Daydream thread... without the rose-tinted specs

fc123

STOVE HELP
Hi all, sorry to butt in on your chat but I know a couple of people on here and I figure you lot may have more knowledge on these things as I am totally lost in stove confusion.

I have been on the solid fuel thread and then got even more confused as there are so many makes, price points, steel or cast iron and so on....also different opinions and what each person wants.


My 1st question is do you get what you pay for? And what is the real difference between this one from Machine Mart http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-chelsea-cast-iron-stove
and a brand like Clearview?

We will install in a 1968 build to outside wall and I will confess that there is a bit of 'Stove fashion' action going on here (:o).
We will mainly use it as a fire/heat in the winter.

I am zenned up on the seasoned wood, the smoke free zones etc.
Thanks

lostinrates

Hello darling FC 123!

COOLTRIKERCHICK

sorry FC123 I cant help there, but I will read with interest what peeps thoughts are..

well the unit we a temp loan has had its windows smashed, and someone had tried opening a window:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o

Police have been out, even though we have put 2 and 2 together and think we know who it is, there is nothing they can do .. going to maplins now to buy a cctv kit .

I feel myself sliding off the edge, and my fingers are losing their grip very quickly..:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:

rhiwfield

Hi fc123!

I suspect you will get as many different opinions as there are stove owners!

Five years ago I opted for

• maximum visibility of flames, couldnt stand those with double doors that obstruct vision of the fire.
• grate that is suitable for coal or wood (though we use wood we wanted flexibility just in case)
• airflow system over the glass window

I bought from a good quality local supplier (Topstak) for both advice and should anything go wrong and for later spares/servicing. We were severely restricted on choice of stove due to limited fireplace size ( a blessing perhaps!) so we opted for a little thurlow (cast iron), though there will be lots of other good stoves out there. We were able to see it burning and play with the controls in the showroom. I've used other, cheaper, stoves since at holiday lets and been quite disappointed with their quality and ease of use.


I suggest whichever stove you use should be quality and built to last as it is a substantial investment once installation costs are factored in. We've just had a second change of window rope and the firebricks are likely to need a change next year, other than that there have been no problems except with initial installation which was quickly fixed. An annual sweep of the flue seems to be sufficient.

Itismehonest

Hi fc123

Everyone who is happy with their woodburner or stove will naturally recommend theirs while those who aren't so keen can relate horror stories.

It's best to have expert advice on stoves as to which one would be best for your own purposes as it depends on many things like the size of room, size of fireplace, how much heat you want, how often it will be used &, something often overlooked, how quickly you'd need it to heat up.

Rummer

CTC huge hugs. Did you manage to get to the docs? Is there anyway that you could get away for a couple of nights just to recharge your batteries and get some sleep (and oodles of biscuits?). Please remember that we are all here to listen and to help if we can.

choille

Better Days - We live in unpredictable times - as ever.

We ended up renting years ago having 'sold' but didn't get the money for it for 9 months (long story) in that time property was rocketing in price. By the time the money came through we couldn't afford to buy anywhere with land, so hence why we are in the caravan still building our house. Very scary times. I don't think the property market will carry such high, mad prices in most areas that it did.

Sorry to hear of your strife CTC - you've been under a lot of pressure & afew days off on your own would really be good to recharge those ole batteries. I sometimes go off to Inverness when Travel lodge are having a sale. Two or three days pounding city streets does me the power of good. Haven't done it for ages, but it's great playing at being a tourist on the very cheap. Also it's great being able to have a bath & stay in an actual room - weird for me now!

About stoves FC123 - I think you can get bargains but you have to watch some brands. Some are very light weight gauge & some are poor castings. I had a stove crack, but it was a good make! The one you've linked seems a very good buy & if you get a guarantee with it then I'd be tempted to go for it if it isn't going to be a hot water source of heating - just a plain old room heater. To an outside wall isn't ideal practical wise for heat loss, but if that's what is suitable chimney wise then that's what to do. You will need advise re chimney/flue lining & at the back & under the stove for fire risk. I think it looks good - if that's an issue - which you want summat that looks good in a living room.

Wet & grey here.
Hen with solitary chick is doing well & ever so proud - what a lovely think & how good that she did manage to hatch one at least.

Elderly neighbours' phone still out & she is getting really upset so off up there now to see what we can do. BT GGGGGGGGGrrrrrrrrrrr & loads of **!>++ words.

Davesnave

Hi FC! :wave:
I did a longish post about woodburners a few hours ago and lost it doing the links, but others have filled the details in well anyway. :A

I think the really cheap stoves, like the Clarke ones, are made in China. They may be all some people need, but I'd want a decent brand with airwash and guaranteed availability of spares.

Round our way, Woodwarm are very popular and rival Clearview in sales, but that's 'cos they're a Deb'n company. They do come well recommended and there's a good choice:

http://www.woodwarmstoves.co.uk/

My mate Pete the farmer went for one of these:

http://morso.co.uk/product/morso-6140/

He loves it.

Davesnave

CTC, your latest news is sad and so annoying for you. :mad::mad::mad:

All I can say is "Don't let the **ggers wear you down!"

Better_Days

Hang on CTC, we are all here giving you virtual support - can you feel the force? :grouphug:

fc123 - let us know how you get on with your stove search, we had been planning to get one but it is not to be so it would be nice to enjoy your purchase vicariously. Don't forget to post photo's. I spent many happy hours reading the reviews on this site and quite liked this stove, but it does depend on what your requirements are:
http://www.whatstove.co.uk/clearview-pioneer-400-stove-reviews

choille, so sorry to hear what happened to you and thanks for the reality check. We have been lucky and we would never have dreamt we could buy the house we are currently purchasing (hopefully) when we first bought in 1992. Sitting in a rented house with the value of savings eroded by inflation and watching house prices soar out of all reason is scary indeed.

We ended up renting years ago having 'sold' but didn't get the money for it for 9 months (long story) in that time property was rocketing in price. By the time the money came through we couldn't afford to buy anywhere with land, so hence why we are in the caravan still building our house. Very scary times. I don't think the property market will carry such high, mad prices in most areas that it did.

Very hot indeed here. Pottered out into the garden earlier with a cuppa and sat on a brown plastic garden chair, and got up more quickly than I have moved in a long time! My rear is still tingling! :eek: