What’s Going On with Woodstock Soapstone?

Lately I’ve been hearing some rumblings about customer service and out of stock cats. I’ve always had great service from them but this cat issue has been going on for a couple seasons now and you’d think they would have it solved by now? Also noticed almost all their stoves are sold out for 2025.

I know they are dealing with tariffs and waiting on EPA certs which probably have a big effect on a small company. There were rumors of possible layoffs as well. I hope they get things together soon.

 

Hmm...yeah, not good.

 

I was not aware of their issues but was there yesterday to buy a new CAT for my AS and they said they just got 200 in BUT have they have only one guy to weld the flanges on (AS, IS, and FW have different setups).

My guess it is a mix of tariffs and the housing shortage in the Upper Valley of VT/NH. Plus, shop help is just hard to find, if you are a good welder it pays a lot better to work in field.

 

Woodstock has all the excuses. Hey, I have an idea. Pull a couple three guys and get the tabs on them asap so the customers that have been waiting months for them can finally make their stove run properly. If Woodstock doesn't pull their heads out of their collective arses, what was a good company is going to go down the toilet like a bad taco.

How much ya wanna bet that after the fill their oldest backorders of cats that they don't have any left for inventory...

I want to love that company, but they lost me as a customer and couldn't provide the stove I wanted so I went and bought a different brand. Too bad. I wonder how much money they've lost this year because of their poor management and issues with the fed shutdown and EPA retesting...

 

New Hampshire stove manufacturer hurt by tariffs, end of tax breaks

Some more info.

 

I hope they considered ordering those cats with flanges preinstalled. They obviously don't have the capacity to do it in house and run the risk of earning a reputation if they keep this up. Even farming that processing step out to a third party in a more business friendly state would get it done and provide needed parts. Is there some reason that aftermarket retailers like midwest hearth can't supply the wear parts like catalysts? I sure as heck don't go to BK for BK cats. Or Ford for oil filters for my Ford, if they even waste time making them.

On edit, midwest doesn't have any woodstock cats. Is this some sort of deal where Woodstock refuses to allow somebody else make their cats but then can't deliver?

 

I ordered 2 cats; I like to have a spare called in July told of back order and to call again 8/15 ordered on 8/17 and they arrived.. Lauren as always was great.

Changing tariffs were a challenge for pricing, as chemicals, soapstone, and materials are imported.

labor in this area is hard a lot of youth go south as more $, cheaper housing and it’s more expensive if you need snow tires, heat, boots etc etc

 

Holy [email protected] though my Ideal Steel Cat is on its second season I went to order another just in case. Out of stock.

 

FireCat Combustors says on their web site that they can make custom cats. I'll give them a call this week and see what the deal is. Perhaps Woodstock should farm out cat manufacturing to FireCat as Firecat makes combustors for multiple stove manufacturers.

 

Was going to say not sure of patents etc but sounds like an opportunity for someone.

 

I called before Xmas and apparently they have not started welding the flanges on because the welder is working on stoves. I think they must be very short on welders.

luckily I Work from home now so I can fiddle with the air but it’s getting frustrating. I don’t think I am using more wood as I am in the two fires a day cycle and since it’s a hybrid use the secondaries. Most frustrating part besides messing with the air is burning down too much coals ( used to have the opposite problem).

I hope they get this resolved before shoulder season. Not sure why they can’t farm out cat manufacturing if they are short welders.

 

Agree. And it brings to mind that the cat sled could be modified to accept a generic cat instead of Woodstock having to weld the retaining plate on cats they are already buying from a third party.

 

Do they make steel cats? They may be able to make the cat but what about the frame to hold it? The Fireview and Keystone/Palladian used to have a two piece cast iron frame for the ceramic cats, now they are a steel canned cat that doesn’t jive with the old cast frame. The new hybrids are also steel canned so I don’t think there is any way to install a ceramic cat?

 

I mean if I needed a cat that bad and didn’t have one as backup; depending on where ya live get parts weld it yourself and grind it to fit..

If Deglobalization is real you guys are going to have to have a touch more patience.

My brother has been waiting 3 months for a 2022 F-350 chip module and now 4 more weeks until only ford certified mechanic in state to repair it..
Is he happy.. NO What will be; will be

 

Good points!

We are reading the little house on the prairie series as a family and I am happy be able to turn on our other hear source rather than resort to burning tied together straw to keep warm because the train with the coal and stove parts got snowed in and won’t be here until March

First world problems

 

Firecat makes stainless combustors.

Woodstove Hearth Products | Applied Ceramics The 1st and 3rd cats on that page look remarkably similar to the construction of the Ideal Steel cat.

 

I am not trying to be a Jerk; everyone that picks a stove or any large dollar purchases makes best decision they can.. Parts, materials, Govt rebates, labor etc etc changing can challenge businesses quickly. I know Cats are a consumable item that is a weak link in this stove.. It also allows me to heat my home with 4 cord vs 8 plus cords in others. Why I bought 2 in August

 

Better send the Wilder boys to get more grain from the miser outside of town…

but yes, the cat issue is yet another reason why my frustration towards stringent EPA standards hurts common folk trying to be independent. My three stoves are all burn tubes… and the wear items on all three can be fabricated relatively easily in a local shop or my own barn.

 

Post a pic of one of your dead cats (assuming you have one?) with all dimensions listed. Curious