Replies

1. 
   calvin | Feb 23, 2012 04:53pm | #1

   Heat and visuals?   Might rethink the wood part of it.

   With wood you need to place it so it's in a good spot for running the proper chimney to give you the proper draw.  Then there's carrying in the wood and building the fire and keeping the ash in the stove when you feed the fire and burning it properly so there's no creosote buildup and of course-emissions..........

   Even if you buy the wood, there's nothing easy about wood heat.  In a small room or one that's well insulated in a moderate climate-Atlanta?..........you oftentimes can't get it up to high enough constant temp to keep from producting creosote-the bane of wood heat.  Insulated pipe is not cheap-figure in ins. thimbles and roof jacks...........gets to be sometimes the cost of the stove itself.

   This is from a sole wood or mostly wood heat burner for 40 yrs.

   While I have a wood shop stove, my current heat is provided in part or solely (depending upon the season) by a soapstone contra flow heater.  To me, wood heat wise-this is the way to go.  However, sizing would heat more than a one room office realistically.  Way more than you need for extra heat and ambiance.  It's expensive to do, but way more moderate in getting btu's when using.  Super efficient, clean burning and if used the way it was meant-no creosote to worry about.  There's still wood carrying and ash to deal with, but.......

   My advice for you, if you live in Atlanta and already have natural gas available-would be to look at ALL the gas stoves available and study up on those.  I've installed several on my jobs and they are nice.  Sure, some have faux log ash and sparkle sets ups, but some are still made that mimic the old gas stoves of the turn of the century (well, the one b/4 last).

   But that's just me, a carpenter with plenty of kindling who lives in the woods and owns a chainsaw.

   Best of luck.

1. 
   Piffin | Feb 24, 2012 08:43pm | #9

   Atlanta, eh?!

   Atlanta never gets cold enoughb to worry about heating

1. 
   calvin | Feb 24, 2012 10:32pm | #10

   Burning this Tulikivi-once a day

   maybe 12 .lbs of wood-last months gas bill was a horrible large 67.00.  Jan-74.00-admittedly-the winter has been the 4th mildest since record keeping began and gas is low.

   But then I also look to see that half of the 64 is "carrying charge"-what gets it here.

   so Atlanta?   gotta be better.

2. 
   BossHog | Feb 23, 2012 05:52pm | #2

   I love wood heat, but it can be a pain.

   If the room you're putting the stove in is small, the heat will drive you out.  It's better to locate one in a basement or large, centrally located room.

   Consider how you'll get the wood to the stove. SWMBO won't like you carrying a bunch of firewood through her kitchen.

   And by all means, let us know where you're located. What works in Main may not work in Florida.

3. 
   Atlanta86 | Feb 24, 2012 09:08am | #3

   Woodstove

   Thanks for the advice.

   In response to questions:

   - Yes, I live in Atlanta but believe it or not it gets cold here too (just not by Northeast standards and not this winter)

   - I am not looking to heat my whole house with this woodstove, but rather take the chill off on spring / fall mornings so that I don't have to turn on the central heat and will obviously run it during the winter cold

   - I am fundamentally opposed to gas logs for reasons I can't entirely explain; I suppose it has something to do with the pitty I feel for their owners who don't appreciate the natural beauty and mystery of burning wood

   - I have access to plenty of hardwood and enjoy the process of cutting, splitting and hauling (much to my wife's amazement), so that won't be a problem

   - Based on the earlier responses, it seems my main issue is my plan to locate the woodstove in a relatively small space.  It looks like I need to find a way to dissipate the heat or locate it where it can heat a larger area.

   Any advice on steel, cast irorn, or soapstone?  Everybody seems to have a different opinion on that front.

1. 
   sapwood | Feb 24, 2012 11:34am | #4

   Morso makes a very small cast iron stove they call the Squirrel. It's very well made, the fit and finish are superb. It has no window, but most small stoves don't. 

1. 
   davidmeiland | Feb 24, 2012 07:21pm | #7

   We have a Squirrel

   with a window... I believe it's the model 1440. It's an excellent stove, we love it. Only drawback is the short fuel size, which makes sense if you want small fires and low heat output.

1. 
   sapwood | Feb 25, 2012 11:26am | #11

   I looked up the Morso site again, David, and see that the Squirrel does indeed have a window. This is good because my wife will enjoy the look. It's bad because it represents one more bit of evidence that I'm getting old and forgetful. sigh........

2. 
   calvin | Feb 24, 2012 12:37pm | #6

   Atlanta

   Since you have your heart set on the beauty and comfort of wood heat-

   The soapstone heater (Tulikivi) we have is a nice looking stone.

   Some manufacturers offer it as a cladding, or at least they did.

   The soapstones more than nice looking-it holds heat and gives it off slowly.  How that works on a wood stove I cannot say from study or experience.

   I do place some of my scrap soapstone on the shop stove and it does retain the heat of the cast-also gives you a place to keep the coffee warm w/o heating the cup too much to sip.

   Further, a pc of scrap heated on the grill will keep the dogs hot at a cookout.

   Best of luck in your venture.

4. 
   SRS | Feb 24, 2012 11:34am | #5

   Make sure you check this out with your insurance company.

5. 
   Piffin | Feb 24, 2012 08:41pm | #8

   I'd look for sometihg with an ash drawer, a thermostatic control, and possibly a glass door for viewing.