Thinking About Going Over To The Darkside

[CT-Mike]

So we have a Lopi Freedom insert downstairs, and a Leyden Pellet enamel upstairs on the other end of the house. I am really thinking about replacing the wood insert with a pellet insert. The wife is getting tired of the wood detritus in the house, and my back is getting tired of cutting, splitting, hauling, stacking, and hauling the wood.

So with that in mind, what would be a reasonable price to ask for the Freedom insert (in its 4th season right now), and a two year old Timberwolf TW-2 that has split about 10 cords total?

I obviously won't be doing anything until this heating season is over. I will have 4-5 cords of 1 y/o seasoned split 20" firewood to sell, and about another 4 -5 cords of rounds that have yet to be split.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Ralphie Boy]

So we have a Lopi Freedom insert downstairs, and a Leyden Pellet enamel upstairs on the other end of the house. I am really thinking about replacing the wood insert with a pellet insert. The wife is getting tired of the wood detritus in the house, and my back is getting tired of cutting, splitting, hauling, stacking, and hauling the wood.

So with that in mind, what would be a reasonable price to ask for the Freedom insert (in its 4th season right now), and a two year old Timberwolf TW-2 that has split about 10 cords total?

I obviously won't be doing anything until this heating season is over. I will have 4-5 cords of 1 y/o seasoned split 20" firewood to sell, and about another 4 -5 cords of rounds that have yet to be split.

Thanks,

Mike

Not to get too far off the subject; how do you like that Freedom? What is its wood consumption like. I looked at the Freedom but just out of my $ reach. I may have tried to stretch it and gone for one but I've read, here and a few other places, that it has short burn times which = lots of wood being used.

 

[CT-Mike]

It has been a great insert. Wood consumption seems alright to me, 8 hour burn times are pretty common. Sure throws the heat when burning properly seasoned splits.

 

[bluedogz]

The wife is getting tired of the wood detritus in the house, and my back is getting tired of cutting, splitting, hauling, stacking, and hauling the wood.

Well, there's your problem... you're hauling it twice!

 

[rudysmallfry]

I see you're in CT Mike. Whatcha planning on doing with your left over wood?

 

[CT-Mike]

Well, there's your problem... you're hauling it twice!

Haul it from the splitting area to the stacks, and then haul from the stacks to the rack on the deck, then haul it into the house, so actually 3 times.

I see you're in CT Mike. Whatcha planning on doing with your left over wood?

Would most likely sell it at a reasonable price to help offset the cost of the pellet insert.

 

[mfglickman]

I'd lOve to buy your splitter, BUT am going to sabotage myself by saying don't do it!

I have both pellet and wood stoves too. IMO pellets are also dirty (dust everywhere) and the mechanical flame looks just that.

Also when we lost power for 5 days in October we stayed warm with the wood stove, nO juice for the pellets...

 

[Cascade Failure]

Haul it from the splitting area to the stacks, and then haul from the stacks to the rack on the deck, then haul it into the house, so actually 3 times.


Would most likely sell it at a reasonable price to help offset the cost of the pellet insert.

Where are you?

 

[CT-Mike]

I'd lOve to buy your splitter, BUT am going to sabotage myself by saying don't do it!

I have both pellet and wood stoves too. IMO pellets are also dirty (dust everywhere) and the mechanical flame looks just that.

Also when we lost power for 5 days in October we stayed warm with the wood stove, nO juice for the pellets...

We have a generator so I am not worried about staying warm during a power outage, but I appreciate the thought. I do plan on buying one of the Honda Inverter generators so that I have a source of clean power so I don't have to worry about damaging control boards. As for the pellet dust, it is much easier to clean up with the central vac than all the firewood detritus that is too large for the vacuum that must be swept up and then vacuum up the remaining dust.

As for the mechanical looking flame I can live with that. I don't know how many more years my back can live with the labor involved with firewood.

Where are you?

Near the casinos in SE CT. Keep in mind I won't be doing anything until after this burning season is over.

