Outdoor Wood Furnace Info
All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: wissel12 on December 28, 2013, 05:24:26 AM
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Hello, I'm new to the forum. I'm going to buy a owb, narrowed it down to an ridge wood or timber wolf. Would like to buy a wood master, but money is the issue. Redoing and old farm house and spending money on a lot of different stuff in the house.
So give me your pros and cons on each. Ridge wood guy said he would deliver it to me in ohio for free.
Thanks for your thoughts
Zack
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If you want a woodmaster then a BurnRite out of mt pleasant michigan would be your closest match. If I had to pick between ridgewood and timberwolf I would say ridgewood. Some say ridgewoods are great and I've spoke to others that hate theirs.
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Hello Zack:
I have not been up close to either of these units. There are very many Timberwolves in use near here. The RidgeWood is built not far from here and I was told that this outfit takes pride in their workmanship and uses decommissioned propane tanks for their firebox. That is a good thing as the steel is 3/8".
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Thank you both.
The big concern on the ridgewood is the legs it stands on. I think they look weak.
Also the spray foam on both are concerning. But CB uses spray foam also
Thoughts on them issues?
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I researched both stoves and ended up going with Timberwolf due to my insurance company requiring a UL listed stove.
I would say either stove is a good buy. From what I have read and seen with my own eyes (I have been to both factories) both men that build these stoves are good, hardworking family men.
I have had lengthy conversations with both owners of their respective companies. I believe they are both putting out a quality product.
The Timberwolf's have a bit more of a track record as the company has been around longer.
I really don't see an issue with the spray foam failing. It is amazing! I also don't see replacement of the foam if it did fail as being a big issue at all.
The upside of both stoves is that they are very simple designs. There is really not much that could go wrong and that is something that I like.
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Thanks Andy
What do you think about the legs on the ridgewood?
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I have a ridgewood and am happy with it so far.The legs seem plenty strong it weighs around 1500 pounds.
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The legs would not be a deal breaker for me. The T-Wolf is on skids which made it nice to drag around. I don't see the legs rusting out or failing on either unit.
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Chillyhiker
What size house are you heating? How long have you had the boiler.
I was think about getting the 7500
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I have the Ridgewood 6000 and absolutely love it. It's been in operation for over a year now, as in all summer also, its never been shut down, and have zero complaints. I can't see why the legs would look weak? The unit itself is 1700lbs + 1300lbs of water =3000lbs. Its not going anywhere that I can see. It has had 70 mph winds shoving on it a few times. There are others that use spray foam, either kind of insulation have pros and cons, so it is what it is. There are a few threads on here about the Ridgewood you may want to spend the time to read. I think one is 8-9 pages lots of info in that one.
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Wissel, just looked and that thread is on page 12 right now, lots of good reading, another member here, Scott7m is a dealer for them now also, he should be around if you need any info us users can't answer.
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Weak legs? far stronger legs than we have on some more expensive brands and they dont have issues
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I have the ridgewood 6000 and love it. Been in operation since August with no problem. Stove is very heavy duty and heats my 1680 Sq ft Ranch with unfinished basement great.
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Andy The UL listing might be a hang up for me also. Insurance company requires it to be UL listed,
but does not require to see the paper.
What does everyone that has a ridgewood insurance company say about the UL?
Andy how is the performance of your boiler ie burn time and sq/ft of house?
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Why does the insurance company care if a non pressurized wood water heater installed outside with no exposure to a building to cause a fire is UL listed? Is it for insurance coverage in case the unit breaks down and they have to pay to replace it? Insurance company wouldn't care if you bought a commercial fire pit for your property and it wasn't UL listed. What am I missing here?
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Hi wessel12
Im heating 1500 sq foot 100 year old farm house since first of nov. this year,hot water and 24x30 two story pole barn. shortest burn time was 10 hrs the other day when I forgot to turn down t stat in barn. I usually keep it at 45 50 in there and it was 60 degrees and ate up alot of the wood. only thing I can say I didnt expect was the amount of ashes im shoveling ,...about a 35 gallon steel trash can full every week. other than that its been great. bought mine from scot7m
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I can't explain why the insurance company cares, but mine does!?!?!
I am heating 2500 sq ft. (73 degrees) plus about 1400 of basement (60 degrees). I have a walkout basement unfinished with really cheap windows.
I am burning good quality oak right now and can get about 12 or 13 hours off a half fill. What I mean by half full is basically a triangle in the middle of the burner which I have found seems to be the most efficient.
We went away for 36 hours over Christmas and I stuffed it full full full! and with the T-Stat set to 60 degrees I still had a warm house and water when I got home. I don't think it could go 24 hours if I were to keep it at 73 though.
I have a hard time with the amount of ash some are getting. I think I have maybe 50 gallons worth for the whole year and I think I've gone through 5 cords already (three cords of popple and two of oak/cherry).
You'll be happy with either one :)
I really think the Ridgewood may end up lasting longer due to the firebox thickness.
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Thanks everyone!
I can get the Ridgewood. My insurance said okay. My rep is my mother-in-law.
So there was no switching insurance.
I think i'm going with the 7500. I got a 2100 sq/ft farm house. Going to heat the
water. And in the so day heat a out building.