Production Woodstock IS

Yeah, you wonder how many foreign eyes are lurking, even better how many fake profiles are started to get the inside track. Best thing about WS, they run an 'open book' business, they welcome everyone in.

 

All things considered I think the Ideal Steel is very durable. The main frame seems bullet proof. Andirons will warp, and the radiator warps. Those items can easily be removed and straightened or replaced. They built a stove that you can actually work on yourself. That's rare.

 

Especially the cat and the carriage assembly, so easy to access and clean/maintain.

 

Well, my own personal opinion is that comparison to an I.S. is fine in this thread but I gotta' say, it does seem like someone is really out to make a point for another brand in here. I have no knowledge whatsoever but some of these posts look like what 'Ford' would say in a 'Chevy' thread to me. Of course everyone will draw his / her own conclusions, which I think is a great thing.

Brian

 

One of the things that really attracted me to the Ideal Steel was that all the wear parts, at least the obvious ones such as the door handle, door latch, etc., are readily replaceable. And as they are relatively simple stampings, they should be very reasonable in price or if need be, even possible to fabricate locally. This is great for us planning on having a stove for years and years as it makes them pretty easy to maintain / repair over the course of time. A lot of stoves use something like the actual stove body to latch the door and once a groove is worn in there, it is going to take some rather pesky welding and grinding to refurbish that. One other thing I really liked was the attachment method for the sled, the combustor and the stove top: all held on with gravity, which so far, has not failed to the best of my knowledge.

I am certainly biased and actually own an I.S. but I believe I was biased before buying it for mostly the right reasons, rather than defending an object simply because I bought it. The I.S. is not without flaws but so far they seem to be minor and addressable, unlike, for example, a cast iron stove with cast hinges.... whatcha' gonna' do when one of them breaks off?

And this is the first year production version of the I.S. Every single complaint I have can be readily addressed in the next rev. to this very same stove without any major change or redesign. Again, all in my opinion of course.

Brian

 

I don't like seeing exact quotes here from AnotherSite's thread where Woodstock in general, and their customers in particular, were groundlessly insulted and berated (PM me if you'd like the link). And I don't want to see that kind of behavior here on this forum.

 

I think I see where your going with this BrianK. I'm not involved with the other sites activity but I see the writing on the wall here...understood

 

I walked into Woodstock's store in early January carrying the the unshielded version of the PH cooktop with a crack in it. I was met by Tom (the owner), who had never met me before, and I didn't immediately introduce myself as an IS beta tester from last year. He took one glance at the cooktop propped up beside me, smiled and asked if I could wait a minute or two while he got me a replacement. He came back out in a little bit, apologizing for the wait because he had to attach the heat shield to a new top since everyone else was quite busy. No charge. No questions. Smiles, apologies, and thank-you's for the business. I don't get that service on things I spend 10x the money on.

 

That's an awesome first person account Flamestead. How many businesses have an owner willing to do that, with apologies, no questions asked? How many customers ever get to meet the owner of the company that manufactured their stove, let alone be waited on by them?

 

I still vote for a condensed version of this thread re-posted as a "best-of" woodstock IS.

 

The wife and I have found all of the information in this thread extremely helpful. And really, information from all angles is a valuable resource for someone shopping for a new high efficiency stove.

 

I think this graph is helpful as you think about continued service after the sale.

 

Excellent chart- it looks like Vermont Castings and US Stove would be the best choices for the adventurous....



Brian

 

Today with this crazy cold weather, I ended up having to work later then normal. My normal 11 hours away from the stove turned into 12 1/2. Thankfully, there was still plenty of heat and big red coals waiting for me when I got home. Notch #5 did the magic today. I was able to do a hot reload.

Are you guys adjusting your stoves during the day or do you set it and forget it? I'm a single guy so I don't have a choice, but I still get great results.

 

Same thing- I kind of set the stove for the expected temperatures and let it run. I can adjust it in the evening, and I also take some time to burn down the coals but overnight the stove is on 'autopilot' and most of the days.

It is 7 F outside right now, just loaded the trailer with wood (but only about 3/4 of the way full 'cause like Mary Jane Tinklepants, we got cold and have to give up) and plan on setting the stove two notches above 1/4 draft as it is supposed to go negative overnight.

Brian

 

Threats of -14 in VT. Gonna go one over 1/4.

 

NEw territory for you Hollywood ?

 

Enjoyed seeing this chart for sure!

 

How did it go? Will it burn all night on that setting? What kind of wood are you using?

 

Not new have had -20's this year. Ran fine lowest house temp this morning is 68*. Gonna go stir the box and burn the coals.

98% maple, little bit of ash.