Post
by ramblerboy2 » Sun. Nov. 25, 2012 11:15 am
Josh,
Did you look at the Stanley that Lehman's imports? It is similar in some respects to the Rayburn (insulated, all cast iron), vents vertically from the back of the stovetop, so no rear flue to push the stove off the wall, and costs thousands less than the Heartland.
If you travel to the UK fairly regularly, I'd try to buy a Rayburn there, if it's what you really want. The old solid fuel ones are plentiful. I believe (but you'll want to verify) that Rayburns, unlike AGA, are moved fully constructed. So you just need to get the thing crated and on a boat and a month or so later go pick it up at a port near Richmond. Probably some hassle but not impossible.
I really like that Zephyr, I understand what you mean about it sticking way out from the wall, but I'd assumed that was a given with any of these stoves because of the previously discussed NFPA guidelines and local codes. It's not old fashioned looking but, of course, the Rayburn isn't either.
Gonna have to look into these clearances; if a cookstove will need to sit 36 inches off the wall, or even 18, it's a no go for me, it would basically be in the center of the room! I'm hoping that if I strip any possibly combustable finishes from my brick kitchen chimney that I can site the stove quite close to the chimney as it is, presumably, non-combustable. I cannot believe that the solid fuel cookstoves that were installed in this kitchen for the first 50 years this house was standing were sticking way out into the room. Silly.
Josh