Two Thelin parlor 3000's - which would you be inclined to buy?

[grahamk]

I am looking at two Thelin parlor 3000 stoves on the used market. Both seem to be in excellent shape cosmetically. They are both the exact same price.

The first one is newer, and the owner states it was only burned a half dozen or so times because it filled his room with smoke every time he burned it. He replaced it with a quadra-fire which was a brand he had had really good history with, and guess what, it also fills the room with smoke. So he thinks the problem is the room/pipe, but the Thelin is for sale because he doesn't want to mess with it anymore. It is a vacation cabin.

The second one has been used a lot more - in service for 5+ years in a full time residence and in possession of the second owner of the house who wants to replace it with a woodstove because they have frequent power outages.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm leaning to stove #1 but I'd cry if it filled my room with smoke. Are thelin 3000 stoves known for doing this? Is there an easy fix? I've used nothing but woodstoves and pellet stoves are new ground for me.

Thanks for any advice.

Graham

 

[SidecarFlip]

After John Fortier's experience on here with his Thielin, I, myself would be real wary about purchasing one. He bought one new and it never worked right and was replaced at no charge by his dealer....with a Harman.

Use the search function to find the thread. It's interesting.

 

[Bioburner]

The company that acquired Thelin was discontinuing several stoves. Hate to get into a specialty unit thats going to be hard to get parts. IMO

 

[Luv2burnPellets]

Neither. My father bought a new Thelin parlor stove and gave it away after one year. He now is very happy with two Harman stoves, the P68 and P45.

 

[bags]

Never seen a Thielin nor ran one but I have seen some that had serious issues here and it was new like Flip states. Bio has a great point on parts availability with them being discontinued. How much are they listed for or asking price? There are good deals out there on many makes and models if you look. I have no idea what they sold for new but I thought they were fairly costly.

 

[redbill]

Neither or Both.

Neither because Thelin Parlours are horrible.

Both because you'll need the other one for parts.

 

[ebengel]

Hate to disagree with everyone else but I have been using my Thelin as primary heat for 8 years. I have replaced 2 ignitors, a fan motor and an auger motor. Luckily my local dealer is very helpful and cuts me a break on part prices. They told me that the company that just bought Thelin, Sierra Products already makes a line of stoves that use all of the same electrical parts as the Thelin's so availability should not be a problem. They are also planning to Start building the Thelin stoves again this year. I know others have had problems but my experience has been good, so I would recommend stove #1.

 

[Bioburner]

Dealer support is very important as another member here that had a heap of trouble on a Thelin insert can attest to.
Without the support this little stove could be a total nightmare with the combined exhaust and room air fan that's is 12 volt.

 

[Lake Girl]

They told me that the company that just bought Thelin, Sierra Products already makes a line of stoves that use all of the same electrical parts as the Thelin's so availability should not be a problem.

They were sold again?

 

[ebengel]

They were sold again?

They were, I believe back in October. Which is OK considering that they were sold to a company that already makes stoves and uses the same engineering. Hopefully this means better support for the product.

 

[Lake Girl]

Couldn't find any info on that ownership change .... Support for product should always be part of the purchase of any piece of equipment.

 

[ebengel]

Couldn't find any info on that ownership change .... Support for product should always be part of the purchase of any piece of equipment.

Titanmatt was the one who told me about the sale, then it was confirmed by my local dealer. There has been nothing on either company's website that I can find yet. Here is the new company's website (broken link removed to http://sierraproductsinc.net/home.htm)

 

[Lake Girl]

Titanmatt was the one who told me about the sale, then it was confirmed by my local dealer. There has been nothing on either company's website that I can find yet. Here is the new company's website (broken link removed to http://sierraproductsinc.net/home.htm)

Thanks for the heads up ebengel ... Titanmatt too if you still drop in!

 

[stillersnut]

Buy both, you'll need one for spare parts. I owned a Thelin Gnome, before Jay Thelin sold business. Great company back then. Went down toilet in quality & service since.....

 

[grahamk]

Well, you all scared me off. I wish someone else made such a cool looking little stove. I'd like something more for this room than a box in the corner that's warm. Seems like there are a few companies making cast iron units that look pretty good - if you want to spend $4000. I'm tempted to roll the dice on the 4 year old Thelin for $1200, but there is a fair amount of construction that would have to go into installing that type of stove and I'd hate to have to do it all over again.

Thanks for the replies. I think. ;-)

 

[mginwyo]

Well, you all scared me off. I wish someone else made such a cool looking little stove. I'd like something more for this room than a box in the corner that's warm. Seems like there are a few companies making cast iron units that look pretty good - if you want to spend $4000. I'm tempted to roll the dice on the 4 year old Thelin for $1200, but there is a fair amount of construction that would have to go into installing that type of stove and I'd hate to have to do it all over again.

Thanks for the replies. I think. ;-)

stay away from thelin unless you enjoy incompetence and high prices for the same. I have been waiting for an auger motor for 3 months in winter! Its a bargain at 295.00 and I only have to change it every year with less an 2 tons of pellets through it. The stove looks great but a bit expensive and big for a paperweight or conversation piece.