I like the idea of a CAT stove, but I don't like the look.

For my money, the 2 best stove companies today are Woodstock and BK. If ultimate control and super long burn times are your thing, BK is hard to beat. If both 'form & function' ring your bell, then Woodstock is where you want to be. Both companies are industry leaders. It all depends on what you need and your personal preferences.

 

Oh and do check clearance requirements. I would have a woodstock on my hearth right now if the rear clearance requirement wasn't so high. Seems they were more intended as fireplace stuffers or "hearth" stoves. The rear exit is sure handy for that. The newest models look to be better about the footprint issue.

 

With the rear heat shield, our IS rear and rear corner clearances are 6".

 

What a great looking, super burning, well designed heater from one of the best in the industry. And speak of superb customer service I am referring to Woodstock Soapstone. The stove is the Fireview and after last winter in South Jersey, I can say simply it was perfect for our needs.

 

I think I'm doing the heat shield too Brian, it will help me get a 45 deg double wall elbow to work for the run to the wall flue. Penny added it to my order today.

 

Good idea.
I don't really "need" it for my install but it gives me a bit more flexibility and peace of mind.

 

Yea, I don't think so. I ran my woodstove 6" insulated flue and a 3" non-insulated flue (gas hot water heater)side by side in the same size chimney as yours and it just barely fit.

 

This is true, as i said, the newest models are better.

 

Easy to run, like the Fireview, but I like bigger glass. That, and the good ash-handling system, are the main reasons I got the Keystone. May not be big enough for his place though. I don't recall reading about his house size, layout etc.

 

Puffing is from poor venting. I have a cat stove and will get it if its warm outside or I have a clogged chimney.

Under 99% of conditions you won't get it if u do turn it up or clean it.

 

The thing about the fire view is that depending on what materials you use to build your hearth with will change the visual look of the stove as illustrated by the pictures tat backwoods savage posted

 

i second the only recommendation for buck. the model 80 would be my suggestion. in the true sense of the word rustic, a lot of the buck line fits perfectly. solid black, not ornate (with the black cast iron door option, and none of the trim) and more of a traditional simple shape than most other modern stoves. more of what people these days would call utilitarian, as a lot of people use rustic for ornate, overly country. it's listed as 2.6 cubic feet, not sure exactly what it actually is, as my 74 (non cat) is also listed at 2.6 cubic feet, but when actually measured it has 2.23 cubic feet (22.75" x 15.75" x 10.75" the second figure could be more above the air intake, and to the sides, but i won't stack it that way since i don't want wood falling against the glass, and the last figure being an average height) of usable space. my best guess is the 2.6 cubic feet on the 74 comes from the measurement without the secondaries.

 

Here's my Buck 91 Cat I installed last year with the platinum trim.

 

My stove I think is a copy of a buck..both were made in NC although High Valley is now made here in SC

 

Interesting discussion.

I heat my house with a Fireview I got last year, after burning 30 years with a Garrison One (big old steel stove). I also have oil with forced hot water and heat all our hot water/laundry with the oil, so I'm always going to burn some oil. It's a 30 year old New England Chalet (think big Cape Cod house) and I'm right on the NH border in north central Mass.

The oil company I used decreased my monthly oil bill budget from $165 for 10 months, down to $95 for this coming year, based on my usage from last year. This year my wood is going be a lot better, so I think I'll be in even better shape. My wife likes the Fv better because it is not so "peaky" with the heat.. the old box stove was much harder to regulate and it's "cruise range" temps were too much for the living room. Where the Fv is much more manageable as heat output. Also went from cleaning out almost a full bucket of crud every year down to a couple inches of gray ash in the bottom of the bucket.

...and, it's pretty.