If you have any knowledge, please extoll the greatness, or lack thereof, about the wood burning stove to us. I have always wanted to have a shop or cabin that had a good one. That being said, I don't know if they're worth a flip or not. Can you cook on 'em, do they heat the area properly, are they a fire hazard?

Who has experience with 'em?

You'd probably get more real answers on the THF.

Had one in Oklahoma. It was a more modern one with an electric fan that blew air across the smokestack inside the house. It really warmed up the entire house. Had a 2500 square foot single story. Didn’t have a stove top for cooking.

When I was a kid my grandfather had one at his camp. He couldn’t wait for the first cold front to come through every year so he could save money on propane. Used it for heating and cooking. Had an oven on the backside as well.

I would love to have a place where I could have one just like it.

I can't find my login over there.

A good thick pot belly stove will run you out if you keep it going. Cooking on one is fine if the top is flat, some have them where it’s not flat on top. I still remember back when I was a a little fellow and my great grandmother still cooked on one.

Many choices available. I used a Vermont Castings for my supplemental heat source. It does have a small area that can be used as a cooktop.

You can find cheap steel stoves up to beautiful stone stove that cost a small fortune.

I love the wood fire. The heat just seems more pleasing. I am less fond of splitting wood, emptying the ashes, and going outside for more wood on a cold snowy night. Mine tends to go out overnight…meaning starting a fire every day.

Wood has to be stored, covered, and brought in. It is dirty. Heavy.

Yep, that’s why I now have a remote to turn my logs on, I love my propane unvented logs, plus it makes the wife wear skimpy outfits at night…..

My neighbor has had one and used it for 30 years. Rarely uses his central air. Probably 1800 sq ft. He says he builds a good fire at bedtime and still has good coals in the AM. Just limits the air intake, prolongs the burn.

My FIL had one years ago….all I know is he stoked that SOB all evening. It could be 30 below outside and you’d be sweating in that man’s house. As soon as he went to bed, everyone raced to a window or door to cool that room back down!! Lol.

Probably on blood thinners. (your FIL)

I know exactly what you mean. My dad was the same way.

Those guys know a lot about wood.

Pretty much agree with comments above.
It's not the most efficient way to heat a house, and works better for a small cabin.
It will run you out once the fire gets going and the stove gets hot, but you'll have to tend to the fire more often as the colder it is.
Put a good log in before bed, and you should have coals by morning where you just chunk in some wood and get it going again.
Yes, it's dirty, and you get warm cutting wood, and again starting up a fire, but don't let it go out at 4:00 a.m. because it's hard to get up out of that warm bed, and light that stove if the coals go out.

My shop 65'x65' and I have one in it, that thing will make you sweat like a whore in church if you're within 30' of it while its going.

I considered putting one in my shop but the cost of the stove pipe alone was too high.