Wonderwood Stove - anyone ?

[free-2-b-me]

I was looking at the wonderwood stoves and was wondering if anyone has had one. Is it a good stove to have ? My husband wants a stove we can cook on and it says that you can lift the top and cook that way . Any experiences out there to share ???? It will be used to heat the home mainly.

[mwhit]

Wonderwood are basically the same as Ashley I think. Both are made by US Stove Co. The Ashley are a little better quality from what I've heard. Does it look like this?:

http://heating-and-cooling.hardwares...ve-219618.aspx

I have been very pleased with this stove and it's a very reasonable price. This will be our 4th year heating with it. We bought it because it has the case over it and it offers some protection against burns for the little ones. I have coooked on it-- the only problem I had was the first time I lifted the lid to cook I rested the lid/handle against the stove pipe-- melted the handle. Now I don't have the little plastic handle.

Michelle

[keltink]

Used one for several years, and it put out great heat. However, be careful if you get one not to burn the fire too hot, as we did - the firebox will burn out.

[mwhit]

Originally Posted by keltink

Used one for several years, and it put out great heat. However, be careful if you get one not to burn the fire too hot, as we did - the firebox will burn out.

I've heard that about the Wonderwood stoves-- my Ashley has seen a lot of hot fires and is holding up well.

Michelle

[vallyfarm]

I have one with the coal grates. Its been working for over a decade. In the shop now. I burn her hard and fast to heat up the shop and have never had any problems. If you can take the looks, then it is a great stove. Mike

[free-2-b-me]

Actually I was looking at a dutchwest stove by vermont castings . This is the stove I really want . I will have to finance part of it if I get that one . I have enough money to purchase the wonderwood . I am torn as to which one to get .

[Mutti]

Have had our Wonderwood for 20 years and still going strong. Can heat this old two story farmhouse and we do like the case over it,too as one of our kids laid their hand on a Franklin stove we had and got an awful burn as a toddler. They are a good buy; we have the original coal grates in ours,still fine. We only use it for backup now as we have outdoor wood furnace with hot water heat but won't get rid of it. DEE

[free-2-b-me]

vallyfarm & mutti - you say your's have the coal grates ? You are burning wood this way ? Is it the wood or coal stove you have ? I have burned wood in a wood/coal combination stove where the grates were on a crank and you could turn it from one to the other .
Thank you all so much for the feedback . I truely apprecciate the information and advice that will help me make my final decision . ~~~~~Vickie

[vallyfarm]

I think they are shaker grates, but I don't rember ever shaking them. Just rake the coals to let the ash fall through. They make a "Wonder Coal" stove too. Coal burns a lot hotter so they put in better grates. This may be why others have had problems, but I have not. On something that you plan to live with for many a year, and have to look at and deal with I would get what you want IF it is what you need. I'd like a convertable, but it won't do well on the farm. What I'm trying to say is that if you like a certain stove, spend a few more dollars and get the one you want. 5 years from now those few extra dollars will be forgotten, features you don't like will bug you forever. In my HOUSE I put in an AVALON stove. Almost 50% more money, but I enjoy seeing it sitting in the livingroom every day. It also does exaxtly what I need. Jus try to stay away from catalatic(?) stoves. These WILL need to be replaced. They may be easy on a new stove, but after a few years of use, could be near imposable. Also cost a pretty penny. Mike