Wood burners

[kreyszig]

I'm beginning to look at wood/multifuel burners as my roofer has decided to resurface, and our stainless liner is probably going to go in during the next week.
I am looking for around 5kw
Only recently I realised that a well known auction site has a) a reasonable amount of used, well-known branded (morso, esse, etc) burners at a good price (often needing the odd part replacing) and b) a variety of very ornate cast iron and enamel finished vintage burners, some of which need resealing or new mica etc which I would be fine with doing.

The latter are very appealing stylistically, and I imagine the technology hasn't changed a whole lot since they were in more common use. I am on a pretty limited budget, hence the ebay/mild refurb route. Any recommendations (modern or vintage), or stoves to steer clear of? Our chimney sweep has advised against a little wenlock for example, as he reckons they are a nightmare to clean.
The burner will be used in place of an open fire in a sitting room, i.e there is a chimney recess. I don't have dimensions to hand, I guess the opening is about 4ft6 high and about 2ft6 wide.
I would be particularly interested to hear tales of over the top ornate burners!

 

[plasticpigeon]

I think it would be a shame to remove the original insert, your house is so grand and untouched on the whole.

 

[kreyszig]

Don't worry, nothing original is coming out!
By recess, I just mean there is a recess in the wall in which to put a burner. The open fire is just a hearth made from square reddish coloured clay tiles, and it looks recent (and is also raised about a foot inside the fireplace for some reason). There is a wooden egg and dart fire surround, which will stay for now, but it isn't original. Judging by the skirting, the fire surround has replaced a wider one at some point, and there is fire cement behind the wooden surround that tapers out into to the full fireplace recess.
I'll put a picture up in a bit!
I suppose some tips on hearth re/construction wouldn't go amiss either, I am not a fan of the current red tiles, and could get a taller burner in if I re do the hearth.

here we are (you can see the fireplace is wider than the surround) you can also see some "clever" electric wiring going on if you look carefully
(please excuse the fairy lights. they looked nice in the evening, I promise!):

 

[livias]

If you want to actually use the burner for heating rather than just for decoration then you should put it in front of the fireplace rather than in it. That way the heat will go into the room rather than up the chimney

 

[kreyszig]

Or I could use a closure/register plate?

 

[Ebenezer]

Putting a woodburner in front of there would ruin it completely and look odd IMO. Just put it in with a plate like you say. I think your stove installer would put one in anyway.

 

[kreyszig]

Putting a woodburner in front of there would ruin it completely and look odd IMO. Just put it in with a plate like you say. I think your stove installer would put one in anyway.

I'm putting it in myself so, yes, that is exactly what they would do
I have been thinking along the lines of this sort of thing (made by the company that became Esse):

 

[Zebra]

Very happy with my 5kW Villager which came, seller-refurbished, from Ebay for I think around £360, although I spent much more on flue, register plate, pot, cowl and all the bits...

Don't think I could have that one in the living room - it has teeth!

 

[kreyszig]

Don't think I could have that one in the living room - it has teeth!

I've changed the picture since, that one was a live ebay listing and I don't want it getting nicked! The one above is the same though.
I like the teeth - they're hidden in the picture above sadly. here's another one showing them:

 

[Ebenezer]

Putting a woodburner in front of there would ruin it completely and look odd IMO. Just put it in with a plate like you say. I think your stove installer would put one in anyway.

I'm putting it in myself so, yes, that is exactly what they would do
I have been thinking along the lines of this sort of thing (made by the company that became Esse):

Wow I love that. It would look great in your fireplace! Is it new?

Here's mine, although it looks the part it's terribly ineffiecient and far too large (14KW!) for the room. I'm looking at getting a something 5KW that won't look too small for the fireplace.

 

[plasticpigeon]

The one you like the look of is a genuine reproduction called the "Queen"!! Here is a pic in an old catalogue. Also I have one picture of a stove in situ which might be interesting.

