WhatStove?

Review of Charnwood Country 12 stove

MOSTLY GOOD,SOME BAD

BERTRAM VINCE 11 years ago

I agree with the other reviewers regarding the seals of the doors and the lack of control of the fire in general.The WORST BY Far issue is the throat plate which sags with use and has to be replaced about every year,the sag can be so great that it sometime falls on to the lit fire below. We buy some from charnwood at fifty pounds a time, others we make ourselves which tend to last longer. Also the side riddle keyway holding pin is always snapping off and has to be mended the best we can. In fact we have given up on this, we open one door and poke about with a poker in the firebox. Whilst there a 3 seperate grates in the firebox when you turn the riddling handle the only place of riddle is between the 3 grates, the solid fuel resting on the 3 grates only moves up and down and does not clear its self of the ash. The ashpan has bowed up in the middle so it reduces its volume of ash it can carry, the airwash slide at the top is not easy to operate as it gets stiff with use and the holding knob is very small and gets too hot, it can only really be dealt with by using the ash pan handle as a pushing or pulling device. We have other stoves in the house which are made in China at half the price which give us quite as much satisfaction. We have had made a thick stainless steel throat plate which is lasting much longer.

Stove expert replied: Disappointing to hear the problems above, it takes away some of the enjoyment of the stove.

Overall rating:

2.5 flames

Build Quality 2 flames (avg 2.9)
Quality of finish 4 flames (avg 3.3)
Value for money 2 flames (avg 2.8)
Ease of use 3 flames (avg 3.1)
Ease of lighting 3 flames (avg 3.1)
Firebox size 4 flames (avg 3.9)
How well does the airwash work 2 flames (avg 2.6)
Controllability 1 flames (avg 2.1)
Handle operation 1 flames (avg 2.4)
How likely are you to buy it again? 2 flames (avg 2.5)
What is your overall satisfaction? 2 flames (avg 2.5)