Woodstock Fireview buy new or used?

[robbydanilow]

Hi I am new to this forum but have been researching a new wood stove here for a few months. The wife and I have zeroed in on the Woodstock Fireview as the stove for us. We love the look of soapstone and the feel of the heat it gives off. I looked at a 7 year old Fireview today. It appears to have been well maintained and not over fired no warpage discoloration etc. The owner clearly knows how to fire the stove and maintain it as he showed me its ins and outs. The catalytic scoop and screen were updated with new stainless in the spring. The owner stated this was his first replacement. The asking price is $1600 seems a little high to me when I can have a new stove for $2245 between the sale and the tax credit. What is a fair price for a well maintained Fireview with 7 years of use? Take the truck upstate CT to by used or drive up to NH to buy brand new?

 

[aansorge]

Talk him down to 1100. Or 1200. Otherwise buy new.

 

[Tenn Dave]

I really don't know what a used 7 year old Fireview is worth, but for a difference of $645, I would definitly go for the new stove. That way you know exactly what you are starting out with, and you get the benefit of the 6 month no questions asked return policy. Also, you should be looking at this as a long term investment - and spreading the $645 over many years is not such a big issue. Good luck with your decision either way. The Fireview is a very handsome piece of equipment and a awesome heater.

 

[robbydanilow]

Yeah I am kind of leaning towards buying new. This stove is near perfect but its not new. I'm feeling 1200 is fair but 1600 is way too high. Going to see if he comes down. If not then it'll be a nice drive to NH and my wife can pick out the color she likes... Thanks for the advice.

 

[STIHLY DAN]

Go new, Is the new one a hybrid. I love the hybrid concept.

 

[ddddddden]

The wife and I have zeroed in on the Woodstock Fireview as the stove for us. . .

Well chosen!

Talk him down to 1100. Or 1200. Otherwise buy new.

+1
Factory refurbs, when they have them, are only ~ $1900 with 1-year warranty. It's a nice stove, but no used Fireview is worth $1600, regardless of how much or how little use it has seen. . .maybe if it were still in the crate.

 

[robbydanilow]

Sounds like the verdict is new. We love the Progress hybrid but too much money right now. No doubt factory refurbs w the warranty and Woodstock reputation are a steal @ $1900. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Oldhippie]

Actually, unless they have gone up, the refurbs are $1700. (I know) Or at least they were this summer. Problem is, they don't always have them. You can put your name in and give them a deposit which was what I did. But sometimes they do have them, you need to call Woodstock to find out.

I'm loving mine.

 

[rideau]

I guess I disagree. $645 goes a long way. I have a new PH, but am keeping my Fireview, that I purchased in 2004, Dec, and used until Dec 2011. I wouldn't hesitate to use it again, and it needs nothing done to it...never has, except one replacement of cat. I believe the stove will be fine in thirty years, even if used every day. And certainly for $645 I could do a ton of refurbishing to it. If the stove looks loved, I'd buy it.

 

[Woody Stover]

$645 goes a long way...If the stove looks loved, I'd buy it.

If you can get that one for $1200 or less, so much the better. I would be wanting to see the old cast iron combustor scoop to make sure it wasn't warped. Check the combustor frame as well. Those are the two things that were warped on the Fv my SIL bought about five years ago. Now, the new cat frame had a slight bow in one side but nothing the interam gasket won't cover with expansion, unlike the old one. Stove is a '96 and she got it for $350, but I think the new owners of the home it came from just wanted it out of there. SIL thought it was a good deal (and it was) but didn't realize it was over-fired.
The Fv is a great stove; Pretty, simple to run and easy on the wood stacks. If you get a new one, check out the metallic blue color. Not very blue....looks like a medium gray unless the room is bathed in sunlight.

 

[Todd]

Seems a little high to me. I sold my 5 year old Fireview for $1100 and have seen a few others for sale around here for $800-1200. If you could get him down in that range it would be a good deal and save you some money for other things like stove pipe, chimney or hearth if you need them.

 

[hiites]

I paid $1000 for mine. It is 8yrs old. I paid that knowing I would also be changing all of the gaskets, the cat and repainting it. I also ended up having to replace the scoop and the bypass cover. I wish that I had been close enough to the factory to pick up a new one but this one is working great now.

