Comparing the Ideal Steel to Progress Hybrid

I was talking with Jamie today at Woodstock,, I had mentioned how incredibly just the ash is deposited in the ash pan... Then talked about the slots at an angle... That was done so a hoe would not catch the slots if they were parallel to the hoe as you rake straight across the grate... So now I'm thinking maybe the hoe floating over the angled holes does catch on any coals squarely with the slots , thus the coals just roll along and are not broken up... We also agreed that if you had a gasket leak on the ash door you would know right away... The whole ash pan is very well built... You'll be happy happy

 

Yup that's me Ray! I was the crazy guy at the WS pig roast loading stoves with firewood to see how many splits more splits fit in the Progress than the Fireview!

You might also remember me as the crazy guy who tried to re-split a Dennis split by hand with a sledge hammer and wedge.

 

My Beta Ideal Steel does not have an OAK hook up but I suspect on the production units it would be an option.

 

Looking at the Progress outside air kit it looks to span across the whole intake.. That would then supply air to the primary and secondary draft... Takes a 5 inch pipe but can be reduced to 4 inch with an adapter, reading on line at Woodstock's accessory section.

 

Excellent info Charlie on the angled slots. That makes sense.

Jamie has helped me out a few times, too.

 

Next time I'm bringing a sharper wedge and bigger sledge!

 

Woodstock looks at all the details when they design something.. I deal with Jamie quite a bit... I feel we have become very good open friends...

 

How thick is the steel on the IS? And how heavy is that beast?

I know there is some soapstone panels on those leg thingys but is there some in the fire box as well? Anyone have a clean pic of the fire box?

 

I haven't measured the thickness of the steel but I know my stove weighs 650lbs. Firebox is completely lined with soapstone and the legs have a soapstone panel behind the round design cut out.

 

Using a metal ruler (crude), 1/4" on some parts like hinges, 3/16 for the top.

 

That certainly qualifies as a clean firebox...

 

Thanks guys, that firebox looks like it could fit my little stove inside!

Are those fire box stones removable? It would be nice to remove some of that weight while moving the stove around.

 

Its not quite that clean now...

 

As someone that moves stoves by himself, I'm interested in this info.

 

I don't know the answer to that but it didn't look like they were easily removable when I installed the stove.

 

That's a nice looking, big, square box, looks like you can get a good load of wood in there. I didn't realize there was soapstone inside but since it's Woodstock it makes sense.