Need advice on a new stove -- Hitzer? Harmon? Alaska?

Hell, I don't mind gettin beat up, keeps ya on your toes George --originally Hitzer would recommend running NO damper due to the stoves design & then the other designer A-holes got involved & walla, they recommended the MPD--then more criticism from who the hell knows who, but just to shut everyone up, it was easier to go with the BRAINIACS & not say much of anything as far as a damper goes--I can't swear to it but I think their recent owners manual, does mention a baro. Like I said before, I run nothing but an MPD & happily & safely so.

me neither!!!

fastcat wrote:

Bootstrap wrote:Why does he recommend a mpd only? I'm running a baro now but I will remove it and put a mpd in if I had a reason.

I'm not touching that with a 10' pole, I don't want to get beat up.

Guys, after a lot of consideration of your great advice, suggestions, and experiences, I settled on a DS Machine 1500WH. It was delivered and installled today!!!

Here's a pic of my new baby after the install:



Probably won't fire it till next weekend--taking an extra day off, so I'll be around three days to get to know'er.

You can see from the pic what I was saying about the low thimble. The collector hood in the pic is tied into the return side of my heat pump air handler. 10 of the 12 warm air circulater tubes on the top of the stove are directly under the hood--should work out pretty well. Can't see it well in the pic but there's a MPD up near the thimble.

Can't say enough about the folks at Blain Supply and their installer, Pequea Renovations. They were in and out of here in less than 90 minutes. Did a chimney inspection too, and found no issues. They were very careful about getting the stove through our finished TV room and into the unfinished area of the basement.

Thanks again to all of you who weighed in on the discussion!!! I'm sure I'll be around asking plenty of questions when I get it started.

MarkV,,,,, Nice stove and install. She looks really good there waiting to be fired up. Good luck with the new stove.

CapeCoaler wrote:Hopper...
Hitzer or DS Machine...

Hitzer 503 happy with device ... fireplace insert

just stick with MPD...
Had a baro but pulled it out with th DS...
Needed it with the harman...

fastcat wrote:

Bootstrap wrote:Why does he recommend a mpd only? I'm running a baro now but I will remove it and put a mpd in if I had a reason.

I'm not touching that with a 10' pole, I don't want to get beat up.

ditto" LOL

the hitzer in my experience in the past was a very well ,rounded stove soft coal a very little hard coal and a heell of a lot of various types of wood and just now wondering myself if there is a more versatile stove ,,and really loved the bimetal draft on it made it very cre free here in nw. oh. and the folks in kidron oh. where i bought it from were very helpful on all aspects of the stove ,and they do also carry blashak by the bag or skid at that time and when i get my new one i am leaning for the hopper fed coal stove but still doing all my research i can to make my dollar work for me if you know what i mean good luck and any other info out there on these stoves would be great ,good site !!!!!!!