VC Resolute Newbie

[VC Resolute III]

Good Morning from Lempster NH. First post here so thanks for allowing me to pull up a chair. So, 7 years ago my wife and I took over her late parents camp in Lempster. I really hadn't been used and maintained a lot since my FIL passed in 2005. When my MIL passed in 2015 we took over the place and have had our hands full with repairs. The camp was built in 1956 an had a very nice (large) field stone fireplace. When my in-laws bought the place in 1978 there was a wood stove in place that was placed inside the fireplace (not an insert) My FIL hated the stove and replaced it around the early eighties. Since we took over the camp the amount of work the camp needed precluded paying any attention to looking at the stove. We would like to use it and that's why I'm here.

I know it's a Vermont Castings Resolute as it's stamped on the side. It has 2 doors so I "believe" it's version III. Early eighties stove I do "believe" I have never used a wood stove and looking over this model it's called a heater stove (I think) and it's a bit more complicated than I was thinking. So, I fully realize the dangers of "I read it on the internet" That being said I read on the Internet (LOL) that it is a downdraft stove that can be a PITA to use and can be smoky until hot. Also it may need rebuilding at its age although it hasn't been used since 2005. Rebuilding I have no clue and the wife and I are thinking perhaps just going new but her Dad loved the stove and we don't want to discard it if it has some quality life left. I would appreciate the views and opinions here of wood stove folks as I simply have no clue.
Thanks in advance.
Harry

 

[begreen]

I bought the original Resolute in 1980. It was a good heater and fairly easy to operate. Properly installed and run, the early VC's were well-behaved. A lot of the problems happened with the later models.

A good place to start is with the manual. It's posted here in 3 parts here and covers all the early VC models.

Vermont Castings older stoves

The first model from Vermont Castings was the Defiant http://hearth.com/images/uploads/vcdefiant.pdf followed by: Vigilant - http://hearth.com/images/uploads/vcvigi.pdf Resolute - http://hearth.com/images/uploads/vcresi.pdf Intrepid These 4...

www.hearth.com

Then post some pictures of the stove inside and out, front and back, so that we can see the current condition.

 

[VC Resolute III]

I bought the original Resolute in 1980. It was a good heater and fairly easy to operate. Properly installed and run, the early VC's were well-behaved. A lot of the problems happened with the later models.

A good place to start is with the manual. It's posted here in 3 parts here and covers all the early VC models.

Vermont Castings older stoves

The first model from Vermont Castings was the Defiant http://hearth.com/images/uploads/vcdefiant.pdf followed by: Vigilant - http://hearth.com/images/uploads/vcvigi.pdf Resolute - http://hearth.com/images/uploads/vcresi.pdf Intrepid These 4...

www.hearth.com

Then post some pictures of the stove inside and out, front and back, so that we can see the current condition.

Thanks for the manual link. Can I post photos here from my cell phone? I'll get the front easily enough but the back is against the original field stone fireplace and the sides don't have a lot of clearance. If it did need some work it would need to be taken out of the fireplace to be able to work on it. I'm at the camp now but don't have my camera and those photos I know how to post. I am iffy on cell phone ones.

Now don't laugh...too much...but last September, at age 68, I got my first cell phone. And only because I had to because of the 4G thing.

Thanks again
Harry

 

[EatenByLimestone]

If you use the attach files button below the text box you can post pics from your phone.

Choose photo library to choose your photo from pics you have already taken.

 

[joop]

as a dinosaur myself,i know what he's talking about.thats why i have kids

 

[VC Resolute III]

Thanks for the manual link. Can I post photos here from my cell phone? I'll get the front easily enough but the back is against the original field stone fireplace and the sides don't have a lot of clearance. If it did need some work it would need to be taken out of the fireplace to be able to work on it. I'm at the camp now but don't have my camera and those photos I know how to post. I am iffy on cell phone ones.

Now don't laugh...too much...but last September, at age 68, I got my first cell phone. And only because I had to because of the 4G thing.

Thanks again
Harry

If you use the attach files button below the text box you can post pics from your phone.

Choose photo library to choose your photo from pics you have already taken.

View attachment 312985

Thanks. I have a Pixel 6A through Verizon. So far I was able to "share" my pictures to my gmail. I went to gmail and they are there. The only thing I see in Google pictures is another share button which I don't want. I was looking for a download option but don't see one.

FYI, on the bottom of the top loading cover there is a lot of areas and instructions. One area is stamped 4/27/85 so I'm thinking there is the DOM date.

