door. Are there comparable sized stoves that load front to back? Thinking about replacing with a 30NC but the stove seems a little large for my needs.

Thanks all.
 
[Hearth.com] Small/Medium stove with front to back loading?


1.9 cu ft
overnite I still have coals in the AM, with red oak often 9PM ---->7AM
 
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I immediately thought of the TN19 also.:cool:

FYI: Made by Pacific Energy
 
Look for stoves with squarish fireboxed like the PE True North TN19 or Super 27, Napoleon 1400 or 1450, Jotul F45 or F118CB(box stove), Enviro Kodiak 1700 and the Lopi Endeavor.
 
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What is your budget?

I am very impressed with my older Spectrum. It was built in '95 and looks very similar to today's Super 27, but the technology is almost exactly the same. It will take a 17-18" split N/S, is very easy to control, and burns forever. Sixteen hours with plenty of coals left is common at low settings, 8-10 hours burning hotter.

The PE Super Series stoves all have the same firebox, just different on the outside.
(broken link removed to http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/pacific.htm)

The TN is priced lower, and is a little different. I know it has secondary tubes, instead of the baffle that most other PE stoves use. What is the verdict on the True North, anyway? Is it still available?
 
Yes the TN19 is still sold and available. There's one sitting on the floor at our local True Value.
 
Still absent from PE's site. I saw one at a local dealer a few weeks ago, too. Didn't think to ask about it.
 
And it will be, this is a decision by PE's marketing dept. Not every one at PE seems to agree with it, but that's the way it is for now.
 
What are some of the smaller stoves that load front to back? I currently have a Englander 13NC that is the perfect size for our home but I hate the side to side loading of the wood. It is dirty and I am constantly sweeping the dust and coals that fall out when I open the door. Are there comparable sized stoves that load front to back? Thinking about replacing with a 30NC but the stove seems a little large for my needs.

Thanks all.


As the owner of a N/S PE Spectrum Classic (2.0 Cu Ft) I can assure you that it's messy regardless. Luckily I am a slob and my girl is willing to live with the messiness for the all winter long sub tropical heat it produces.
 
As the owner of a N/S PE Spectrum Classic (2.0 Cu Ft) I can assure you that it's messy regardless. Luckily I am a slob and my girl is willing to live with the messiness for the all winter long sub tropical heat it produces.

I understand the messy part in general but the 13 is ridiculous. If any coals or ash are anywhere near the door they fall out when you open it. After looking at the True North, I think I'm interested. Priced locally at my hometown dealer for $950 with the pedestal, which I like. Nearly the same size firebox as the 13 I currently have but the front to back load I'm wanting. I really like the 30-NC too but I'm afraid that it's just too big for my 1700sf house. $1000 is my budget and so many stoves are just way too far over that. I don't want some cheap pos either.

I live in Western Oregon so we don't really have the super cold weather that some here get. I can get an all night burn out of my 13 even using doug fir and alder so I think the True North would be perfect.
 
Too much ash in that firebox. Scoop some out to lower the level so it doesn't fall out.
 
I understand the messy part in general but the 13 is ridiculous. If any coals or ash are anywhere near the door they fall out when you open it. After looking at the True North, I think I'm interested. Priced locally at my hometown dealer for $950 with the pedestal, which I like. Nearly the same size firebox as the 13 I currently have but the front to back load I'm wanting. I really like the 30-NC too but I'm afraid that it's just too big for my 1700sf house. $1000 is my budget and so many stoves are just way too far over that. I don't want some cheap pos either.

I live in Western Oregon so we don't really have the super cold weather that some here get. I can get an all night burn out of my 13 even using doug fir and alder so I think the True North would be perfect.

Western WA here. You gotta take everything the east-coasters say with a grain of salt
 
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And what one West-Coaster says with a shot of grain alcohol. >>
 
Look at the Kuma Tamarack,1.7cuft firebox front to back loading ,16" wood.The one with pedestal base has ash pan and has a grate instead of a plug to get rid of the ashes.They are made in Idaho.
 
What are some of the smaller stoves that load front to back? I currently have a Englander 13NC that is the perfect size for our home but I hate the side to side loading of the wood. It is dirty and I am constantly sweeping the dust and coals that fall out when I open the door. Are there comparable sized stoves that load front to back? Thinking about replacing with a 30NC but the stove seems a little large for my needs.

Thanks all.
Why change stoves if you're happy with the one you have? I ran the nc13 for 3-4 years. I simply cut my wood down to 10" or so and loaded n/s. Buy a nice chop saw, split logs @ 20", then cut in half with the chop saw.
 
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Why change stoves if you're happy with the one you have? I ran the nc13 for 3-4 years. I simply cut my wood down to 10" or so and loaded n/s. Buy a nice chop saw, split logs @ 20", then cut in half with the chop saw.

I'm NOT happy with the one I have, that's why I'm asking. I think the 13 is a really nice stove, it just isn't for me. I've also had mine for 3-4 years and am finally fed up with the mess. I understand wood is dirty. I've always had wood heat. Also, It isn't that the ashes need dumped or the stove is too full. If I load the stove and a piece rolls against the door and burns down, when the door gets opened all of that crap falls out. Unless I only load one or two pieces the ash and/or coals end up near the door and fall out. I know there are answers for all my problems but for the way I burn and the way I like to load my stove, the 13 doesn't work for me. Chop saw? No thanks.
 
My old wood stove did the same thing no ash lip. I painted an old metal cookie sheet to match stove laid it in front of stove to catch ash. Lightly spray with water to keep dust down emptyed outside.
 
I'm bringing this back up again because I want to know about the 30NC. Would it be to big for my 1700sf house? Is it going to be too much heat? I really thought I liked the True North TN19 until I looked at one in a shop the other day. The TN looks a little "cheap" to me. The air adjustment lever was so flimsy and the door hinges were really small looking. I really like the construction on my 13NC so I assume the 30 is similarly built.

I also like the looks of the Timberwolf 2200 model but haven't seen one in person so I don't know for sure. As you can see money is an issue so I understand that I'm looking at low end stoves but I guess I'm just comparing them to Englanders which seem to be pretty dang good stoves.
 
The 30 is just a really deep 13-NC. With a 1/4" top plate instead of 3/16" and a really big ass glass in the door.
 
I'm bringing this back up again because I want to know about the 30NC. Would it be to big for my 1700sf house? Is it going to be too much heat? I really thought I liked the True North TN19 until I looked at one in a shop the other day. The TN looks a little "cheap" to me. The air adjustment lever was so flimsy and the door hinges were really small looking. I really like the construction on my 13NC so I assume the 30 is similarly built.

I also like the looks of the Timberwolf 2200 model but haven't seen one in person so I don't know for sure. As you can see money is an issue so I understand that I'm looking at low end stoves but I guess I'm just comparing them to Englanders which seem to be pretty dang good stoves.

The NC30 is massive - 3.5 CF firebox - not only is it not small, it's not even medium.

www.englanderstoves.com/30-nc.html
 
If the 30 fits your hearth I say go for it. It takes 1/2 loads well but could keep you happy in the event you need a lot of heat. Fire box is massive so if you are burning 1/2 loads completely it will take weeks before the ash gets so high you need to remove some. But... Reality is: wood burning is somewhat messy and takes continuous maintenance to keep a clean hearth or some acceptance of the mess regardless of the stove you choose.

In other words - if the 13 is working it may be fiscally prudent to work on a better ash maintenance plan and keep what you have.
 
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