 

[kreyszig]

Thanks pp! The stove I'm looking at isn't a reproduction; it's a refurb (so I'm told!) What date is the catalogue may I ask?
Great find, thanks again!
Ebenezer, I think over speccing the stove seems to be a common mistake. I liked the look of the esse dragon, it's too big for our fireplace and puts out about 8kw, could be with a look? Most 5kw stoves I've seen are tiny, unless quite modern in style. I like the look of yours - how does not having a window affect your enjoyment of the stove?
Esse dragon: http://www.thehotspot.co.uk/Images/Esse/STOVES/woodburning_multifuel/esse_dragon_stove.gif

 

[plasticpigeon]

Sorry, I didn't realise it was genuine old.

I'm not sure of the date, but the first catalogue was printed in 1895, so after that. I'm sure I read it was from 1897 but i can't find any evidence of that now, but it will be from around that time.

 

[kreyszig]

Yep genuine old, I hope so anyway. It even cooks!
Looks like those dates would fit the house ok, could be a goer...

....carpus maximus. Looks like there's a company doing repro versions of that stove after all, I bet the one I'm looking at is just such an item...

 

[88v8]

. I'm looking at getting a something 5KW that won't look too small for the fireplace.

The Esse 100DD is 24" wide, and the only 5kw stove that takes 15" logs.
Wouldn't look silly in your fireplace. Projects heat well.
Not cheap, but...

Ivor

 

[88v8]

....carpus maximus. Looks like there's a company doing repro versions of that stove after all, I bet the one I'm looking at is just such an item...

If so, just as well.
Esse are no longer providing spares for the Dragon, otherwise I would have bought one. The problem with old stoves, they've often been overheated, are cracked &/or distorted and no longer airtight and therefore uncontrollable. And no spares available.
Wouldn't dream of buying one unseen.

Although I have recently bought a used Clearview Vision to join the used Clearview Vision we already own. They don't have a Period look, which to me is a big issue, but they are a superb stove.

In the 5kw line, I would have the Clearview 400. Depending whether it looks 'right' in the fireplace. Visually, it's a typical 5kw box with a small frontal aspect, and can look quite lost in a wide fireplace. Functionally, I'm sure it's superb.

The aesthetics matter, or should, in a Period home.

Ivor

 

[davidbrac]

we recently bought a wood warm, fireview , great stove really please with its heat and efficiency. http://www.woodwarmstoves.co.uk/products/fireview-range/6kw.ashx. However it does not have the looks you are looking at.

However l would get a wood stove fan as they really move the heat around the room http://www.ecofan.co.uk/woodstove-ecofans.html

as we put the stove in the fire place we didn't have room for one of these fans but followed the principle and put a ceiling fan in and switched it into reverse mode. It pushing all the heat in our high ceilings down to us

 

[plasticpigeon]

yes, if a company is making repros, so much the better, at least you can get spares, and you don't need to pay a premium for an antique. i know the Victorian society encourage people to buy repro fireplaces and surrounds to try and dampen the trade in period items as they are better left in peoples homes, although it seems to me that that attitude might backfire and cause more genuine stuff to go in the skip rather than the reclamation yard. i bought a repro Stovax insert. It looks identical to an original,I haven't put it in yet but I like it. the French Godin stoves are very attractive.

 

[kreyszig]

Wow, thanks for the info people. I suppose it makes sense to encourage these things to stay in place. I am very glad to hear that putting a non-antique in is not frowned upon!
My consultation period was short lived in the end - I went for the stove I linked to earlier, it should be with us in a week or so. I have no idea of the heat output but they were used by Gypsy caravans for all sorts apparently, so it should do for a living room.
Plus, it is reassuringly terrifying! (small though)

The french enamel stoves are beautiful, Godins are lovely. Found a great shop here http://www.stovehunters.com/stoves-for-sale/index.html but they are a bit more £ than I've got to spend.