My New Absolute Steel Hybrid

Thank you Flamestead, I don't know where all those years went, it's like we blink our eyes and they are gone. But I will say, I have lot's of wonderful memories. I was lucky enough to have wonderful mentors in my life and smart enough to even take their advice sometimes. I, had a career that allowed me to work closely with brilliant men and women and have lots of fun. Finally I was blessed with a beautiful wife and family and we are all healthy and doing well today. So I just can not say "Thank you God" enough.

...and I have lot's of fun out here with you guys too! Getting to do things like talk to Tom and Lorin at Woodstock's about Woodstock's products and future product plans is just the bees knees as far as I'm concerned.

 

I have been told that before, but I'm still 23 years old on the inside and a complete hipster, ...just without the beard, tie-dye and mind altering substances.

 

Will do Turbo. I've been waiting for a cold morning to do my break-in burns, and record those, so that will be next.

 

Hey Steve, congratulations to you and the Mrs. on your anniversary.
Can't wait to see burn in pics too.
Have you noticed the Absolute Steel Hybrid first 3 letters is the same as the first 3 in your last name?
Coincidence?
Perhaps.

 

I hadn't noticed that. I'm totally lost. But I've never argued that I'm easily confused.

More pics coming. I wonder how many of us out here have Absolutes now?

 

Actually it's the town on Massachusetts that I live in. We have one flashing yellow light, and a gas station.

 

Ah, gotcha. Didn't notice that in your location.
We've got a blinker, 3 gas stations, and 2 bars.

 

WOW 3 gas stations and 2 bars!! I'd get lost!

 

You should see all the traffic. Gotta be at least 5-6 cars at that intersection.
Madness, I tell ya'.

It's actually pretty easy gettin' around.....if you stay outta' the bars.

 

'splains why I'd be gettin' lost.

 

Here is a little video of my Absolute Steel Hybrid with it's first break-in fire.

 

Some additional pictures.

 

There's also a couple decent places to eat here, but the new/old bar pizza is the goodest I've had in a long time.
Yep, lots of trees.

 

Steve, that was a great vid......very relaxing, especially after you put on the jazz.
Looking forward to more.

 

So, what happens with the Absolute when you open up the air a bit in the cat-only mode? With the Keystone, and to a lesser degree with the Fireview, if I open up the air a bit in cat mode, with or without flame in the box, I will get a little smoke out the stack. I don't like that, and try to avoid it. I'm hoping the Absolute would keep the exhaust cleaner when the air is opened a bit for a hotter burn. The EPA particulate numbers indicate that this may be the case...

 

Just saw this in the blog; "The smaller fireboxes and stainless steel Durafoil catalysts allow our catalytic soapstone stoves to burn cleanly and have great low emissions performance. The hybrids have bigger fireboxes and spectacular emissions performance at all outputs." That's encouraging. Or when you are still in cat mode and open up the air to a point where there is still no flame in the box, do you get smoke out da stack?

 

Woody, I have a Fireview and now also the Absolute Steel. I've had the Fv three full seasons. My experience with my Fv is it likes it's CAT cleaned with the vinegar/water solution every year and that pretty much maximizes the CAT capability. After a couple years I started to see more smoke out of the Fv and then decided to do the vinegar/water 50/50 spray technique. It worked like a charm... and really woke up a lazy CAT.

Now last year I field tested a AS and just put my product level one it. My experience with this stove is the CAT works really REALLY well and seems to like it the less air you give it, once it's up to temp, a cold day and initially engaged at set off. No smoke, just sometimes the wavy clear air heat fumes you see.. but no blue or gray smoke. I suspect it will also want the CAT cleaned but maybe not as frequently, as unlike the Fv it is not directly exposed to the fire ash, and contaminants, as the CAT is behind secondary burn grid. But it will still work better with a cleaning maybe once a year.

But as you open up the air what happens is you cross over into secondary burn at higher temps and thus less CAT burn, but still the end result is no smoke up the flue.. and the AS really keeps the heat in the stove. I was amazed the other day when I had STT temps of slightly under 500'F but single wall flue temp was under 200'F. No flames in the box, just pure CAT burn with a setting of about .75 on the air draft. ...and this is on a fairly warm shoulder season day.

So far I am very pleased with the AS. ...and did I mention the Ash Pan!?

 

Oldhippie , going to the open house this year? I remember meeting you there last year, along with the other FHC crew.

 

Well, I wish I could be there, but the wife and I just left for a 12 day stay in Hawaii. In San Fran tonight. ....I tried to get my money back, but they won't ... so I gotta go.