I see no reason that any 'fisher style' stove, provided we're talking about one built to the same specs (i.e. 1/4 or 5/16 plate steel) that hasn't been outing the elements rusting away for 25 years, should last forever. Or at least beyond your lifetime.
I've got 1 fisher and 1 home-brew fisher knockoff. The home-brew stove is well built, the only thing that I know of that was built severely less than my Fisher are the firebrick retaining channels, and those are somewhat rusted or burnt away. I also have some warping on the back.
On something thin, like a barrel stove, rust will be more of an issue, and the barrel can burn out. But my old man ran our pretty hard for many years, and I see no reason that with reasonable care, one of those wouldn't last a long time (i.e., 25 years) also.
I guess if I were thinking a stove was showing its age, I'd be looking for hot spots, cracks (especially on any cast iron parts), and cracked or split welds on a steel stove.
I'm no expert.
Here is the stove.
View attachment 721764
Somehow, I think that these stoves could get a catalytic converter, (after burner, or double burner) added to their top, with a bypass, for starting, and for burning green wood.
This could add alot of life to them.
This could reduce emissions, and improve effeciency, and such. Why not? I think even adding a small air inlet to provide oxygen to the afterburner could help.
I don't know all this. I just suspect it could work well.
N
Does it make you nervous with 2-heating appliances in the same flue. Is the top galvanized pipe your furnace/boiler?
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