WhatStove?

Review of Morso Panther stove

Morso 2110

Elizabeth Ferguson 4 years ago

Hello I'm really new to this. I have only used old fashioned cast iron stoves at camp in my youth, but I have converted our garage into a apartment as my parents are getting older and my sister and her 2 children needed a place to live as well. I did this 2 years ago and at the time my research told me that propane heat was only a little more expensive than if I had to buy wood. This has proven NOT TRUE for me at least and is driving my family into the poor house. That being said I have turned to my only other option now and decided to install a wood stove and metal chimney in the small apartment. I was lucky enough to get a stove severely discontinued to me because they knew I worked with a charity and was struggling financially. This stove just so happens to be a Morso 2110. It was heavy and hard to move but what stove isn't. Its also a very pretty stove and seems like it's well built but I have yet to be able to have a fire. I finally have the chimney pipe and everything I need to install it. However I am a little confused about something, maybe you can help me. In all the reading material I've gone through they say you need fire bricks on the sides and bottom of wood stoves. OK no problem. In one of the 2 instruction books about the 2110 I found it briefly mentioned "make sure bricks are properly positioned" but without any pattern or explanation of what they mean. So I bought fire bricks. However as I'm looking at the inside trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do with them I see what appears to be on the left and right side specially cut and inserted fire bricks already on those sides. They are somehow firmly attached to the sides. The back has what appears to be a shield on the inside then the cast iron then on the outside a heat shield attached to reduced clearance. The inside of the bottom is thick cast iron (I think) grating with a ash pan underneath that then the cast iron bottom of the stove. So now I am so confused about this fire brick situation??? It looks like they already have them permanently installed on the sides and that implies to me that they aren't supposed to be anywhere else or they'd have put them there too? Adding a layer of fire bricks on the bottom is going to make my box smaller and also mean that ash cant go into the ash pan? The back also doesn't seem to need any brick. IDK what should I be doing here? Any answers would be helpful. Also would be happy to hear people's input about any useful tips for efficient and safe wood stove use. Thanks everyone :-)

Stove expert replied: I have emailed you the exploded diagram of parts that make up this stove for your information. Did you get a manual with the stove as this gives guidance regarding how to operate it effectively and efficiently? If not this can be downloaded from the internet. The grate in the bottom of the stove will allow you to use smokeless fuel or wood on the stove and for wood burning you would not use the riddling mechanism but leave the ash to build up to a good bed, this will only need to be removed periodically as wood burns best on a bed of ash with an over draught. Perhaps once installed and you are using the stove you will review it from a working point of view.

Overall rating:

5 flames

Build Quality 5 flames (avg 4.2)
Quality of finish 5 flames (avg 4.2)
Value for money 5 flames (avg 3.5)
Ease of use 5 flames (avg 4.1)
Ease of lighting 5 flames (avg 4.3)
Firebox size 5 flames (avg 4.2)
How well does the airwash work 5 flames (avg 3.8)
Controllability 5 flames (avg 4.3)
Handle operation 5 flames (avg 3.9)
How likely are you to buy it again? 5 flames (avg 3.6)
What is your overall satisfaction? 5 flames (avg 3.7)