Wood / Solid fuel burning stoves

1kvt396k · Post by **1kvt396k** » 18 Nov 2007, 15:24

Hi, first post coming up...

There's a Charnwood woodburner on ebay that I'm interested in. Here's the description -

We have recently refurbished our living room making this Charnwood wood burning and solid fuel stove redundant. Originally installed in 1981, it was working well up to the time of removal. It has a back boiler with an output of 26,000Btu. I understand that it can be installed without the back boiler, but you might need advice in isolating the back boiler from a heating engineer.

We don't need a back boiler, so I was wondering if anyone has any experience of removing a back boiler, the costs and amount of work involved and even if it's possible.

Thanks for reading.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 18 Nov 2007, 16:27

On most stoves they just bolt into the back of the firebox. You would probably only need a couple of blanking plates for the pipe holes. Check with Charnwood first, though.

And welcome One k (and the rest)!

Ken

Ballard · Post by **Ballard** » 18 Nov 2007, 16:28

I've been told you can just fill it with 'silver sand', apparently...

http://www.diracdelta.co.uk/science/sou ... ource.html

Bozzio · Post by **Bozzio** » 18 Nov 2007, 19:27

1kvt396k wrote:Hi, first post coming up...

There's a Charnwood woodburner on ebay that I'm interested in. Here's the description -

We have recently refurbished our living room making this Charnwood wood burning and solid fuel stove redundant. Originally installed in 1981, it was working well up to the time of removal. It has a back boiler with an output of 26,000Btu. I understand that it can be installed without the back boiler, but you might need advice in isolating the back boiler from a heating engineer.

We don't need a back boiler, so I was wondering if anyone has any experience of removing a back boiler, the costs and amount of work involved and even if it's possible.

Thanks for reading.

That's an enormous back boiler - almost 8kw.

It shouldn't be too hard to get off in theory but after years of use the connections may have welded themselves on and will need heat applied to get them to budge. A large spanner and brute force is usually all that is needed.

You can just leave the thing on though if you prefer, without water in it of course.

MisterE · Post by **MisterE** » 18 Nov 2007, 19:55

I got a funny feeling the charnwood is welded in place its part of the fire, that is why I didnt get one among other things. I could be totally wrong mind you. But the filling it with sand sounds like an easy option and I fail to see why it would not work

1kvt396k · Post by **1kvt396k** » 19 Nov 2007, 12:59

Thanks for the info guys - I'm trying to contact Charnwood for their take on things before I place a bid.

MisterE · Post by **MisterE** » 19 Nov 2007, 14:03

On another note if I was going to buy a stove, I'd want to go see that model working. Many dont give out the heat they state and worse they cna be very hard to shut down. My choice was clearview, fireview, morso, yorkshire dunsely, then you got a few others etc like chilli penguin etc.

Me personally I thought the charnwood was poor when I viewed it lit and this one was hard to shut down. Euroheat were also bad, and hunter were garbage. If I had to buy again I would purchase a clearview or fireview and have a smaller model and only heat hotwater and 1 heat leak rad (bathroom) and maybe one rad upstairs or two small ones. Based on 3kw spare after water is hot. These things really warm the home up if you have a good quality one, plus they seem to warm up the brickwork in your home and the home stays warm for a few days especially in October and early Nov or later march or april when you light the stove now and then.

eatyourveg · Post by **eatyourveg** » 19 Nov 2007, 14:58

Take a look at this little lot then:

http://www.rawheat.co.uk/phase_1.htm

I have seen one in action as my near neighbour is the maker. There is nothing to touch it. He is presently designing a range with back boiler, I have ordered mine.
I currently have a Woodwarm with back boiler, it has far too large an appetite for logs for less efficiency than the Dante. I may make an early morning raid to get one which I will hold to ransom until I get the Range.

MisterE · Post by **MisterE** » 19 Nov 2007, 15:49

You got any prices? Looks cracking, certainly adds another dimension to the clean burn by dragging the flames down. Watch the video it was cool

Ippoippo · Post by **Ippoippo** » 19 Nov 2007, 16:23

Grrr, can't watch the video at work

Will have to wait till I get home.

Must admit, the geek in me was being sold by that website.

On another note if I was going to buy a stove, I'd want to go see that model working. Many dont give out the heat they state and worse they cna be very hard to shut down. My choice was clearview, fireview, morso, yorkshire dunsely, then you got a few others etc like chilli penguin etc.

Hmmm, I'm having this problem trying to decide on one. It's hard to find reviews, especially for smaller ones (something that fits into a standard small open fireplace.... probably after some opening up of the space).

The issue I also have is finding someone (well, getting someone good) to do the opening up of the fireplace to make room for it. I went to see these guys (http://www.decorativeheating.co.uk/) , who also do the Chilli Penguin stoves. Chap seemed reliable enough, but again it would be good to see some third party reviews for my piece of mind

(Yes, I know I should be doing this myself... but I'd screw it up. I know my current limitations!

)

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 19 Nov 2007, 16:45

The Solid Fuel Association has a helpful web site:

http://www.solidfuel.co.uk/frame/main.html

Lots of useful information including safety advice.

MisterE · Post by **MisterE** » 19 Nov 2007, 16:52

Gav I'm in Pontypridd and if I wasnt up to my neck I'd come down and do it for you. Have you gone to Topstak 01446 771567 they got clearviews and fireviews up n running there and they are well priced, nice people. You could try Colin Laver heating in Treforest to look at stoves in the flesh, but I'd not buy from them, too pricey. Both of them though would probably give you a price to fit the lot and adjustments if you got cash to burn. I wish I could recommend a good builder bud, but most I know are rubbish. You need someone who is preferbly a bricky who can plaster too. It's an easy job, messy but easy

Mine was a tiny 600mm x 600mm hole for a gas back boiler it was as small as they get, the sledge soon changed that though

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 19 Nov 2007, 19:14

Hmmm beautiful job Mr E!!!!

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 19 Nov 2007, 20:00

He makes it look SO easy.

...if you got cash to burn...

I've got some $-bills and a log-maker

MisterE · Post by **MisterE** » 19 Nov 2007, 21:07

Muwhahahaaaa, honest if someone was there to do it with you, you'd be able to do it yourself from there on in. Money to burn rofl I got some thai baht to add to that fuel pile

PS I ws given a log maker, I've not used it yet, but dying to give it a blast.