Woodstock Soapstone Blog

As we noted in an earlier post, we are taking a slight detour in our Race to Zero.  We are testing older stoves made in the 1970s and 1980s.  Stoves which were made with little technology to reduce emissions or improve efficiency. Huntsman Stove - Before the Makeover Our first test stove is a “Hu..

In the beginning, there was a thought, and that thought grew into an idea, which became a project. And that was good.  We here at Woodstock Soapstone are always creating, tinkering and thinking outside the firebox.  There are a lot of old woodstoves still in service that predate EPA regulations...

A recent visitor to our factory graced our facebook page with a beautiful collage of pictures taken during a tour.  You can view the page here. We are thrilled our visitors shared their pictures.  We thought we would take a moment to share them with you, and hope you enjoy them as much as we do. If..

The temperatures have dropped and it is freezing outside!  At least it is where we are.  This is when it is especially important to optimize your wood stove, to get maximum heat and enjoyment for minimal wood usage. To really get the utmost benefits from your Woodstock Soapstone Stove, it is import..

When there is a major storm in the forecast, it means many of us may loose our electricity.  This is when it is very, very nice to have a Woodstock Soapstone Stove.  Water can be heated on a wood stove, but I can also cook dinner on my wood stove.  This is a wonderful thing, especially when the powe..

A welcome correction (0.5 g/hr emissions!) is more good news. We initially reported a weighted average emission (the number the EPA reports) of 0.7 g/hr.  An error was made.  Our weighted average emission is actually 0.5 g/hr. This is, of course, very good news!  Results of individual runs and ..

We are celebrating the introduction of our new Absolute Steel Hybrid’s arrival onto our website by offering a huge discount to our customers. Check out our website for all of the wonderful details regarding the new Absolute Steel Hybrid stove and the big introductory sale now in progress. When y..

John Rahill, Winner of the Absolute Steel Hybrid John Rahill is the winner of our Absolute Steel Hybrid Drawing.  When we first spoke with John, he thought we were making it up, and was not sure of the win.  His friends mentioned they read about him winning the Absolute Steel Stove, which warm..

We are celebrating the big drawing today!  The survey has closed, the ratings have been tallied and the comments have been read.  We greatly appreciate your time, effort and your opinions towards our Absolute Steel Hybrid. Drum Roll Please........ The winner of the Absolute Steel Hybrid St..

As mentioned in yesterday’s blog, we have tallied the results of our New Design Survey and the top three are: “Au Naturel,” the “Cottage,” and the “Prairie,” in that order. In reviewing the comments, we were surprised and intrigued by the spectrum of  opinions and ideas.  Some folks felt the de..

The preliminary results are in from our Design Survey.  We want to thank everyone who participated.  We appreciate you taking the time to share your opinions and comments.  Almost 600 people ranked and commented on our proposed designs, with over 1,800 comments.  This was a very, very helpful proces..

Our newest Hybrid wood stove (now known as the Absolute Steel Hybrid) passed the EPA testing with flying colors.  The EPA standard, expected no later than 2020, is for a residential wood stove to have a weighted average of approximately 2.0 g/hr.   Our new Absolute Steel Hybrid passed the test at ap..

Not everyone looks forward to tax time, but we have GOOD NEWS!  The Federal Government is providing an opportunity for you to receive a tax credit of  $300.00 for wood burning stoves purchased and installed in a primary residence.  The credit is retroactive for 2015 purchases and installation..

Exciting News!  Our Commander-in-Chief, Tom Morrissey, has been in Quebec, Canada, testing our newest steel hybrid for EPA certification and UL listing. The first of the EPA testing, the high burn test, went very well (data coming soon).  Another EPA test is on the calendar for tomorrow, and ..

We are still working on our designs and changes to our beta designs. Thanks to everyone who responded to our Design Preview and Survey!We had almost 600 surveys and over 1700 comments so far on our beta designs. The Tall Shaker design has elicited the most number of comments and questions. Based on ..

These are projected dimensions and specifications for our new steel hybrid.  They won’t change much, but as noted below don’t build a hearth or install a chimney thimble based on these specifications.  EPA testing is scheduled to begin in 3 weeks, with UL testing (clearances) following immediately t..

Below is data from 2 Cordwood High Burns (which followed the Cordwood Cold Starts on 11/24 and 11/27 – see previous posts).  These are R & D Tests.Each load was about 25 lbs. (in a 2.5 cu. ft. firebox).  The fuel was all Hard Maple with average moisture content of 22%.The 11/24 High Burn started whe..

Here are answers to a few of the questions asked about our cold start post:1. Are you using special kindling or fire-starter?No, we generally use the same hemlock 1x4s that we use to crate stoves.  We get the same results if we split test wood (+ 22% moisture maple) into kindling and shavings, but t..

We have shared “beta” aesthetic designs for our new hybrid, and we also plan to share “beta” test results for those who are interested.  This is the first of what will be several posts about beta emissions/efficiency testing for our new (and still nameless) Model 211 Hybrid, which is scheduled for E..

Form & Function! As a wood stove manufacturer it has always been important for us to produce stoves that will perform year after year to keep you warm, as well as compliment the home. The wood stove is often a central fixture and the majority of our customers want a design that will look good all ye..