 

[BrotherBart]

I think about the same thing sometime in the future. But hustling the dang bags bugs me just as much as jackassing splits into the house.

 

[CT-Mike]

I think about the same thing sometime in the future. But hustling the dang bags bugs me just as much as jackassing splits into the house.

I agree BB, but it would cut out all of labor involved with cutting, splitting, stacking, etc.

 

[Hearth Mistress]

Do you buy wood now or just pellets? I don't know how much pellets are but you "fuel" bill will double for pellets for two stoves. If you are buying wood, it may be the same, I really don't know but that's the first thing I debated when we bought our stove and debated wood vs pellet. I live on a wooded lot, it's my time and sweat to get wood, but still better than buying oil!

 

[thewoodlands]

I agree BB, but it would cut out all of labor involved with cutting, splitting, stacking, etc.

We have a wood stove & pellet stove, both in the basement. With the temps jumping up in the 30's this week we will burn the pellet stove more.

The bags of pellets so far are not that bad getting them downstairs, it's a soft steady heat.

 

[DexterDay]

Do you buy wood now or just pellets? I don't know how much pellets are but you "fuel" bill will double for pellets for two stoves. If you are buying wood, it may be the same, I really don't know but that's the first thing I debated when we bought our stove and debated wood vs pellet. I live on a wooded lot, it's my time and sweat to get wood, but still better than buying oil!

I still do both (wood and pellet) and Pellet "Costs" actual money to buy, but if I had my choice, it would be pellet.

Before the 30-NC, i had only Pellet and was around $800-$1,000 a year. But compared to my $3,600 LP Bill yearly, it was a welcomed surprise.

It all depends on what your costs are without ANY Solid Fuel heating device.

Pellet stoves (My Pellet furnace is my Fav) are very automated and can sustain a fire for days, along with keeping a constant temp (all of mine are on a stat).

Love my wood heat. But pellets don't need 3 yrs to season. Can be delivered. And delivery guy can put in garage, shed, or Barn till needed.

I only used 2 ton last year. Which totalled about $400. So wood helped me a LOT. But the automation of Pellet still.outways the cost benefits of wood. IMO.

Everyone's scenario is different and my 30 is in the basement. But it runs constantly.

 

[HardWoodW]

To answer your original question- I bought a freedom bay insert a few years back that had been used for a few seasons and was in great shape for $800 and felt like I got a pretty good deal. The guy I bought it from was putting in a gas fireplace.

 

[CT-Mike]

Do you buy wood now or just pellets? I don't know how much pellets are but you "fuel" bill will double for pellets for two stoves. If you are buying wood, it may be the same, I really don't know but that's the first thing I debated when we bought our stove and debated wood vs pellet. I live on a wooded lot, it's my time and sweat to get wood, but still better than buying oil!

I buy log truck loads and cut/split it myself. I bought 8 tons of Greene Team pellets from Lowes when it was on-sale in August for $188/ton prior to military discount. The pellet stove upstairs is only heating the bonus room over the garage and indirectly heating the two smaller bedrooms on that end of the house. Consequently we aren't going through that much in pellets.

 

[CT-Mike]

Dex,

Prior to installing the wood insert, our annual oil bill ran $3500 - $4000/yr. I know I wouldn't burn anywhere near that much in pellets for both upstairs and down if we do the swapover.

A tank of oil lasts us approximately a year now, and the only reason we burn that much is that the hot water heater is oil fired.

 

[Malatu]

So we have a Lopi Freedom insert downstairs, and a Leyden Pellet enamel upstairs on the other end of the house. I am really thinking about replacing the wood insert with a pellet insert. The wife is getting tired of the wood detritus in the house, and my back is getting tired of cutting, splitting, hauling, stacking, and hauling the wood.

So with that in mind, what would be a reasonable price to ask for the Freedom insert (in its 4th season right now), and a two year old Timberwolf TW-2 that has split about 10 cords total?

