Fed up with Combustors

I think a lot of the tube versus cat debate, is really a moot point with firewood hoarders that burn dry wood. This also goes with two companies in this area that make wood stoves. Hearthstone will not sell a cat stove because they think people don't like it. Woodstock does cat stoves because of the higher efficiency.

Yes if you burn unseasoned wood in a tube stove. You will have to clean out the tubes because it will get clogged with creosote. Most burners on this site, will never experience that! In short buy what you want!

 

All modern stoves require maintenance of some kind and to some degree (no pun intended). Secondary stoves require checking and occasionally replacing the secondary burn tubes as they age, warp and generally go to hell. Tube stoves have some type of insulating material above the tubes and that requires inspection and occasional replacement.

I think what we really have here are that some people maintain wood stoves while others feel that as long as they hold fire, they are fine and require nothing. Both groups are right really- as long as you can light a fire in a woodstove and not have it all leak out into the house, it IS working and if that is all that is wanted, then the stove is delivering.

This all works best when people choose a wood stove which best suits them; generally, cat. based stoves require more maintenance and have higher per- year running expenses than non- cat stoves, so I believe they are lousy choices for people who want to minimize maintenance running expenses and routine attention. It seems that these people are also not particularly interested in efficiency or anything else and simply want a wood stove that burns wood which all points toward the lower cost stoves available because in the end, any iron or steel box will work as a wood stove in fact.

The problems crop up when a person gets the wrong stove IMO; I have not been happy with non- cat. stoves, stoves w/out an ash pan and grate and a handful of other things. None of which made those stoves 'bad', just not the right choice for me. I really do not believe this is a 'Chevy / Ford' thing as much as it is a 'Volkswagen Beetle (the air cooled ones) vs. MG' thing: if you just want to use a car to travel, the MG is a mistake. If you like to drive, enjoy tinkering (OK, if you want a dedicated second career and just have to experience Joseph Lucas electrical systems ), get the MG.

Just my opinions and observations, not passing judgement on anyone or telling anyone he / she is wrong.....

Brian

 

No one can prove the payback. They don't make the same stove cat/noncat.
Impossible to empirically prove it's worth the payback.
Yes that is maintenance for all stoves. But that isn't what was said either.
So don't cherry pick the comment.

 

It's pretty clear what was said and what I referenced.

 

Where's the fun in that?

But as to the op's cat some prefer steel & some ceramic. Just keep up with the door gasket "maintenance" as cold air leaks are a major cat killer.

Perhaps other BK princess owners should be consulted? rdust & Highbeam

 

Yes, and window leaks. Not sure why but I remember BKVP stating that an air leak would kill a cat.

 

OK boys and girls here is one who has burnt cat stoves since the 90's...until now. Now, it's 2 non cats....none of that tube pipe cleaner stuff, or insulation blanket replacement either
The stoves have burnt both steel and ceramic.....NO difference in longevity, maintenance, or light off except very very slight. This has been in 2 90's VC Encore 2550 used hard for heat since 2000.
The steel cat after a couple of years deformed badly; the ceramic cat after a couple of years started to break apart. No overfires ( we're experienced users ), just normal heating use up to room temp.
In fact, one of the cat stove makers recommended ceramic. So, there it is: ~ 12,000 hours of life + or - mileage. None of this "10 year" stuff IF the stove is used for more than entertainment or romance.
Sud Chemie the manufacturer of most cats had preferred their ceramic for durability when they were selling direct out of Mass.
There you go.
JMNSHO

 

That all makes sense now, i guess the thing that got me was the 5 yr warranty on the cat that BK offered on the new unit. As a guy coming from a non-cat...... that warranty led me to believe i should expect 5yrs. Now with 98% efficient propane recently installed i guess i'll be weighing which makes more sense

 

The VC Flexburn Encores we tried also had a 6 year warranty. Look carefully, after the first cat replacement, the next cats have the standard pro rated.
BK has a super product as well as excellent service direct from the company. As said, if the BK would have fit we would have got the Ashford, cat or not.
Reviews of BK and Woodstock are uniformly excellent.....as is Jotul.

 

They do not offer a steel cat for my Buck stove but I am fine with the ceramic and yes I love my cat stove. I have to hit 800 to 900 to light off. Now with that said I would be darn disappointed if I had a mess like that in 2 years.

 

When my princess has a good cat in it it runs really well, not complaining about that. This 300 every two years is quite the annoyance when i thought that it would be a 5 year thing. im finding to be a bit of false advertising......

 

get ready

 

3rd year on this cat and it looks good and lights off fine

 

They look like extruded ceramic and they are plated with platinum and palladium.....

 

I'm guessing the mfg. Process is something like the mirrors for space telescopes. Atomized precious metal and a negatively charged receiving part.....