Anyone Using A Chiminea or Solo Stove

[Witterings]

8 hours ago, neiln said:

so how did you find the solo worked then?

 

Must admit overall I'm impressed ... it's 1st proper use was Saturday when we had some friends over and sat outside for a very pleasant evening.

It's not completely smokeless but it does massively reduce it and I didn't smell the next morning and didn't notice any smell when I went to bed the following night on the pillows / linen.

The following night my boy took the old fire pit down to the beach to meet a few friends, when he came home he walked into the lounge and he stunk from the opposite side of the room ... his 1st comment having used both within 2 days was they're chalk and cheese and what a difference the Solo made ... he opened his bedroom door the following morning and the smell of smoke came flooding out into other areas of the house.

 

Other negative ... a lot of the heat does go straight up in the air, you run your hand up an inch away from the wall and it's warm, the second you get over the top and it's absoutely stinking hot and the same if you go and stand over it so a lot of heat gets "lost" .... I'm wondering if digging a hole in the garden or using the heat deflector off the old / broken patio heater (would look pretty horrible) might help.

 

Would I buy it again and the answer is yes, a patio heaters going to cost £300 anyway and they also give off an unplesant ish smell with no ambiance, the Solo's are quite expensive but hopefully it'll last 10+ years and be used many, many times.  

 

 

[Stere]

Don't see the point of getting covered in smoke very bad for health etc with chimeras etc when you can get something like this instead

 

 

Outbacker® Portable Wood Burning Stove - Glass Door

OUTBACKERSTOVES.CO.UK

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Glass Window on Door Original Outbacker...

 

 

[neiln]

Sounds positive.  Shame they don't radiate more heat though.

 

[neiln]

Yes I was sat by a chimenea Sunday night and had a headache from the smoke, although clothes didn't smell the next day and the thing was warm. That outbacker stove looks interesting.  I wonder if another 0.5m on the flue might be needed.... Can't really judge it's size.

[Stere]

Flue height is listed as 2.41m on this one think glass door is handy...

 

Outbacker® Portable Wood Burning Stove

OUTBACKERSTOVES.CO.UK

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Free carry bag for transporting. Original Outbacker Stove® lightweight, portable log burner. (10kg) Spark Arrestor...

 

Saw one at being used to cook on at a festival was very little smoke. Think they had a taller flue fitted.

Edited April 7, 2021 by Stere

[Witterings]

There are a couple of others here I'd looked at as well

 

New Outbacker® Vista -Large Window 'Firebox' Tent Stove

OUTBACKERSTOVES.CO.UK

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Outbacker Firebox with new design large window for 2020 Lightweight, portable log burner (12kg) Pair of side grills included. Travel Bag available. Built in spark arrestor. Total...

 

Outbacker® Hygge Oval Stove

OUTBACKERSTOVES.CO.UK

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Oval bell tent wood burning stove. 4.5 KW Viewing glass in the front door. Fire box size 10" Diameter  12" Oversize Hotplate For Cooking. Stove body only. Flue pipes & spark arrestor...

 

Esse Garden Stove

WWW.STOVESUPERMARKET.CO.UK

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The Esse Garden Stove is a brand new idea from the renowned UK stove manufacturer ESSE. They have put all of their extensive knowledge regarding indoor wood burning stoves...

 

 

In the end actually happy with what I got, yes it'd be nice if it radiated a bit more heat BUT I wouldn't let that stop me buying it again and personally I think it's nicer to have the open flame ... more like a camp fire.

 

 

[neiln]

Yes it's all compromise isn't it.  I'm like you though, I don't like being smokey, it often makes me feel unwell.

[Witterings]

9 minutes ago, neiln said:

Yes it's all compromise isn't it.  I'm like you though, I don't like being smokey, it often makes me feel unwell.

 

I don't actually mind it in itself at the time ... it's the fact it's hard to get rid of for days that I don't like and yes it is all a compromise, if you really don't want any smoke the recent ones I listed as well as Stere's suggestions may be best.

 

Absolutely no idea where you're based but if you happen to be anywhere near the Chichester area and wanted to come and see it working you'd be most welcome .... might even be able to find a cold beer to go with it 😃

[neiln]

That Esse above looks fantastic!  It's something I'd love if I had a nicer outdoor space rather than a garden full of wendy houses, play prams and other kids toys (haha!), the price is just a bit rich for me currently.  It does make me think about something I've thought before though, buy a cheap chinese made log burner which can be found for £250-£350 new, buy some flue pipe, maybe buy some decent wheels or casters and attach them so its easy/possible to move and put away.  £350-£450 and your done.  No it won't be the quality of the Esse, no where near, but I'd hope it woul be more durable than the lightweight backpacker toves, and definitely much bigger, at a price that I could convince myself is reasonable.

[Witterings]

44 minutes ago, neiln said:

That Esse above looks fantastic!  It's something I'd love if I had a nicer outdoor space rather than a garden full of wendy houses, play prams and other kids toys (haha!), the price is just a bit rich for me currently.  It does make me think about something I've thought before though, buy a cheap chinese made log burner which can be found for £250-£350 new, buy some flue pipe, maybe buy some decent wheels or casters and attach them so its easy/possible to move and put away.  £350-£450 and your done.  No it won't be the quality of the Esse, no where near, but I'd hope it woul be more durable than the lightweight backpacker toves, and definitely much bigger, at a price that I could convince myself is reasonable.

 

As you say it is expensive hence why I didn't go with it ... overall in the summer we tend to be if it's nice and sunny sit in the garden, if it's that bit chillier sit inside with the doors open ... my motivation to get something was I think we'll be socialising outside for a while yet and didn't want to be cold / evenings cut short with friends.

If I felt it actually transformed what we did with the extra heat may look at one in the future although I think what we have will probably do for the foreseable.

 

EDIT: Meant to say your idea of adapting one yourself to suit without too much expense kind of hits the nail on the head??

Edited April 8, 2021 by Witterings