Fisher Wood Stove (Grandpa Bear)

[@happyamerican3235]

Nice video. I have one of these and have a few tips I wish I’d known. Make sure you stay in the room with the stove when the doors are open. If wood pops or shifts it can go into the room and start a fire or burn your carpet. Always open the doors slowly incase coals fall out. Opening slowly will also limit the amount of smoke that gets in the room. I wear a welding glove when adding wood. Open the doors 90 degrees or further when working in the stove. You don’t want to burn your arm by touching it like I have. When starting a fire, after you get a baseball size spot burning you can close the left door and make more of an updraft to get it going faster. After the whole fire is burning you can close the right side and crack it open. Smaller pieces of wood burn faster and hotter. Don’t start a fire with huge pieces or wet wood. Wood without bark burns better and smokes less too when starting a fire. You can burn 6” by 6” pieces of cardboard 1 at a time to help get an updraft of heat on windy days. Too much cardboard is dangerous do not use a lot! Start small. If you open your stove to light a fire and feel a draft of cold air coming in it’s going to be hard to get a fire going. A propane bottle and a torch head works well for starting fires and is cheap. A downside to this stove is you cannot see the fire with the doors closed. After you close the doors listen to the fire. If it’s roaring it’s getting to much air so close the knobs some. If you’re new to burning your stove you can always check your pipe outside to see how it’s burning. If there’s smoke it needs more air so turn the knobs out (counter clockwise) to give it more air to burn it up. If you don’t see smoke you can turn it down some. Always check your temperature gauge on your pipe to know what the fire is doing. It can take months to learn how your stove works. It takes me about 30 minutes getting a new fire going before I can add wood and leave it at the same settings. When my fire coals are black and almost out I use a long screwdriver and work it back and forth raking the coals to the top and the ashes fall down deeper. I make 2 ridges of coals and place the wood with a valley in the middle of the stove from the front to the back. Close the left door and crack the right door open until it ignites. You can also blow on the coals or use a torch to speed this up. If the coals are glowing hot all over you can just put more wood in. If you are getting a buildup of coals open both doors and let them burn down. Raking them to the front of the stove will speed this up too. You can boil water on top of this stove. My stove temp runs around 400-450 on the top. I’ve had it up to 600. The room it is in gets up around 100. I use a XPOWER P-230AT air mover fan in a doorway to blow the cold air in the house toward the stove. The second story will be around 68F when it’s really cold. 2,000 SQF house. I tried a box fan and it worked ok. Both are noisy. After I have the stove room up to 100F I have the fan on a timer to run and then shut off after 2 or 4 hours so it runs during the main burn. Keep the humidity up in your house with a water pot on top or a whole house humidifier (I have both). To dry of air is not good for your health. I’ve tried the eco fans and they work so so. Too temperature picky. Cutting and splitting firewood isn’t cheap starting out, but when the power goes out we are warm. We started with 1 chainsaw 1 truck 1 splitting axe 1 sledge hammer 3 wedges all by hand the first two years. And now.... well..... we have a gas splitter and you can’t have to many chainsaws 😁 costs money but saves time to be with the kids. Happy burning everyone.

[@notmethanks816]

Add a nice ceiling fan in the room the stove is located. It will really help to push the heat back down so it travels to other rooms or up the stairs.

[@jgonzalezjg896]

So keep the doors always closed for better results?

[@counterbalancelife4305]

I have a big old Timberline in my basement that my Dad bought back in 1981-82 which appears to be a copy of this model. I used it regularly and it still works great. Huge firebox. I just installed a new Hearthstone Clydesdale Hybrid insert in my main floor which is great. When I build a large garage like you have I'll be putting the Timberline to use again.

[@victoryengineer]

I have one of these also and I've got a couple things for you and others interested in these. The Grandma Bear and Grandpa Bear models were designed with double doors for people who wanted to have the doors wide open while using a screen. Purely ascetic. What isn't ascetic is the reason only the double door Fisher stoves got the 8" exhaust vent. This was thought to be needed for open screen viewing. Now here's the good part.....if you use a 8" to 6" reducer right off the stove and use all 6" stove pipe, your heat output will be exactly the same but you'll use 20-25% less wood! These stoves really shine when set up properly.

[@homesteadmike1120]

Great idea! I used an 8 to 6 reducer on another stove. I am amazing how "efficient" these stoves can get.

[@apizzicato]

I’m supposed to get one of these soon, thanks for the tip

[@wtbm123]

I like my Mama Bear , it has served me well for many many years

[@michaelreyes2883]

Just bought a house with this exact stove. Thanks for the help!!

[@homesteadmike1120]

Thats awesome! Enjoy the wood burner!

