Stoves and stoves

[Simpo Two]

I'll be buying a multifuel (wood and coal) stove in the very near future, and the most likely candidate based on power and appearance is the Stovax Stockton 5Kw at £600+.

Then I found a Bestfire Buckingham 5Kw which is half the price (albeit out of stock at present) so this is the 4Kw: http://www.stovescentral.co.uk/bestfire-buckingham...

And then I saw a 'Vortigern' for £165:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JA014-Woodburning-Wood-B...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/5-5kW-CAST-WOODBURNING-MUL...


Question is - are these basically all the same, ie an iron/steel box with a hole in the top, or is there a good reason why the Stovax is so much more, eg in build quality or perfomance?

[crankedup]

Many stoves are now coming in from China, in true form these stoves can look almost identical to U.K. or Scandinavian stoves. They are of course of an inferior quality. Like everything else you get what you pay for.

[herbialfa]

Try a place in North Burlingham which shouldn't be too far from you!

[Simpo Two]

Thanks. While I'm on, seeing as the builder is doing the flue and a friend is doing the register plate, can I pay a HETAS bod to sign it off? Stove installers are unlikely to want to play as they didn't get the work...

I'm not usually bothered by bits of paper but I hear it could be an insurance hurdle.

[Stu R]

I've seen a ton of other stoves since we had our Stovax fitted a few years ago.

I'd still be more than happy to have it fitted again if we were shopping for one today - it's a lovely thing.

[Simpo Two]

Stovax seem to be the 'safe' choice - though I see that the Stockton doesn't have an ashpan, which seems odd. Does it just fall out the bottom?

Meantime, I tracked down a model which a friend bought a few years ago and it seemed to work very well - can anyone find any snags with this? http://www.naturalheating.co.uk/PBSCProduct.asp?It...

[essayer]

Our Stockton 4 multifuel has an ashpan.

Maybe only the multifuels have it?

Good burner though !

[PhilboSE]

essayer said:

Our Stockton 4 multifuel has an ashpan.

Maybe only the multifuels have it?

Good burner though !

Yup multifuels have an ashpan as the coal works best with airflow from below, so you get a griddle that the coal sits on, the ash falls through into the pan.

Wood (in a stove) burns best sitting on a bed of ash, so on the woodburners you just get a plate.

I usually burn a mix of coal (for heat) and wood (for effect), so I have a multifuel (three of, in fact) but there is something particularly lovely about the way the flames lick around the wood in a dedicated wood stove that I can't quite replicate on the multifuel.

[crankedup]

Simpo Two said:

Stovax seem to be the 'safe' choice - though I see that the Stockton doesn't have an ashpan, which seems odd. Does it just fall out the bottom?

Meantime, I tracked down a model which a friend bought a few years ago and it seemed to work very well - can anyone find any snags with this? http://www.naturalheating.co.uk/PBSCProduct.asp?It...

If your pals stove works well for some years thats about as good a recommendation you could hope for. However, I have noticed from the stove image not a snag more a observation, is the brass knob shown top right hand corner the flue damper? I suspect it must be but I am used to having the damper actually located in the chimney flue along with the controller. Other than that its looks a great stove, just check your spares availability and jobs a good'un.

[Tom_C76]

Simpo Two said:

Thanks. While I'm on, seeing as the builder is doing the flue and a friend is doing the register plate, can I pay a HETAS bod to sign it off? Stove installers are unlikely to want to play as they didn't get the work...

I'm not usually bothered by bits of paper but I hear it could be an insurance hurdle.

Your local authority Building Control can do the signoff if the installation isn't by a HETAS bloke.

[IS200RJR]

While were on the topic any thoughts on this one as its the one the missis is going for ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260894665765?ssPageName=...

[crankedup]

IS200RJR said:

While were on the topic any thoughts on this one as its the one the missis is going for ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260894665765?ssPageName=...

As I have previously mentioned, its worth checking origin of manufacture, although with a 5 year warrenty it must be quality. Also I would suggest perhaps check as to whether you are able to remove/replace back boiler and of course spare parts availability.
Handsome looking stove.

[Tampon]

Sorry I didn't get back to you with that guys details from the other thread simpo.
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/minpip74/

He doesn't seem to have any up right now but you can see from his feedback he has been selling the consistently. Maybe email him what you want as he was very pleasant with me.

All branded, secondhand but he spruces them up. Most seem to go for the 500 mark (normally half the new price) but occasionally one will sell for £200ish.

I kept a eye out and was able to pick up a stovax brunel for £155, but that seems a rarity, especially considering they are £1100 new.

[Simpo Two]

Tampon said:

Sorry I didn't get back to you with that guys details from the other thread simpo.

Thanks for the info; current top candidates though are Stovax Stockton 5 and, following a very useful trip to a stove shop, the Dovre 250 (also made by Stovax apparently).

Building control will sign it off but oddly the cost depends on the cost of the installation. under £1,000 is £170, over £1,000 is £200. Leadtime is only two days which seemed surprisingly efficent for a Council!

[CaptainSensib1e]

Simpo Two said:

I'll be buying a multifuel (wood and coal) stove in the very near future, and the most likely candidate based on power and appearance is the Stovax Stockton 5Kw at £600+.

I recently had exactly this stove fitted ot my property and am really happy with it. We were without central heating last night as getting some radiators changed and the central heating system has been drained (thankfully back up and running toight!). All we had for heat was the stove which kept us nice and warm in the lounge all evening.

When doing my research on stoves the big different with the different stoves was their efficiency. That is with the cheap stoves you could end up burning a lot more wood/coal to get the same heat output so over the long run buying a cheap stove could be a false economy.

Hope that's of some use.