WhatStove?

Review of Dovre 700 stove

Excellent

Paul Mortimer-lee 10 years ago

This is a big stove but we a have large room and a large inglenook and it's perfect for that. We have the multifuel version, so the grate airflow is good for getting the fire started.

The stove is BIG - you could have a party in it - and perfect for nice big dry logs that burn well but last, but without a 'lazy' flame. The side loader is great for longer logs. The secondary airflow control is good (you can vary the stiffness of it by altering a couple of screws) and the glass stays pretty clear. The secondary airflow is quiet, which is different from a couple of other stoves I've had and the airwash works well. The glass does not extend all the way down the door, which is a plus because on some stoves glass that extends as low as the log retainer ends up very sooted up at the bottom. This is never an issue with the dovre 700. Nonetheless, the very wide glass door means you have a good view of the flame.

In multifuel mode it also heats well. The grate part is small in relation to the overall area of the bottom of the stove and is countersunk. The plus with this is You can get a nice hot mounded centre of the stove and get it to stay in well. The downside is the ash can collect a lot in the well and the coals outside the well burn less well. The ashpan is smaller than you'd think from the external size of the ashpan door. A wider grate and ashpan would be a big improvement in my view. The other thing I'd change is the door handle. There's a wooden handle with a steel end that just slips into the front door handle, the side door handle and the ashpan door. I find it annoying. If they magnetised the steel end maybe it would not fall out so often when we use it, but this is a niggle not a major drawback.

The side and back 'firebricks' are cast iron, which will last longer than regular firebricks (I hope). Easy to remove for cleaning.

Because we have an inglenook we like to use one of those "stirling engine" fans on top of the stove. Maybe because the stove is so big we don't cram it with fuel, so the sides and flue pipe (back exit) are often cooler (80-90 degrees F) than the top, which heats up very well indeed and drives the fan well.

Overall this is an excellent stove. I prefer it with wood but I may be biased as we have free supplies of this. There are, as with any stove, things that could be better, but overall it's a well-built, solid (175kg!) stove that gives good heat and looks well in the right setting. We are very happy with it.

Overall rating:

4.5 flames

Build Quality 5 flames (avg 4.4)
Quality of finish 5 flames (avg 4.6)
Value for money 5 flames (avg 4.6)
Ease of use 4 flames (avg 4.6)
Ease of lighting 5 flames (avg 4.8)
Firebox size 5 flames (avg 5)
How well does the airwash work 5 flames (avg 4.2)
Controllability 5 flames (avg 4.6)
Handle operation 4 flames (avg 4)
How likely are you to buy it again? 5 flames (avg 4.6)
What is your overall satisfaction? 5 flames (avg 4.8)