advice on a new woodstove

Still doin research, and loading nc-13. I looked at PH it is a side loader and I have a corner install so that's out. Hearthstone ash pan is a pain to put in a bucket it's too wide for any metal ash can, and not a cat. I am so hoping to burn less than 10 cord a year. And get a burn time that would allow for R.E.M. sleep. I like look of PH and hearthstone better than IS. I like price of IS better. Wife says hey looks are less important than function, ability to heat and let us sleep. I got a good wife. That's for certain! So this week or next I will go to Woodstock factory. It's less than 2 hours south. Family in woodstock. Even though it's in west Lebanon now.

 

I have a PH in a corner install, works fine. No issues at all with it, looks great, easy to load and doesn't take up much space as big as the stove is. My install pic below for reference.... the clearance is 12" from the corners (bottom cast iron) to the side wall, that's it.

I visited Woodstock Soapstone this past Saturday, pretty impressive place. Much bigger than I had pictured, great bunch of folks there...

 

OK thanks machria, that's a beautiful install did you do it or have it done?

 

Thanks.... I removed the old, designed and reframed it and everything... but I had a tile guy lay the tile, and a stove guy hoist the stove up 3 stories to set it. See this thread for a few pics of my install: http://firewoodhoardersclub.com/forums/threads/how-to-build-a-firewood-hoist-3-stories-up.9048/

 

I gathered some of my favorite Ideal Steel pictures. I thought you might enjoy. I was on the fence too about the Progress Hybrid. After a conversation with Woodstock, they really encouraged me to go for the Ideal Steel.

I think the Ideal Steel gets you a little better low end control and it is a bigger box. The price difference sold me as well. The Progress Hybrid sure is pretty though..

 

Regarding the IS, I have never really like any of the pics I've seen of it enough to say I would put that in my house (doesn't look to match my decor...). But after seeing it in person at Woodstock, I would put it in the house. It is a lot nicer looking in person I think. Online the pics all look a bit toyish to me, but in person she is no toy, and looks and feels a lot heavier and modern looking. It was burning in their showroom and it had a nice low burn going with some blue flames which I never see in the PH. I think the PH glass blocks much of the blue color or something. The only time I see the blue color is when the secondaries are fireing and it looks like an upside down propane grill. The IS had dark blue flames coming off the wood which looked awesome.