Wood / Solid fuel burning stoves

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 20 Nov 2007, 10:45

Re. Logmakers I found out the hard way that you have to soak the paper til it's really mush first. Then you have to be able to dry off the 'bricks' somewhere, apparently best to make your fuel in the summer. I did this one year and the summer was really cool and damp, the bricks went mouldy

but, when they eventually dried, they did still burn!

Ippoippo · Post by **Ippoippo** » 20 Nov 2007, 10:49

MisterE wrote:

Now that stage, I'm sure I could quite easily achieve on my own!!!

Anyway, thanks for references. Will dig that up.

Likewise, Aurora, thanks for your URL.

Compo · Post by **Compo** » 26 Nov 2007, 20:38

Hi Folks.
First post for me.

Interesting thread but I wonder if anyone with a Clearview 650 stove can confirm if it has a riddling grate - I don't think it does so was wondering if that's a bit of a nuisance or not. I've never owned a stove before so not sure how significant a riddling option is.

I'm looking to buy a multi fuel stove this week to run all our CH and DHW mainly using ordinary house coal. Have just thrown out our back boiler and open fire as it corroded and leaked and I've opened up the chimney breast to create an inglenook. So, currently no heating cept for an calor gas heater and the immersion tank for HW.

I've been looking at all sorts of multi fuel stoves with integrated boilers, namely the Hunter 8, the Stovax Stockton 8, the Dunsley Highlander 8 (this being our choice until I read about Clearview) and finally the Clearview 650, which I'm hoping to go and view in a showroom this weekend. My God they're not cheap are they

Does the Clearview with CH boiler have a thermostat? I was told it's a requirement to have one! But I've been told that much conflicting information so far, it's hard to know what is fact.

Anyone here running a Clearview for their CH and DHW?

MisterE · Post by **MisterE** » 26 Nov 2007, 21:15

Clearview 650 does not have riddling. For burning wood you dont need it I dont empty the ash pan for at least two months and then I keep the ash as its very expensive potash then if you've only burnt wood. Good for the garden and lots of other stuff you can even make lovely white soap with it. Back to the point though, I burnt half a ton of (free) anthracite last year worked a treat, dont know what coal is like. But if it was me I would get a dedicated parkray if I was only burning coal - all wood stoves of this size are big for burning coal you'll be throwing on lots. That said I've never tried coal on the 650 - wish I could be more help.

I would speak to clearview about it, they are pretty honest, they tried to flog me a cheaper and smaller stove but no I wanted the beast

Like I said wish I could offer more advice but I dont burn coal all I do know for wood its the dogs dangleys, my anthra burnt fine, but i do feel a riddling system would be better for it and a much smaller firebox for coal/anratha

Muwhahahahahaa regarding the rest of your post, its me 2yrs ago almost I done it at exactly the same time, freezing the family and installing in winter after the removal of our gas fire n back boiler a baxi deathwish. I run rad and hotwater. My mate down the street does exactly the same with the same clearview I got 27,000 btu boiler he has the 40,000, his does 8-10 rads no worries mine does 4. If I had my time again I'd only get a boiler for hotwater and a samller stove something from fireview and I'd run two rads off that. As that would burn less gear and provide plenty of heat too. That said the control on the 650 is awesome and fine does its job of heating the home brilliantly, hot water is hot and rads are toasty, turn the fire down and room is toasty, rads dont kick in and hot water is kept hot. Now these really excel with solar hot water it is the perfect combo

So if you got to buy a new tank make sure you pay extra and get a twin coil.

Compo · Post by **Compo** » 27 Nov 2007, 00:32

Thanks MrE. Cute dog btw. He looks very happy.

I plan for now to just rig up a stove to the current combined system of 4 rads and indirect tank in the loft - all running off 22mm. Should be 28mm and a separated water and rad system apparently but it will have to do for this winter and think about it again in the summer.

A CORGI/heating fella i know worked out that I needed 11Kw of heat, which includes the 4Kw into the living room (which sounds like a lot to me). I was going with the DunsleyHeat stove before I was told that. So then my research stumbled onto the ClearView 650 with a 27,000 BTU boiler and even a 40 odd one too! You allude to the firebox perhaps being on the large side for solid fuel. I wonder if the 650 is going to be too big for my needs then.

Mmmmmm decisions. I guess I do actually need to travel the 60 miles up the road to my nearest showroom to see the stove in the flesh before I decide one way or t'other.

Another thing, I don't plan to install a flue liner. My pre-60s brick chimney pulls fine (had an open fire until very recently). Don't wish to install a liner unless i need to have one. Money saved will offset the expense of the Clearview, if I go that route.

