In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

I just pulled the trigger on a new stove.

Discussion in 'Modern EPA Stoves and Fireplaces' started by Sean in the woods, Sep 4, 2020.

  1. Highbeam

    Highbeam

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    Sure looks like what they’re now calling a hybrid design. A regular noncat stove with primary air, secondary air at the roof, and then a cat to clean up emissions. A cat stove doesn’t need any secondary air. Mine has no air holes anywhere, all air comes in through the air wash at the window.

    Nothing wrong with a hybrid design. Some are quite capable of low burn rates which is the most important in my application of keeping a home warm.
     
  2. Hoytman

    Hoytman

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    Your air wash air is preheated though right? Through the primary air tubes from the back of the stove and across the top of the stove and across the window? Most stoves primary air isn’t preheated...well never mind...I’m thinking pre-epa stoves. These new ones might be.
     
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  3. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Can't be heated too much, its the coolness of that curtain of air that makes it fall across the back of the door glass and roll into the base of the fire...
     
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  4. Highbeam

    Highbeam

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    Yes, all primary and secondary air systems on any modern stove I've ever seen were preheated to some extent. Even the doghouse air on the NC30 travels much farther than necessary to pick up some heat before shooting into the coals. The BK design makes an extra effort to provide a significant amount of heat exchanger exposure to the firebox for preheating but is still a bit cooler than firebox temperatures when it cascades down the stove glass.

    I don't know what's up above this Jotul's baffle but that baffle is a perforated stainless plate which is definitely better than the common fiber designs. Way more durable.
     
  5. Hoytman

    Hoytman

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    Don’t the PE’s and and least one model of Woodstock stoves have a Stainless baffle as well?

    I like the Jotul designed baffle, and I’ve seen a lot of good reviews on the PE baffles, but I’ve also seen a bunch of pictures of terribly warped PE baffles.

    Those bends in the Jotul baffle should add tremendous strength and resistance to warping.
     
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  6. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Yup...I wouldn't have one.
     
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  7. Hoytman

    Hoytman

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    Really?
    I like the stoves, and I here a lot of good things about the T5 and T6 stoves as well as the S27 and Classic which I hate the looks of. Reminds of old circulator stoves.

    I’m just scared of the baffles even though they supposed to be super easy to replace. I’m not that impressed with Regency stoves either though I’m sure some love them.
     
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  8. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    What's that baffle cost? Probably not cheap...if I'm going to spend hundreds of dollars every few years on a rebuild, I'd rather go cat stove...
     
  9. Hoytman

    Hoytman

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    Not that I’m not looking for a nice used CAT stove to try, because I am, but your question is exactly what prompted me to buy used Lopi Liberty tube stove to try. It has bricks in the top ...until the 2020 stoves came out ...now has insulating blanket and maybe a board baffle too. Not sure about the board baffle, but I think it has that as well.

    I don’t want to spend enough money in 5-10 buying parts that might add up to a new stove in that time. I’m sorry, just doesn’t make good sense to me...not when older stoves were built like tanks. Easy enough to find one and modify to a tube stove. Adding a CAT might not present too much trouble in the right old stove. Easier just to buy a modern used one though. Figure out what you like, tubes or CAT, then buy new.
     
  10. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    That's different...it has actual firebricks? Most tube stoves just have a ceramic insulation baffle board...or some flavor thereof...and some have a board with a blanket on top too. Generally those baffle boards can be replaced DIY using aftermarket ceramic board material for $50-100...and unless you beat 'em up loading firewood like a cowboy, they last a long time...I've only ever had one break, and it was 5-6 years old.
     
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  11. Hoytman

    Hoytman

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    Yep!!
    I found an older one in great shape.
    Note the metal thicknesses and the way the door is built.


    Here’s the new version.
     
  12. Hoytman

    Hoytman

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    I like the fact that I can get convection air without a blower. I got lucky and go one with a blower that works. Oh...4” back wall clearance as well.
     
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  13. Hoytman

    Hoytman

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    Back to the Jotul...
    I’m hearing lots of good things about their enamel paint as well as how well the older stoves work and are made. I look forward to seeing reviews on their new stoves. Burn times will be interesting to see how much they increase with the new CAT.
     
  14. Sean in the woods

    Sean in the woods

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    I’ll let you know how it goes as I learn it.

    I’m hoping that I will have enough control over the air to reliably keep the cat going and the wood burning minimally so I can reliably find the sweet spot for the longest burn.
     
  15. Hoytman

    Hoytman

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    As long as they’ve been in business I’d say they know a thing or three about making them.
     
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  16. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    My buddy used to work for a well known local multi-line stove dealer and he seemed to like Jotul's pretty well...of course he had been to enough of their seminars that I'm sure they slipped him some koolaid at some point :rofl: :lol:
     
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  17. Sean in the woods

    Sean in the woods

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    Mmmmm koolaid... pretty colors...
     
  18. Dumf

    Dumf Banned

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    Let's get the facts, just the facts from the source. Chris ?
    BKVP will enlighten us about where "secondary air" (if any) comes from in the BK stoves.
    The VC cats had a thermostatic flap for added secondary air for their cat.
     
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  19. BDF

    BDF

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    Depending on the stoves' ability to throttle the primary air intakes, the cat. may need more oxygen to perform any combustion on the smoke coming from the firebox. When a cat. stove is throttled way down there is not enough primary air to even allow correct combustion, never mind leaving an oxygen- rich atmosphere for the cat. while the fuel smolders.

    I am not saying all cat. based stoves have secondary air but I thought that was the case. Hopefully someone from BK will chime in on this....

    Brian

     
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  20. Highbeam

    Highbeam

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    While we wait for bkvp....

    No secondary air for the cat on the princess, or any other modern bk that I’m aware of. These aren’t hybrids. There were some bk designs decades ago that did add secondary air.
     
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