I obviously won't be doing anything until this heating season is over. I will have 4-5 cords of 1 y/o seasoned split 20" firewood to sell, and about another 4 -5 cords of rounds that have yet to be split.

Thanks,

Mike

If it's the cutting, splitting and stacking, I'm sure you could have wood already split, delivered and stacked, of course for an additional fee. I'd call around..ya never know.

 

[DexterDay]

Dex,

Prior to installing the wood insert, our annual oil bill ran $3500 - $4000/yr. Now a tank of oil lasts us approximately a year and the only reason we burn that much is that the hot water heater is oil fired.

We spent $3,600-$3,800 a year in LP. Last year we installed the Pellet furnace and 30-NC.

But the 3 yrs prior, we had only the Quad. I filled my LP tank just over 3 yrs ago and have 40% in it. We used to use 3-4 tanks a yr. Now a tank is gonna last around 4 yrs!!

Only use LP for Cooking (LP cooking stove) now.

Pellets are always frowned upon because of cost.

Well, in 2 yrs, I have bought 10 chainsaws, 1 splitter, an extra trailer, built a woodshed, 8 wood racks, and well... Numerous other things. Wood heat costs money too...

Its all in your outlook. Saving money is saving money. Period. Whether its a 25% savings or 95% savings.

We all do what we do for a reason. Its not only putting $$$ in our pocket, but is a great hobby and brings us together here

 

[CT-Mike]

If it's the cutting, splitting and stacking, I'm sure you could have wood already split, delivered and stacked, of course for an additional fee. I'd call around..ya never know.

Here in CT people are asking $180-$200 cord for green, and the price goes up for what they call seasoned.

built a woodshed, 8 wood racks, and well... Numerous other things.

That is another reason for going over, I won't have to worry about building the woodshed I was planning in the spring. The wife told me this was the last year that we would be fighting with pallets, tarps, etc.

As things stand, between selling the splitter, the 038AV, 4-5 cords of 1 year seasoned hardwood, another 4-5 cords of green hardwood, and the wood insert should more the cover the cost of the pellet insert. Would probably even leave enough to buy the new polished granite hearth that SWMBO wants as well. A word to the wise, do not listen to your wife when she tells you she wants an un-polished natural granite hearth, when deep in your heart you know better. That thing is so stained up now its ridiculous.

I will be keeping the 361 for trimming up the trees around the property, and let's face it, every man needs at least one real chainsaw.

 

[Freakingstang]

going prices on lopi freedoms the last 2-4 months here have been anywhere from 7-900. I paid 300 for mine, but it sat outside under a tarp for two year. it only had two years of use also. the pics make it worse that it really is. i tore it all down, replaced gaskets, brick, blasted and painted... installing it tomorrow



with some elbow grease and some polish....

 

[NortheastAl]

I went the opposite way, from the dark into the light. Had a pellet stove for 16 years before deciding to make the switch this year. In my mind, the pellet stove was too much to maintain, and the pellets need to be stored inside. You rarely can find pellets down on the side of the road, no one will call you to take pellets off their hands for free, and the inconsistency of pellets here has always been a problem.

I've only had my Endeavor for abut three weeks, so I can't really say how the maintenance issue will compare, but so far it has been less. I enjoy CSS wood too. Outside of the convenience of loading once every day or so, I don't miss the pellet stove.

Good luck, I hope it works out for you.

 

[LarryD]

You wont have any problem getting $5K+ for the TW-2 in CT with only 10 cords through it. What options do you have? (4 way wedge, log lift, sorting table?) The paint is barely scuffed!. I get asked all the time if I want to sell mine. I would suggest marketing it next fall. Wait to get your price, you'll get it.

LD

 

[LarryD]

Is it an HD?

 

[CT-Mike]

Stang,

Nice restoration job on that stove, looks good. I think you will be happy with it.

Is it an HD?

Nope, not a TW-2HD, just the straight up TW-2. I am thinking $2750 is a reasonable price and should be a good deal for someone in the market.