Woodstock Ideal Steel or Jotul F55?

[Newburnerwisconsin]

I am looking to replace my Heritage stove at the end of the heating season. I can't decide between these two stoves. I need a ten hour burn time (without refilling the stove) and a three cubic foot firebox to handle central Wisconsin winters. Basement is finished. Heating approx 1900 sq. ft. Stove will located in a living room area. Thanks to everyone. Very much appreciated!

 

[shoot-straight]

I switched from a hearthstone as well.

I looked hard at the 55. A really nice looking stove, and jotul puts out great products. I really don't like the looks of the ideal steel. Just not for me. That said, I switched from a non-cat to a cat and am happy I made the switch. Just much more control. Woodstock seems to put out a good product and has good customer service.

If your stove room tends to overheat easily, I would Definitely go with a cat stove.

 

[Newburnerwisconsin]

I switched from a hearthstone as well.

I looked hard at the 55. A really nice looking stove, and jotul puts out great products. I really don't like the looks of the ideal steel. Just not for me. That said, I switched from a non-cat to a cat and am happy I made the switch. Just much more control. Woodstock seems to put out a good product and has good customer service.

If your stove room tends to overheat easily, I would Definitely go with a cat stove.

What cat stove did you buy?

 

[begreen]

Blaze King Ashford

 

[Sailrmike]

You won't go wrong with either the F 55 or the Ideal Steel. If you're looking for the most performance/ heating, I would seriously consider the Woodstock. After switching from a cat stove to a non-cat, I have noticed a decline in overall heat. The cat in the IS should give you more heat for a longer period.

 

[Woody Stover]

What cat stove did you buy?

Blaze King Ashford

Holy cow, when did you do that?? What were you thinking?!!

After switching from a cat stove to a non-cat, I have noticed a decline in overall heat.

What two stoves are we talking about here?

 

[weatherguy]

The F55 was on my list when I went stove shopping, I chose the IS, just liked the long burn times users were reporting and I like Woostock. Unfortunately the IS was 1/2 inch too big to fit in my fireplace so I went with the PH. Happy with it but still wished the IS would have worked out.

 

[Newburnerwisconsin]

The F55 was on my list when I went stove shopping, I chose the IS, just liked the long burn times users were reporting and I like Woostock. Unfortunately the IS was 1/2 inch too big to fit in my fireplace so I went with the PH. Happy with it but still wished the IS would have worked out.

The progress will work. I like the side loading door on it. The custom artwork and welded steel firebox appeals more to me. Both look like great stoves.

 

[Newburnerwisconsin]

Blaze King Ashford

The Ashford is a nice stove and I have a local dealer, however we would like to view a fire now and then. I will need to see one actually burning.

 

[Woody Stover]

Unfortunately the IS was 1/2 inch too big to fit in my fireplace

I've got that problem with the Absolute, with the ash pan...door won't quite open. If I have to remove tiles from the hearth, so be it..It WILL fit.

 

[sutphenj]

I have the f55 and certainly enjoy it for my application. Love the simplicity. Depending on how you define burn time 10 hours of steady heat hasnt been my experience. Plenty of coals for a relight at 10 or 12 hours....yes indeed.

In trying to determine useable heat for my application what I haven't been able to find out on the IS for example is at say hour 10 or 12 is the stove top temp 100 degrees or 400 degrees. I hear of long burn times but don't quite understand is the btu (relative to STT) output at the last few hours of the "burn".

 

[SuperJ]

Ideal Steel hands down, cat will let you burn long and low and give you a noticeable efficiency boost (less wood, less work) over the Jotul.
Not that the Jotul is a bad stove but the Woodstock has much more to offer (except for I like the looks of the Jotul better).

 

[Rearscreen]

a noticeable efficiency boost (less wood, less work)

Hey maybe some people want to burn more wood and get the exercise, who knows?

 

[Newburnerwisconsin]

Ideal Steel hands down, cat will let you burn long and low and give you a noticeable efficiency boost (less wood, less work) over the Jotul.
Not that the Jotul is a bad stove but the Woodstock has much more to offer (except for I like the looks of the Jotul better).

I think I will have to give the Blaze King Ashford 30 a look as well.

