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Little Honey Woodburner in the snow

About the Little Honey – Started in a housetruck

Based in the Southern Rangitikei, I have been making Little Honey wood burners as a hobby for the past 25 years. I’m a semi retired agricultural contractor, farmer, housetruck builder, amateur engineer and general machinery fixer upper. Thanks to Christine, my wife of 38 years, I’m also the proud father of 4, and grand father of 10.

It all started 25 years ago, after nearly freezing my family to death in our first housetruck trip down the South Island in the winter. I came home and stuck my head inside the log burner in our house, to see how it worked, picked the brains of a friend who rebuilt wood burners for a living and went to work.

What housetruckers needed was a small wood stove that wasn’t big or heavy, one you could cook on and control the heat, see inside with glass in the door, was safe to use in a confined space (ash or coal catcher and heat shields), could be shut down quickly when it was time to move on, and would burn OVER NIGHT. The Little Honey does the lot!
– Melly

Recent Customer Feedback 

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A+ good quick trade, friendly service, well packed, and quick freight. This is a really high quality product & represents really good value for money. I did my homework on buying a fire & this Little Honey was the best by far! I am an Engineer myself & I can state that this is built to a very high standard. Thank you so very much we love it!
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THIS FELLOW MAKES A GOOD JOB OF THESE LIL LOGBURNERS, I BOUGHT ONE FOR A BUS BUT TRIED IT OUT IN MY LOUNGE FIRST…ITS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE AN WARMS MY LOUNGE GREAT SO MUCH FOR A LIL HONEY..THEY REALLY GLOW
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Awsome trader …. Absolutely pleased with the lil fireplace. Highly recommend this trader and his product.
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excellent trader would recommend to all,perfect little honey wood fire, beautifully crafted excellent workmanship all up and running.A++++++++

Frequently Asked Questions

(Click on the FAQ titles below to see the answers)

Do you have Little Honey Woodburners in stock?

Not usually.  Because of the demand and customizing options, Little Honeys are made to order.  There is usually a waiting list, so please inquire for wait times.

 

Payment will be required before manufacturing begins of your Little Honey.

Can a Little Honey be installed in a permanent dwelling?

They are most frequently used in motor homes, house trucks, buses, camper vans, boats and the latest trend is to use them as a small wood stove in a Tiny House.

As an ‘untested fire’ the Little Honey is intended only to be installed in movable accommodation where a permit is NOT required and they do not have to be clean air approved. Correct installation and safe operation is the buyer’s responsibility.

What are the recommended clearances for installation?
We’ve written up some detailed info on recommended clearances, which you can find right here: Recommended Clearances for the Little Honey Woodburner
Can you fit a wetback to a Little Honey Woodburner?

We don’t recommend that a wet back is fitted to the interior of the firebox, as it tends to lower the temperature and will hinder the double burning process. Also, what do you do when the water boils? You can’t just turn on the hot tap to relieve the pressure when you have a limited water supply. When we need a bit of hot water to do the dishes, we normally just put the kettle on top.
A water jacket around the flue is an option that should not adversely affect the operation of the fire. I have a contact who can supply one.

Can you burn drift wood?

We do, but only native timber or hard woods, as they are usually dry even in winter and won’t have soaked up much salt water. What is essential though is that the flue is fitted with a hat that will prevent any rain to go down it. Water + salt = RUST!

How much do they weigh?
Roughly 25 kgs (55.12 pounds)
How thick is the steel?
The sides and base are 3mm, the top plate is 6mm, and the double burner plate is 10mm thick.
Where can I get the flue (chimney)?

Due to shipping constraints, we no longer supply the flue and recommend that you go to your local plumbing supply store or wholesaler. To see what is available go to: www.sfp.co.nz and look under solid fuel. You can also find a link to a retailer there. The Little Honeys take the standard 100mm flue.

Does it burn coal?
It is not designed to burn coal by itself as it does not have a grate installed, but we find that sometimes putting a shovel full of coal on top of the wood works very well for a slow overnight burn.
Do you do installations?
Not as yet. But I am happy to give advice and assistance.
What are the freight/shipping costs?
The shipping varies from $90 to $150 depending on where in New Zealand it is going to. We’re based in the Southern Rangitikei, (Lower/middle North Island), so the closer you are to us, the cheaper the shipping will be. (Freight quotes are only available to your nearest main centre, and rural delivery is not recommended.)

We don’t currently ship overseas, but we may be able to work something out if you get in touch with us. See Contact Details here.

Does the Little Honey have fire bricks?

I have given this some thought. As the prime purpose of fire bricks is to protect the steel from warping and splitting from extreme heat, I have decided that it was not necessary. The Little Honey is designed as a small, slow burner and should not get so hot that it glows red. The area that gets the hottest, above the double burner plate, is made of pretty solid steel.
The steel fins, that the heat shields are bolted to, are to strengthen the sides and conduct heat away from them. If it proved to be a problem I would weld extra fins on before I reduced the size of an already small combustion chamber with bricks.

Will a wood burner deplete the oxygen level in my motor home or tiny house?

No!  During normal operation of the fire, the only oxygen that is used is in the air that is actually drawn into the woodburner through the air vents and is consumed inside the firebox. The resulting fumes are vented entirely and safely to the outside through the flue. This small amount of air used will be immediately replaced from the outside through any hole or gap in the shell of the building. In the unlikely case of a completely sealed room, the fire would be hard to keep going or even light as no draft could be created, through the air vents, by the flue.
In actual fact, a woodburner ensures the circulation of air in a building, something that is needed for lowering condensation and ensuring fresh air for respiration, particularly at night.
The only time there could be any problem is if the airflow is somehow reversed and smoke comes out the air vent as fresh air is sucked into the woodburner through the flue. This can sometimes happen in windy weather, when the air pressure outside can fluctuate momentarily, causing a puff of smoke to come out the air vent, or if the door of the motorhome is opened out suddenly, or an expelair over the stove or in the bathroom may lower the air pressure enough to neutralise or reverse the air flow in the flue.
To compensate for this, ensure the flue is at least 1.5 mtrs long. Make sure there is somewhere for air to enter your motor home etc. to at least match the flow of air up the flue or through your expelair. (In the floor, not exposed directly to the wind, is better than a roof vent or an open window where your warm air can just escape).

Remember to clean your flue occasionally.
AND you already have a smoke alarm fitted, haven’t you!!!

Can I get new handles or knobs if I need them?

Yes, I can supply a new set for a nominal charge of $45 including postage; or for free, if they fail within the first 12 months.

Can I get the glass replaced?

Yes, I can do that for around $150. The best is to just send me the door, as the glass is welded in place and not easily replaced by someone who doesn’t have the parts required. I have only had to do it once!

Little Honey wood burners compact wood stove

 

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