Steel/cast hybrid stoves

[mgodzilla2]

Anyone running a steel/cast hybrid stove please comment. I like the idea of the steel firebox with a second iron skin. Seems like you'd get the cast mass and looks, plus the welded durable low maintenance steel fire box. I'm liking the Pacific Energy Alderlea T5 based of their solid Super 27 steel stove. It has a 2 cubic ft fire box. I'm not seeing many other hybrids like it though and was hoping to hear about others. I will be heating a 700 sqft great room that is part of a 2500 sqft house. I am looking at medium stoves that won't roast us out of the great room but will help heat the whole house.

 

[begreen]

This is not really a hybrid, it's just a jacketed steel stove. They've been around for awhile. Napoleon and Quadrafire have had them out for many years. Then PE followed with the Alderlea and then came Jotul with the F45-F55. PE has done a great job with the Alderlea. You should be a happy camper with the T5. It's a great stove.

 

[alforit]

The Blaze King Ashford is another one.

 

[begreen]

Yes, it's the latest.

 

[mgodzilla2]

Ok now we're talking. Thanks for the clarification on hybrid vs jacketed stoves. I love to research, so I will be reading up on the models you guys added. I do like Jotul - my wife likes the Jotul Rangeley which looks like a cousin to the F45/55 and might also be a jacketed stove. The cast models were a bit too ornate for our style while steel stoves can be very utilitarian in appearance. Maybe that is why we prefer the jacketed stoves looks to go with their other advantages.

 

[CASEMAN2011]

Been burning a Jotul F45 Greenville for 3 month's now. Love it! Puts out a lot of heat and
ben getting 10 Hr + burns

 

[daleeper]

Do these cast iron jacketed stoves act like a convection stove? Is there air space between the cast jacket?

 

[raiderfan]

I've got an Alderlea T5 heating my 800sqft basement/Man Cave. Its been getting the job done flawlessly for going on 4 seasons now -- and that's with having to contend with a stone foundation. Couldn't decide what size to get, but with the help of some members here at the time, decided on the T5 instead of the T4, and couldn't be happier.

 

[raiderfan]

Do these cast iron jacketed stoves act like a convection stove? Is there air space between the cast jacket?

Yes it acts as a convective stove. It does have a space between the steel stove and the cast jacket.

 

[mgodzilla2]

I did reasearch the Blaze King but I'm not a fan of catalytic stoves. I did not see Quadrafire listing a jacketed stove but the Isle Royale looks like it could be one. One of the reasons I like the PE T5 is that it has very close clearances. I think it's under 6 in from the corners in a corner install like I'm planning.

 

[mepellet]

I bought and installed a jacketed stove this fall. Cast jacket gets hot still. Thinking of buying the blower to put on it too.

 

[begreen]

Do these cast iron jacketed stoves act like a convection stove? Is there air space between the cast jacket?

Yes, they are definitely convective stoves. There is an airspace between the steel stove and the outer cast iron jacket. How much a gap depends on the stove design. Some are close (Napoleon and Quad) and others have a larger convective gap like the Alderlea and Jotul. Not sure about the Ashford. I haven't seen one yet.

In the Quad line the Yosemite and the Cumberland Gap are jacketed stoves. The Isle Royale is not jacketed.

 

[bjkjoseph]

Firebox within a firebox was done for better clearance to combustibles and for inserts....I would rather not have this....But in some cases you need it.

 

[webby3650]

Firebox within a firebox was done for better clearance to combustibles and for inserts....I would rather not have this....But in some cases you need it.

In this case, it's not to reduce clearances. It's for looks, convection and thermal mass.

 

[raybonz]

The Alderlea stoves are convection heaters and the blower option is quiet and effective and moves the heat very well. The cast iron sides have never exceeded 250 degrees surface temp so they are comfortable to sit nearby. The front like most stoves is radiant and hot to be near.. The T-5 with a 2.0 cu. ft. firebox gives easy 10-12 hr. burns with a full load.. Very efficient stove!

Ray

 

[webby3650]

I did reasearch the Blaze King but I'm not a fan of catalytic stoves

Are you sure? Have you researched modern cat stoves?
I'm getting 16-24 burns consistently, that's hard to beat!

 

[xtrordinair]

I did reasearch the Blaze King but I'm not a fan of catalytic stoves

so you dont want long burn times and nice even heat through out the whole night and day ......no i would'nt want that either.. lol

 

[begreen]

There's more than one way to skin a cat. We're happy with the flywheel effect of the cast iron jacket on the Alderlea. The heat is quite even without the help of a cat. Our house sees very little temperature swing during the burn cycle. I've experienced this with big soapstone stoves as well.

 

[mgodzilla2]

Cat lovers please comment on the maintenance needs of the cat. I thought that was a drawback.

I am still leaning towards the PE t5 or t6 but we are a month or two away from that point in our remodel. My parents had a big Buck that roasted us out and our dried out furniture -actually had chair legs falling off. The PE T6 might be too big. It's a 700 ft2 first floor great room / 2500 ft2 house. 1300 down 1200 up. R23 walls R38 attic. New Pella windows.

 

[webby3650]

Cat lovers please comment on the maintenance needs of the cat.

For a Blaze King, here is the Maintenance program: Once annually, vacuum any ash off of the cat. That's it! And if it fails at any point within 10 years they give you a new one.

 

[mgodzilla2]

Minister seems to love his BK cat. Well a 10 year cat warranty -that does not sound so bad. How does a cat get you such long burns? It seems that most manufacturers have the secondary flu gas burn system to get to EPA requirements. What gives?

Back to the research while I monitor this thread.

 

[tahoostas]

Love our T5...heats our upper floor of 1000sq ft no probs. live in Canada. Chilly. Great looking too! I would check out the blaze king ashford if I was doing it over again though. Could maybe avoid some temp swings and use less wood. I would seriously miss the flame shows though.

 

[mgodzilla2]

CAT and BTU geeks help me understand.

On those cats like the Ashford again - how do they get those long burns ? Ashford claims 30 hour burns at low. Are they mostly giving off less heat over a longer period? I mean wood only has so many BTUs to give. Cats and non- cats are all in the 80% efficiency range, so energy potential from a given log being equal, longer burns would have to mean less BTUs per hour.

On tolerances, I noticed that the PE Alderlea and Blaze King Ashford have really close tolerance to combustibles 4in. The Jotuls require12". I am doing a corner install and a 6" tolerance makes the space work better. Looking for other stoves now with low tolerances.

 

[mfetcho]

I have a T6 heating 2,000 sq/ft and does well! It is is located in my 400 sq/ft living room (vaulted to the second floor) and doesn't cook us out. My house is 1979 with a lot of windows. I would suggest going with the T6 if you buy a PE. They are great stoves.

I never considered a Cat stove when I bought my T6, but I'd take a hard look at them. I have had your same questions. Wood can only put out so much BTUs. The CAT stoves run longer on low which can be a great benefit. When it's cold cold, no matter what stove you have, your going to run it hot to heat your home.

I can't wait to see what you decide!

 

[webby3650]

On those cats like the Ashford again - how do they get those long burns ? Ashford claims 30 hour burns at low. Are they mostly giving off less heat over a longer period?

The long burn times are accomplished by having full control over the fire. They use a bi-metal thermostat that regulates the incoming air, maintaining a constant temperature. No peaks and lows like a non-cat. Once the air is reduced to medium or so, there are ZERO flames in the firebox. Unless you turn the air up, it will keep running this way until it's out of fuel. You are essentially heating with the smoke that is being consumed by the cat.