Best wood stove

[bergere]

Am shopping around for a nice wood stove.

Some thing easy to use, reliable, able to used with just a heat shield and some stone.
Plus a price that won't break the bank, so to speak.

What do you all recommend?

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Start scouting craigslist. I got a Vermont Castings Resolute for $315 with some extra 3 wall pipe. I sold the pipe for $100, making my price for the stove $215 + a new $25 gasket kit. It's a great stove that would cost around $1500 to replace with a new one.

[HermitJohn]

If you have house insurance, just make sure insurance folk are ok with having wood stove and then the particular stove. They may require you have it professionally installed.... You have banks and insurance people involved, and you would think you lived in the old Soviet Union far as your freedom in making your own choices.

[bergere]

That is an excellent find SCF!
Been looking at craigs list... so far no luck on anything use able... but will keep looking.

Thanks for the heads up HJ. Around here, everyone has a wood stove... except us, so I don't foresee a major problem. Also know a good contractor, so we should have that part of it covered if needed.

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

I have owned my Orley woodstove from Medford, Oregon since 1981. It looks the same today as when I bought it 31 years ago. It doesn't need firebrick and loads from the side making the installation much easier. Find one on either Ebay or Craigs List.

There are numerous ones listed here: http://www.searchalljunk.com/ Do the search for Orley Woodstove

[Cabin Fever]

In my experience, the best woodstove is one that is made out of 1/4" and 5/16" plate steel - not cast iron - and one that uses secondary combustion - not a ceramic catalyst - to meet EPA air emission regulations. The stove we bought that meets these requirements was the USA-made Lopi Endeavor.

Cast iron stoves are bolted together using gaskets between the parts. With a hot fire, cast iron can crack. And sometimes, they can leak between the fitted parts.

It is common for ceramic catalysts to crack and/or plug up and they are expensive to replace.

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

The Orley takes the steel part one step further. Being made from a round section of quarter inch thick, 18 inch diameter conduit it heats evenly like a pizza pan vs unevenly like a cookie sheet. The round shape is why it needs no firebrick.

[bergere]

Thank you for that information CF. Will add Lopi to the list.

YFR, been looking for Orely's but most of the used ones are in the NW. Bit too spendy to ship but I will keep looking.

[Qhorseman]

Don't buy a Dutchwest non-catalytic. Very fussy stove. I have never been able to get it to hold a fire over night. I am very sorry I bought the one I have, total waste of money.

[Big Dave]

Soapstone from vermont. Look at permies Rocket mass stove. Just my .02

[frankva]

My understanding is that soapstone is very nice. In a house where you light it and run it steady. Takes a bit to heat up, not for quick short heat like some designs.

I have an older one with gaskets and a ceramic converter. I would not buy another.

They (ceramic)are spendy, and do need to be cleaned.

[PaulNKS]

You also can't beat a good old used Ashley.

[bergere]

Great information everyone! Thank you!
Is nice to know what works and what not to buy!

[MichaelK!]

Don't focus all your attention on the stove. The chimney pipe is likely to cost more than the stove itself, assuming you're installing it yourself. A professional chimney installation will cost way more than the stove.

[JohnP]

Fisher is a good one and as CF describes. Models are baby bear, momma bear, papa bear, grandma and grandpa bear. Fisher was one of the first EPA approved I think. Here's "everything Fisher" Everything Fisher | Hearth.com Forums Home
I've got a momma and a grandpa. We did most of our cooking on momma this past winter including baking with the help of an old bbq grill lid. Had cornbread down pat.

[bergere]

Took that into account Michael. But thank you for the reminder. ;O)
Have a good contractor that lives across the road, that can properly install everything for me, for much less than a "Wood stove" store person. And he does really good work.

I have to do something to have heat when the power goes out in the winter and something that doesn't need propane or diesel. Who ever built this house wasn't thinking. Sigh ~~

Thank you for that link JohnP, will take a look at those.

[Ramblin Wreck]

While you are researching your stove, don't forget the wood! You want to use well seasoned wood, no matter which stove you pick. I harvest mine off the place and dry it at least one year before using it. Craigslist has lots of wood offers around here, oftentimes free if you cut up and haul away the tree.

Good luck.

[Cabin Fever]

Originally Posted by JohnP

Fisher is a good one and as CF describes. Models are baby bear, momma bear, papa bear, grandma and grandpa bear. Fisher was one of the first EPA approved I think. Here's "everything Fisher" Everything Fisher | Hearth.com Forums Home
I've got a momma and a grandpa. We did most of our cooking on momma this past winter including baking with the help of an old bbq grill lid. Had cornbread down pat.

Yes, Fisher stoves where excellent stoves. I had a Grandpa Bear. It's too bad they went out of business about 30 years ago. If you can find a good, used Fisher snatch it up! The Lopi stove is the closest thing to a Fisher that I've seen.

[bergere]

DH has been cutting our firewood for a longggg time. In the NW, best we could get is Doug Fir.... here in VA... is mostly Oak. Best wood to burn in my opinion.

Will keep an eye out for a Fisher, but they are another NW company, so finding one over here won't be easy.

[johng]

We put in a Jotul F500 a few years ago and absoultly love it! It is a little expensive but, a well made stove.