[@JodBronson]

Lots of bears gonna be happy!

[@steverose3318]

I have a Kodiak Stove Company model just like this. It has the flue baffel and the screen for the front. When I bought it it had only 20 - 30 fires ran in it. I paid $100. I got very lucky finding that deal. Then found a 1 owner Stihl 034 Super chainsaw with 5 chains and a case for $150.

[@ryno921]

Great video! Been guessing at mine for a while. Hard to find that “sweet spot”. Thank you!

[@AlexZimmers-il8zf]

Fisher wood burners are the way to go. Give off a lot of heat

[@homesteadmike1120]

Old School > New School!

[@badromenful]

Awesome, thanks for info,I found a grandpa for sale and getting ready to install this year as a backup heat source in my house , I live in a old church with a big room and tall ceilings

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Thanks buddy...good information

[@homesteadmike1120]

Thanks Stoney! I love your channel. Have a good one.

[@mrsmel269]

nice !!! got to love the heat we have a blaze king 302

[@motovlogunleashed]

Am I correct or incorrect in my thought process that you don’t need the damper for the flue since it has the knobs on the front? I have this same model but there is no damper in the flue

[@notmethanks816]

You need a damper for windy days. A good strong wind will cause a significant increase in the draw up the chimney. Without a damper the stove can get away on you even with the valves closed all the way. The damper also helps to keep air from rushing up the chimney in summer or mild days when it’s too warm for the stove. Normally during summer we pop the single wall pipe out of the wall and stick a piece of plastic sheeting in the chimney and push the vent pipe back into the hole. This seals the chimney during the summer and prevents loss of conditioned air up the chimney.

[@752brickie]

I have the baby bear in my little shop ! It is an amazing little stove ! They are not EPA certified but hey tree huggers-too bad you are sad. Use a stove top thermometer so you know how you are doing and not making creosote. We have an old Sierra at our other house and it is like the Fisher-AN AMAZING HEATER. Good thing you have the heat shield.

[@homesteadmike1120]

The first time I fired up Fisher the walls got so hot they started to smoke!

[@752brickie]

@@homesteadmike1120 Oh MY !!!! They do get pretty hot . I think the code for non UL listed stoves is 3' clearance to combustibles??? Wow I never saw a wall smoke. When I was in the hearth business every time a fire whistle went off at 3 in the morning I did not sleep the rest of the night because I was concerned that I may have mad a mistake in the installation ? They really are some of the best stoves ever built and if you burn good wood and burn it up to around 500-600 to start and then shut it down will not get hardly any buildup in the flue. Especially when you installed the double wall right off the stove. Good move Mike. Also did you ever look into starting your fires top down ?

[@notmethanks816]

Double wall is not supposed to be used right off the stove. It is not technically allowed until you pass through a wall. The reason being is you won’t see a failure of the in inner wall. Wood stoves a best vented into a ceramic chimney. Double wall pipe isn’t a great idea. It would have to be stainless to deal with the acidic nature of the products of combustion. That would make it very expensive. Steel brush chimney seeeps are a lot easier to pull up a ceramic chimney once a year and clear out any critters or crap that built up or took residence.

[@coreybyas1157]

Yes it is they even make the adapters coming right off the stove

[@752brickie]

@@notmethanks816 They make the double wall close clearance pipe which allows you to cut your pipe clearance to 9" from combustibles. It is stainless inside and black outside. We almost 100% of the time used Dura Vent Products.

[@jooshfutterman]

Can you show what your baffle looks like inside? Is it a steel plate or fire brick?

[@JonnyBlazeTCB]

The lock handle on my right door doesn't line up with the top edge of the stove anymore so my door doesn't lock. I wish I could find a replacement.

[@JeffRobertson-m7v]

Heat it up with a torch and bend it to fit.

[@keithkuckler2551]

The heat shielding shown is just not adequate for the clearances that we see. Any wood heater must have at least 18 inches to any shielded combustile surface, 36 inches if un shielded. A heat shield must have an air space between the shield and the combustible wall surface, it mus be open at both the top and bottom to allow for air flow to cool the wall. No way that stove can be 12 inches from the wall even with that bad heat shield.

[@homesteadmike1120]

I completely agree. I had a certified stove and chimney company install the stove, but I was never comfortable with the clearance issues. I have since added a proper shield to the walls, and now, sleep much easier at night! Haha

[@RidgeLife]

That's pretty nice!

[@homesteadmike1120]

Thanks Ridge! I'll be posting some more videos soon. I have a Papa Bear coming tommorow. Subscribe to see more videos :)

[@geraldnichols1853]

Looking at one of these for my 600 sq foot cabin. Might be a little big for what I need.

