As this place is a fountain of knowledge, particularly where stoves are concerned, I wanted to ask a question…

I’ve searched and can’t find anything in another thread so don’t think this has been asked before.

I’m getting a stove and understand that cast iron is used in stoves because it can be thicker and retains heat for longer. Many of the stoves I’m looking at also include steel in the chassis, I understand from the marketing blurb that this is possible because of modern manufacturing techniques.

But which is better? Cast iron, or a combination of cast iron and steel?

No hard a fast rule but AFAIA….

Cast iron: takes longer to heat up/start emitting heat but will gives off heat longer after the fire has gone out. Can crack and joints can open allowing air leaks which means less control of the fire.
Can be cast in pretty patterns if you like that sort of thing.

Steel: heats up quicker but also cools down quicker (you may be in bed by then though). Can warp in extreme conditions but will not crack/leak.

I have two Clearview stoves and the body is welded steel while the door is cast iron. No issues and Clearview have a very good reputation.
I’d stay away from anything with a steel door.
I was looking for a smaller stove and thought about a Morso Squirrel, but the number of stoves on eBay with cracked back plates put me right off.

McHamish

But which is better? Cast iron, or a combination of cast iron and steel?

It would surely depend on the grade, thickness and application of the material. If you plan on burning house coal I’d advise going for the thickest, burliest stove that you can as it can reach some insane temperatures and could crack lesser stoves.

But which is better? Cast iron, or a combination of cast iron and steel?

Neither. IMO.

Plate steel is generally thinner and as sharkbait says, will heat up quicker. However I’d wager you would never notice the difference.

If you plan on burning house coal I’d advise

House coal? Manufactured smokeless, anthracite (or steam coal), or wood.

http://www.greymetal.co.uk/ specialise in VFM steel plate convection stoves.

They over-PR the difference between convection and radiation stoves, but you get the idea.
http://www.greymetal.co.uk/installation-and-fitting-information-for-wood-burning-stoves-hot-water-central-heating/convection-vs-radiant-stoves.html?___store=english

Steel boxes are usually designed to heat air flow through them as opposed to the heating of thermal mass in cast iron stoves.

I have a cast iron Lacunza and a Charnwood with a combination of steel plate and cast iron bits. Both work fine.

I’ve got a Stovax with welded frame and cast doors, this does seem to be the best combination.

cast tec alberg here – welded body/frame and cast door.

my previous stove was all cast

previous stove although smaller – retained heat for longer…. how ever took longer to start radiating into the room fully and get the eco fan going(which means that the outer surface of the top of the stove wasnt getting warm as quick)….

now i dont know about you but when i come home at night – i want a warm house NOW – not in an hour 😀

Thanks All.

I went to a stove showroom on Saturday and have decided to get a wood only stove as there’s more space inside. I wouldn’t have burnt coal anyway.

I suspected I wouldn’t notice the difference, but wanted to be sure I knew what I was buying.

I’ve already started collecting wood as I’ve been removing trees in the back garden – I contemplated starting a thread about repairing a chipped axe as I made a bit of a schoolboy error and over shot a cut and hit a paving slab that I didn’t realise was in the earth.

I’ve got a Stovax with welded frame and cast doors, this does seem to be the best combination.

We liked the look of a Stovax stove which was a steel frame with iron doors – that’s the reason I started this thread really as I started searching for a similar full iron stove.

now i dont know about you but when i come home at night – i want a warm house NOW – not in an hour

That’s a good point…I tend to get home fairly late in the evenings, so don’t really want to wait for an hour before the stove starts heating the room.

My Stovax is slightly different as its a 8HB water jacket stove, bloomin brilliant it is too!

They have good back up and there are places that sell them cheaper, but they are difficult to track those places down.

I’m assuming your having it fitted by HETAS engineers tho?

The difference in heat up time is small. Even a 100% cast stove (Jotul) is heating well within 15 minutes if you start with small pieces of wood. More important criteria IMO:

Do you want to cook on it?
Do you want to be able to burn any type of wood? That means including pine.
Do you want to see the flames? I don’t but some do.
Is it the right size? Better run a small stove high than a big stove low.
Is it the right shape?
Is it efficient? So-called “double combustion”, which just means top and bottom air entry, burns cleaner and more efficiently.

Thanks for the queries…

Do you want to cook on it? – no, although I will heat up the odd mince pie in a few weeks.
Do you want to be able to burn any type of wood? That means including pine. Yes…any wood, but will ensure it’s appropriately seasoned.
Do you want to see the flames? I don’t but some do. – yes, would like to see flames
Is it the right size? Better run a small stove high than a big stove low. – I’m probably going to opt for a smaller 5kw stove as it’s going in the living room. But we are fitting French doors between to create a lounge/diner so won’t be too small.
Is it the right shape? – we’ve found one we like.
Is it efficient? So-called “double combustion”, which just means top and bottom air entry, burns cleaner and more efficiently. – I’d like it to be as efficient as possible. The stovax one we saw was supposed to be efficient but they probably all say that.

I’m assuming your having it fitted by HETAS engineers tho?

Yeah, we’ve found a local place that has good reviews. Quote came out at £3,500 including stove, flue and riven slate hearth.

The Stovax stoves seem to fit your needs fine then. My only reservation would be the maximum log size of 25 or 33cm for the 5kW models which means more work or more more expensive wood than a stove which takes 40 or 50cm logs.

Anyone got a ekol clarity? It’s both steel and cast iron by the looks of things.