Review of Merlin Slimline stove
Merlin Slimline
I have replaced my Charnwood Country 6, with a Merlin Slimline. I did a lot of reading on this website. Due to the limited space the stoves i could pick was quite limited.... Having had the property extensively insulated and triple glazing installed the Charnwood 6, while a very good stove was driving me out of the room! It also needed some new fire bricks and baffle plate. Time for a change! I did a deal with a stove shop that was having a sale and bought two Merlin's a slimeline and a classic I think. The classic will be going to our property in Venice as the main heat source. I will report on that one at a later date. I had the slimline fitted to an existing chimney. This has a 6'' clay liner built in it when the property was built. As the Charnwood had worked well on this chimney, I saw no reason to try to fit a liner, figuring that it would be almost imposable to get a 6'' liner up a 6'' liner. Once fitted we left it for a few days for all the sealers to dry it was time to light. The Slimline was harder to light than the Charnwood and did not seem to pull as well making it harder to light. As all stoves are different I guessed it was going to take a little time to get to know the new arrival. No matter what I did the stove sooted up the window, this would not burn off during the time the stove was alight. I had read on here that some people had a similar problem with there Nordpis stoves, one of the stoves on my short list. I have now worked out how to get the very best out of this stove and I'm over the moon with my purchase. I put in some screwed up news paper followed by some dry kindling.On top of this I put in a chopped up dry log. I light the fire and close the door but do not latch it shut leaving it ajar. Once the fire is roaring away and a good fire is burning in the fire box I close the door and latch it. I then leave the bottom slide control fully open, and the wheel control fully closed. This insures that the draw of the chimney keeps the glass free of soot. Once the initial wood has burnt down to glowing embers I refuel with 2 or 3 dry logs, I then close the slide control to its midway point as per the instructions. This stove produces lots of heat and a fantastic flame pattern. I now use half the logs I used on the Charnwood, I'm not driven out of the room, This little slimline will heat all of our small chalet type bungalow if all the doors are open. It just takes a little longer to do so... I will add that the slimline will not tolerate damp or unseasoned logs! It will burn them but you will not see the flames. I have used several different fuels on the stove, it loves wood briquets. Amazing flame picture loads of heat and no ash to speak of. I've also used several types of manufactured coal. Its so easy to chop and change as it has a built in grate. So far home ovals are the best, the stove will run all afternoon and night on one fueling and still be burning in the morning! Amazing! It will also burn over night with logs if its not too windy outside. Something I was not expecting as it has a small fire box. I'm astonished that such a small stove can produce such a lot of heat form such small amount of fuel. As a bonus I've yet to turn on my LPG heating... That alone has saved me a fortune. I think the Merlin will have paid for its self in a winter. Thoroughly recommended. Just take time to learn its idiosyncrasies... Ps I marked it down as the handle does get hot, but you do get supplied with leather gloves so you don't get burned or dirty your hands while putting fuel in it.