[@homesteadmike1120]

Hey Gerald! It would roast you outta that cabin haha. The Baby Bear would still be a little too big. Thanks for commenting.

[@geraldnichols1853]

Ok thanks man!

[@brockdyncatron3775]

Youll have to keep the windows open! Lol

[@ExjanaH]

We have a grandpa in our 600 sq. Ft. Cabin!!! Way too big!!!!

[@donblunkall5607]

Have to agree it's way too big for cabin. These stoves crank out the heat but they are so nice to look at and work so good you may just install it anyway. Shorts n tee-shirt

[@clsm2836]

Hi,I have a timberline double door … where can I get interior racks for it ?

[@nathankoroush7918]

Made in Springfield Oregon. Got one in my shop also.

[@blackecho586]

Is there a way to replace the right door locking handle?

[@TALENtedBeads]

Bet you could cook some nice homemade bread on that

[@tylercater3617]

How hours of burn time do you get out of the grandpa bear stove? Thanks

[@notmethanks816]

It really depends on how cold the room is, the type of wood and the insulation of the space. Ours can get 8-10 hours on white oak. Essentially load up before bed, get decent coals, turn down to 1/4 turn open per valve and it stays 65-70F in 1700sf house all night with coal left in the morning when you get up.

[@VladTN1977]

But for how long did it last? for goodness sake! ?

[@homesteadmike1120]

Burn time is about 10 hours

[@pilipp3]

Do you need to put a gasket on it?

[@homesteadmike1120]

Do not use a gasket. These stoves were not designed for one.

[@robmontgomery8541]

I have this same model, does yours have some kind of plate in the top of the stove ?? And if so what is it for. Mine hangs down low and doesn’t allow me to stack logs to high

[@homesteadmike1120]

It sounds like a baffle. They do not come stock with the stove (to my knowledge) you would have to fabricate one from steel. They exact measurements can be found on hearth.com. The baffle increases efficiency and burn time. I will be adding one to mine shortly.

[@notmethanks816]

The baffle was an attempt to meet EPA compliance. It wasn’t enough which is why the went out of business. EPA wants reburn on the smoke to reduce the amount of particulate matter going up the chimney. This really only matters in densely populated areas. If you’re in the country and your neighbor is 1/2 mile away no one will care. Anyway, the newer designs have baffles with a steel pipe with holes in it. The idea is the smoke has to take a U or W shaped trip through the baffles. While this is happening a draft is drawn through the pipe and it causes it to get extremely hot. This has a catalytic effect and burns off more soot into fine ash, most of which stays in the stove. Some new models use a filter type approach (similar to how a diesel engine has a particulate filter). Stay data away from them. Lots of maintenance and cost if you use the stove a lot. The baffles and draw pipe work ok, but you really have to watch your draw. Can’t use the slow shoulder to get a longer burn. The temps don’t stay hot enough to do what the EPA wants and you can have draft issues.

[@jrashop]

Hey what do u think a stove like that in good condition is worth?

[@ciphercode2298]

I gave $500 for ours in good condition.

[@sethdarr6010]

I just got one in that same exact condition for 700 bucks

[@meanwhilebackonthehobbyfarm]

Just picked one up for $400. Installing it this weekend.

[@juditharsenault2131]

@@meanwhilebackonthehobbyfarm me too.

[@juditharsenault2131]

My chimney cleaner told me to never close the flue on the stove pipe. Always leave it open. I have a Grandpa bear. Got it for $400.

[@ciphercode2298]

I understand his reasoning. If you leave it open alot of heat goes up the chimney,which helps keep the chimney to hit for creasote to form,but if you always leave it open you're wasting wood. If you're burning good seasoned wood and keep your flu temperature above 300 degrees your creasote will not form much. You still need to clean it yearly,but that's just good practice. Once your fire is caught up and burning good you can almost close that damper all the way.

[@crystalstanley916]

Sorry new to wood stoves. How long will that amount of wood keep the space warm?

[@homesteadmike1120]

The burn time is about 8 hours... I use Osage Orange and Hickory for the best burn times.

[@crystalstanley916]

@@homesteadmike1120 Thank you for the response! Is it normal for it not to have a damper on the flue?

[@JR-kc8jx]

@@crystalstanley916 you can shut off your vents with the door closed and that acts as a damper. I grew up with a wood stove as the only source of heat in my house in a subtropical climate and it was never a problem. They are pretty tight.

[@JosePerez-ul4th]

Do you have a idea of the price on a grandpa bear one?

[@homesteadmike1120]

It all depends on location. I spent $275 on this one. You'll always hear someone say they got it for a Quarter at a garage sale. Thanks for watching boss.