I'm amazed you only need to empty your ash pan once a month! I hope to use much less fuel (coal at ?8 and rising per 100cwt bag) when using a multi fuel stove.
On the open fire, we've been known to use up to a dozen bags per month in the depths of a really cold winter (North East Eng. climate). Expensive!

MisterE · Post by **MisterE** » 27 Nov 2007, 15:55

Yep its the 27,000 one I got. Also corgi I dont palce any faith in those jokers whatsoever, rate the man not the corgi card. I've sacked 3 corgi lads from my sites to date for unsafe practices. For kw rating again many are off their heads with this one its nonsense and the ratings are total overkill for a house. A 3 bed terrace can be heated and have hot water on 20,000btu easy and I reckon I could do it on 10,000! Do not get the 40,000btu you'll burn more and you only got 4 rads. Another thing with logs flames = central heating, slow burning when up to temp 350-500c = room heat. You cna also make the firebox smaller by putting two engineering bricks each side of it, I've done that for anthracite. A liner if you can do it yourself is a damn good investment and safety device. A flue fire will do nothing, would not even phone the fire dept in a 1 brick thick chimney, with a liner and filled with purlite. Shut it down and let it starve.

Defo go visit, the stoves you are talking about are the ones to have, all of them are good. Fireview have the most room to boiler options, I think clearview look the best though. Choices, choices

PS dont forget when you hook it up to your system that it must be vented. Also the clearview has 4 outlets not two, defo easier to install. Put a thermostat on the pipe, dont pay lots use a danfoss AT pipe/cylinder for only ?12 its plastic so you need to place it further away and hence alter the stat to suit ie set the 90c at 300mm from the fire, now your stat may be 1m away (like mine well 800mm) hence 65ish C there is 90 300mm away. That turns on the pump automatic for central heating. If you dont use 28mm then you'll need a pump on the dhw system too. Also put a single flow check valve on the flow of the 22mm to heating near the boiler ie out of sight pref but 1m ish from the fire/boiler. If you dont your rads will take all the heat by thermosphyoning even on 22mm. I really do prefer to use 28mm for the run of flow and return to tank as you dont need a pump and pump failer cant hurt the system then. Its all expense I know.

Just so you know

28mm runs and fittings cost me ?120 sell off at selco
Flue and purlite and fittings cost me ?150ish fluesystems.com

I skimped on the tank and thats my next mission a 3 coil 220 litre cylinder and solar panel.

Let us all know how you get on, and take plenty of pics

Compo · Post by **Compo** » 29 Nov 2007, 00:03

Interesting read there Mr.E, thanks.

I went to see a Dunsley Highlander 8 with the integrated boiler today. I think I'm going with that. I can get one for about ?900 which is not bad as most want to charge over a grand. (I wonder what the mark-up is on stoves)
To pay another ?700-ish for say a Clearview just doesn't seem to make logic with my wallet nor my sensible side. If i was just going to burn wood then it would be definitely be a candidate!
The firebox in the Dunsley has a riddling grate and seems more suited to coal ie. not as spacious as a more roomy wood burner. That's not to say it's no good for logs, more of a compromise I'd say.
Plus, I need to make a decision and tbh. Been doing too much reading up on everything stoves. "It's doing me head in!" I just want to get on with it now. Hopefully in time for xmas! Got to get on with the hearth before the stove arrives. Just going for a brick look. Nice, simple and rustic!

Photos! Yes indeed, a good idea. Wished I'd taken one of the original fireplace before I knocked it open.

Thanks for the heads-up re a pipe thermostat. I'll look into it. I'll probably leave the 22mm pipe in for the rads, as it will be pumped anyway. I plan to run some 28mm along side purely for the HW - saves a bit of work and cash at the same time, but as I say, hopefully I can get away without doing that until after the cold season. I'll wing it, as they say!

Thanks again.

hardworkinghippy · Post by **hardworkinghippy** » 29 Nov 2007, 00:16

We recently lit our stove for the winter.

What a joy to cook and simmer and move heavy pots over and have a fast oven and be able to dry everything and walk about in bare feet again.

Cycloloco · Post by **Cycloloco** » 29 Nov 2007, 00:58

hardworkinghippy wrote:We recently lit our stove for the winter.

What a joy to cook and simmer and move heavy pots over and have a fast oven and be able to dry everything and walk about in bare feet again.

What happens if you drop hot liquid on your bare feet in your kitchen?
What happens if you drop the whole heavy pot?
I think you need steel-capped boots. (Expect poorer medical services after peak oil hits.)

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 29 Nov 2007, 02:54

Cycloloco wrote:What happens if you drop hot liquid on your bare feet in your kitchen?
What happens if you drop the whole heavy pot?
I think you need steel-capped boots. (Expect poorer medical services after peak oil hits.)

