Production Woodstock IS

I load N/S too, and sometimes I rely on the andirons when my N/S splits are short, I will stack a few small pieces just behind the andirons in order to use all the firebox space. Other than that reason I find they are cool to look at and they do get in the way.

 

We put a warp into our first beta andirons. Not as much as in your photo, but a warp. They came back with a new design on thicker steel. I assume the primary air coming down onto coals against the andiron is the issue (thinking of the blacksmith shop).

 

I don't think they are anywhere near caught up on soapstone stoves. Not sure about the ISs. I have been getting the run around every time I call recently. Been promised 4 different ship dates and now all have fallen through. Very Very frustrating at this point because i am trying to coordinate the delivery with movers and the sale of my old wood stove. Every time i call i get a different story. I always heard praises here and elsewhere about how great their customer service is, and i know they are behind, but this is just about the opposite of great customer service in my opinion.

They shouldnt be telling people their stove will 100% for sure ship on X date if they really have no clue, especially four times. Promised 1/2, then 1/6, then 1/7, and was guranteed for certain, no doubt about it that my stove was built on 1/7 and would be shipped out per my new requested date of 1/12. Called today to make sure all was still good to go, and was told it wasn't built and that it wouldnt be shipping on the 12th., and that they would "try" to let me know a firm date when they can.

 

I feel for you TheRambler , there are a few of us here that either had an IS or one of the cast stoves being built just as the heating season began or patially into it. On my visit to Woodstock this past October, Lorin advised myself and Hollywood of the issues with the cast manufacturers overseas and of the IS orders and some of the logistical stuff associated with both the steel and cast stoves. It was one thing making this year the first production year for the IS but to have to find another caster for all the cast iron stoves was alot to handle in one year. Be patient, these stoves are worth the wait. I can tell in your writing your frustrated, hang tight, it's almost there.

 

For the last couple of weeks, while it has been colder here, I have been loading E/W with the andirons in place. It seems that the stove holds more splits that way given the taper at the back of the stove. I am kinda' surprised you guys are loading N/S but especially surprised you load that way and use the andirons at the same time; when I was loading N/S, I found the andirons to be in the way with a lot of splits (my wood seems to be cut to 17" but some splits are either a tad longer or the ends are not square so the andiron space is really needed for wood).

Comparing notes on this stove, especially with you folks in southern New England, makes me want us all to get together, with out stoves and our own firewood, and race 'em. I mean after all, that is what we would do if we all bought new horses, right?

Brian

 

I'm back to 16" splits and I find running two splits E/W at the rear floor of the stove after raking the coals forward gets me a full row of N/S splits, packed in tight. After that I use smaller splits to fill the angle going E/W again ontop of the N/S row. Lastly, I take narrow medium sized splits and load them right behind the andirons to the top of the box angled backwards. Sometimes it's like building with puzzle pieces.

 

Yeah, the shorter splits could make all the difference in how the stove loads. Loading E/W, up against the right side of the firebox, I usually have a little room to sneak a few splits N/S in the gap left on the left side but it really does not amount to much wood.

Brian

 

Hi Ho Silver away!

 

Have you been talking to more than one person at WS? It shouldn't make a difference who you talk to but sometimes it is necessary to eliminate as much human error as possible. Pick one person and that's you contact. I delt exclusively with lorin.

 

I have not been dealing with just one person, though that is a good idea and will do so going forward.

 

I highly reccomended lorin day. When you talk to her let her know what has happened sure she get it squared away.

 

I wish I could actually see one of these stoves in person, but bet I would have to drive 500 miles or more to do it.
If any one of you are anywhere close to S/W Kansas and wouldn't mind letting me look at your stove, please PM me.
Thanks

 

Just a thought but perhaps a call to Woodstock asking if there are any owners near you might be useful. Of course they would not give out the personal information of stove purchasers but if there was someone fairly close, Woodstock could give them a call and see if they would be willing to talk with you or better yet, show you the stove. I did this years ago with an AHS wood boiler and found one already installed about 20 miles from where I live.

Brian

 

Great idea. Woodstock emailed us once to ask if we would be interested in speaking to a particular person with a situation similar to ours. My wife said yes, and I think she eventually got a phone call and had a pleasant conversation with an older woman.

Years ago we were looking at the Tarm boilers. The company gave us contact info and we did go see one setup in operation nearby. Very nice to see one running and speak to owners in a casual setting.

 

I'm sure if you wanted to ask a user some questions any of us would probably be OK with it. Just message and ask.

 

Agreed but the poster specifically mentioned seeing a Woodstock stove in his local area.

By the way, I just got back from the only fairly large, local 'stove store' and I gotta' say, a lot of those steel stoves are downright fugly. I would be very disappointed if I spent $3K or better only to open the crate and find one of 'those'. I will not mention any names, and some of them are very well known, very well thought of (including myself) stoves, they are just really unattractive. Sure we can all argue as to whether or not an I.S. is beautiful but surely it is not the eyesore in anyone's living room IMO. In fact, nothing in the Woodstock line is, again in my opinion. But as it pertains to this question, I do not blame anyone in the least for actually wanting to see something before he / she spends a lot of money on it and ever worse I think, has to stick it in the house for years or decades to come.

Brian

 

In hindsight, there is no way I should have described my experience as a "run away" stove. I never disengaged the cat. Duh! Also, since reading all the excellent information in this thread about the "sixth gear" on the IS, and with the cold temps in the last few days, I've burned with new confidence. With a nice load of well cured locust and oak I had the stove top up at 600* with the front at 750*. I continue to be amazed by the efficiency and responsiveness of the IS.

 

Took out the cat to clean it today. It had a little bit of fly ash on the bottom but was pretty clean. We have had to run her really hard the past couple of weeks. Today was the first day over 20 F, so I let it burn down a while and cleaned it. I had some of the same paint bubbles on the bottom of the radiator and a little bit of paint blistering on the top of it, but that is to be expected. So far, so good.

 

I found my coal bed to be getting tall again. Because of it I'm unable to fit an entire row of splits that I would normally lay on the firebox floor. If this is the only downside I can live with it.