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[Bud Man]

New member here but I've been lurking for months. Wanted to let you know that, thanks to this website, I purchased a BL 2840 yesterday from  Southern Portage and Main in Eagle Lake Mn. Luke is a great guy to work with. He has it at his place and I will be picking it up in 2 or 3 weeks.

[Coyote556]

I have been talking with Luke also.  He is a hell of a good guy and I would recommend him.  I still have not made my mind up, but leaning toward a BL3444.  I started learning about P&M on here from Slim and all the others.  I had initially thought I wanted a CB, but not anymore.  Now it is down to P&M and Heatmaster E series.  Luke was my closest P&M dealer, thats why I went to him.  I can't say enough good stuff about this site. 

[Bud Man]

Coyote, Luke is a great guy, fun to talk to and work with. Glad I found this site, P&M and Luke.
I have a good friend in Illinois that has been running a Heatmaster 10000(I think it's a 10000) for 3 years now and is happy with it. He runs it year round to heat his house, shop, DHW and in the summer his swimming pool.
I decided on the P&M because, to me, it seems to be built with more attention to detail and the design of the BL series. I didn't want to go with a gasser for my first boiler because of what I understand to be a "learning curve"(read that as"I'm a little slow")haha.
I read in another post you're from Mo. I'm in Iowa, just west of Des Moines. If you decide on a P&M in the next 3 weeks I could pick up your's when I get mine and save you some miles and or freight.

[Coyote556]

I have another buddy down here that is also considering P&M.  If all goes well we are going to go up and get them together, but thanks for the offer. 

The heatmaster 10000e is the only other consideration for me.  Now I have to decide.  I like P&M heat exchanger better but I like the stainless on heatmaster too

[Crow]

Congrats on the purchase Bud Man.

[Bud Man]

Thanks, Crow. I see you have the same unit as what I just bought. Any suggestions I need to know?

[racnruss]

Man!  can Portage and Main build these things fast enough?  Everybody is buying one.   I'm about to buy one and can't even use it, I just want on this bandwagon so bad.

Could I justify buying a BL series and just putting it in the garage next to the Aprilia and calling it garage art?

[slimjim]

  Seems reasonable to me!

[Crow]

  Bud Man, before I installed the BL I was a wood burning virgin. (campfire and bonfire enthusiast/pyro only)  As far as suggestions for the boiler goes not really, this thing is easy to operate and maintain. This has been a long winter but I think I might actually miss the cold

 They have sold a pile of them and there is a good number of members here with them although not all using them yet, and I can't recall a thread with somebody having problems.....yet. Only time will tell but there is always someone who will have issues. 

  I think the planning/installation of your system is as important, if not more important than the unit purchased. Put in the best quality underground pex you can ( I would not want to do it twice) and pour a pad to put the boiler on large enough to stand on when servicing and cleaning. This is assuming you don't already have a boiler and are replacing it.
 
  You have come to the right place though, so many people willing to help with questions you have and is the reason I was able to install my system.
 

[mlappin]

Material only shouldn't be a deciding factor.

I've been doing several things wrong from what I've learned on this site, yet my mild steel homemade boiler has lasted fifteen years and thats only using 1/8" for the water jacket.

[Bud Man]

I had a great weekend. Went to Mn. and picked up my 2840 at Luke's. What a great guy! We have a lot in common other than wood burning. He is a diesel mechanic running his own shop and works on a lot of IH and Case-IH equipment. I cut my teeth on a M Farmall so we had a lot to talk about.
He showed me his wood burning set-up and explained a lot of details to me. He knew just how to load the furnace on my trailer, got my pex loaded and I was set to go.
Now I need to start my installation. Good thing I have all summer!

[Jwood]

How many square feet will you be heating bud man?

[slimjim]

Congratulations Bud Man!!

[Bud Man]

JWood, Sorry about the delay, I got busy and have'nt been on the puter much. I will be heating my 1400 house, DHW and 900 sf shop.

Thanks Slimjim. I will probably be PM'n you as the installation starts.

[Jwood]

No problem Bud Man where in MN are you located I'm up north In Pine River.