 

[robbydanilow]

Called earlier today and there are no refurbished stoves in stock until spring but there's plenty of new Fireviews. No blue though evidently that color is selling fast. The seller came down to $1500. Not enough movement for me. Really felt 1200 was fair was willing to go a little higher even w new cat in it. Would have been nice to save a few $$$ but its like when i bought my truck 24K used vs 27.5K with all the incentives Dodge was offering so I bought new. My truck wasn't shiny for too long but piece of mind has its value. Looking forward to a trip to NH. Thanks for the advice and I'm happy that so many people are running these stoves for years and years. Makes me comfortable about the investment.

 

[BrotherBart]

Good decision. The pleasure of picking up your new stove in NH and meeting the folks that built it will be worth difference.

 

[eclecticcottage]

Yeah, living that close with no freight costs associated, I'd go new at that price too.

There's a 3 year old one listed locally here, they're asking $1500 so they can upgrade to the Progress. More worth it here with the freight or cost of driving to get a new one. I've been watching it just to see if it would sell at that price or not. so far...it's still listed.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Hi I am new to this forum but have been researching a new wood stove here for a few months. The wife and I have zeroed in on the Woodstock Fireview as the stove for us. We love the look of soapstone and the feel of the heat it gives off. I looked at a 7 year old Fireview today. It appears to have been well maintained and not over fired no warpage discoloration etc. The owner clearly knows how to fire the stove and maintain it as he showed me its ins and outs. The catalytic scoop and screen were updated with new stainless in the spring. The owner stated this was his first replacement. The asking price is $1600 seems a little high to me when I can have a new stove for $2245 between the sale and the tax credit. What is a fair price for a well maintained Fireview with 7 years of use? Take the truck upstate CT to by used or drive up to NH to buy brand new?

Welcome to the forum Robbydanilow.


I'm wondering about what you are planning on heating with this stove and what you have for fuel? How many sq ft is the home and how will the stove be installed? Do you have wood on hand now? Do you know how dry it is? Warning: if you are planning on buying, it is buyer beware. Many are the tales of people buying from a "reputable" dealer and he also says the wood is "seasoned" and ready to burn. That can get folks into a mess of trouble.

Indeed the Fireview is a fantastic stove and we are starting our 7th year with ours. Still very happy with it and love it that we don't have to feed it as much wood as we did our old stove. No doubt the 7 year old stove it still in great condition but the price is too high for sure. In addition, if you buy direct from Woodstock you get that guarantee that you won't get by buying used.

When you go to Woodstock, be prepared for a wonderful time when you get there. Be sure to ask questions. Look at how the stoves are put together. Enjoy yourself.

 

[robbydanilow]

I don't think a used FV will move fast priced @ 1500. We've seen some Hearthstones go on craigslist in under a week priced @ 1000 though.

Plan on heating 1300 square feet. We have a modest ranch. I have about 1 cord of split and stacked cherry and oak. Much of it split in spring. All my wood was in rounds elevated to "pre season" it and make splitting easier. I know most people say a year is minimum. Hoping it is ok by January. Dont know the specific moisture content but it dosent smell like sap anymore. There is a "reliable" wood processor near me but he charges 250 for a cord of seasoned wood. Am going to purchase one cord and see how my cherry burns later.

How finicky is the Fireview with wood? This will be my first EPA stove. I am already splitting and stacking for next year.

 

[Oldhippie]

Welcome to the forum Robbydanilow.

<snippage>

When you go to Woodstock, be prepared for a wonderful time when you get there. Be sure to ask questions. Look at how the stoves are put together. Enjoy yourself.

I agree with Dennis. They will gladly give you the grand tour of the facility, and it is well worth it.

Get over to 91N and you'll be there in no time. Airport Road is right off the exit, go to the top on the hill and Woodstock Soapstone in on the right. They'll help you load and secure your stove. They should do what Harley dealers do and ring a bell, when you take possession but they don't do that ...yet.

Even 91 is a very pretty drive.

 

[robbydanilow]

Even 91 is a very pretty drive.

