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[Sir Tigger KC]

Some friends of mine who live in Lanzarote want a wood burning stove for their house there, and as it won't be used very much they don't want to spend very much.  So I said I'll look out for a good 2nd hand one for them, as sometimes they pop up in the local auctions. 

Trouble is I don't know anything about woodburning stoves!     

So what goes wrong with them?  Which are the top brands? Which to avoid etc etc    Is it even worth considering 2nd hand at all? 

If I can find a good one at the right price they'll pay me to bring it out to Lanzarote, so there's potentially a great road (and ferry) trip in the offing! 

TIA! 

[Mister Rog]

Well, I'm in the process of having one fitted so I have some info.

Wood burning is not the same as "solid Fuel" which could mean coal. Wood burns from the top, coal burns from the bottom, so stoves are either Wood or Coal or "Dual Fuel" where the grate can be moved up or down or vent opened or closed for appropriate burn type. In Canaries, I can't imaging they would want coal, but also do they have much wood to burn ?

Next, steel or cast iron. Cast are heavier, but in reality steel are ok. I've having steel, and it's damned heavy. Hate to think how heavy cast is.

Ventilation/flues. Absolutely crutial. In the UK there are strict rules etc, but it is quite possible to kill people with bad ventilation.

Heat Output. Stoves are rated by Kw, the amount of anticpated heat output. 5Kw is good for a decent size room. Higher Kw rating is NOT always better unless you live in a shed in northern Norway or something. If something visual is wanted and a decent bit of heat 5Kw is fine for a good size room. More than 5Kw might be ok for a big open plan room or maybe a hall.

If you buy 2nd hand make sure it's not all tarred up. Some people burn unseasoned wood and the resin coats the inside of the stove. Potentially lethal due to carbon monoxide poisoning, as with ventilation/flues.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Yes I say Wood Burning Stove but I mean duel fuel really. 

I wonder if cast stoves are prone to cracking? 

[steve6367]

Yes I say Wood Burning Stove but I mean duel fuel really. 

I wonder if cast stoves are prone to cracking? 

Any stove will crack if abused, they need to be seasoned when new and at the start of the season. Basically small fires building up to drive the moisture out 

[Lazydocker]

Is it worth 2nd hand when new can be found relatively cheaply from the likes of Machine Mart?

That said, I'm pleased with ours and it is now coming into its 6th season

[Varche]

This sounds like a joke.

Be far better to go to a local Fereteria (like an ironmongers)  and buy a new one sized for the space they are going to heat. It will be fit for the job and won't be expensive especially if they opt for steel. Buy metre long flu tubings from same place.  I would estimate with ferries and tolls and fuel you would be looking at £450 round trip to get to Gibraltar area. Then you need a ferry. say another £200 to Lanzarote. Oh , nearly forgot- add on the price of the one you have sourced. We have two log burners. One steel and one cast. They weren't anything like your approx transport costs for both of them.

Mister Rog. Spot on advice. I would add I have never seen coal for sale in Southern Spain. You can get seasoned logs. expect to pay on the mainland about 20 cents a kilo for olive logs. Ours are thankfully free plus cost of cutting and taking home. On Lanzarote I would expect prices to be significantly more. Never been but can't imagine much pruned tree material for logs.

PS if you do go ahead and get them a log burner. Fill your car with for example Colmans Mustard, Fray Bentos pies in tins, cup a soups, mint sauce, salad cream.  2000 items,50 p profit on each and you have made your money. On the way back stop off at our gaff and I will take you to our olive oil co op. Fill up your car/vanwith five litre containers .You might manage fifty to a hundred distributed carefully and tout them at high end restaurants. Another 1000 euros profit there. Heck you could give up work!



 

[Sir Tigger KC]

Is it worth 2nd hand when new can be found relatively cheaply from the likes of Machine Mart?

Good question LD, and it's kinda what I want to know.  Is a 2nd hand top notch brand better than a new cheapie? 

This sounds like a joke.

Yes fair comment and there was a lot of drunken planning going on! 

They've checked out the Fereteria and other local suppliers and have decided that English wood burners are superior to Spanish ones. Whether they are or not I don't know or care, as my interest in this venture is the road trip!   

What I didn't say in my OP is that I'll get a van for the trip and they'll get all their friends to fill it and then they'll all share the cost.    So potentially for them a 2nd hand wood burner in the corner of a van load isn't going to cost them much. 

We might have to have a chat about the olive oil! 

[omega2018]

new or old, get a carbon monoxide detector and place it nearby and ideally another in your bedroom.