Got some good news yesterday

Glens was there and open last June when I was staying there. I used to take 131 to M55 to 127 then run that to 75 when going north. I was working in Vanderbilt early last summer (and staying in Gaylord) and decided to take 131 to Alba Rd, to M32 to Gaylord for something different. Great way to go on a non holiday weekend, not so good on a holiday weekend.

 

From here, I like going 32 to McCoy. Tons less traffic.
I didn't move up here to get stuck in traffic jams.

 

Head farther North.
Less traffic

 

I thought I did that already.
I don't go there except to do some grocery shopping or TSC.
Did it today....just got home. Ignore the crowds and just do what I need to do.
Had a nice conversation with a woman who was originally from Minnesota.
She was over 90 and sharp as a tack..or a new saw chain.

 

Same here, I don't enjoy trip to Anchorage.
Even Wasilla is a lot of traffic now. Even have several red lights.
Liked it before the traffic lights & traffic
but it is nice to have some of the conveniences & not have to go to Anchorage for everything.
Glad I can pick travel times off the peak from the to & from drivers.

 

I bought this princess sight unseen. Just looked at a lot of pics online.
I'm not saying it was smart, just saying I wanted long burn times real bad.
It could have looked like a trash can with a door for all I cared.

(Door opening for bashing the look of BK's)

 

So, is this happening? Is Dave getting a new stove this spring/summer?

 

Well.........gonna do the taxes soon, and then we'll see what it ends up being.
Toss up between the NC30 and the Sirocco 30. Big price spread.
The battle of the 30s.
Now, all that said, if we end up owing the tax man (doubtful, but I'm not counting chickens yet), it won't happen yet.
I would seriously like to see the BK stoves in person........this place says they'll have a few by April.

 

Yeah, but when everyone's wheels start freezing to the ground, things get congested.

Yes....yes, he is. Cutting all that extra firewood is gettin' old, and the money he saves on gas and equipment wear and tear will easily pay for the stove upgrade.

 

That's what I'm talkin' bout.
I'd love to drop from 5 cord/year to even 4. Less would be gooder, but any drop would help.
Ain't gettin' any younger.

 

I'd think it would be more than 20-25%, but I like to keep my expectations in check.

 

Not to naysay, but try to get a really good feel for the heat output on the Sirocco and Princess. The slow-n-lo is nice, but you'll run it on med. burn most of the time (my guess).
My King is great most of the time, but it comes up short when it gets really cold.
I'd take a look at the Ideal Steel again, if the aesthetics work for you. Just my .02. JB

 

Beetle-Kill, that's been a concern of mine since I began thinking of getting a BK.
The low and slow would be great for SS in this house.
This shop has no stoves burning, so........We normally have a few days or so of temps below 0°, unlike this winter. I can supplement with natty gas when it's that cold, as we've been doing.
The IS seems to be on the radar despite my objections to the looks and handle being on the wrong side, if the price is nice. My wife has said she has no preference as long as she can see fire.
I joke about the handle, but it's the same side mine is on, so I can deal with that...unless of course, WS decides to make a right side handle available.

 

I like the IS for a lot of different reasons. The 650lbs. of mass is one of them, so I guess you'd have to make sure of your floor support. The air controls look like they're being refined, so better adjustments are in the works. Following BrianK's threads on burning my type of wood, the stove seems to work well with less than ideal wood. With ideal wood, it kick's azz.
If it meets price point expectations, it will be a winner.

 

I built a 2x10 frame on top of a concrete slab intending to put the NC30 there....shouldn't be a problem if I decide to get that stove.

 

I really like the Ashford look, but the Sirocco is the same firebox, and is a few bucks less and would be a great stove for me. I like the look.
The IS would also be a great stove, but the aesthetics are less than desirable for me......kind of like preferring a Chevy over a Ford, or vicee versee.
I can go look at Regency, Hearthstone, Pleasant Hearth, Englander, or Quadrafire stoves any time I want. The BK is not so easy.
May be a dealer in a town up here somewhere with something on the sales floor, but I haven't found one yet other than the one in Davison (which is about a 2 hour drive, I think) and if I'm taking that drive......it's probably coming home with me.
I really need a stove that I can control well, and that has long-er burns. Oh yeah, one that burns less wood while doing all that.
I know (from being around all you modern burners for so long) that any EPA stove will do at least some of that.
Anyway......