Firebelly FB1 stove

4 flames

The contemporary Firebely FB1 stove has one plain door with a big glass panels in it.

You can place the stove on a 12m thick hearth you only need a 80m air gap either side and above the stove

The Firebely FB1 stove is a 6kw model and you can get a multi fuel kit & a log box for this model.

It is also available as a double sided stove.

• Height: 605mm
• Width: 522mm
• Depth: 422mm
• Flue Diameter: 125mm
• Nominal Heat Output: 6kW
• Efficiency: 78%

More reviews for Firebelly FB1 stove (page 1 of 3)

• Door hinge problem

  AndrewGuy 9 years ago

  I purchase one of the larger 12kw Firebelly stoves back in 2011. We have used the stove extensively replacing the fire bricks and glass on the odd occasion. Unfortunately the side opening door
  has sagged and I can see no easy way of repairing it or replacing the hinge _ can anyone help me out?
  ...[ read more ]
  Overall rating:

  4 flames

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• disappointed

  Sue Allister 9 years ago

  We purchased a firebelly wood burning stove about two and a half years ago and it is generally very easy to light and gives out plenty of heat. I am disappointed with the general look of it
  however as the coating is peeling off which I was told would happen if it came in contact with moisture, so heartily glad I didn't choose one of the lovely colours. Do all wood burning stoves do this?
  ...[ read more ]
  Overall rating:

  3 flames

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• Fire belly fb1

  Yvette Morgan 10 years ago

  Bought this stove in February 2013, by the time it was installed was mid march, so used it 3 times up until April with no problems except letting a bit of smoke back into the room when opening
  the door, lit the fire back up in mid November, have used it about 4 nights but stopped as it was filling my room with smoke coming out the sides of the door when closed, I contacted firebely direct and was told it was because I was burning damp wood? I was burning kiln dried at the time, I then contacted the company who supplied the fire to me, they stated I have a cold spot on my flue and gave me instructions on how to over come this. I did explain to both parties there was smoke coming out of the door when it was lit up and when up to temperature, we'll everything came to a head last night after half hour of it burning, I opened the door to put some more logs on and the door fell off, i was stranded trying to hold door against the fire and managed to reach my mobile and ring my brother who assisted me in putting the fire out, my living room is covered in soot and stinks of smoke.
  ...[ read more ]

  Stove expert replied: This is a shame and I am sure that the door can be re-attached to the stove. The issue of the smoke coming back into the room should also be able to be cured with either a liner (if you do not already have one) and anti down draught cowl, an extra length on the flue system or possibly an air brick in the room. This annoying problem can usually be overcome and would recommend that you ask your installer for further assistance. Firebely have sent an Engineer to assist with the problems and this is a self installed stove with a short flue which is not recommend by the company, it should be installed by a Hetas Engineer.

  Overall rating:

  1 flames

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• Wolf in sheeps clothing

  Kev 11 years ago

  I have 2 firebelly stoves, a 12kw and a 6kw, Being a fabricator/welder I was very very dispointed with myself on delivery of the 12kw as we bought off internet without seeing, we paid £
  1100 for it and its no more then a basic but well made steel box. The flames look fab when at full blast but it does not throw out no where near the 12kw it advertises regardless of dry logs and other burning conditions, The vamiculite panels that create the fire box are absolutly useless and will cost you a small fortune to replace within a year. If you do what the following suggestion explains you will avoid this unnecessary expense, the side panels although cracked will remain good and in place,the top panel will crack and eventually collapse and is expensive to replace. I have overcome this issue by replacing this panel with a section of an old cast iron bath that I cut with a disc cutter the same dimension, it will last forever, I also put a baffle plate in the flue that controls the pull of draft and allows more burning time in the box thus giving you more heat. To conclude this is a nice looking metal box and the fire looks good when cosied up on settee but reality is there are a few more 12kw fires out there that will out perform this stove. The vamiculite panels are a joke and lets the stove down badly. A friend of mine bought a dru 78 12kw and it blasts out so much more heat then mine, very over priced stove, realistic price £800 for what it gives
  ...[ read more ]

  Stove expert replied: Modifying a stove will invalidate the warranty. Most stoves on the market come with the vermiculite liners which will crack during use but providing they are protecting the metal of the stove are fine to use. Fire cement can be used to kepp the parts together. The problem of poor performance does not seem to be all of the stoves making as having installed a flue damper output has increased, the flue draw is a critical part to any stoves performance so investigate fully before condeming any stove.

  Overall rating:

  2.5 flames

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• Delighted

  Desmonut 12 years ago

  May 2010 - I bought this direct from the Holmfirth showroom after quite a bit of research on types of stove, price and finish etc.. The reports here convinced me to get one. My wife did not
  want a black Victorian looking thing and the contemporary look and colour was the deciding factor as well as a good price. The girls in the showroom were great to deal with and delivery was on time. We have central heating as well but the FB1 throws out so much heat in its free standing corner position that the radiators are basically redundant. The lounge is big (22' x 14')with a vaulted ceiling and even on the coldest day the fire is adequate. The fire burns clean and efficiently after easy lighting and even if the glass gets smoky when starting if closed down too much, once the heat gets back up and the top vent is open (bottom closed) the glass magically clears - it really is beautiful to watch. The fire will resurrect sometimes next morning with a bit of paper and kindling but I didn't buy for that reason anyway so it's not a problem either way. It sits on the log box nicely which in turn sits on a tear drop corner glass hearth which looks good. My wife thought a wood burner would be a dirty smelly thing - it isn't. As long as I get the logs in from outside light and clean it from time to time she is delighted. Recommended
  ...[ read more ]

  Stove expert replied: Great review of a happy customer and one that had reservations also now delighted. Good heat being generated and airwash doing its job effectively.

