DS Stove replacement load doors

[hank2]

Early this year there was some discussion on rigging for wood burning on DS Circulator models. Or just getting some quick easy overfire air on coal after a shakedown. Not a lot of DS Circulator users still on here but I wanted to pass on a bit of skinny.

I had sent a message to DS Stoves (used to be called DS Machine) asking about their old New Style Champion load doors and availability. They still do have them as well as the Circulator doors. Also, glass for both. I did find out for certain that the intake spinners on the NSC load door are indeed functional intake vents. At least the ones they sell now are. In the past some have said they are and some said they are not.

I'm not sure which way I'm going with coal burning this coming heating season. I have a half ton left over so I may add a bit to that and just run for a month or two this Winter. Maybe occasionally do a little bit of wood burning if I ever get my saw working right and get after a bunch of dead falls. Old man body sez screw that! I believe my load door has a slight bit of warp to it for some years. Also, would need some over fire air for wood burning. For coal it would still be nice to have overfire air after a shakedown and reload. I can deal with closing off the bottom air intake to a crack. Still wouldn't be a great woodstove but I think it would work. Even for coal, I'd have a new door and glass. Cost would be $239 for a new NSC door unpainted with glass. They mentioned a 10% discount. A new circulator door, unpainted with glass, is just slightly more. I have a 1400 circulator, but the door fit all 4 sizes.

[Hoytman]

If possible and both style doors fit your stove, then I’d opt for the door that has the air control knobs…because options are great…regardless of which fuel you decide to burn.

Better to have the controls and not need to use them, than to not have them and wish you did.

Yes…it sounds like the NSC stoves are an older stove than the Circulator stoves, but I’d opt for the NSC simply because it is more functional…regardless of the NSC being older model stoves. If they fit your Circulator, then they fit…and that’s a good thing.

As far as I know I believe the Circulator stoves are now obsolete as well as newer models are available.

[davidmcbeth3]

Could you just drill and install closable vents into the doors yourself , to save that $$...worst thing is that you buy the doors anyways if a failure is noticed.

[Hoytman]

Could you just drill and install closable vents into the doors yourself , to save that $$...worst thing is that you buy the doors anyways if a failure is noticed.

Good suggestion if parts are available and the cost is offset enough to do it himself.

Then all that is needed is the capability to do it (the know-how, 2 factory spinner knobs, 2 bolts, 4 nuts that go with the spinners, and a welder and drill/bits). A great option and suggestion.

He still needs to buy a door because his is warped. He’ll have to decide to whether to do it himself or buy it already made.

[hank2]

Good suggestion if parts are available and the cost is offset enough to do it himself.

Then all that is needed is the capability to do it (the know-how, 2 factory spinner knobs, 2 bolts, 4 nuts that go with the spinners, and a welder and drill/bits). A great option and suggestion.

He still needs to buy a door because his is warped. He’ll have to decide to whether to do it himself or buy it already made.

I understand what you're saying, but the door on a DS Circulator model has no margin room to install any DIY vent controls. The glass area is nearly the whole door. My old door has just a slight warp (I think) but I can still seal it up good by tightly locked it down. I am thinking about the DS NSC door just to make it useable for occasional wood burning. It would also be helpful in coal use, since I crack the load door slightly anyhow after shake and reload until I get some blues.

[hank2]

If possible and both style doors fit your stove, then I’d opt for the door that has the air control knobs…because options are great…regardless of which fuel you decide to burn.

Better to have the controls and not need to use them, than to not have them and wish you did.

Yes…it sounds like the NSC stoves are an older stove than the Circulator stoves, but I’d opt for the NSC simply because it is more functional…regardless of the NSC being older model stoves. If they fit your Circulator, then they fit…and that’s a good thing.

As far as I know I believe the Circulator stoves are now obsolete as well as newer models are available.

Yeah, I was sort of surprised they still had some of the NSC doors. That was a basement stove that's been out of production for a good while. I'd guess more than 10 years. I think it might have had circulator tubes on one side. Or maybe it was a cabinet surround. Since they interchange on the DS Circ. the NSC would be a non brainer to me if I replace it. The glass area is much smaller on the old NSC door that on the Circ's.

The Circulator models have been discontinued for the second time, last year. They brought them back once before, likely due to dealer demand. The hand fireds they market now are great stoves but they cost more than twice what the circulators did. I'd guess they didn't want to compete with themselves?? The old line up of hand-fired stoves, Riteway 37 copy, water heaters, vealers, etc. seems to be on a somewhat hidden listing. I've noticed that the name changed from DS Machine to DS Stoves a while back. Maybe to set it apart from the rest of their iron and fab shops?

I posted up about it because there had been conflicting info given on these forums before about whether the NSC feed door had real air vents. It does. They used to put fake spinners on the ASH doors and mine is old enough to have them. There might be a few of us Circulator users still checking in here once in a while.

[KingCoal]

DS circulator users in short supply you say ?
I’m still out here in flyover country making a go of it.
I missed this thread back when it was active, did a search for replacement doors and it popped right up.
Thanks for the heads up on the pricing though I wonder if that price is just the door itself and glass or the frame as well ?
I’m pretty sure I’m going to do some more work on FRANK before burn season. As in discard the double heater panels since they are just too much now with all the house updates and put doors on both the side walls to have my version of a mica radiator.
My wife is living with her 93 year old Mom in Colorado as her only caregiver ( don’t know how long, could be several years, you just don’t know these things )
And I’m here on my own, working very part time and bored to death the rest of the days
Hope you all have or can get coal as or if you need it.
Thanks
steve

[mntbugy]

Still have/use old reliable, a 1500.


Steve,
Hmmm.... Doors on boths sides or just glass picture windows. A new to you 'night light'. Turning your stove into a "pimp" moblie.

[hank2]

DS circulator users in short supply you say ?
I’m still out here in flyover country making a go of it.
I missed this thread back when it was active, did a search for replacement doors and it popped right up.
Thanks for the heads up on the pricing though I wonder if that price is just the door itself and glass or the frame as well ?
I’m pretty sure I’m going to do some more work on FRANK before burn season. As in discard the double heater panels since they are just too much now with all the house updates and put doors on both the side walls to have my version of a mica radiator.
My wife is living with her 93 year old Mom in Colorado as her only caregiver ( don’t know how long, could be several years, you just don’t know these things )
And I’m here on my own, working very part time and bored to death the rest of the days
Hope you all have or can get coal as or if you need it.
Thanks
steve

Steve, if you check my original post the prices I was quoted by DS for the doors includes the glass. I still haven't replaced my door, good chance I won't bother. The prices and availability were from a few months ago. The new DS circulator stoves were "temporarily" discontinued for the second time. Also the Riteburn
and some others. The high dollar models are offered.

Hope you keep yourself amused. Good of your wife to do that for her mom.

Wasn't that you that got a trailer load of Jeddo last year? How does it burn for you?

[KingCoal]

Hi Hank
Thanks for the reply and confirmation on the pricing.
The Jeddo I got last year is some of the best I’ve ever had. Easily equal to the LeHigh I had before that.
I’ll need to either find out if anyone I know has a plasma cutter or get one of my own before I get serious with the doors.
I have access to an O/A set up but I’d prefer not to have to do a lot of grinding
If I fasten the frames to the sides I can use the inside of the flange as the cut guide and just trace the cut along side it
We’ll see how it goes

PS anyone know of a 110v compressed air plasma cutter that’s worth buying ?