To buy or not to buy. That is my question?

So there's a hack of a nice st crouix auburn stove I know of. What do you guys think. It's not to far from me and the gentleman said he religiously cleaned this stove. Just wanted a little input from some one who has used one.

 

I can't speak for the Auburn, but my Afton Bay is a great stove. It's well designed, well made, easy to repair when needed, and can put out heat like crazy. Just make sure you know about the 2 (sometimes 3) cleanout doors and keep the ash traps clear. I love my stove, and it's a breeze to clean and maintain. The only electronics is the control box; no thermocouples, etc., just 3 easy to find snap switches.

 

My St Croix Hastings has been awesome for over ten years now. Heats the entire house.

 

I too have used a Hastings and it was great. Hopper wasn't big enough for my needs is the only reason I sold it and got the P43. Actually, if I hadn't basically stolen the P43 I would still have the Hastings and worked around the hopper issue as I did for the one winter.

Looks nice from the outside! Just make sure to keep those ash traps clean like Heat Seeker mentioned.

 

From those pics, stove was taken care of, but I'd like to see in the firebox. BTW, what's he asking for it?

 

He was asking $1200 but I managed to get it for $1000. It looks really clean to me. The fire box looks great. Probably only used it a couple seasons.

 

It definitely looks very clean on the outside. Can't wait to hear how it runs for you.

 

I have to admit though it was awfully tuff to buy it when it was 63 outside. i will take some pics once I get it going.

 

For a grand, you almost can't go wrong with a St. Croix. Parts are fairly easy to come by too if you need them.

What year?

 

The manufactured date on the back is 8/06. I have it running in my detached garage and it's burning really nice. I have a Fahrenheit endurance also that I use to heat my gage and I just love it. I purchased the st croix for a backup for my mother. My dad has used a pellet stove since they first came out. He passed away and my mom would like to continue to heat the house that way. Dexter really helped me out with my Fahrenheit when I first purchased it used.

 

Dex is a good man.

 

I really like St Croix stoves, Auburn is a real solid unit. If it were mine I'd hook up the leaf blower to the exhaust with the stove door open and see how much ash comes out of back chamber and exhaust channels. Advise using thermostat on high, or run #3 or higher on a regular basis to heep it from gumming up. Long idles on #1 heat setting can result in cresote build up. Also recommend pulling auger out and oiling upper and lower bushings. The upper really takes a beating from the heat and can seize. Air damper closed on a width of a #2 wood pencil is usually all the air flow these stoves need. Enjoy.

 

I did have that happen with my dads last week. So I pulled the auger out and oiled it up. It needs a good cleaning. I will do the leaf blower trick with the both of them.

 

I may use the auburn for my new garage heater. It seems to be out performing my Fahrenheit. On level 1 the auburn is keeping my garage almost 70. My Fahrenheit can't do that on level 1. The big difference is that the fan on the auburn continuously runs the whole time. Granted the Fahrenheit is able to do this as well only the blower throws a lot more air. Anyone else using there Fahrenheit for a shop heater?

 

With the stove door open? I've been doing it with the door closed! what about the little cleanout trap doors?

 

The LBT is supposed to done AFTER the entire rest of the stove has already been cleaned as best you can. Banging on the STEEL back panels while the LB is running (NOT if the back is cast material), and opening & closing the door a few times helps. If you plan on leaving the door closed, the hose to the pressure switch should be disconnected while LBT is going on.

Cleanout trap doors should be secured in place .......you want max vacuum to the interior parts of the stove you can't get to manually.

 

What do you think of suction instead of blowing? I work for a directional bore company so I have access to a Vermeer vac. Which is basically a giant shop vac. It's made to suck up mud for spotting utilities. This way everything will go inside the vac while you hit the back wall with a rubber hammer.

 

That's funny. They do have some suction but not as much as you would think. I think the plus side to using the vac would be that the hose could reach all the way threw the garage and into the basement at my parents house. This would eliminate me trying to get a buddy to help me get it outside to use the leaf blower. I will use the LB for my auburn though.