[@keatonlingafelter4023]

@@homesteadmike1120 275 is a steal. I got a grandma bear fo 500. Lol great stoves though

[@kykirker]

I like to roast hotdogs in mine! I only burn paper and wood so no trash!

[@homesteadmike1120]

That's a good idea! These things can do it all haha

[@notmethanks816]

Insurance won’t be happy with that metal as the only heat shield, especially with wood behind it. Would be better with brick behind and above it. Wouldn’t cost much and be a lot safer.

[@notmethanks816]

It would also be a good idea to have a nice brick underlayment under the stove as well. Have it extend a couple feet in front of the stove. Protects from coals hitting the floor or ash spills.

[@bartman594]

Hey mike awesome video and nice channel! picked up the same stove for free and was curious if your insurance company knows about yours?

[@homesteadmike1120]

They are great stoves! I contacted my insurance company prior to purchasing it. They told me as long as it was installed by a professional, I would not have any increases in my premiums.

[@bartman594]

@@homesteadmike1120 thanks for the reply im also in Michigan trying to get more functionality out of my old barn.

[@danniewatt3669]

@@homesteadmike1120 ...how much did professional installation cost?

[@homesteadmike1120]

@@danniewatt3669 if I remember correctly, it was $400.

[@danniewatt3669]

@@homesteadmike1120 ...thank you!! That's not a bad price ...I thought it would probably be way more. I found a Gpa bear for sale and am trying to decide on buying it:)

[@shelbywilson114]

I heat my house with a little newer one. It has Nicole plating on the front. Mine has a big steel plate blocking flames from going up the chimney. You put 5 fire brick on it. I believe they added this later on in production

[@forsale116]

There should be a fire gasket on the inside channel on the stove where the doors close.

[@homesteadmike1120]

I dont believe this model came with a gasket. A gasket would be aftermarket.

[@brendanomeally8070]

Fisher stoves do not use a gasket. The way the doors are made they are self sealing.

[@kennethrobinson5151]

Unfortunately without a secondary burn system about 40% of the woods BTUs is going up the chimney and not only that , unburned smoke builds creosote very fast which could cause a chimney fire new stoves are really the way to go... New stoves are much more efficient there are a few out there that have huge fire boxes with burn times up to 14 hours without going catalytic and breaking the Bank but most of all newer stoves are a lot safer

[@homesteadmike1120]

I agree and disagree with that comment.... I have since added a steel plate baffle in the back of the burner which greatly improves efficiency. The newer stoves are great.... but are much more finicky.... you need properly season wood and the secondary burn systems requires much more maintenance. They reason why I love the old Fisher stoves is that you can "set'em and forget'em"... they will burn any wood you can throw at them, and will last indefinitely. The longest burn time I have gotten out of the ol fisher was 10 hours.... plenty of time to go about your day and return to a nice warm house... or barn. I appreciate the comment. Have a good one.

[@kennethrobinson5151]

@@homesteadmike1120 now you just need to add air tubes underneath your metal plate and get that secondary burn and bring the Fisher into the 21st century

[@homesteadmike1120]

@@kennethrobinson5151 haha I'll see what I can do!

[@ericwilson8848]

Thanks for that I have old stoves n was gonna do a cob over them.so that most of the heat stays longer.i was looking at the new ones but can't do the new price.thanks again

[@ciphercode2298]

@@homesteadmike1120 Mike have you a video,or could you make a video of the baffle you added? We bought and are installing a 1977 model that doesnt have a baffle. My son in law is a welder and said he could install one if I come up with some specs of what I need. I'd greatly appreciate it.

[@glenalguire6960]

Should not have a flue on an air tight fisher bear wood stove , I had an experience I won’t for get , I got the fire going good and hot then shut the flew down , within about an hour all of a sudden there was a huge explosion inside the stove that would have blown the doors off of lesser stove it blew the smoke out all around the edges of the door past the gasket and a significant amount smoke scared the crap out of me if the flew had of been any higher it would have blown the pipes off of the stove , the reason being is that when the fire started to cool down creisote built up in the stove and the ignited all at once so I remove the flew adjustment no problem since , that being said if I’d have had a glass in the door I would have seen the fire diminishing and opened the draft , but it’s hard to do if asleep , a secondary system would have helped by burning off the creisote , but the old stoves didn’t have it , I was always told don’t use a flew adjustment on an air tight stove now I know why

[@steverose3318]

Cleaning the chimney regularly also removes creosote. I set mine up for easy cleaning and it takes maybe 15 minutes to clean it all out. A damper is completely safe and desirable as long as you do your part.