| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Rob R |
Thanks to the maker of the stove!Having now tested it I feel confident in recommending www.windysmithy.co.uk to others.I was going to buy the Clarke cast iron ones as per Machine Mart, but in the reviews I read that they weren't advised to go in caravans and some people had issues about build quality (they're made in China too). Anyway, I went onto a caravan forum to ask & found someone already had. Windy Smithy seemed to be well recommended as efficient, safe and perfectly suited to mobile homes (& British) so I googled for his website & was so pleased to find that he made one with an integrated oven- which meant we didn't need to get a gas oven! 
Anyhow, Jon was good to deal with, efficient and didn't mind the after sales questions! The burner is just as efficient as he claims on his website, easy to install & use and perfectly suited to anyone with limited space needing heating and/or cooking facilities. |
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| boisdevie1 |
Those prices are very very good. | ||
| Nick |
Does it have to have a tartan backdrop?
And, would providing some kind of size be useful? Sticking a pint of milk, or an ox or dpack next to it, for example. |
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| Chez |
If you look on the linky that Rob has so thoughtfully provided, there is a specs chart. It's in inches - but you can probably get someone to convert it to centimetres for you  .
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| Ixy |
dpack's out in babylon and Angus is giving publicity a rest right now as he's worried about overexposure. The pint of milk is still in the cow but what I can tell you is that the oven is 9 inches square. |
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| Rob R |
Not at all; ours has a stainless steel backdrop with a sandstone hearth, it is also slightly different to the one pictured, as it has more sturdy legs. He also does a slightly larger one, with a larger oven, based upon the 5kW Henry stove. |
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| Chez |
Can you fit a back-boiler, do you think? | ||
| Rob R |
There is a boiler option on the larger ones for hot water or radiators- we were thinking of getting one of those to heat the log cabin. | ||
| Chez |
They don't show on his website - is there a brochure or something that he sends out? Or did you just ring him up? 
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| Rob R |
Yeah, he sent a leaflet with the stove but originally I just gave him a ring- he seems like more of a phone than an internet person. | ||
| Chez |
Thanks, I will bear that in mind for the future. It seems like a useful bit of kit. | ||
| cassy |
We looked at these but went with a local maker and settled for top cooking plate only in the end.
Slightly jealous now as I'd love not to have any gas appliances. I'll be interested to see how you get on with the oven.
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| Ixy |
i've found hob-only cooking a bit restrictive - baking isn't too bad, I can do a pizza and bread rolls in a frying pan, but roasting isn't the same. Really looking forward to a nice roast.... | ||
| Rob R |
I'm looking forward to being able to warm & dry the sterilised jars when jam making. I only fired it with four small logs (about a third full in the firebox) this morning and it was throwing out a lot of heat from the hotplate and a 'medium' oven. | ||
| Chez |
How long did they last for? | ||
| Rob R |
Only about an hour or so with it fully open but then the sun got out and it was a bit hot in here so we let it go out, almost, I poked it when we came back in a couple of hours later and it was still in. When the sun goes down we'll fill it up and close the vent right down- I daren't open it right up when it's full of fuel. | ||
| gardening-girl |
Of topic, but I do fancy the vardos. | ||
| vegplot |
Look good don't they. | ||
| Calli |
I thought so too
Love the prices on the stoves though!!! 
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| Ixy |
Ooo its nice and warm...at night! got a nic ebig pan of water on so we can have lots of hot water rather than little kettlefulls...ducklings heat lamp is off...the bedroom will be warm - ready for winter now
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| cassy |
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| earthyvirgo |
Very nice looking stoves.
Love the clean, simple design. EV |
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| Chez |
Let us know how well it stays in overnight!
I want a vardo, too! |
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| Rob R |
So nice to hear the roar of a fire and not have quite as many layers on
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| Chez |
It'll probably make your home education plans more do-able .... |
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| Treacodactyl |
How thick is the steel its made from? Just wondering how long the firebox would last, although it would be much easier to repair than cast iron. They look very useful, I've been looking at a few small stoves like these but not seen this make before. | ||
| Rob R |
About 6mm I think, although it's a little hot to measure it right now Repairability was one of my main reasons for choosing it. dpacks tent stove is a very similar design but a little lighter weight (because it needs to be carried).
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| Treacodactyl |
Sounds good. I wonder if a flat bottomed Dutch oven would sit on top of one of the small ones and provide a usable small oven.
All I need now is a yurt.
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| Rob R |
dpack had the same idea & got a cast iron pot with a level top to do just that on his Bell Tent stove. Not sure whether he as tried it out yet though,the pot has always been full of perpetual stew. |
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| vegplot |
Buy a pot and remove the ogh |
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| RichardW |
If you like the simple look you might like this ONE | ||
| dpack |
ace ,warm for winter
cooking i have sultanas and ground almonds to try the cake under a stew pot thing
having tried well made welded sheet as a stove it is better than most i have used |
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| thewoollyshepherd |
Hi folks
I know Jon Snow of Windy Smithy and I also have a 'Wendy' in my shepherds hut. I cannot speak too highly of these little woodburners and his bigger ones that are all made just down the road from my wool business! There are loads of makers of woodburners but small businesses like his that produce such high quality goods are worth supporting!!!
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| Rob R |
Excellent. How long have you had it? Small (business and stove) & British was what appealed to me. |
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| thewoollyshepherd |
I have had the stove for a year and it burns very economically! I light it, fill with wood.....only takes very small bits, and it lasts for ages and ages!
I agree re supporting small businesses.....we need all the support we can get
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| Rob R |
I'm still getting to grips with ours- working out how to fire it to boil/roast/stay in all night. Currently it's running a bit cool to roast the pork in the oven but it was boiling jam earlier.  So far it's baked a cake, cooked a stew, and pizza.
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