Another Ideal Steel adoration thread

I have read hundreds of pages on the IS here and elsewhere, but for the sake of full disclosure, always thought some of the claims might be a little exaggerated. I understand the science behind a catalytic combustor and efficient stove engineering, but coming from years of burning an owb, and having family/friends with smoke dragons run poorly (cut in spring, split in fall, burn asap) growing up, "big flames = big heat."

This is a whole different animal. Air is at the first notch after 1/4 on a 3/4 load of white pine, barely a hint of anything lazily drifting out of the chimney... dining room at 76 and climbing, black glass on a fire that I lit an hour ago. No flange to speak of, just a dull glow at the bottom of the firebox and the occasional orange and blue flare. Loving it!

 

Glad your happy with it.... It is my third stove, and I couldn't be any happier with it...

I think your going to be burning a lot less wood now...

 

So glad you're happy with the stove BigPapi

Chazsbetterhalf fired ours up after we got home on Sunday, and it's been on low idle ever since.
82°F here in the living room as I type, and like yours, no flames to be seen, just heat to be felt.

 

Keeps me warm.. I'm a mile or 2 north of you BigPapi ..

I burn less than half of what I used too for cord wood and I'm warmer..

You will believe that in May

 

You ain't kidding! Been burning pretty steady since Friday night, and haven't gone through enough yet to fill the owb firebox for one day's burn.

 

I know that's right! I can navigate to your neck of the woods with my eyes closed - we've vacationed in Holland VT for many years. It is a bit of a climate difference to say the least, though the dead of winter here at elevation is pretty similar to yours up by the Canadian border, your cold lasts longer than ours. Down here the snow is mostly melted by May most years.

 

Only one paved road in Holland.. Goes to the cold lake..

 

Glad to hear it's living up to the hype.
I have one going into my new house build.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

That’s awesome BigPapi! Great looking stove and it looks like someone else is a fan lol. Bring on the cold!

 

Can't imagine you'd be disappointed unless you're going to build the Taj Mahal. We're only heating 1600' (or is it 1800? Dang old memory) and it could easily cook us out of the house if we wanted, despite the place being constructed prior to the Civil War and being laid out poorly for heat distribution.. Tons of heat pouring out of this beast. I'm almost afraid to shut the storm windows. Have to see what happens when real cold sets in and we get into the hardwoods.

Maina, the dog is a funny critter. She kept leaving her bed (in the living room) to go hang out by the stove in the dining room.. Guess she was waiting on me to approve the bed move, so I moved it for her and she's been camped out there for days now.

 

Hafta add that pic to the "hot dogs" thread...

 

Lol! She's half dachshund, so that's perfect.

 

That's awesome BigPapi ! Beautiful looking stove but more importantly, great burning stove! I had a dragon burner for about 10 years and then bought a Fireview and been burning so efficiently now for 6 years! Love the catalytic stoves, I'd never go back now.

 

I'm coming from 15+ cord per year in an owb, so anything less than that will be money in the bank - and holy cow are we warmer than ever before. Used to keep the thermostat at 66, the last few days Mrs Papi feels chilly under 70. No complaints here, you know what they say about the wife being fully dressed..

 

If you use 5 cord per year now it will be because somebody left a window open...so if you have the 15 cords stocked up and ready for the OWB already, then you are already on the 3 year plan now!

 

Wow, 15 cord??? You are going to be amazed at how little you burn now! I burn about 4-5 cords a year and I keep my house very toasty too. And for the same reason you do, happy wife, happier undressed wife!

 

Haven't used flannel or fleece sheets since IS was installed.. Its ok to crack a bedroom window if you want to snuggle

 

Congrats! Going on my 4th season with mine (haven’t started her up yet), and it’s one of the best things we ever did for our home. I think I’m calling WS about a new combuster tomorrow though, as mine was pretty much done at the end of last season. I see a warm winter in your future.

 

Black glass as in no flame, or blackened glass from the Pine?
Yep, I love the occasional pop-up ghost flames..you're runnin' low, but ya still get a show.

 

I do indeed! And the hoard is growing. I'd love to only go through five cord - if that's the case and the weather holds for another month I should have four+ years css by Christmas. there is some re-processing to be done, but I've been packing away at it.

I didn't really mind the huge volume of processing for the owb, but I also won't mind getting some of that time back with a little one around now.