With the cold and wind we have in the forecast, it is hardly the right time to be letting the big stove cool down, let alone the time to be dealing with new paint smell. But I do have the rest of the week off from work, so tonight it will be a smaller load than normal, with plans for a cool stove by mid morning. We'll try to get some pictures along the way.
The PH is being swapped out. I'll have photos up tomorrow of the new stove arriving and being installed. I should tip my hat to BrowningBAR, who was the first to point me in the direction of the PH, just over two years ago. The PH is currently on its 14th or 15th cord, and continues to be a wonderful stove. This really is a two-stove house, but only one flue is lined, so the PH will go sit on a cold hearth. We hope to line the other flue next summer, and then the PH will return to the kitchen to be both pretty and a BTU workhorse. The other flue will need a long, slow burner, like BrowningBAR is questing for. Calling for 13 degrees tonight, and a high of 20 tomorrow. Six cords of 20" Red Maple, Ash, and Cherry, CSS in early 2012, waiting to be burned.
Yes - I've been wanting to start this for several days because I'm quite excited, but thought dragging it out more than half a day would too self-indulgent.
I was biting my tongue when I replied with a straight answer . {edit} But my wife did surprise me by suggesting going this route, and then making it happen.
This was the PH's first fire. The hearth is a sad mix of other people's low-budget fixes and "enhancements" over the years (flagstone, original stone lintel replaced with brick (non-matching brick), barn beam framing, etc.). We can use a top-vent stove because we connected the liner to a pre-existing connector, just above the top of the photo, where the previous owner had a cook stove connected. But the new stove will be like our PH, rear-venting.
7+ cords a year and a two stove house.....You've got to be going to a bigger stove. The King would be my first guess but I think its top vent. Kuma is also top vent. I'm going with Ideal Steel in a rear vent configuration. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner?
Vote BK.... and that's a wonderful hearth... just needs some minor attention but has major potential, I love it!
I like that the hearth is from the era of working fireplaces. Hearth is even with the floor, big box and plenty of workspace. Very inviting for a post and beam