So I installed the Buck 74 in my living room this summer and I am more than pleased with it. Now to heat the garage. I recently posted about barrel stoves but that has always been my last resort. I think I have come across a better option. After buying around 3k worth if interior doors for my house from my local Menards, I'm getting the 11% rebate which will equal out to around $330. While browsing doors, I just so happened to walk past their wood stoves and spotted this Century S244. It caught my attention for 2 reasons. Obviously # 1 is because of how inexpensive it is, but #2 is the physical size. It would fit perfect in my 24x24 garage. It seems built decently well and has a secondary burn. By using my rebate from my doors, I could walk out with this stove for $120. Does anyone have any knowledge of the Century brand? They also have the Vogelzang Defender for $500 - my cost $170. This one is also a perfect fit. Thoughts? No matter which way I would go, this is absolutely not a primary source of heat in the garage. I don't have any water plumbed out there so I don't intend on 24/7 heating. It would be primarily for weekends and small garage projects. If it was a primary source of heat, I would be seeking out a much higher quality stove with longer burn times.
I heated my house with the S244. Little bugger will hammer out some heat for sure. Burn times are short (think insomnia). Kept my home plenty warm but required to much night time attention. Mine is headed for my garage. Should be perfect for a garage that needs occasional heat. Solid stove. Actually looking forward to tending it in the garage. For hours
I think those two are very similar units...Century has a better name historically (Century, Drolet, PSG, Osburn all by SBI) I had a VZ Defender for a few years...it was a decent little stove for the money...very easy breather, if you put it on a tall chimney it will go nuts. I had to restrict the intake holes about 1/2 to get any decent burn times at all...it did pretty well after that. I traded up to a Drolet 1400i for the larger firebox and fan in the front (my stove is in the fireplace)
Thanks for the replies!! Does the 244 really fit 17" splits as advertised? Looks to me like 12 to 14" would be more ideal. My chimney would end up being approx 9 or 10 ft straight up from the unit. It looks like the defender has a much higher heat output rating but being that I'm only heating 600sq ft. I'm not too concerned with the difference
Those heat output ratings are complete crap...fake news...literally made up. Just use the firebox size is a better way to compare...I'd say they would be pretty comparable actually...I could fit 17" in the VZ, but it was tight. I liked to stack a row of 10" N/S on the bottom row, and then the next layer or two E/W...it likes that. That, and leave a couple inches of ashes build up...holds coals much better that way.
E.W. door opening is 15". E.W. interior dimension is 18". Loading N.S. would limit you to 10" splits! Century dimensions. I agree with brenndatomu as well.
I've read some more good reviews on the wild and wonderful internet about the Century unit. Thinking I will go that route. Next question, regarding the required elevation if the burner in a garage setting, can i just set the burner on some loose cinders? I plan to re-pour my garage floor within the next year or two due to excessive cracking so I don't want to spend too much time and money making any permanent platform until that is complete
If you’re putting it on concrete, I have doubts that the whole raised or other permanent platform is needed. You could even make a wood frame and pour concrete outside of that, making a slight void and fill rock in there when you’re ready. I think you set the course here for yourself but im not where you live so not aware of building codes for wood stoves in garages. Most insurance companies don’t really connect garages for coverage unless the garage is connected to the house and not as a separate dwelling. Other than that, I would try to find some of the garage stove threads here. I know of one... these would just be informative if you have questions regarding temporary or permanent pedestal ideas as well.
If your going to put it there temporarily , just set it on the floor , but Highbeam set his stove up on blocks in his shop ,maybe he will chime in . Found a pic of his ,doesn't show it well
Born2burn. If you get the Century you will want the blower. Don't order the OEM. I found mine on amazon for $28 and shipping. Flawless.
Thank you for the heads up! The blower is always a must have even if you don't think you'll ever use it
