Aspen Wood stove

Started by new land owner, September 25, 2012, 05:47:24 PM

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new land owner

I know I have read about a few of you using this stove.

How about some reviews?

I found one on Craigs list for $250.00 and I was wondering how much luck people have had with them?

Thanks

Tom

MountainDon

We have one and we are happy with it. That is a good price; I believe they are $900 for a new one in black. I believe we were the first ones here with one, so love it or hate it I'm responsible.

It burns from front to back. VC states you can use 16" logs, but I find 14" is better. That keeps the front air inlet (from the bottom) more clear of ashes and helps it burn well.   

When starting a fire from cold it helps a lot to heat the upper front edge of the smoke opening with a propane torch. (The smoke path is, from the main burn chamber the smoke travels forward and then up into the upper secondary burn chamber and back towards the chimney connection.) I got around the preheat by installing a fresh air intake kit and adding a small blower on the exterior wall intake. I use pine needles for tinder, then some kindling and then a few small diameter sticks on top of it all. I fire the tinder with a propane torch, close the door and turn on the blower. After 10 minutes I turn the fan off and add some more sticks as by then the tinder and kindling have burned down and there is more room.

I think it is very important to follow the manufacturers chimney length recommendations. There is a maximum length of black pipe and an overall minimum length to get and keep a proper draft. The manual has all the info and can be downloaded from VC.

I've read about some unhappy owners. Some had cracks in both iron and in the firebricks. Personally I think those issues might stem from improper break in.

And use truky dry firewood. This stove and many stoves that meet the latest EPA rules do not like moist wood.

I find hot fires are best. The thermostatic coil controlled air inlet works well, though I've seen some people say it doesn't. I can't understand that as VC has used this same thermo control since the late 70's when we bought our first VC stove.

Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.


new land owner

Don

   Picked it up tonight.  It seems kind of small but my thinking is that I mostly want it at this point to warm the place in the fall and spring, I don't see myself using the camp in the dead of winter for a while. Could not pass it up for the price and looking it over it is in perfect condition as advertised on craigs list.

Tom

MountainDon

Yes, it does look a little small when you see the real thing instead of a picture.  :)   

You might want to consider building a raised platform for it. I wish I had thought of that before I did the tile floor. I spend time on my knees when cleaning and loading the firebox. It might be a little easier if raised.  Food for thought. 
Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.

new land owner

Don

   Great minds..

I am sitting here thinking of the design for a raised platform. I'll send a picture when I build it.

Tom


OlJarhead

I like ours and would LOVE it if I paid $250 for it instead of $1000+ (after taxes).

The only real issues I have are:

1.  When the cabin is about 60 degrees and the outside temp is around 40 degrees I find a 'reverse' draft in the stove when it is completely cold and has been for a while.  I then must work pretty hard to get that draft back in the right direction.  To do that I light 2 or 3 crumpled up newspapers in the back of the stove and leave the door cracked slightly.  In the worst conditions the reversed draft causes a lot of smoke to enter the cabin.

After a lot of smoke I can get it turned around though  d*  I think this is because I have two 90 degree bends in the pipe.

HOWEVER, I never seem to have this problem when it's freezing outside and very cold inside the cabin. 

Once the draft is going correctly and the stove is warm I never have trouble.

2.  You MUST clean the air inlet in the front of the stove quite often.  If it gets ash in it then it chokes the stove and it's hard to maintain a good burn.

I second Don's comment about dry wood!  I burn a lot of pine (which isn't the best by far but it's what I've had) and if it's VERY dry then it's just fine to burn but try something poorly seasoned and it's bear!

I also found 14" logs better -- also split vs. round seems better.

To light I first put 2-3 news papers crumpled up in the back of the stove and then light them and allow the draft to get going.  It's called 'priming the stove'.  Then I put 2-3 crumpled up newspapers towards the front of the stove and cross stack pine kindling on top of them and light.  When the kindling starts to really go I put in larger pieces until all I'm burning is logs :)

Pretty easy and even with pine the stove can warm our not fully insulated cabin to 70+ degrees in the dead of winter when it's below zero outside :)