How is the IS performing during the shoulder season?

Good eyes. It did that very early on, but then did not change at all in the subsequent 6 cords. It is a different design than the PH due to their experience with the rebuild process on the first year's models. They had to tear down and rebuild most of the stove to reach those parts where we were getting air leaks on the PH. On the Ideal Steel (early beta model) this part is held in place with six finger-tight bolts. I think there has been some re-design, and they will not be starting production until they tear this and the other beta stoves down.

We stopped in at Woodstock yesterday to mull over our decisions for 2014-15 (line another chimney and buy the Ideal Steel, or maybe buy a different model). Took up a bunch of Penny's time with many questions, checked out the improvements to the Ideal Steel, and got to see the newest stove.

 

What is your impression of the Ideal Steel improvements? Is there any noticeable performance features?

 

I've been saying that for a few years. Maybe you're sitting on a volcano or geyser or something.

 

No kidding! I'm surrounded by tall pines to the south, I get very little solar gain on the first floor. If it's 50 anything outside I need heat from somewhere to stay comfortable. I'm cheap and have wood so that heat usually comes from the stove. If I had natural gas I would probably be done at this point.

 

There's been a lot of attention to this part of the plate and tweaking the design. My stove got an updated set of fasteners and new plate mid-cycle and it stayed flush after that.

 

We just loaded our Beta IS onto a trailer for the trip back to the factory. I'm going to visit a friend near Albany NY this weekend. He's going to ride up to the factory with me on Saturday to see the operation there. He's been heating his home with a huge old Heathstone since he bought it new 30 years ago when he built his home and wants to buy a new stove.

 

Ours bowed a bit too. I mentioned that to Tom at Woodstock several months ago. Mine was an early Beta so I'm sure they're sorting that out.