Review of Firebelly FB2 stove
Firebelly FB2
We've had an FB2 for a year now. We have a 10m chimney that is very straight. The recommended single pipe to 6m ceiling and then insulated pipe through a chimney, loft and the roof itself. There are two 30 degree bends in the loft. The stove is freestanding on the optional log box. During the first winter, we burned mainly scrap wood, some of which was very very old. A bit of oak too, but mainly old scrap. We didn't try burning overnight, but there were occasions when it happened anyway.\n\nLikes\n\nWe love the looks of the stove and it was a big help that it comes in some many colours. Our home has some huge old beams and we were able to get a complementary colour that does not detract from them. With the log box, the stove is positioned at "TV viewing height", making it a real centerpiece. I strongly recommend getting one for this stove. It also means less bending over to insert wood, the advantage claimed by top-loading stoves.\n\nThe airwash works for us and the glass stays mostly clean. Its very easy to wipe what little buildup you get. The window is massive and provides a fantastic view of the flames.\n\nBurns clean, but we do have a very favourable chimney setup.\n\nNo problems with lighting or smoke in room, unless I've made a pigs ear of building the fire.\n\nThrows out heat forwards, not backwards or sideways. Requires less clearance than a cast iron stove.\n\nDoor handle stays cool.\n\nDislikes\n\nControls are crap. The slider at the bottom is very heavy and jerky and the metal stick you move both the bottom and top controls with looks and feels very poor. We often leave the bottom closed on ours as a result. It still lights okay though. Note that the controls have been changed on the new model. \n\nThe top air control is a large slot you can see through. It only happened once in over five months burning, but a spitting fire can throw a burning ember through it when its open fully. Again, I think it has changed with the new model. Airflow through the top intake can be audible when its open fully.\n\nBuild quality is fair and could be a bit more robust.\n\nNo ashbox, but woodheat.org says they're over-rated anyway.\n\nInstructions are poor. No indication of top firebrick orientation, in case you take it out when shifting the stove during installation. I think the temp guide in the instructions is also incorrect and is simply received wisdom for (probably cast iron) stoves. The instructions claim the stove works best at 125 to 250C but I think you'd need a real inferno going to get the top over 150C due to the firebox being shielded. You'd need logs right up to an "open the door and they'll roll out" height. You can boil a kettle on it, but it takes a long time and then only just.\n\nOverall\n\nI think the FB2 isn't the best-made stove out there, but I still love it because it looks wonderful, both when its on and during the rest of the year when it isn't. In spite of their shortcomings, Firebelly have stumbled upon a firebox design that is simple and works well, and they have put it in a stove that looks great in an interior that doesn't have to be country chic or have plaster moldings on the ceiling. If the Firebelly company gets more experience and can tweak the design and maybe beef up the build quality, they could have a really great stove. As it is, its still pretty good and definitely looks the business. If you're indifferent about the look of your stove though, maybe there are better options for you out there.