Very first insert.

[Brian S]

I have never posted here in this section but now is the time for my first. I've been burning in the fireplace for a long time with only a little Sears blower to recover any heat but I have wanted an insert for a couple of years. Not being able to justify the 2-3k expense from the local guys I got quotes from I have been watching CL closely for the past year and a half. Today it finally paid off. I just bought a lightly used Englander 24-JC/50-SHW20 complete with blower for $450.00.

Here is a link to the unit.
http://www.englanderstoves.com/24-jc.html

I really wanted a Lopi and I would have preferred a non cat unit, but for the money I can live with it and it seems very well built although a bit stodgy looking. Even with all the bad press I've read on the cat stoves I think there are literally 1000's of cat stove users who are perfectly happy and I hope I will be too.

If anyone has this model or similar I would like hear any info or feedback about thier experience(s).

Thanks!
Brian

 

[trek5900]

Congratulations. I think you will like it. You will be burning less wood and getting more heat.

I have a Shenandoah fireplace insert with ash tray and blowers. It does a good job of heating 1800 square feet. The ash tray keeps the mess down when taking out the ashes.

To keep the wife happy I use a plastic tub to bring the wood into the house. It does cut down on the dirt falling off the wood.

I hope your new insert works well for you.

 

[Ske-bum]

I looked at this manufactuer along with Lopi, before I bought my Pacific Energy. The catalytic thing has never been a issue, the fireplace can take 1000sq ft of area from 63 to a nice 68 on 4 small pieces of wood very efficent. I have a blower attached to a internal thermostat works like a champ.

Congrats on a good purchase...

One thing, I forgot that you may already know, is to let the fire get going really well before chocking it down. The catalytic stoves seem to really need this.

 

[Kansas]

My experience so far with Englander has been good, I agree they look clunky or simply built and not very attractive but solid. I bought a 13-NC last season it looks nearly identical to yours its a tiny bit smaller and non-cat but thats it. I paid around $1000 for mine I think?

I heat one end of a 1500sq ft ranch style house reasonably well. I do however have to reload it during the nite or it will go out before morning, thats the only thing about mine I dont like I wish it held more fuel.

The "air washed glass" they have seems to work pretty darn good as long as you have good draft the glass stays nice and clean we really enjoy still being able to see the fire and getting some actual use out of the fireplace. I think you got a real good deal it should serve you well!

Kansas

 

[A. Stanton]

Brian,
That sucker sounds like a good stove, judging by the weight. Look at the warranty. If it is a limited life time one, then you got a good stove. Here's a pic of my insert, fired up.

 

[Brian S]

Well I picked the monster up tonight, it is in the back of my pickup overnight until some strong backs can be wrangled up to help unload it. Now that I see it out of the fireplace I am even more impressed with the quality of construction. Once I get it out I'll get a pic of it.


Here is the pic.

Thanks for you words of encouragement.

 

[Brian S]

I got this thing starting to look pretty good. Its been sitting in the garage all week waiting till I could get it cleaned up and throughly inspected.

I think this combustor is reuseable, what do you think?

Just kidding of course, I will be ordering a new one. I took out the flame inpengement plate and the combustor housing for inspection but they are all OK. I also stripped out the fire bricks and cleaned out the guts reall good.

Next I scrubbed the whole thing down with simple green and a scotch brite pad, then a wipe with mineal spirits and a some masking. Last was a shot of Rustoleum 1K degree paint from my automotive spray rig. Here are some before and afters.

Here is the main unit before paint, and a closeup of the ash tray.

Door and blower, before paint.

Here are the after shots, still drying as I type this.

[

 

[KRS]

Nice looking unit; good job on the rehab !

KRS

 

[Rookie1]

Wow I thought it looked nice in the back of your pickup. Thats a great job of cleaning up.

 

[husky455rancher]

looks nice, i might be the only guy to ever do this but if i ever buy another new insert or reapint one. im gonna light it outside first before i bring it in the house. i remember the crazy fumes from the curing process. actually i had them just lastweek when i installed the woodstove in the cellar. the stove is well used but the pipe was brand new, man did that pipe smoke!

 

[iCreek]

Wow Brian, that thing is going to look brand new... Nice job. You sure are going to save some $$$, I love CL also... My parents recently had a new Pacific Energy insert install... here is a link to the final look.


http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=79147&highlight=pacific+energy

 

[Brian S]

Wow Brian, that thing is going to look brand new... Nice job. You sure are going to save some $$$, I love CL also... My parents recently had a new Pacific Energy insert install... here is a link to the final look.


http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=79147&highlight=pacific+energy

Man, that pacific insert sure is nice. Wish I could have one so nice but beggars can't be choosers!

 

[carvinmark]

Nice looking unit there Brian. You will enjoy it for many years.

 

[Brian S]

Well, the Englander is invading the living room with gobs of heat tonight!

Here is a pic from the inagural test fire. This is a small burn to cure the paint and check for smoke leaks. Everything is A-OK after a big hassle finding and modifying the correct parts to fit the unit into the flue.

So far my $$ investment is about $750.00 for everything needed to make this thing work. So far I'm just real happy with the results. Keeping the room nice and warm with windows open to evacuate the paint smell!

Hurrah!

I'll post another tomorrow after I clean up the mess and get my good camera back home.

 

[Rookie1]

Nice job I kinda forgot about your project. Looking at your painting pics refreshed my memory. Nice looking setup.

 

[Brian S]

Thanks Rookie, more pics to come after I fit up the backplate and trim, and clean up the mess!

 

[November Wolf]

You done a really nice job on that. It looks like a new stove now.

 

[Kansas]

Good job and all for $750 thats what this is all about low cost heating it will be paying you in no time!

Kansas

 

[fishercat]

nice work!

i never got any heat out ofa stove with the air control above the door.

 

[Brian S]

i never got any heat out ofa stove with the air control above the door.

The draft on this one is above the door and it makes the air wash work to keep the glass clean. The air goes in the draft slots, turns 90 degrees down and then a lip along the top plate above the glass causes the air to travel parallell to the glass then down to the bottom of the door where it turns 90 degress back toward the coal bed. I don't know if that made any sense but it works really well. I had two windows open last night to help with the smell of the paint and with about a 1/3 to 1/2 load and the draft in about the middle the house was in the mid 70's all night into this morning and there was a very large active coal bed at 7:30 this morning (last log was added around 11:00 p.m. last night). It wasn't very cold last night, I think it was 40 for a low but the stove still kept the house very comfortable.

Thanks for all your support and responses thus far. I'll have more and better pics later today.