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General => General Forum => Topic started by: Bishopknight on December 27, 2008, 10:44:29 AM

Title: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: Bishopknight on December 27, 2008, 10:44:29 AM
If anyone with wood stove knowledge can give me their advice on these woodstoves, I would really appreciate it.

This would be heating my 1200 sq ft house. I really like the glass door look.

$380
(//images.craigslist.org/1f71401gb3nd3k53l98c4803ed6f3eb241fe8.jpg)
http://nh.craigslist.org/hsh/944614896.html (http://nh.craigslist.org/hsh/944614896.html)

$800
(http://images.craigslist.org/1f81241ga3n63k63pd8cl3abaef2ce03e1470.jpg)
http://nh.craigslist.org/hsh/966618031.html (http://nh.craigslist.org/hsh/966618031.html)

$350
(http://images.craigslist.org/1261331433md3oe3l08c6b29e2b8a1ec814ee.jpg)
http://capecod.craigslist.org/for/947146333.html (http://capecod.craigslist.org/for/947146333.html)

Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: Woodswalker on December 27, 2008, 12:04:01 PM
I've heated with wood for decades, with a variety of stoves.  Of those 3, I'd go with the Quadrafire 1900.  I heated with one for 3 winters, and only switched because I wanted one that would also burn coal.  The 1900 has secondary air combustion, and meets EPA standards.  I found it to be a clean-burning, efficient stove.  Only negative was that the glass tended to soot-up fairly quickly.  Easy to clean tho, with windex and paper towel.  Firebricks will degrade with use, especially those on the bottom, but are easily replaced and quite cheap.  I still have the stove, and will be selling it for about that price.  They went for around $1,000, new.
Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: glenn kangiser on December 27, 2008, 12:28:05 PM
Here's a manual for the second, BK

http://www.quadrafire.com/downloads/installManuals/man_1900.pdf

Checking them a bit.  Double walls promote air flow.  Fire bricks increase longevity.  A way to get air under the fire can increase speed of starting but a grate can help with that and leave the door ajar a bit to start.

I also was looking more at the Quadrafire as a bit better.
Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: glenn kangiser on December 27, 2008, 12:36:52 PM
Info on the last one  -Russo  I like it least - thermostat controlled blower- looks hard to get ashes from - doesn't look good for under fire air or outside circulation.  Ceramic rope seals are easily replaced on others and keep them air tight - don't know about this one.

http://www.thestuccocompany.com/maintenance/Russo-Glass-View-wood-Stove-282568-1.htm


All will likely get the glass dirty soon - it requires air flow to keep it clean and these are not made in that manner.  The fire would of course burn faster with the air flow in front of the glass.  Nobody does that anymore - the one I knew who invented the system for the stoves I built went out of business.
Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: Bishopknight on December 27, 2008, 06:06:37 PM
Thanks Glenn and Woodswalker!

With a big purchase, its good to get advice when you've narrowed your search down to what you want.

It seems like in this case, you get what you pay for.
Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: MaineRhino on December 27, 2008, 07:19:47 PM
The Kuma model we purchased has the air flow in front of the glass, and as long as the wood does not touch the glass, it stays somewhat clean.

We started with a Lowe's special, the small Franklin style stove for $150 or so. Very scary to use! Not UL listed either. Just a cruddy, cheaply made wood stove.

Our second was the Jotul "Nordic" model listed at 35,000 BTU for up to 1,000 sq.ft.. I found that # to be VERY optimistic. That was a $1,000 mistake.

Our third, and current stove is the Kuma "Tamarack" model, listed for up to 1,700 sq ft. It was $800 new, and delivered ! ;D Fortunately they had NO idea what they were getting in to! d* We love this stove, and it heats our cabin very nicely.

BK, wanna buy a Jotul woodstove? ::)
Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: CREATIVE1 on December 27, 2008, 11:33:41 PM
Regarding the Jotul stove, I was looking at these and found a blog that said the same thing---they don't put out much heat.  It took about a half hour of sorting through alot of comments to come to any conclusions, but it's all out there if you look. (The Kuma sounded good)
Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: Daddymem on December 28, 2008, 12:30:32 PM
We heat ourselves out of our home sometimes with our Jotul F3 CB rated for 42,000 BTU and 1,300 sf.  We have ~1,400 sf on two stories based on building permit not counting our low eaves.  The stove impressed our parents so much they ripped out their Consolidated Dutchwest and replaced it with the same model and love it.  Our cousins heat a massive original Victorian era house with their larger model Jotul.  That Nordic is made for maximum viewing pleasure and not as much for heating.  It takes a bit getting used to using them, but once you figure it out, they are fantastic.  I grew up on woodstoves and this by far is the best yet, and so small too.
Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: CREATIVE1 on December 28, 2008, 10:20:35 PM
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/807761/

FYI, just one of the stove blogs out there.  This one is positive regarding the Jotul.
Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: considerations on December 29, 2008, 09:26:20 AM
I had a Quadra fire stove in the house in Oregon.  I loved it.
Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: Bishopknight on December 29, 2008, 11:01:43 AM
I've been doing alot of research on this. Checking out the Kuma, the Quadrafire and the Jotuls and I think I'm leaning towards the Jotul F3 CB at the moment. Here are a few on craigslist. Do any of these sound good?

One for $600
(http://images.craigslist.org/3md3pe3o21131321gc8cqb42d56f7da3516ce.jpg)
http://maine.craigslist.org/for/970649935.html

One for $800
(http://images.craigslist.org/3k13pe3o01201431348cq6cc0fef12a0317bb.jpg)
http://worcester.craigslist.org/hsh/961643907.html



Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: Daddymem on December 29, 2008, 12:19:43 PM
I'd think that $600 would have very few "miles" on it if it truly was used at a summer camp.  Closer to you too?
Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: Bishopknight on December 29, 2008, 01:04:54 PM
Yes.

I'm concerned about one thing though. The air inlet is very small on the back of the Jotul 3 F CB. I have a 6" air combustion inlet tube preinstalled into the slab. I'd like the stove to use it. Maybe there is a way to connect to that inlet on the Jotul but it would likely have to be custom made. Anyone know of any accessories that help with that?

(http://www.mygreathome.com/images/fix-it_guide/woodstove.jpg)
Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: glenn kangiser on December 30, 2008, 02:44:15 AM
At the worst, a pair of tin snips, - a piece of tin or aluminum flashing - screws - a drill with screw gun tip- and silicone caulk, but you may find an adapter pre-made.
Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: Bishopknight on December 30, 2008, 10:26:09 AM
Thanks Glenn, good idea!

Sometimes I dont think of the obvious :)
Title: Re: Are these craigslist wood stoves good deals?
Post by: glenn kangiser on December 30, 2008, 12:26:04 PM
I always try to look at things upside down and backwards... 

...and if I can't buy or don't want to spend money for or don't have money for something, can I make it?  Sometimes it's faster and cheaper to just make it. [crz]