 

[SuperJ]

I think I will have to give the Blaze King Ashford 30 a look as well.

It’s a proven performer around here. I’m happy with mine.

 

[Newburnerwisconsin]

I will give the Ashford the most difficult test first. The wife approval test. Without that, it's a no-go.

 

[Woody Stover]

I will give the Ashford the most difficult test first. The wife approval test. Without that, it's a no-go.

Sometimes you just have to tell 'em, "Picking a house heater is a man's job...get back."

 

[SuperJ]

Ashford is a pretty wife friendly stove. Mine loves that it burns so long she never has to touch it even when I work late. The cast over steel look is nice too. She just turns it up or down for comfort but mostly let’s it cruise on low since our living room/kitchen stays in the mid 70s on low even when really cold.

 

[Newburnerwisconsin]

Ashford is a pretty wife friendly stove. Mine loves that it burns so long she never has to touch it even when I work late. The cast over steel look is nice too. She just turns it up or down for comfort but mostly let’s it cruise on low since our living room/kitchen stays in the mid 70s on low even when really cold.

How many square ft are you heating? It gets -26 here how cold does it get there? Does the Ashford need a rear heat shield? I did not see one one thier website. How do you clean your chimney? I do have a local BK dealer to do the install if I go with the Ashford. My insurance company requires that. Thanks for your time and knowledge.

 

[bfitz3]

How many square ft are you heating? It gets -26 here how cold does it get there? Does the Ashford need a rear heat shield? I did not see one one thier website. How do you clean your chimney? I do have a local BK dealer to do the install if I go with the Ashford. My insurance company requires that. Thanks for your time and knowledge.

I have the progress hybrid which I think has similar performance stats to the IS. I may be wrong on that...

I’ve seen -30some degrees here and the stove worked fine, but required some extra loading... the house temps will fall into the low 60s or high 50s by wake-up time when it’s exceedingly cold. Generally speaking, a packed load will have inches of coals 10 hours in and will still be putting out meaningful heat. Recently, we’ve been running 20-35 degrees outside. Two 1/2 to 3/4 loads a day and the house is running 68-75 degrees. Mornings are a bit lower. House... 1800ft, open plan, well insulated. 2.5 cords used so far this season.

 

[Newburnerwisconsin]

I have the progress hybrid which I think has similar performance stats to the IS. I may be wrong on that...

I’ve seen -30some degrees here and the stove worked fine, but required some extra loading... the house temps will fall into the low 60s or high 50s by wake-up time when it’s exceedingly cold. Generally speaking, a packed load will have inches of coals 10 hours in and will still be putting out meaningful heat. Recently, we’ve been running 20-35 degrees outside. Two 1/2 to 3/4 loads a day and the house is running 68-75 degrees. Mornings are a bit lower. House... 1800ft, open plan, well insulated. 2.5 cords used so far this season.

Thank you for your reply. Have you had any problems with your Woodstock? Would you buy another one? If so what model?

 

[bfitz3]

Just a small issue when I got it. One phone call and Woodstock fixed the issue instantly. I’d buy the same model again. If I weren’t happy with Woodstock, I’d dig deep into blaze king models. BK owners seem to swear by them.

Out of curiosity, I checked the specs on the IS... rated for a lower max btu output, but it has a larger firebox. Both suggest they can manage the same size house, making me wonder if the IS keeps a more constant temp for a longer time and the PH hits a higher temp. Someone more knowledgeable than me might be able to address that. Regardless, it works and looks great, so I wouldn’t change unless I had to.

 

[Highbeam]

I too had a heritage for 30 cords and upgraded to a proper cat stove for longer burns. I could get 8-10 hours just barely from the heritage but in the same house get 24 hours from my cat stove. You gave two options, of those get the IS. If you are willing to look at other brands you really must consider the bk offerings. 30 hours between reloads with hardwoods. Think about that. Once a day. You load at night and walk right past it in the morning as you leave for work. Come home and it’s still hot. Then, sometime later that night you can load her up.

 

[begreen]

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[Sailrmike]

@Newburnerwisconsin what is your chimney situation? A BK stove operating on a thermostat NEEDS a straight up chimney, installed within the envelope of the home.