You are right it is a great drive. Drove up 91 many a time to go camping in the Whites in the BC (before children) era of my life.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I don't think a used FV will move fast priced @ 1500. We've seen some Hearthstones go on craigslist in under a week priced @ 1000 though.

Plan on heating 1300 square feet. We have a modest ranch. I have about 1 cord of split and stacked cherry and oak. Much of it split in spring. All my wood was in rounds elevated to "pre season" it and make splitting easier. I know most people say a year is minimum. Hoping it is ok by January. Dont know the specific moisture content but it dosent smell like sap anymore. There is a "reliable" wood processor near me but he charges 250 for a cord of seasoned wood. Am going to purchase one cord and see how my cherry burns later.

How finicky is the Fireview with wood? This will be my first EPA stove. I am already splitting and stacking for next year.

1300 sq ft is usually pretty easy to heat with the Fireview. Of course some of that depends upon insulation, windows and doors.

For the future I would highly suggest you do not "pre-season" the wood as you have been. To make the splitting the easiest, it should be done right after cutting. For this year, that cherry should do just fine bout I would not bet on the oak for sure. All bets are off with the oak.

Robby, if at all possible, I would make every attempt to get some white ash (preferably dead) and something else like soft maple, which dries super fast. Oak just does not give up its moisture easily and you can end up with problems no matter how you burn it. Also, remember that "reliable" does not mean the wood will be ready even if he says it is. If you buy, I would insist on splitting it small. He may not do it but you could re-split each piece to get it small. Keep it off the ground and top covered. Remember, you need air circulation so this also means you need not attempt for a pretty stack; you need to stack it loose so as to get better air circulation. And the Fireview is no more "finicky" than any other stove. However, if the wood is a bit more moisture than ideal, then you would be best advised to delay engaging the cat a bit. That is, if you normally engage the cat in 10-15 minutes, I'd double that or at least close to double. This would give you extra time to get rid of more moisture before running that through the cat. But keep an eye on the temperature to guide you in timing the engaging of the cat.

One more thing; when you order the stove, order a temperature gauge with it. The stove comes with one already but especially in your case, it will be great to have one gauge on the stove top and another on the flue. It really takes a lot of guess work out of the timing of engaging the cat.

Good luck.

 

[Log farmer]

I agree with backwoods savage! The oak will definitely not be ready this yr and maybe next yr. the majority of the wood I burn every winter is soft maple! I can usually get it dried in about 9-10 months if I get it split right away. It's a no brainier at this point, I would schedule a road trip and buy a new stove you just can't beat that warranty! Good luck and welcome to the forum!

 

[eclecticcottage]

For the future I would highly suggest you do not "pre-season" the wood as you have been. To make the splitting the easiest, it should be done right after cutting.

Unless you get some (not standing dead) pine/spruce. Then buck it and leave it for a few months for the sap to run and dry up a bit or it will gum up everything it touches.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Unless you get some (not standing dead) pine/spruce. Then buck it and leave it for a few months for the sap to run and dry up a bit or it will gum up everything it touches.

Yes, it can. That is a good reason to keep some WD-40 on hand at times like this.

 

[robbydanilow]

Will set the oak aside and keep it covered. Thanks to all for the advice. Heading up to NH this weekend will post up some pics from trip.

 

[Oldhippie]

Will set the oak aside and keep it covered. Thanks to all for the advice. Heading up to NH this weekend will post up some pics from trip.

They are beautiful stoves, easy to maintain and easy to run, and they provide really comfortable warmth. I'm still learning mine, but so far I am totally impressed, and my wood isn't perfect either, the worst that means is you need to let it run open a bit longer to make sure you burn off the moisture before you engage the cat. Another "get used to for me" is the concept of letting it run down to just about ashes as the fuel gets to coals and just runs warm for hours on end. Remember the stone holds the heat and continues to warm the home long after the high end of the burn has gone by.

It will be a great week-end to drive out there. There isn't a lot of fine dining in Lebanon, so depending on what time you get out there, consider stopping off in either Northampton Ma or Brattleboro VT for a lunch. On the other hand I would suggest the burgers or specials at the 4Aces Diner (not far away) for some good diner food at a great old Worcester Diner, but it's nothing fancy.