Quick tour of our Beta version of the Ideal Steel Woodstock Stove

Hi Folks,
We brought the new Beta Ideal Steel stove home from DC last night. We met up with Tom from Woodstock there, see yesterday's thread.

(Sorry about all the background mayhem and juvenile banter. This was kind of a homeschooling phys ed project ;-)

Here's the old Fireview going out on the Roll-or-Kari brand organ dollies:


In comes the new Beta Ideal Steel stove: Using the organ dollies to bring the 650lb Beta Ideal Steel Stove into the living room

Placing the stove on the hearth pad:


Quick overview: Here's a quick explanation of the new stove features.


Catalytic combuster ramp mechanism: Here's a view taken from through to top vent showing how the ramps function to help the combuster assembly slide forward.



Unfortunately, Woodstock overlooked the 8" to 6" reducer for the stove pipe, so I'll have to wait till they ship it out to complete the installation.

 

Ideal Steel - removal of leg bumper assembly: Our Beta version of the new Ideal Steel stove has Fleur de lis cut outs over the soapstone inserts in the leg covers. Here's a quick video of removing the leg covers and the structural legs behind the covers.


Fortunately, we had lots of helpers today. Ben the cat is going to miss his Fireview stove.

 

Just as a reminder, this is just a Beta version of the stove. There will be more changes and upgrades before it goes into production, which I hear might be in the spring. Our stove does not have the option of top or rear vent, for instance. The top vent is welded on this unit but it will be a cast piece in the future for switching top or rear vent. I'm sure there are other things that will become apparent when the stove goes into production.

The folks at Woodstock essentially instructed us to use it and abuse it and try to break it, and report back on our experiences with it.

Can't wait to light it up, but need the 8" to 6" collar reducer first.

 

Very awesome!!!

 

I had no idea the legs were just panel coverings.

 

Also, that's a big-azz stove. Nice.

 

Hey Brian, thanks so much for all the videos. They were great ! Keep them coming........ I can't wait to see your testing reports.

 

Yep. Its BIG.

It dwarfs my Fireview. Its high enough if we were cooking on it that it would be like cooking on a kitchen stove top. It can be lowered five inches but I like this height for loading wood.

Did I mention that its BIG?!?

 

Very easy to remove, as my 17yo son illustrated. Tom said that even though this is a radiant stove the leg covers set up a pretty good convection draft. They are slotted on the top for that reason. Plus the big square sheet of 1" soapstone behind the leg cover has to hold a bunch of heat too. Computer fans at the bottom behind the covers on each side would drive a pretty good air current.

 

Looks good Brian Im glad yall made it home and got it safely unloaded. It was great meeting you yesterday always nice to put a face with a name.

 

Brian, that's one beautiful stove. Looks like that'll heat you out of the house! I like the way it's customized. Can't wait to hear how it works.

 

Thanks for the update. I am very interested to hear how it burns. Your reviews and updates will be in high demand.

 

When lowered 5" what is the height of the stove?

 

I really like the new stove and Im really looking forward to seeing your updates on it and how well it works.

 

Some questions/requests when you have a moment:

1. Pics of the inside of the firebox
2. Do you keep this stove or do you have to return it so they can inspect it?
3. Do you have reports you need to fill out as a beta tester?
4. Post pics of the size of the splits you are using.
5. What is the size of your house and how insulated is it?
6. How well did the Fireview work for you and what type of burn times were you getting out of it?

 

Yes, it was great to meet you too Matt. And Dennis and Judy of course. (And the Woodstock folks were just top notch.)

 

Somewhere I thought I read that the legs are adjustable for height? Is that not the case? It doesn't appear these are?