More Ideal Steel Beta Testing

Not sure I follow what you are asking here Oslo?

I have had been keeping a running log of varying levels of detail for the folks at WS, I typically wrap them up a weekly email summarizing things. They typically ask a few more questions, maybe ask me to play with settings and report back on the results. Tom and some of the staff came down last week to look at my stove, he talked about a number of changes they have implemented based on feedback from folks like myself(changes to the door latch, cat engage lever etc).

Nick

 

Sorry Nick,

I may have mispoke there a bit. I think I was leaning my questioning more along the lines of WS and the beta burners and where they will be when the season is over. I understand they will go through the stoves after the season is over and fine tooth the feedback from the testers, will all this bring it to production this summer? I wanted to ask around here before I emailed with WS.

 

Ahh yea my understanding is the stove is slated for production well in time for next heating season. When Tom was down he said they are really focused right now on figuring out the best way for them to make the stoves in larger volumes. Somewhere in another thread I saw someone post June as an available date, I think they had called WS.

 

I'm not sure whats going on with the Oslo. I have had very different results over the last 2 years with burn times than when I first got it. I don't get 8 hrs anymore, at least not in the last 2 yrs. The seals have all been replaced, I have air checked anywhere there is a fixed gasket (glass and top plate), I have looked for cracks and anything out of place, I see nothing that would be a red flag. Secondaries are ok, wood is perfect, venting is awesome....no idea. The one thing that I cannot check or don't know how to is the air lever. It can be tricky to find the right place, I sometimes have to listen to the air going into the stove and not just look where the lever is to get the right burn. I have never heard of any problems with the air lever on these stoves but who knows???? Thats my story and I'm sticking with it!

 

This should move into its own thread but still-- I thought the Castine was in the 2.0 cu ft "class", and the Oslo was a bigger step up. I don't think the firebox is that small.

 

That's what I am wanting to know, too. If I do end up stove shopping, this one is near the top of the list. It would probably end up a bit oversized, so I'm curious on the control question.

Currently, I have ~1600 sq ft, and a BKK. Oversized by all normal thought, but BK controllability is not normal

 

I think I will jump this into it's own thread just for the sake of maybe finding a solution before the season ends.

On another note; can you tell me if the IS, in your opinion, is an easy to control stove? The Oslo, for me, is fairly simple, an air intake lever and set it and forget it. I would like a little more control of this stove if I could get it. Thats where I'm coming from with this question. Thanks

 

My 17yo is our stove "engineer." He loads it and adjusts it more than anyone in our house, including me. He loves this stove because its so easy to run and forgiving. The Fireview made him nervous even after two seasons. After just a week of burning this stove he said it was easier to control and run.

This stove heats up quick, it doesn't over fire, it's very easy and simple to control, and will run low and slow or very hot with a simple adjustment. Ease of operation is probably one its its primary assets.

 

Thanks BK, kinda what I was looking for. I guess I'm just a little aggravated with the control arm on my Oslo that anything better than this "is more control" right now. I just started a thread to see what I can do about this before it gets to be spring.
I emailed WS with some production questions this am, should know more soon.

 

Good answer.
So, if I may be so bold.......how much are the decorative side panels....and the stove top "trivets"?
Lab silhouettes would be cool. We have Labs.

 

Labs are awesome dogs...I like all dogs....

 

No idea. I assumed they came with the stove. But maybe there will be a basic stove intro price then upgrade options? I honestly don't know where they are going in that regard.

 

We have four different people running the stove - myself, my wife, and two daughters. All of us ran the PH, and a pre-EPA stove before the PH. All of us have commented to each other, more than once, on how easy the Ideal Steel is to run in comparison. Highly controllable, and very simple.

I was sitting by it a few nights ago, wondering why it was easier to control than the PH. We have a decent draft; with the PH we could get to a certain stove-top temp and hold it there, but could not bring it back down. With the Ideal Steel we can bring it back down. The air mix at the lowest settings on the Ideal Steel prevents back-puffs, so that is part of it (we can't completely close the PH because we are apt to get a back-puff). I was also thinking the Ideal Steel air can close down more tightly (and remain EPA-compliant) because there is the supplementary air coming directly to the cat.

Anyway, it is highly responsive and easy to run.

 

This is what I wanted to hear.

 

Yep. Great info.

 

I agree, this is a very nice color combination.