With the ranco stat and $50 in adding insulation, I still like some of the basic things that sold me on the Shaver, grate with forced draft from the bottom, thick firebox, simple design that I can repair myself if needed. The crude look on the outside doesn't bother me.
After a few easy mods, is there really that much difference in any of the non epa stoves, I'm thinking 1-2 cord difference in wood consumption over the course of a winter? When your cutting 12 cord, another cord or two either way isn't that big a deal.
If the new epa stoves get perfected and use half the wood, in 5 years or so maybe I would change to one of those, or ground source heat pump system.
With buying 12 cord every year in 8' lengths I figure my break even point is 3 years, if I cut at least some of the wood from my own property even less.
I was planning on cutting most of it from my property once I get a year or 2 ahead, but with some help, cutting up a semi load (12 cord) delivered in 8' lenghts goes really fast. We did it in a weekend this year.
I would much rather support our local loggers than the arabs.
Anyway I'm sort of rambling, any thoughts, on my thoughts, on not all that much difference in any of the non epa stoves? or am I out in left field?
