More Ideal Steel Beta Testing

Thanks Dennis. Which one do you like?

 

You going to trade in the fireview for the IS?

 

If I was to get the IS I couldn't do the themed side panels, the stove would sit in a position where I would need to access the areas to either side and I'm not sure it would work out. Also, my wife hasn't quite accepted the idea WS has with the panels.

 

Everything so far sounds great about this stove, but I would def have to have a blower option for me to consider it.

 

It's been warm this week and I have been running essentially at "idle". With my old stove (non-cat) the only way to run it was to get it over 500F and shut it down. At that point it would burn HOT and subsequently fast--- much harder to get a long burn.
It's hard to compare since this is my first cat stove but I find it really easy to run a longer, medium burn. It only takes 5 pieces and I shut it down between 400 and 450F. It will cruise and only drop to 250F-300F while I am at work. I suspect the cat and the secondaries keep each other going.

 

I was just on WS's facebook page and reading a few posts. Does anyone know how the numbers from the IS compares to the progress?

 

I'm not sure which numbers you are asking about. I think the EPA tested the Progress at 73,000 btus max output and the Steel at 60,000 btus.

 

I saw that, thanks. I guess what I'm looking for is burn times and efficiency.

 

I'm not crazy about the side panels either, I wonder how it would look with just a smooth surface.

I guess on burn times that's why we're reading the beta testers experiences. I think there were some efficiency numbers from the contest, did you read the info from when they won or are you looking for something else?
I'm really intrigued by this stove, love that it has some power but can burn longer and low, not crazy about the looks but my wife could pick out some colors that would help.

 

Wow, and I thought the Fireview was controllable.... The IS is probably still not controllable enough my 1000 sq. ft. even though it's a bit loose. Too bad; I really like the IS, and it appears that one could come up with a lot of different color schemes that would look great. Oh well, the search for my final stove continues.

 

My fireload for (another!) cold March night. This should run a medium burn until I refill at 6a (10 hours).

 

UNH, what stove top temps will you get at a medium burn for 10 hrs?

 

I let it get a bit too hot before shutting it down (well over 600F) and ended up not being able to shut it down enough for a low medium burn. Since I have a cold I was up a few times during the night and I could check on it. At 2:30a stove tops were still over 400F (6 hours). I guessed it would have cruised for another 2.5 hours before dropping under 300F but I added a couple splits anyway since it was -10F outside.

 

Awesome! ...and might I add, that Newbury Center VT, on Rt 5 along the Connecticut River is one of the prettiest motorcycle roads in all the land.

Enjoy your beautiful part of the world, even if it is cold.

Steve

 

Stop in next time you are in the area.

 

I used to be close friends of the previous owner of the Wells River Motel. We would fill it up a couple week-ends a year with my riding buds.

Now I just stop into P&H for the pie!! ...well, and the French Toast made with their own cinnamon bread.

 

Your making me hungry...

 

If you haven't been to P&H Truck Stop, intersection of Rt 302 and Rt 91 and Rt 5 in Vermont, here the menus are in both French and English, well... it's just above Lebanon NH if you want to take a side trip. They make all their own bread and pie on site.. and the bread is worth saving room in the saddlebag for. The pie is a mile high.

They take their own cinnamon bread and make french toast with it, with they're own Maple Syrup.. all you can eat buffet on Sunday AM. The place is loaded with lumber jacks and they all weigh over 300lbs.. and their wives do too.