You learn to move your feet quickly!!

MisterE · Post by **MisterE** » 29 Nov 2007, 08:57

kenneal wrote:
Cycloloco wrote:What happens if you drop hot liquid on your bare feet in your kitchen?
What happens if you drop the whole heavy pot?
I think you need steel-capped boots. (Expect poorer medical services after peak oil hits.)
You learn to move your feet quickly!!

Muwhahahahahahahahaaaa Exaclty! No wrapped up in cotton wool on this forum

MisterE · Post by **MisterE** » 29 Nov 2007, 09:14

Compo, I had my stove cheaper than most. That said yes its a fair jump from the dunsely. You can never ever do enough reading, when your system works ace and serves you for years whilst others have stoves that cant be shut down, run fast and burn fuel like no tomorrow then remember that was your research that stopped that happening to you. The Highlander was one on top of my list the reason I think I didnt get it (I'm not 100% mind you long time ago now) was that the boiler was integral and a welded part of the fire ie when it goes due to rust then you either have to bin the whole fire or it may be able to be repaired by a black smith. With the clearview and a few others not many, the boiler is inside but seperate hence it can be removed and replaced. Not only that it can be removed and you could give it to a blacksmith and ask them to make you the same one but in copper. Becasue it cna be removed you can alter it at anytime if for some reason you move and take it with you and need a 40,000 btu or 10,000 you can drop that in. Phone Dunsley and ask. That said the higherlander is a great stove, and sounds more suited to your needs. I really would look at the fireview range too and see if they do any with riddling.

http://www.metaldevelopments.co.uk/wood ... e=Fireview

PS I know how you feel, been there myself except no-one was there to even offer me basic advice, I spent 3 months looking at nothing but brochures and fires - done my head right in the criteria that I found which was essential for me was;

Can be shut down - ie has a good reputation for being air tight

Seperate Boiler - not welded in place can be changed at a later date

4kw to room 6kw to water (had to compromise this for a clearview got 6kw to room and 7kw to water - but that is the stove running full blast which you dont do as you'll burn all your gear in a month

Happy hunting and keep at it, its a buyers market, once spent its gone and money is too hard to earn to waste so research until you say YES that is what I need for my set up. If that is the highlander 8 then your done, like I said it is a good stove

Compo · Post by **Compo** » 29 Nov 2007, 17:36

Here's a photo of where a I am as i type.
I should have taken one a month ago showing the old open fire. It was a 16" opening with a back boiler and a cast iron surround. If you look, you can see where the soot has collected on the back wall, outlining the shape of the old chimney. It had been narrowed to form a narrow throat all the way beyond the arch. I had to remove quite a lot bricks to reveal the original opening you see now. I've been itching to do that for years and return the place back to original. I had always been intrigued to know what lay behind there and so I now know. Thankfully there were no bodies!

I've got a bit of work to do to get the opening finished and the hearth prepared but it's a bit of no brainer - prolly start this weekend.

Thanks for your comments Mr.E. Glad to read I'm no the only stove anorak. I hear what you say about the removal boiler - sounds like an excellent idea - which is/was part of the attraction with the Clearview. You've got me thinking again, so I'm not gonna part with the cash until I've at least seen the Clearview on Saturday. I hope it's crap! It'll help me finalise my decision to save the cash and go for the Dunsley.

Had a look at the Fireview stoves. Very nice gear and not badly priced. Seem to only be single door though. We want double doors. I do like their boiler variations. Quite versatile with all the combinations they do.
I bet they give Clearview a run for their money.

Calor gas heater - our only real heating appliance at the moment!
Also, no dogs in this pic but I have my cat - she's not amused by all the up heavel

MisterE · Post by **MisterE** » 29 Nov 2007, 17:49

That room will look stunning with a stove. Also same chimney set up as mine. But no segmental arch. In mine believe it or not was a massive stove with full cooking facility all cast iron, long gone it was my nan told me about it her mother had one of the houses in the street I'm living in. Tell you what though buddy you seem very handy on the tools, put yourself in a flue, you dont want to do that at a later date and the fire will benefit no end. You'll sort it for around ?180 tops. Wife is shouting for my dinner, its all looking good

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 29 Nov 2007, 21:08

Compo wrote:............so I'm not gonna part with the cash until I've at least seen the Clearview on Saturday. I hope it's crap!

You're out of luck there, Compo. We had one, which we used hard every day during the winter, for six or seven years. We passed it on to our daughter and son-in-law and they , after putting new liners in and door seals, are using it now and it's still going strong. The Clearview is very good.