I'm currently using a very old pre-EPA Sierra wood stove and would like to replace it. Last heating season I closely followed the Woodstock Ideal Steel threads and almost bought one, however, decided it was too big for my situation so I decided to wait and get a better look at the new Absolute Steel. I believe the Absolute Steel size would a much better match for my heating needs. My only issue with the Absolute Steel is that it is a side loader and I would be placing it into a corner installation. My concern is whether or not it would be difficult to open the door and load. Here is a picture of my current setup. My plan would be to tear out the existing fireplace and build a hearth into the corner similar to this. I figure one thing I could do is to use the rear flue mounting rather than a top flue mounting and in this way move it out of the corner somewhat. I really don't want to turn the stove sideways on the hearth because then it would not be facing into the room. This is very hard for me to visualize since I don't yet have the hearth built. Any opinion would be welcome.
How far out into the room could you extend the "new" hearth? Maybe another foot? If not, go with your expressed plan and trim up the drapes on the right side of the pic.....
I could probably come out another foot. It's just so hard to visualize, plan or measure until I rip out the existing fireplace. Fortunately it's just a fake brick, panel board, wall with 2x4 framing.
At least you're not removing bona fide masonry!!! Get a hold of the CTC's for the AS as well as the footprint of the stove, sketch up the corner (looking down), draw a square to approximate the stove----minding the necessary clearances--- and let's see where to go after that? Your current set up looks skewed to the right, so it seems you'll get a little more room if you bring a new stove back to center? I would think so, yes.
My install is in a large fireplace, but I just went through the loading motions to check how I do it. Our stove door is on the right side of the stove, and we are both right-handed). I like to place the wood to be loaded on the hearth in front of the door. Then I squat by the stove, with my right shoulder in line with the door latch (I could be directly in front of the door, but find this more natural), so this would be good positioning if I had a corner install. Cut a piece of cardboard the size of the stove's footprint and place it in a room with clean (no fireplace) corner and test your clearances and normal motions around a stove.
See page 10 of this manual for the IS clearances. http://woodstove.com/images/editorial_support/Ideal_Steel_Manual/210_Installation.pdf I suspect the Absolute will be similar, unless the regulations require more for the side-loader. I think doing it on a 6" diagonal (off the corner of the stove) would put you too snug to the wall when you load. The Absolute stovetop measurements are 24.5" wide by 23" deep. The door is hinged at 3" in from the back, the door+latch sweep an arch about 16" radius from that hinge point, and the door opens just a little more than 90 degrees.
I can't speak to clearances or the logistics of a corner install, but when switching from a top-loader to the side-loading Absolute Steel beta, I had to shift the stove location to be off-center to the left, in order to easily open the right side loading door. Not sure if I'd want to have the stove install be permanently off-center, but has anyone skewed a corner install to either the left or right to make side-loading a possibility?
Astrolite are you going to use the existing chimney? If so, it looks like its offset to the right side. With a left side loader, and rear vented, I think you will have plenty of room.
Can you get the AS in either side to load? I wasn't aware of that. That's handy- and yes the pun is recognized as intentional
So many great ideas, thanks guys. I think the off center appearance is an optical illusion. The fake brick on the left runs straight to the wall, whereas on the right it stops short of the wall, makes a 90 degree turn then goes straight back to the wall, to clear the window, if you follow what I mean. I would replace the existing chimney but the new one would end up in the same location to pass through the attic and roof. Even if I decided against the Absolute Steel, I would still like to get rid of the existing fireplace and build a hearth because I think it would make the living room look a little more open. I think the best option is to tear it out, make a cardboard template, as several of you said, and try it out. With Woodstock's liberal return policy, if it doesn't work out, I can always return it. Thanks very much!
You'll have no problem doing a corner install with a side load to either side. The AS is smaller than the IS but it is still a really good size stove with a 2.45cu ft firebox, it still fit's the categor of BIG stove in my book, and I'm loving the size and lengthy (10~12 hour) burns it is giving me, easily and heating my whole house from the family room. (basement) Nice big square door and awesome handles and controls that make it easy to live with.
