Wood Cook Stove questions

JoeKan · #1 01/03/13, 01:04 PM

I'm thinking of getting a backup plan to heat and cook and I've just starting looking into getting a wood cook stove. There's so many of them so I was hoping to get some first hand information from folks here who have one. Can you tell me if the older ones are just as good as the newer ones? There is no way I can afford a new or newer one, I don't have 1k to spend on one but would like to get something for around $400. Also, where do you find used ones at? I've seen one stove (sold at sutherland hardware) that didn't have a flue. Is that normal or even safe?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Joe

Mrs.Swirtz · #2 01/03/13, 01:23 PM

Probably be hard to find one in really good condition for that price. If you are wanting one for backup heat look for something with a large firebox otherwise you will be splitting kindling all the time. Another option would be to buy a wood heating stove and just use the top for cooking. Thats all I had to cook on for 2 years until I got a gas range last spring. If you get one with a flat top then you can rig up an oven to sit on top. Mine is fairly small but I can fit 2 large skillets or pots and 2 smaller pots on top at the same time.

7thswan · #3 01/03/13, 01:41 PM

I have 3 right now. 1 from auction,1 CL,1 antique store. I don't remember how much we paid from antique store,( Renown),it was long ago. But the other 2 were under 400. One is a Home comfort and other is South Bend Malable. The Renown I have in the house and use it all the time. I'm not sure what you meen about the stove not haveing a flue, but pipe does not usally come with a stove.

moorethemerrier · #4 01/03/13, 02:20 PM

We've got a Stanley Waterford. It was $600 on ebay, and we paid $100 for the fellow to deliver it.

We love it, but I'd have to agree with Mrs. Swirtz. Our firebox is rather small, so though it heats up our kitchen and cooks like a dream, we have to bring up coals from our woodstove downstairs every morning to get it started.

That being said, we still love it. Alot.

haypoint · #5 01/03/13, 08:35 PM

$400 will get you a quaint looking older cook stove in questionable condition. There are lots of different things that you might not notice that make them a poor purchase. Rust holes, cracked castings, damaged grates, damaged firebox lining. Old stoves are not air tight and have small fireboxes. makes for a hot quick fire. not as good as a heating stove.

Could you buy a heating stove with a flat top for cooking, until you can afford a better stove? Flat top heating stoves that come to mind are the Poppa Bear or Momma Bear. Baker's Choice will help heat your home as will an Elmira Oval or Pioneer Princess.

Helena · #6 01/03/13, 09:01 PM

I would agree in looking into getting a flat top stove to use on occasion. It would heat the home and cook on top. You really don't need an oven and warming oven on top just for emergency use with a cook stove. We have an older model of the Wondercoal stove that are sold at Tractor Supply for a whopping $600 and made in China..of course.Ours we have had for many years now and does just fine. Look for an older used model made in the USA for a bargin. We just sold one like this for $250 and could have sold 10 of them. Look for a stove that will burn wood and coal. Although , you might never use the coal it is nice to have. Also, get a stove with a drawer to empty the ashes. Nothing worse than having to empty hot coals or ashes that have built up and waiting until the fire burns down. Good Luck in your hunt !!

7thswan · #7 01/04/13, 08:26 AM

The Peaches and Cream stove is a Renown, Dh says we paid 450. for from Antique store. It is in excellent condition. Only one repaired heat shield in the firebox-otherwise perfict.
The SBM, This stove has a bit of minor issues, one part of top is slightly warped easly fixable, I'd replace that part of the top with plate steel. I do not have a picture at the moment of the Home comfort as it is wrapped and covered. But bought it at auction in a basement. It also has 2 burners Gas, an aftermarket/removeable plus.

Dh and I see many stoves for sale and certenly don't have the need for 3, but I can tell you Look, and keep looking if it's what you want, there are many good ones out there.I can get in the truck and go buy one right now, we've checked it out, it is fine, but I DON"T want another stove.

A woodcookstove such as these will not heat your entire house,but will help on those real cold nasty days,especially in this 100 +year old house.

7thswan · #8 01/04/13, 08:34 AM

Here is the SBM as I used it to cann outside. Worked fine.

sandsuncritters · #9 01/04/13, 03:53 PM

I feel like a groupie at this point, following you from thread to thread

But I have to say, your kitchen decor ROCKS!
Salivating over the cast iron, and your stoves are beautiful!
Well done!

In His Love
Mich

Pony · #10 01/04/13, 04:04 PM

Our wood cook stove is a green and cream from the 30's, quite similar to 7th Swan's. We snagged it off a fella's lawn in WI, paid $325 for it about 10 years ago.

Everyone who says that the fireboxes on these is small is exaggerating. The firebox is TEENY WEENY TINY. LOL!

That said, however, once you get the hang of it, it's a joy to cook and bake on these. And there's nothing like warming your rear end in front of the oven.

