New stove company: Gray Stove Works' & their Mini 12 CT stove

Any news on when you are going to get a UL?

 

Hello Everyone. I'm Lloyd from Gray Stove Works. I came up with the MINI 12 stove and am building them. A lot of people love it and want one. We have sold around 50 stoves. I think more would buy if they weren't so confused about the EPA and waiver thing. The waiver is kind of standard verbage for a liability release, but I don't think there is a standard for non-certified stoves. My sales guy came up with it and I'm going to change it.
I'll share more about that topic later if you guys are interested.
It's been quite a journey developing and building this stove. I joined firewood hoarders club because I'm seeking opinions and advice from you wood-burning guru's as I proceed with this American dream/nightmare.
Let me give you a short rundown of whats happening.
I'm busting my tail going in debt trying to build a unique product that people want. There are only two of us steel fabricators building them in an old casket factory. We have a lot of happy customers and fans on FB. We want to keep all parts and labor in the U.S. and develop a line of American made products.
We spent months testing the MINI 12 in the shop before making 2 very expensive attempts at passing EPA emissions testing. Now I know why there are few or no secondary stoves this small on the market. The test was designed for larger fireboxes and no stove this small can pass. (wish I would have taken a course in thermal dynamics)
As far as safety, the MINI 12 is built like a tank. The window glass is mounted with a full backing plate and is 5mm thick pyroceramic and all welds have to be up to AWS standards. (I was a welding instructor for 4 years) But, without EPA's blessing first, UL listing is useless.
So, here we are, building MINI 12s by hand and having to market them as a novelty, requiring customers to sign a scary waiver to get one.
Not the ideal situation for sure. I have to spend a great deal of time educating people about clean-burning combustion and explaining the non-EPA thing. Thankfully, most of my customers know that this is a great little stove and don't need the government to tell them it burns clean and is safe.
We have other projects in the works, but they're not going to get done if we don't make sales to survive. So that's my story. We're just hard-working, paycheck to paycheck living, not getting ahead-but trying to stay afloat kind of people. We grew up believing in free enterprise and self reliance and that knowing how to sustain yourself with a wood or coal fire was never an option, but a necessity. For more on this story, check us out on FB. I do a blog page on the FB too.
The MINI takes 9" splits and will take about 2 kg of hardwood. The website will be down for a couple weeks. A new one is being built.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post. I'm looking forward to your replies.
-Lloyd

 

Yes, the thimble would work. Short run up chimney won't. You would have to run all the way up the chimney thru a barrier to ensure good draft.

 

Not for the MINI. An exempt MINI with Oven cook stove is in the works.

 

That's a really exciting idea Lloyd. Post pics of the oven cook stove concept as soon as you're able.

Thanks for the updates.

 

That's a shame.

I would order one today for my upstairs, but even though my insurance company is oblivious about clearances and all that the first thing they ask for is a UL number. I don't think there is anyway to get around this, but they would not allow it on my policy.

 

Prices and promotions should be left off the Forum floor, so if you could PM pricing, options, etc. Unless that's all available on your FB page? I am very interested.[/quote]

Prices are on his web page, but I'm guessing it is down at this time.

 

UL testing is performed at an accredited lab. For wood stoves its pretty straightforward. The pick it off the ground 1 inch and drop it 10 times. Then they try to push it over to see if top heavy and a tip over hazard. Then, they take a 2" diameter steel ball on a string (i forget the length of the string), pull it back 45 degrees and smack the glass in the center to see if it breaks.
If I find that I can just get the UL for the MINI and more people would buy because of it, I would do it. The waiver, when I re-write it, will just be an acknowledgement that the stove has not been approved for indoor use by any agency and that the buyer assumes all responsibility for its use and installation. It's C.Y.A. in case of a fire because of lack of maintenance (clean chimney) or unsafe install.

 

We use chunks of hardwood from a pallet factory. Our favorite it about 4x6x9 inch piece of red oak on top of 1 inch coalbed - we typically get 2-3 hrs from just one piece.

 

Prices are on his web page, but I'm guessing it is down at this time.[/quote]
Yes, the website ownership is changing hands and being rebuilt this week. I will post a paragraph on the facebook/GrayStoveWorks page for you guys.

 

Just put a video of MINI 12 on youtube last night. Any thoughts? I also have your Video channel on Roku. Any chance I can put a video up?

 

Hi Lloyd, I would be glad to add your video to FHC-TV. I would be willing to be that Pete will add it to the YouTube channel as well. Thanks BrianK for cluing me in on this.

 

Get a UL number and I will buy one! Otherwise it is just a cool stove to watch on YouTube.

 

Amazingly enough, the MINI performs equally as well with many different chimney configurations. We've done 3" to 6", 3" to 4" to 6", thru ceiling, thru wall with 45s and 90s.