Stoves from Tractor Supply???

A buddy is looking into getting a stove. Came to me for advice...but I burn a Fisher Baby Bear and love it...I am very out of date on stoves.

He is looking to not spend a lot of money and hasn't found anything in the Secondary Market. He's been looking at TSC stoves....they seem to have names like Grand Teton, Cleveland Iron Works, US Stove and Pleasant Hearth. All of these seem to be in the $500 to $900 range.

Are these stoves worth buying? I have heard mixed reviews about them.

I know he's looking for a Non Cat stove, glass in the door to see the fire, simple to use stove that is in the $700-$900 range. To heat about 1,200-1,400 sq ft.

No idea what to tell him. TSC has some good prices...but we all know a good price for something that doesn't work is no bargin.

The used stoves on Market Place and CL have been okay at best, kind of used hard, and people want top dollar.

He wants to stick with something newer or just plain new and budget is an issue.

Yeah, I know wrong time of the year to be buying a stove...but gotta start somewhere.

Thanks for any advice.

There May OR May Not be free steaks for folks that respond to this post...

 

Thanks for the TSC stoves 'works pretty ok'.

He's ready with enough wood to get him through the coldest part of winter and he's putting the 'new' stove where there was one, just needs some stove pipe...he did have the chimney cleaned and inspected...so he's good to go...just needs to find the stove. I know a lot of people need the stove, hearth, chimney, wood and think it's going to happen next week....wood burnin' takes a little planning and he's further ahead than most of the bears in the woods.

 

I’d pass on those stoves and look into the Drolet line. I think they are the best bang for you buck stove out there. Made in Canada not China!

 

Personally, I am looking for a Jotul Black Bear with a glass door...just been surprised at the prices $$$

 

US stove has had some "ok" stuff, nothing great...but also some HUGE turds! I would't go out of my way for any of them...and make sure that he doesn't buy a fixed rate stove...some of those cheap ones have NO air control...thats how they passed the EPA test, burn it fast n hot (they cheaped out in RnD basically)
I second the Drolet line...decent quality n price...also good Canadian factory support (at least built on the same continent!) whereas the china made stoves usually dont!
I like these guys...basically the factory store for Drolet and brother/sister brands (which includes Englander now too)
MFP - The Online Stove and Fireplace Store

 

If he does get a US stove one after all (life can force people to make choices like that), make sure he doesn't push the stove hard, as that'll surely decrease its lifetime a lot.

So get one that is big enough (or not so small that it needs to be pushed.)

 

Stay away from us stove/ vogelsang
I bought the 3000sqft model for 1500$
This is a secondary tube stove.
In factory form these stoves have so much unmetered air that even small fires would run away.
Even with a damper in my stovepipe I literally was starting to melt the stove top
My temp gun maxes out at 999 and gun was pegged.
Long story short I have deleted/ welded/ plugged all secondary burn functions so now I have a smoke dragon with a glass door.
Stoves are a buy once cry once purchase in my opinion.
My next stove will be a high end brand

 

A lot depends on the height of the flue as well.

 

This Century is on sale, and a lot of stove for the money...I forgot to mention before, they have free shipping on orders over $100 too.
CB00021

 

We have a Century bought in 2004 for $600. Replaced the bricks once and the door glass (which was totally my fault) once. We wear shorts and tshirts inside our 1300 sq ft house all winter. We use roughly 2 cords of wood and 25 gallons of HHO.

 

Which model do you have?

 

S274E
Not a current model. Supposed to heat up to 1500 sq ft. Takes up to 22 inch logs. It came from a local dealer.

 

Wonder Wood from TSC for the garage held up good. Don't be afraid of second hand. Recently acquired a Fisher Momma Bear for Free. I don't think it was ever used. Had to move it myself, what a job. Stove was dirty and had a mouse nest in it, but wasn't occupied.

 

I have had a Century FW3000 for 4 -5 years now heating a 1300 sq. ft home. I replaced the firebricks this year & have had to replace the vermiculite baffle twice. The broken baffle is from being to rammy loading the stove.

My dealings with customer service has been great.

 

MY baffle is not removable. It has a couple dents in it, but the stove still functions fine.