Woodstock Stove: Survival Hybrid

I'm revisiting this thread for a couple reasons.
First, on a personal note I'm finishing a degree and between work and school I've been bogged down in stuff other than my own interests, so this is a little outlet for myself.
Second, making excuses for myself tied to how busy I've been- I didn't get nearly enough wood set for my liking. I might have 1.5 cords of wood, but I bought a full ton of compressed wood bricks which I frequently make mention I use and like.
So the third and most salient reason is I'm interested to see how I get by with a limited wood supply in a stove called "the survival". This is going to be a vanity project with lots of "me" and "I" statements throughout. As always, feel free to chime in.

 

I think I mentioned in a previous thread somewhere that I am going to finish my basement and am still thinking about how to heat it. I really don't want to electric resistance.

I have a mini split that can be relocated to the basement, I think this is what I am going to do but.... I also have an extra flue so it would be a fun to get a survival to heat the space, though I am not sure I want to be building two fires.

Have they ever talked about making them with soapstone opposed to fire brick?

 

They do offer a "soapstone liner". They specifically do not recommend lining the bottom of the stove with soapstone, but they do sell the sides and back. As of July 2024 the quoted price I have in an email was $160 for the soapstone liner bricks. I didn't go through with it at the time, but I think I'll reconsider it. It's not a bad idea.

No advice here, but VTAbstoluteSteel does your outdoor unit have the ability to add a line set to it or does it only accept 1 head unit? I have the flexibility to add another mini split for my basement/garage and I might do that one day.

 

Currently doing that little dance in the shoulder season- waking up with the temps in the 30s/ knowing its going to get up to the 60s and with the solar gain through the windows it'll put us in a comfortable zone. Saturday & Sunday morning had a tiny little fire that carried us the rest of the day.
Getting down to the upper 30s overnight tonight but might just let the mini split handle a few degrees and save the wood for the deeper winter mornings.
We shall see!