Absolute Steel Hybrid

We have hardly heard any beta results yet and already listed for sale ... that was fast. Was it this fast for the PH and IS releases?

 

Does Woodstock run a sale like this yearly? Or is this a one shot deal to get prices like this?

 

It feels quicker. Of course the IS was their first steel stove, and this is a variation on that design, as opposed to a completely new direction. I think the IS was out to beta testers before the EPA tests, and this one is out after them, so that might explain some of the difference. The PH had several changes after the initial release (we have three different tops for it, for example); I'm not sure what they did for testing for it before it went on sale.

 

Are you getting any consistent burn times yet?

 

I've been hesitant to say much because I'm feeling a bit disjointed by other events and not too focused on operating the stove efficiently. Plus my daughter is home and adding a few pieces during the daytime while we are away at work, so we aren't getting a good feel yet for how it will perform for our usual routine.

Overnight burns have been fine - we have plenty of coals in the morning (similar to the IS, we sometimes have too many coals, and spend time burning them down so there is more room for wood on the reload). I think it burns more like the IS than the PH - the primary airflow isn't as strong for burning down coals.

I have not been able to visibly see effects from the air inlets at the back of the firebox. The IS lower inlets were very noticeable, and the PH central inlet has a visible jet at times during most burns.

 

Now that I've seen actual pics of it with the design, the wings look OK to me. One of the chairs I sit in is way off to the side of the stove, so I still might be inclined to get it without wings so it would be a little easier to see the fire when I'm ramping up a new load, I don't know.
Flamestead, can you measure from the bottom of the ash pan to the floor? I know that they offer a 2" reduced height version, but I still need and additional inch or so to get under my lintel, which is around 28.5". Also, I'm guessing the legs are welded to the box, not bolted? If that's the case, I guess I could special-order the stove, specifying the leg length I needed, rather than cutting the legs myself...

 

Not likely based on my research. Legs shorter than what the stove is tested for invalidates the certification. I too was hoping for the same center line as the keystone, fireview, and PH (short legs), but seems like shortest center line is going to be 26.5.

 

About 3.5" from the bottom of the ash pan to the floor. However, the ashpan door handle, when closed, is 2" off the floor. Even as-is, when the door is open its handle hits the floor and the door is laying out flat (level). They would need to double-check that the pan could come in and out with the legs shorter.

This reminds me of the crazy, non-approved install I grew up with; top vent, then turned 180 degrees to lose some height, then 90 degrees to horizontal into the thimble. As I've learned on these forums, I'm surprised I'm still alive (green wood, clay tile liners filled with creosote, little respect for clearances, etc, etc).

 

We just reloaded this morning and ran about 5 minutes with it open, closed the bypass, and then several minutes later moved the air control from wide-open (4.5 on the scale) to 2. That killed the flames. A check outside shows no smoke. Woodstock is closing the bypass even sooner into the reloads - the cat seems to be very responsive, we'll have to see how that lasts as we get a few more miles on it.

Now about 5 minutes more, and the STT is 450, flue 400, and lazy flames lifting off the logs at the front of the firebox, and a little bit of secondaries. Too cold out to shoot for a cat-only burn (10 degrees right now). My wife's plan of action is to leave as-is unless the STT continues to climb (my plan of action is to leave for the desk job. sigh.)

 

There isn't that much of a price difference between the IS and Absolute. If I was going to buy one I would be tempted to go big. Obviously dimensions and preference on looks are a factor but having the potential to go big in a total power outage or major cold snap is nice.

Just to clarify on prices, I like the Great Plain version of the Absolute and the black IS with ash pan and soapstone liner.

 

No.

 

After I left for work, my wife noted that at

8:20am it was STT 550 and flue at 475. She moved the control down to 1.5. The firebox reacted with a lot of strong rolling secondaries. She wrote "it was really sucking air".

8:30 STT 570, flue at 400, calm secondaries

8:45 STT 520, flue 360, light secondaries

Then she left. My daughter reloaded at noon, with STT 300.


We are trying to be better at logging in a notebook. The weather is warm for this time of year (well, 10 degrees overnight, but up to 40 today).

We are expecting a visit from Woodstock tomorrow to check the stove and leave some toys. I'll get some pics.

 

Dang, 2.5 cu. ft. is about perfect for our house. We have a 2.0 cu. ft. PE Alderlea, and we get a solid 8 hours of heat, but on the coldest nights, and when we want to sleep in, or at least stay snuggled up in bed (doing what men and women do in bed ) for longer, we have to fall back on the oil heat. It seems like a 2.5 firebox would be the perfect size for us.

 

This evening's load, so far:

6:40pm Reload 75% of firebox. Air set to wide open
6:45 STT 300 flue 300 Bypass closed, air wide open
6:55 STT 325 flue 375 Bright flames, air moved down to 3
7:00 STT 375 flue 390 Primary and secondaries burning.
7:10 STT 400 flue 400 Adjusted air to 2, firebox went black.
7:20 STT 450 flue 375 Firebox black
7:35 STT 540 flue 425 Firebox black, shroud around cat is glowing
7:40 STT 560 flue 475 Moved air to 1.75 (trying to bring flue temp down)
7:45 STT 575 flue 475 Secondaries light and tertiary light
7:50 STT 540 flue 400 Secondary and tertiary
8:00 STT 500 flue 350 Secondaries
8:10 STT 480 flue 350 Light secondaries

Tertiary flames? On the front edge of the top of the firebox there are a series of holes for the third air supply. In the fuzzy photo below you can see the strong secondaries in the middle of the pic, and then an upper flame. The upper flame is the tertiary air burning as it head back toward the cat.

 

I'm not sure if I like the 'wings' or not myself, it is a different look. I'm sure if I had one in front of me it would be different. But it is nice it is an option. Kind of like the Ideal Steel, many comments are about how folks don't like all the fancy artwork. Well you actually have to pay extra for that so if you don't like it you certainly don't have to get it! I think the IS doesn't look too bad just plain black with no options whatsoever. Some other stove companies might offer a choice of a few colors but Woodstock really is unique in offering such a wide assortment of colors and also custom design elements. Would be nice though to get a nicer finish like porcelain enamel, of course that would cost considerably more.

 

Toys installed, but now off to work...


No fire lit yet...


Small fire...

 

Where did the draft meter come from? Also, when you get a chance can you explain how you intend to use it in conjunction with the installed key damper in your setup?
Thanks.

 

Woodstock is letting me use the draft meter. The range of "normal" (typical) draft is -0.05 to -0.07 inches of water column, and without the damper we are running at least twice as high. With the key damper fully closed it runs at -0.10, so still high. So we've quantified what we knew - it is a strong draft. I think the most valuable piece from this so far is that the fully-closed position is still more than adequate. Beyond that, I'm in new territory for this setup.

This flue is 32', 6" liner, insulated, in an internal chimney, and little for trees around the house.