  Overall rating:

  4 flames

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• no output

  Alistair 12 years ago

  had the double sided fb1 for a month or so now it looks good lights fairly easy but gives off no heat.I was advised by the salesman that any bigger than this would be way to hot and "wouldnt
  be able to sit in same room as" what a load of rubbish.We have one room 12m/2 floor space and the other 20m/2 with low ceilings, i reckon we could have got a much larger stove. i am sat in front of it at the moment while typing this with my face about a foot away from it with flames blazing.
  ...[ read more ]

  Stove expert replied: the fb1 should give out about the right output for those rooms (if reasonably well insulated). One or two things is probably going on; the draw may be very strong which will reduce the output. This would be noticable from a sucking noise at the air vents and the stove would be easy to light but hard to control. It may also be that the rooms are very cold and badly insulated in which case the stove is too small and the classic symptom is that the 'stove does not give out any heat' when in fact it does but the heat is being sucked up into the rooms. I think possibly critism should be levelled at the salesman, not the stove?

  Overall rating:

  3.5 flames

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• FB1

  David Burton 13 years ago

  Fitted in late 2006 we are very pleased with the FB1 and quite look forward to the wood-burning season each year. It's not perfect, but it is stylish (very few contemporary stoves come close
  in this respect) and we would certainly buy one again.It lights easily using newspaper, some cardboard and kindling. I usually run with a fully open top draught as it is fiddly to adjust to partially open (our stove has a small slider rather than the later knob control). Run in this way the glass only needs cleaning once every 6 to 8 fires (and even then it is only lightly "bloomed" rather than being sooty). To clean the glass I use a light dab of Stovax stove glass cleaner gel on a paint brush.The fire-bricks (boards on side, back and top) are lasting well although the back is cracked now - however I don't anticipate having to change it for several years.The best aspects are the stylish design, the large glass door and efficient air curtain. Also the stay-cool door handle.Slight negatives are the squeaky door hinges and the paint finish marking with use (although this can be re-sprayed easily) . Also the door seal is a little perhaps a little vulnerable and needs re-attaching at the bottom of the door from time to time. These minor negative points are easily out-weighed by the positives.
  ...[ read more ]

  Stove expert replied: Good glass cleaner is woodash on a damp cloth or vinegar on a damp cloth, cheaper tan a proprietary brand. The firebricks when cracked should not cause a problem and a small amount of fire cement will hold them together if required. They should be changed when they do not protect the metal of the stove.

  Overall rating:

  4.5 flames

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• Morso 04 vs. Firebelly FB1

  Sid Logs 13 years ago

  No review can be much use unless it objectively refers to other items in the market. I have a Morso 04, a Firebelly FB1, and a Jetmaster 700. This review is about both the Morso and the Firebelly
  .The Morso 04 (5kw) is smaller than the Firebelly FB1 (6kw). I have put the Morso in a larger room (5.5mx4.85m), because it is in a south facing room, unlike the Firebelly, which is in a smaller North facing room (3.8mx3.5m). Also, the Morso has to stay burning all day, whereas the Firebelly usually has to warm up a cold room (usually under 10 degrees in the winter) for a few hours in the evening. So the rated sizes are good for me.I generally get the impression that many vendors suggest, and many purchasers buy woodburners that are too large. This means they do not burn efficiently, or the room overheats, or both. If you have background central heating as well, you want a much smaller woodburner because it will not be your only source of heat in the extreme cold.Both fires are very efficient compared to the Jetmaster, and use fewer logs. It is hard to compare efficiencies, but the Morso probably has the edge over the Firebelly, but not by much.You can fit way bigger logs into the Firebelly, which is useful for slowing down the burn.The Morso has a multi-fuel grate built in, while the Firebelly doesn't (you can buy one separately).The Morso has an ash pan, so clearing out the ash is easier than the Firebelly.Both fires are quite messy when you open the door.The airwash works fine on both of them. Neither have double-glazing, and both get sooted up if you don't burn hard enough (is that a reason not to over-size your woodburner). Even Clearview stoves get sooted up as well, according to some friends, who have 3 Clearview woodburners. When we were round for dinner recently, they kept the doors of their Clearview 650 open, and it was just smouldering. I think they should have put in something half the power for that room.Controllability is better for the Morso, as the top slit in the Firebelly is a bit of a pain. They have now revised the design with a thing that you twist. I'm not sure whether that is an improvement, as the range of implements I would be able to use to move it is probably smaller. Currently, I usually use a lighter to open and close it, and only very occasionally bother to get the supplied tool to have it half open. With the Morso, you just do it smoothly with your hand.I personally find it is better to run both of them fully open and adjust the size and arrangement of logs to regulate heat.The handle on the Firebelly stays cool. Yes. You don't have to put on a glove to open the door. This is a major advantage over the Morso, and in fact, most woodburners. The function you use most often is... opening the door. So this is one of the most important factors.I'm very happy with both, and they suit the rooms well. I've heard a couple of vendors say uncomplimentary things about the Firebelly: that the glass gets sooted up (so do others), the ventilation control is pants (true), but no one mentions about the glove that you don't have to use. I think that outweighs the ventilation issue.
  ...[ read more ]
  Overall rating:

  3.5 flames

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