 

[VC Resolute III]

as a dinosaur myself,i know what he's talking about.thats why i have kids

I meant to say earlier my first smart phone at age 68. I just had basic talk and text phones for many years for 10 bucks a month. With the new 4G thing they no longer work. But indeed I am a dinosaur and have struggled with this new phone.

 

[VC Resolute III]

Thanks. I have a Pixel 6A through Verizon. So far I was able to "share" my pictures to my gmail. I went to gmail and they are there. The only thing I see in Google pictures is another share button which I don't want. I was looking for a download option but don't see one.

FYI, on the bottom of the top loading cover there is a lot of areas and instructions. One area is stamped 4/27/85 so I'm thinking there is the DOM date.

My Daughter is telling me over the phone how to do it. I hope this works.

 

[VC Resolute III]

I think I did it. I have other photos but these give a decent view. So, if 1985 is correct my FIL passed in 2005. He did not go to the camp in the winter so his use was early spring and late fall. My wife doesn't believe it was heavily used.

 

[begreen]

Yep, that works. Welcome to the digital age. It looks to be in pretty good condition. Is there enough clearance to topload it? Does the bypass click solidly in place when closed? I'm not sure how well the thermostatic air control will work in the closed fireplace space. The radiated heat will throw off the bimetallic. How much is TBD.

 

[peakbagger]

A general observation is many installations similar to your in old fireplaces, were not great. In many cases the pipe was just stuck up the open damper, or an adaptor plate was made for the damper but the actual flue was oversized. Chimneys on camps also tended to be lower than optimal for wood burning.

So time to do some research. Is the chimney pipe continuous from the stove to the top of the chimney?. Does it have a minimum of 15 feet elevation from the outlet of the stove to the top of the pipe?. Does the pipe exit the roof higher than any point on the roof?, If not make sure it meets the 3-2-10 rule https://www.rockfordchimneysupply.c...een researching,than anything within ten feet.

Is the chimney insulated?. This can make a big difference if the new chimney is sitting inside of a much larger original flue. Take a good look up into the top of the fireplace and see how well sealed the chimney if around the damper opening. In many cases, there are gaps.

 

[VC Resolute III]

Yep, that works. Welcome to the digital age. It looks to be in pretty good condition. Is there enough clearance to topload it? Does the bypass click solidly in place when closed? I'm not sure how well the thermostatic air control will work in the closed fireplace space. The radiated heat will throw off the bimetallic. How much is TBD.

Thanks, indeed, plenty of clearance to top load it. Not sure about the thermostatic air control yet. What exactly does it open and close based on heat?

 

[VC Resolute III]

A general observation is many installations similar to your in old fireplaces, were not great. In many cases the pipe was just stuck up the open damper, or an adaptor plate was made for the damper but the actual flue was oversized. Chimneys on camps also tended to be lower than optimal for wood burning.

So time to do some research. Is the chimney pipe continuous from the stove to the top of the chimney?. Does it have a minimum of 15 feet elevation from the outlet of the stove to the top of the pipe?. Does the pipe exit the roof higher than any point on the roof?, If not make sure it meets the 3-2-10 rule https://www.rockfordchimneysupply.com/blog/chimney-pipe-height/#:~:text=If you've been researching,than anything within ten feet.

Is the chimney insulated?. This can make a big difference if the new chimney is sitting inside of a much larger original flue. Take a good look up into the top of the fireplace and see how well sealed the chimney if around the damper opening. In many cases, there are gaps.

Thanks! Your points I have wondered about. The original field stone fireplace is massive, it runs up through 2 floors and out of the roof. It does exit the highest point of the roof and rises 4 feet over the peak. Gotta be close to 30 feet. The stone chimney is 2.5 feet by 3 feet from the peak up to the 4 feet built of field stone. Standing on the roof looking down all I see is a single clay flue 12"X8" with a cap just on the flue. I do not see a stainless steel stove pipe from the top. I see a connector pipe from the stove itself so I think your thoughts are indeed correct. The chimney is not insulated. Also, because the top of the chimney is a large, flat space it collects the snow in the winter. The cap is only over the clay flue but the snow around it melts and drips down into the chimney. Since we took over the camp I have a plastic bag over the top of the chimney until we figure everything out.

 

[begreen]

Thanks, indeed, plenty of clearance to top load it. Not sure about the thermostatic air control yet. What exactly does it open and close based on heat?

The thermostat controls the air intake to the stove's firebox. It is located at the top back left of the stove.