WhatStove?

Review of Stovax Brunel 1A stove

Buy something else

Oliver 15 years ago

I really struggled with this fire and have subsequently removed it and replaced it with a Jotul 602.

I found that when burning wood the firebox was far too small and would burn a complete load in about two hours - even with the airvents closed. I could never, ever, get the fire to stay in overnight. Also the firebox is very shallow so when you open the doors burning embers or even complete burning logs would fall out of the stove - often had to put the carpet out!!! The fire box is also not very wide - and so you can't get a decent length of log onto the fire either.

It worked better with coal - but even then it's not that great.

It would be nice to be able to open the ash door without having to open the main door.

The glass does stay nice and clean. If it gets dirty - through burning with closed air vents don't bother cleaning it with glass cleaner - just give the fire a good roar and it cleans itself - you can actually watch particles of soot being sucked off the glass !!

Not keen on the handle design - to keep the door sealed against the rope properly means that it's very tight to unlatch.

I'm sorry to give this fire such a slating but the jotul 602 is far superior - loads from one end - nothing falls out, bigger firebox in the same amount of space (if you put the chimney on top). It also has a built in hotplate. The only downside is that it's wood only - but then I found coal dust gets everywhere anyway, so I tend to just burn wood.

Overall rating:

2.5 flames

Build Quality 4 flames (avg 4.3)
Quality of finish 4 flames (avg 4.2)
Value for money 2 flames (avg 3.8)
Ease of use 2 flames (avg 4.4)
Ease of lighting 3 flames (avg 4)
Firebox size 1 flames (avg 3.2)
How well does the airwash work 5 flames (avg 3.3)
Controllability 3 flames (avg 4.2)
Handle operation 3 flames (avg 3.9)
How likely are you to buy it again? 1 flames (avg 4)
What is your overall satisfaction? 2 flames (avg 3.9)
  • Kevin Twelvetrees said 10 years ago:

    Thats because its multi fuel, they never burn logs well!.The Jotul is prob wood stove.