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General: woodfuel cookers

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    • CommentAuthorremlap
    • CommentTimeAug 19th 2012
     
    Recently bought house and quickly got rid of old Esse oil range as it drank vast amounts of fuel. Kitchen now rather (!) chilly. Also have had to cut down a lot of huge old Sitka trees which were menacing the house. Need to do something with them...So does anyone have sage advice on woodfuel range cookers? Which are best for efficiency, log size, length of time beween fills and any other info you think might be needed
    Thanks!
    • CommentAuthorGBP-Keith
    • CommentTimeAug 19th 2012
     
    I would suggest staying with that brand but just change to a wood version. The Esse dedicated wood cookers have always looked the best choice to me but I had a range installed before these were easily available in the UK so I have no practical experience of them. I bet a few forum users have them and hopefully they will tell you how they are getting on with them soon. here is a link.

    http://www.esse.com/range-cookers/990/
    • CommentAuthorcrusoe
    • CommentTimeAug 20th 2012
     
    The continental cookers were always better for log length...Wamsler, Windhager, Tirolia, Tiba et al, and more innovative (down burn) but were more flimsily constructed then old iron-heart Esse and Rayburn. If it is a big-boiler model (ie central heating) then lifespan is proving shorter with the cookers than a standard DHW + heat-leak rad model.

    Also, Sitka is spruce I believe, so careful seasoning required. And whichever model, beware overnight burn if you don't want Roman candles coming from the flue. There is a continental cooker around now which is good but I can't remember its name. Will come back on that. Esse used to be the brand to beat but aren't my fave brand due to many failures in later models, but in fairness the solid fuel ones are more robust than most of the oil.

    Stanley also worth considering. Irish brand, built like a tank, iffy build quality aat times and was fairly agricultural, now a bit more refined since being bought by Rayburn.
    • CommentAuthorfinny
    • CommentTimeAug 20th 2012
     
    Cards on table.. I am an installer..
    From customers experience the Ironheart doesn't perform, Rayburns are designed to burn coal, again don't perform on wood..Italian ones have basic faulty/poor components. Wamsler are lohberger have best feedback..
    If you are only burning sitka then I hope you are only lighting it to cook, then letting it go out or you will have full time job feeding it! Other option is a Dutch type masonry range which will store heat from hot fast burns. You will have to whisper me for details as I have vested interests :wink:
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeAug 20th 2012 edited
     
    Posted By: crusoesince being bought by Rayburn
    Aga, Fired Earth also part of same group (Italian!)

    We have an oil Stanley, quite like it, but let down by some tacky plastic components. General vibe very ... Irish ... (wacky, uneven, inexplicable) if you know what I mean.
    • CommentAuthorcrusoe
    • CommentTimeAug 20th 2012
     
    Lohberger - that's the one. Thanks finny! kachelofen eh? :smile:
    • CommentAuthorwindy lamb
    • CommentTimeAug 20th 2012
     
    We've used wood for our cooking on a Rayburn for 10 years now, only one chimney fire but now I sweep the chimney EVERY month. Only worth considering if you have plenty of wood and the physical ability to cut, cart and stack it. Sometimes wish we'd bought a Lohberger.
    • CommentAuthorMartinH
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2012
     
    We have had an Esse W23 for nearly 4 years. It is the 6kW to water version and its output goes into an 850l thermal store.

    Max log length is 18". In the winter, it runs 24/7. I make it up in the evening and leave it on a normal air setting (ie not shut down so that it smoulders).By morning it has brned out, but there are usually enough hot embers in the ash to relight it very easily. I clean the flueways under the hotplate and around the oven 2 or 3x a year. Chimney keeps remarkably clean. No fires yet... We went for wood burning as we have our own supply and live in the sticks

    Haven't yet had to replace any firebricks either. The boiler is around a chamber above the firebox, so does not affect the combustion by keeping the firebox cool. I am told that Rayburns have a boiler around the firebox and so burn somewhat less cleanly.

    Overall, very pleased with it, cooks Xmas dinners very well! Keeps the core of the house warm and is v good for drying clothes too!. Only real niggle is that the main air control is inside the firebox door. It also smokes out of the door whe putting logs in - but this usually indicates that the flueways need cleaning!

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