Woodstock Soapstone Ideal Steel Woodstove Review (mid-first season)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- This video provides a review the Woodstock Soapstone Ideal Steel woodstove in the middle of its first season of use, after 7 weeks of continuous burning. It addresses some of the stove's great features, some of its nuances, and how it heats. Overall, I highly recommend this wood stove to anyone who is serious about wood heat and burning regularly.
Thanks for all the information! You helped seal my decision for the Progress Hybrid due to the side load.
I'm debating between this In a blaze king. But if I buy a blaze king I'm at the mercy of a distributor and there mark up.....I do have a question for ya. Don't quote me but I think I blaze king has a thermostat that will regulate the heat so it stays the same temp. Can you do the same with this stove? I have an old all nighter jumbo mo. And it always seems to be hot or chilli if that makes any sence. What I'm wondering is will the woodstock get the house the same temp throughout the day without it getting to hot or cold? Im looking for a steady even heat throughout the day?And I'm guessing from what you said on average you fill it every eight hours?
Blaze King and the Woodstock Ideal Steel are different. BK stoves are catalytic stoves. The Ideal Steel is a hybrid. Yes, the BK stoves are thermostatically controlled and adjust the air to maintain stove temp. The Woodstock doesn't do that for primary air. There is a bimetallic damper for tertiary air (to the catalytic combustor), which (I think) operates in an automatic manner. Otherwise, you set the air with a single control. You may want to watch my video on the burn process with the stove. I generally reload somewhere between 10 and 14 hours. Basically in the morning, and the evening. Stove goes 24/7. When I made this video, I had a bunch of poplar I was burning. Usually I burn a mix of maple, oak, ash and cherry. With a full load of hardwood, it will still have a few coals at 24+ hours. After 10-12 hours its usually between 250-300 on top. It cruises for a long time after reload around 450-550 on top, with single wall pipe temps of 250-325 or so. Heat feels pretty even because I have the soapstone side panels and soapstone lined firebox. I like burning hot fires with a little secondary combustion going in the firebox.
@@ProductiveRecreation I checked out your other videos bud. They where very informative. I'm just debating between the 2. I'll do some more research and then make my decision. Thanks for the video and keep them coming!
I was curious how this stove did. Wife and I debated this vs. Progress Hybrid. Ended up going with the Progress (and got their re-designed air control). I really liked your review though - sounds like another top-notch Woodstock stove. We get similar burn times, though with the extra soapstone I think the Progress throws off useful heat possibly a little longer.
I was actually considering the Progress Hybrid first, as I thought it was a prettier stove - the Ideal Steel is boxier and has a more utilitarian look. In talking with folks at Woodstock, they said both stoves heat about the same. The Ideal Steel is a slightly larger firebox and a little more convection vs. soapstone radiation. The Ideal Steel does have quite a bit of soapstone in it though - the side panels are soapstone, and the firebox is lined with it. All in, I think its less than 100lb lighter than the Progress. What swayed me to the Ideal Steel over the Progress were the following: 1) the flexibility of being able to load longer (20-22") pieces side-to-side, or typical (16-18") pieces front-to-back; 2) the relative ease of cleaning the glass with the door open; 3) the price point, 4) setting up a hearth for front loading worked a little better in the space where the stove was going, and 5) the customization options with the burners, side medallions and colors.
@@ProductiveRecreation that makes sense, though I have no problem loading 22" in the Progress Hybrid.
Yes, cleaning the glass is a little tricker, and there definitely is a lot more customization on the IS than the PH. But my wife really liked the classic look of the PH. :)
@@uilleannman how are you enjoying the Progress to date? I am torn between these two models. I have great draft, but might be swayed for the front load!
@@MattBell_USA we LOVE the hybrid. I will try to get a review up this week.
@@MattBell_USA I just got a ph. I love it. I almost would never own a front loader.
Im stuck between this and the Hearthstone stove . Does this stove have a blower or do you feel it might need one. Im replacing an old buck stove.
No blower available for the Ideal Steel, but you could add a heat powered fan on top. It does have decent convection though. A blower would move more warm air, but I have my HVAC fan run 5 minutes every half hour and that does a good job of distributing heat. I looked at Hearthstone stoves. Solid manufacturer. I don’t recall the catalytic combustor in their hybrid stoves being as easy to access and service as the Ideal Steel. I also wasn’t thrilled about their door latch system. Didn’t seem as robust as the Woodstock. Pricing between them is quite different too. For what the Ideal Steel does, in my opinion you can’t beat the price.
I also have (and love) a Woodstock stove - not the Ideal Steel but the Progress Hybrid. I have friends with Hearthstone Heritage stoves. They're definitely nice too but the door latches seem prone to breaking (both of them have one bust). And Productive Recreation is right - you have to dismantle part of the interior to access their combustors. The Woodstock approach is *very* easy to get to the combustor.
@@uilleannman Will you please make a video like this for the Progress Hybrid?
@@FowlerKidsoFilm yes, I'd be happy to.
@@ProductiveRecreation
How big is the house you are heating with this? Is this your primary source of heat? What climate zone are you located in?
2600 sq. ft. plus walk up attic, but insulation/air tightness and ceiling height (interior volume) matters more than area. 1790s era colonial, 7.5ft ceiling height, roof insulated to current code, mediocre blown-in insulated walls, and single pane windows with storm windows. I sealed up the foundation and basement better this winter and that made a notable difference. Located in southern New Hampshire. We have forced air propane central heat as well (which is technically “primary” although it doesn’t run). I do have the furnace blower run 5 minutes every half hour to circulate air regardless of need for heat. This winter we added a fireplace insert as well and have heated exclusively with wood when home. Even when it was -17F with -43F wind chills (extreme cold for our area), the two stoves together when actively managed never let the house get below 65F. The thermostat on the furnace is set for 62F.
What color did you get? Thanks!
Charcoal body, metallic blue accent color for door, side panels and side burners on top.
Where is the fire poker/ash rake from? I cannot find it anywhere, but I want to buy one.
It is from a set made in the 1980s to match the Consolidated Dutchwest stoves. The set has the rake, a poker, shovel and small broom all on a stand. Its a nice set. I haven't seen anything quite like it available these days.
can u pls let us know where did u buy it? tia
Ordered factory direct from Woodstock Soapstone.
Outstanding review video, thanks! How are you enjoying the stove now, almost a year later?
It’s still awesome. I’ll make more content on it soon. For the money, I think it’s the best wood stove you can get.
@@ProductiveRecreation please do! You may have swayed me to choose the ideal steel instead of the progress. Both look great, but I am so used to a front load and it might be a better fit for the space I'm putting it in.
I have the same stove took irons out cut wood 18 inch load north to south