Ravenlost · #11 01/04/13, 07:43 PM

This is the stove I learned to cook on growing up. It's a Red Mountain T and was in the house when Mama and Daddy bought it 46 years ago (house was built in 1934, so the stove is 79 years old). Mama is still using it today.

That little wood cookstove does a great job heating the kitchen, den, living room and warming the bathroom if the door is left open. Mama's never had heat in any of the bedrooms (she lives in North Alabama). When I was 13 we had a big ice storm and no power for over a week. We were snug and cozy with the wood cookstove going and enjoyed biscuits for breakfast, cornbread for supper, etc.

I think a wood cookstove is a great thing to have for back-up heat and cooking. I want one REALLY bad myself. Fortunately, there's one at the old home place I can get if I ever convince hubby we need it.

I'd recommend checking antique or junk stores, Craigslist, Freecycle, auctions, etc. to find one.

Pony · #12 01/04/13, 08:09 PM

All this stove talk has me thinking about the Flame View. Dang, I lust for this thing the way Nick lusts for a Kubota tractor...

Wood Cook Stove questions - Homesteading Questions

Wood Cook Stove questions - Homesteading Questions

braggscowboy · #13 01/04/13, 09:47 PM

Here is my air tight stove, will hold wood for long period and cooks well. Also ins. rated. Cost a little more than 400.00.

Rustaholic · #14 01/04/13, 10:00 PM

I have an 1885 Majestic out in my garage.
It cooked breakfast in November of 1985 the day we tore the house down around it then slid it off the floor onto my trailer.

Rustaholic · #15 01/04/13, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7thswan

The Peaches and Cream stove is a Renown, Dh says we paid 450. for from Antique store. It is in excellent condition. Only one repaired heat shield in the firebox-otherwise perfict.
The SBM, This stove has a bit of minor issues, one part of top is slightly warped easly fixable, I'd replace that part of the top with plate steel. I do not have a picture at the moment of the Home comfort as it is wrapped and covered. But bought it at auction in a basement. It also has 2 burners Gas, an aftermarket/removeable plus.

Dh and I see many stoves for sale and certenly don't have the need for 3, but I can tell you Look, and keep looking if it's what you want, there are many good ones out there.I can get in the truck and go buy one right now, we've checked it out, it is fine, but I DON"T want another stove.

A woodcookstove such as these will not heat your entire house,but will help on those real cold nasty days,especially in this 100 +year old house.

Please tell my just where in Michigan I can go buy that stove. My 1885 Majestic is in rough shape. I would love to have a better one. I am in Michigan too.

Rustaholic · #16 01/04/13, 10:05 PM

I do like to cook at least one meal per Winter on our All-Nighter Big Moe downstairs.
It has a two level flat top.

FarmboyBill · #17 01/04/13, 11:19 PM

I replaced the top lid of my jumbo wood heat stove with plate steel, and it warped. Might not do that with the lower heat created by a wood range.

Pony · #18 01/05/13, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravenlost

This is the stove I learned to cook on growing up. It's a Red Mountain T and was in the house when Mama and Daddy bought it 46 years ago (house was built in 1934, so the stove is 79 years old). Mama is still using it today.

That little wood cookstove does a great job heating the kitchen, den, living room and warming the bathroom if the door is left open. Mama's never had heat in any of the bedrooms (she lives in North Alabama). When I was 13 we had a big ice storm and no power for over a week. We were snug and cozy with the wood cookstove going and enjoyed biscuits for breakfast, cornbread for supper, etc.

What wonderful, warm memories.

Copperhead · #19 01/05/13, 08:46 AM

If you're looking to heat and cook, don't overlook the "pot-bellied" stoves. A good pot-bellied stove can burn either wood or coal (or anything flammable that fits in the door) and produce 200,000 BTU. We heat a 3-story home all winter with one in the basement. When the power goes out, you can be pretty sure we're having bacon & eggs for breakfast, hot ham & cheese for lunch, and a pot of beans for supper!

A lot of our neighbors use outdoor stoves, but I haven't seen them feeding their fire at 6am in their socks

lol

JoeKan · #20 01/05/13, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Copperhead

If you're looking to heat and cook, don't overlook the "pot-bellied" stoves. A good pot-bellied stove can burn either wood or coal (or anything flammable that fits in the door) and produce 200,000 BTU. We heat a 3-story home all winter with one in the basement. When the power goes out, you can be pretty sure we're having bacon & eggs for breakfast, hot ham & cheese for lunch, and a pot of beans for supper!

A lot of our neighbors use outdoor stoves, but I haven't seen them feeding their fire at 6am in their socks

lol

Do you mean one like this? I think this may work, but how do you cook on it? Does the flat top have enough surface on it for pans and skillets? What about baking?
This one is really closer to my price range. Also, when you put it in your basement, the heat makes it all the way up to the 3rd floor of your house? Is it tied into your duckwork?
Thanks for the help,
Joe
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