Got a big drafty victorian house, so I need some serious BTU's - 70K or above.
What are your thoughts on cast iron vs. steel vs. soapstone vs. whatever?
Would also like:
- good fire control. Stove needs to be tight, and dampers work well.
- outside combustion air. Don't want to suck out the warm air from the room.
- easy ash removal. I like my old 'Charter Oak' stove out in my shop - it's got a coal grate which allows/clinkers for the ashes to drop down below, where I can open another door to scoop out the ashes. Stove can be going full blast while emptying out ashes.
- Top or side loading as well as front.
I can't seem to find a stove with ALL of those features. The old-fashioned parlor and pot-bellied stoves don't have outside combustion air control, and don't seem to be very tight, but they do have the easy ash removal, and some are large enough.
Thanks in advance!
What are your thoughts on cast iron vs. steel vs. soapstone vs. whatever?
Would also like:
- good fire control. Stove needs to be tight, and dampers work well.
- outside combustion air. Don't want to suck out the warm air from the room.
- easy ash removal. I like my old 'Charter Oak' stove out in my shop - it's got a coal grate which allows/clinkers for the ashes to drop down below, where I can open another door to scoop out the ashes. Stove can be going full blast while emptying out ashes.
- Top or side loading as well as front.
I can't seem to find a stove with ALL of those features. The old-fashioned parlor and pot-bellied stoves don't have outside combustion air control, and don't seem to be very tight, but they do have the easy ash removal, and some are large enough.
Thanks in advance!