A:  The fuel hopper capacity is 2.4 cubic feet, about 106 lbs. of shelled corn.  It holds approximately 18 gallons of corn.  The official US Department of Agriculture weight of shelled corn is 56 lbs. per bushel.   The Bixby holds about 2 bushels of corn.  

Q:  How much corn will the Bixby burn in a day?

A:  On an average winter day (24 hours) in the Midwest, you can expect to burn a bushel of corn (8 -10 gallons) to heat around 1,500 sq. ft.    On the coldest days, up to a bushel and a half will provide a comfortable warmth.  This will vary depending on the insulation and structural or environmental factors of your home.   

Q:  How do you adjust the heat rate?

A:  There are eight heat settings on the Bixby Model 110 corn and pellet stove.  I typically turn it up to four or five on an average winter night, and down to two or three during the day.  During the fall and late winter/early spring, the #1 setting is often sufficient during the daytime hours.   The settings are changed by simple touch pads, much like on your microwave oven.  Indicator lights for the heat settings provide a visual measurement of the heat output.  

Indicator lights and control panel

Q:  We've burned corn in a (popular brand) of corn stove for 3 seasons, and are tired of cleaning up the fly ash.  Does your Bixby let any fly ash into the house?  Do you have to open the door to clean up around the fire pot?  If so, how often?  Do you have to wipe off the door glass?  Ours gets a dark "ashy" film over it so that you can't see the fire well.   We're considering replacing with a Bixby, and want to make sure it will solve our problems.

A:  I've never experienced fly ash in the house.   With the model 110, there is very little fly ash created.  The ash drawer can be emptied once a week.   The new model stays very clean as long as you burn dry, clean corn, 15% or less moisture.   I burned some corn at over 20% moisture and the door got slightly filmed after several days, but never so that you could not clearly see the fire pot.   While all brands of corn stoves have inherent maintenance and cleaning that is necessary for optimal performance, the Bixby seems to be easier to maintain than the many others I have heard stories about from readers.   I let the stove cool down about once a week, and open the door to remove any ash from the heat exchanger area, and use the provided round wire brush to clean the firepot.  

Overall, I'm amazed at how clean this Bixby burns.  I don't know how often your (popular brand) drops an ash wafer, but this one drops about every 16 - 24 hours, depending on the heat setting.  Compared to the old model 100, that's a lot less ash.  And the 3" vent pipe exhausts a much cleaner product also.  Many corn stoves produce a smelly exhaust  like burned popcorn when igniting.   I detect very little exhaust on start-up of the new Bixby, and none during operation.

Q:  What has been your experience with the service from Bixby once your stove was installed?

A:  The service has been excellent.  The Bixby folks are a class act and will do everything they can to ensure their stove is operating the way it is supposed to.  They have a toll-free service number.

I asked a question about the burn rate after noticing a build-up of a hard ash-cake called a "clinker" in the fire pot.  Ron, a technician from Bixby, travels from Nebraska, Wisconsin to Iowa and Minnesota and does nothing but make sure the Bixby customers are happy.   He showed up at my home within a couple days, and plugged a laptop computer into my stove.  Within minutes, he had run a diagnostic and slightly adjusted the dump rate and burn rate, which took care of my concerns.  At the time I was using "dirty corn" with a substantial amount of "fines."  These can affect the burn quality and ash in the firepot.  Sometimes the factory settings should be adjusted to compensate for regional differences, such as elevation and the drier, thinner air in the mountains of Colorado.  The quality and moisture content of corn can also vary by region.  You can adjust the feed rate and blower rate with internal speed controls.

 I was tremendously impressed with Ron's knowledge, service and the tips he gave me about good stove operation.   He didn't charge a dime.  

Q:  I've never owned a corn stove before, but am thinking of buying one.   Do you have any suggestions or tips?

A:  Yes.  Burning corn for fuel is not the same as natural gas or propane.  You don't just install a corn stove and expect to walk away from it like you do a regular furnace.   It has to be loaded with fuel regularly (once every day or so,) and cleaned and maintained on a periodic basis.   You have to empty the ash drawer at least once a week on the Bixby, and much more often on some other brands.  It is much easier and cleaner that burning wood in a fireplace or stove, but still involves a minimal investment of your time.   If you are willing to make that effort, and you feel strongly about reducing your fuel bills while using a readily available alternative fuel (while supporting your local farmers,)  then a corn burner may be just right for you.  Visit your local corn stove dealer and research the different brands.   Ask as many questions as you can, and request to experience the operation, much as you would when buying a car.  

Bixby Brochure

Stove Specifications

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