Yesterday my stove cracked. The top split in two pieces, when I took the top off the inside needs help too. The air tube to the catalyst is rotted and when I tried to unbolt the damper to work on it the small bolt that holds it in snapped. So....I think its time for a new stove. What are you guy (Buzz) using? I currently have a Dutch West catalytic and I love it, I would like to stay with a catalytic stove but am open to suggestions.

keep it simple
i hear (read) catalytic and i git vewy a-scared lol

this is heating me out of the place

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/B%20and%20Cs%20Farm/kitchen.jpg

Beautiful stove! I could have score one similar to that a few years ago for nada....just don't have the room.

I have had a catalytic for 10+ years and never had an issue before the cast cracked.

I loved my DNS catalytic stove (wood/coal but only burnt wood) but it too wore out. I did buy parts and rebuild once. I also had a hard time justifying the price of catalytic converters. I now (last 10yrs?) have a non-catalytic Vermont Casting wood burning stove (can't find it on the web, maybe discontinued). I like stoves with side door to add wood, not easy to find. Make sure any stove you get can handle 20+ inch lengths. To be honest I have never liked the stove I have now, hard to start fires limited air intakes, the inside top metal/flue has basically disintegrated, there were some type of insulating blocks on the inside, they too disintegrated over time. The outside is in perfect shape and hopefully I don't have to buy another :(

I too have a catalyst stove and Love it.
It's a Hearthstone stove with the soapstone on the sides and it heats the whole house easily.
When we had the chimney sweeped the guy said he didn't like the soapstone style (he thinks they crack easy) but we couldn't be happier with our stove.

61925

And Raven, that wood stove of yours looks awesome!
I would probably use it to cook all meals during the cooler months and then use the modern one for hot months.

I have an Avalon for last 10 years and am happy

Up to now glad i listened to my old man and bought a modern house with no stove/ fireplace/ chimney
The digital diAl on the wall heats the house with a heck of a lot less effort or mess
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That digital dial on the wall=$$$$

I have not paid for firewood in 9 years.

That digital dial on the wall=$$$$

I have not paid for firewood in 9 years.

Luckily I have tons of trees on my property and still feel young enough to cut and split all the wood we need each year.

I actually enjoy that part spliting and staking but by March i am sick of burning wood and use that tning on the wall
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my fire box on the cook stove keeps me splitting but i am
(it's a rather small door)
doing it inside out of the weather....

but here's my other Antique stove
i hope to put in service soon

got to find the right stove pipe double wall
pass thru rig first.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/rav-stove.png

I've had a wood burning stove in my house since I built it.
We lost power for two whole weeks during the blizzard of 78'... and many other storms since, kept the house cozy and warm..we were newlyweds and thought it was fun. It is messy but worth it. The one I have now has a glass door so you can see the fire which is nice.

that tempered stove glass is wicked expensive

s a Dutchwest and needs parts....let me know. I have the stove in the driveway.

We've had an Ashly type since we built in 63.
Back then I was a wood tycoon cutting at eighteen dollars a cord.
Cut, split and deliverd.
Burning gets old after having to paint the cealings every spring.
Sweetie didn't like the bark in the rug and the trail out the back door so we hooked it up down cellar and save it for storms

I have had a Jotul for about 10 years and love it. Takes up to 24" logs, side and front doors, no catalyst. Super efficient, very easy to control the temp in it and very easy to start because it gets a lot of air with the vent and cracking the door a bit. I live alone and work a lot of hours and it's perfect for me. Stoke it before i go to work and 12 hours later still have a nice bed of coals. I usually only have to "start" a fire about 5 times a year.

When i am home i typically burn it between 400-600 degrees with a thermometer on the stove, 200-250 on he chimney. Preston trading post of Preston CT is where i got it, good shop with lots of knowledge. There is also a shop in i believe Seabrook NH hat sells them tax free. best 1800 bucks i ever spent. I don't have a bad thing to say about it. I use to run a Vermont Castings Vigilant till i warped the doors when i over fired it, talk about scary i had the doors glowing.