Fascinating!  Thanks for sharing.

And I love the smell of burnt popcorn!  A real win win for me!

I have that exact same Buddha in my bedroom......

I'm assuming that it DOESNT smell like burnt popcorn, yukk.

It does smell like burnt popcorn outside (you can't smell anything inside) but it is nowhere as strong as the smell of burning wood.

The stove was about $2500 including everything that is needed to install it (like the vent pipe).  They also just passed a tax incentive for installing bio-fuel stoves as well as energy efficient heat sources (this is both).  So, in the end, it should be less than that.  Our model is also not the least expensive one.  There are smaller ones (which may be more appropriate depending on the size of the home) for quite a bit less.

They are also rated to be installed in mobile homes as they need very little clearance to operate and remain safe (unlike a woodstove).

I have that exact same Buddha in my bedroom......

hehe...that's funny!  I love that Buddha.  He usually has a bird in his hand, but it's autumn, so I replaced it with a gourd.  It's funny, he's not an expensive Buddha (I think he came from Target or something) but I really like him, and he goes well with the slate.  We actually planned the span between the mantle and light to accommodate that Buddha.  I hope I never break him....

Thanks for the St Croix Corn Stove information. For additional information about the NESCO Amaizablaze Corn Stoves Built in Cookeville Tennessee see [removed link- my blog is not an advertisement]

Strange but cool. Or warm rather. Where do you get your corn, the stuff for the deer from the local feed store?

Where do you get your corn, the stuff for the deer from the local feed store?

I get it from a grain elevator in bulk.  It costs (in this area) $3.50 a bushel. We take our 1 ton truck over, and they literally pour the corn out of the elevator into the bed of the truck (on scales).  We then take it home and shovel it into a bin we built in our garage (by "we", I really mean my husband).

You can also buy it in bags, which cost slightly more.  All it is is shelled corn (corn kernels) that have been "washed" (removed of foreign objects) and dried.  

We go through 1.5 bushels on a very cold day.  So far, we have used about $175 worth of corn, plus $87 in propane.  My neighbors have the same sized house, and they have spent over $700 in propane.  So, I think it is definitely a better fuel source.

Well, we switched to wood because a) I couldn't afford corn or pellet stoves; there's not yet an inexpensive place to buy corn or pellets in our area; and c) we can get our wood for nothing.

Now, after writing that, I MUST point out that reason a isn't as good a reason as I thought it was. By the time you get finished installing the chimney (to code; even though we don't have a code in our town yet, I installed it as such because it just makes sense), you won't have saved as much as you think. So if you're looking at your options, do a pretty thorough cost analysis. Also, with a wood stove you often have to get up many times at night to stoke the fire. Not so with corn or pellet.

Thanks for the info, Karma!

e can get our wood for nothing.

We used to burn wood when I was growing up.  We lived on 17 acres and most of it was woods.  However, my current house is built on a piece of land that was part of a corn field, so free wood is not available.  Free is always better than having to pay for it.

I'm also lazy and don't want to get up in the middle of the night (like my Mom used to do) so corn ended up being a better option for our lifestyle.

The pellet stoves (which work like corn stove but use wood pellets made from leftovers from the mill industry) are also a good option for people who can not get free wood.  For areas that corn is not easy to get, you typically can still get wood pellets since any Home Depot, Lowes, etc. can get them for you, or even have them in stock.

We have an annual fair here and some guy comes to set a booth. He sells corn stoves. I've always been fascinated by this concept. Hmmmm... sounds good to me! Especially with the prices of fuel being what they have been this year!

We have a Bixby Model 110 and could not be more satisfied with the stove (have had it for approximately 3 years now). We don't have to use any starting gel (push button start with); don't have to shut down the stove to clean more than once per week; clinkers (hard wafers formed from burnt corn) drop automatically; absolutely NO ODOR (tightly sealed); ferris wheel feed - no jamming like the augor types; I could go on and on but I think you get the picture!! Our neighbor recently sold their St. Croix and bought a Bixby 115 - the modifications, though few, are awesome and I wish I had another house to put a 115 in for myself!

We have a Bixby Model 100 and could not be more satisfied with the stove (have had it for approximately 3 years now). We don't have to use any starting gel (push button start ); don't have to shut down the stove to clean more than once per week; clinkers (hard wafers formed from burnt corn) drop automatically; absolutely NO ODOR (tightly sealed); ferris wheel feed - no jamming like the augor types; I could go on and on but I think you get the picture!! Our neighbor recently sold their Magnum and bought a Bixby 115 - the modifications, though few, are awesome and I wish I had another house to put a 115 in for myself!

St. Croix claims that you don't have to shut down the furnace to remove clinkers, but you said that you do every other day. Since I know very little about corn stove maintenance, can you please clarify why you have to shut down your furnace and what maintenance (other than filling the corn hopper) there is to owning your stove? I am considering purchasing a St. Croix stove.

TIA.

KarmaGirl,

I have been shopping pelelt /corn stoves...but I have not heard a St. Croix burn yet. How loud is your stove? Air rushing noise? Auger noise? Fan noise?

Have the aubourn model heat is not satisfactory, i have to run my air intake at almost full open,any sugestions,thanks.plus the heat on any level does not feel hot if my hand is 1foot awayor more just warm .is that normal.

I have two corn stoves in my house, and they work great! I got both of them from Pinnacle Corn Stoves this past winter. www.pinnaclecornstoves.com I installed the Ruby model myself in the fireplace in my den, and it only took about 45 minutes. Piece of cake. The Emerald model heats my workshop cheaply and efficiently. When I had a question about the installion, I called them up, and they were very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. I recommend them highly!!!