Finding the right size stove

Q · December 26, 2008, 10:25:19 PM

I'm sure I'm not the first person to ask, but I know nothin about wood stoves and what makes one different form another. I'm also new to building so it's mostly new to me.

Ok, so to get down to it I'm working on a small cabin roughly 8'*8' with a small (very small loft). Givin the small size I've had to come up with some ideas on making stuff work and I've got most of that stuff figgured out. I've already started building so there not much tuning back on size, I'm one person though I can fit

The stove is one of the things I haven't figgured out yet, it nees to do some basic cooking (very basic) and heat the cabin. I don't have a lot to spend on a stove so the ones at the local salvager's are out of the question as the all cost a fair bit.

The stove has to be able to heat the 8'*8' fully insulated cabin. I have to stress that the temperature can often plumit to -40C here (that inculdes wind chill).

So far I've found this stove. The stoves in my price range and looks good, but I don't want to be cool.

So what do you guys think, go with that stove I posted the link of or go somewhat bigger?

ED: repaired link - MD

glenn kangiser · December 26, 2008, 10:46:06 PM

Connor. Talking about this on another thread, I found this-- Seems it should heat a small cabin OK. You would have to put up safety shields as necessary.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=163075

A little larger I think w/ a cooktop.

December 26, 2008, 11:06:44 PM

Glenn beat me in because I was being too verbose.

Number one question from me. Do you know what the listed clearances from combustibles are? Perhaps there are none. There wouldn't be unless the stove was designed for in home use and was a "listed" item. It would be useful to know what the manufacturer deems proper clearance to be. I stress fire safety, even all the more if you are located in a remote area. Nothing worse than an overly hot stove causing a fire when it's -40 degrees. That could quickly turn into a serious survival situation if you escaped the fire.

I see heating a structure as small as 8x8 to be a bigger problem that heating a larger structure. In part because the stove takes up a proportionately larger percentage of the floor space. And partly because there are not very many stoves made that are suitable. Another part of the problem I see, is being able to carry a fire long enough to be useful (Personally I dislike having my sleep interrupted to stoke the stove.). In a similar vein there are many times a small fire with quickly overheat a very small cabin.

If it gets down to -40 at times, you might be better suited with at least a 10 x 10 size with either 2x6 wall framing, or a double offset 2x4 framing. Just a thought. Of course, if you did not insulate really well, the stove would not likely overheat you, but you'd be cutting a lot more wood than necessary.

The other big thought from me. Will this cabin be tied to the electrical grid at all? Access to propane or other fuel, other than wood.

Back to the stove. The info states a removal grate for ash cleaning. I prefer a stove that has an ash pan under the grate so I can empty the ashes while maintaining a good bed of coals and/or a good fire. But you are not going to find that in a low priced stove.

There is another topic centering around heating an 8x8 cabin. There are some links to other stoves there. You could also do a Google for tent or hunting or outfitter stoves. There are dozens of small tent stoves out there, none approved for cabin use, but...

I spent over a year trying to find the best stove for our planned 14x24 cabin, which grew to 15.75x30 in the end. In the end I did not find anything cheap that would do the job. Plus I found very few, less than a handful, of well made stoves suitable for a a cabin of less than 500 sq ft. We spent close to $800 for the VC Aspen. It is about the same size internally, as the one on your link. It has fire brick inside that helps hold heat. It requires 24 " to combustibles on the sides, 13" at the rear. It's also higher off the floor and has a heat shield underneath. W/O the heat shield it must sit on only a bare concrete slab or bare mineral earth.

I hope this long winded thing helps a little.

Redoverfarm · December 26, 2008, 11:10:10 PM

Conner

Yea Glenn Sportmans Guide.

I have no idea about the cost but these were made for small spaces.

http://marinestove.com/

The main concern would be that it is fairly air tight. None are 100% but some better than others. Without it a small stove will deplete the small amount of wood in a firebox overnight. Read BK's story of his small cabin and how a propane heater failed to keep him warm this year in Maine. I would probably opt for a little larger and just not fire it at it's complete capacity. Probably something in the 15-20,000 BTU range. A little warm all night will beat alot gone in an hour or so.

MountainDon · December 26, 2008, 11:14:23 PM

Most of those cost double and more than the Aspen we bought.

Small niche market.

December 27, 2008, 01:31:03 AM

I have had so many good things reasonably priced from the Sportsman's Guide, John, I think I am addicted. Boots - pants- bullets-machete- I could be a poster boy for them...

Redoverfarm · December 27, 2008, 08:16:16 AM

A lot of my Xmas presents were from them. Covered everyone except the little one. Good namebrands but by the time I get the catalog the sizes are gone. Even on the net postings same thing. I am like you in that they send me letters of thanks addressed to me personally

Jens · December 27, 2008, 08:27:15 AM

"I am like you in that they send me letters of thanks addressed to me personally"

Its amazing the things computers are capable of today, isn't it.

Woodswalker · December 27, 2008, 12:17:23 PM

I grew up in Minnesota, and did a lot of ice fishing in a fish-house about the size of your cabin. I think the stove you've posted the link for would be fine. We used very similar sized ones then, and kept warm in -20F temps. The structures weren't really insulated either. That small will not hold a fire very long though, so you'll have to feed it often. I'd use the little loft for storage and sleep closer to the floor. You'll cook trying to sleep in a loft with a wood stove in such a small structure. Means you need wool blankets, and a down sleeping bag or comforter to sleep well. I've seen small stoves like that one, intended for mountain hunting tents, go for $60-$80 on ebay, which might be another source.

glenn kangiser · December 27, 2008, 12:44:26 PM

Quote from: Redoverfarm on December 27, 2008, 08:16:16 AM
A lot of my Xmas presents were from them. Covered everyone except the little one. Good namebrands but by the time I get the catalog the sizes are gone. Even on the net postings same thing. I am like you in that they send me letters of thanks addressed to me personally

I guess they buy a lot of overstock etc. The discount coupons take care of a lot of the shipping. I just order online and forget the stuff they try to backorder. You are right about the fast stock changes.