The Bixby Maxfire Corn And Pellet Stove

The Bixby Maxfire is an innovative round fronted stove with a curved viewing window. It's available in six colours with an enamel finish, produces 50,000 btu. and is rated to heat 2,200 square feet.

The burnpot is in two sections, upper and lower. Both sections have 'vortex' air holes to maintain a fire. After a pre-defined length of time according to the fuel feed rate, an arm cuts between the two sections to separate ash from fuel. The ash from the lower burnpot is dumped while a fire is maintained in the upper half.

This stove doesn't have a conventional auger to deliver the fuel, instead it uses a wheel with slots in that collects fuel into a slot when the slot is at the bottom and delivers it to the burnpot when the slot is at the top. If an obstruction occurs, the wheel will automatically reverse to clear itself.

Designed as a multi-fuel stove, the Bixby Maxfire will burn corn and any biomass pellet of suitable size. See the Bixby stove page for Cornell university testing with grass pellets.

Bixby use their own combined air intake and exhaust venting system. The inner three inch tube carries the exhaust and the space between that and the outer five inch tube is used to introduce combustion air to the stove. See comments below.

The Maxfire has a double igniter system to enable it to light corn quickly. This is also a failsafe because if one igniter fails, the other will take over with an automatically modified fuel feed rate.

The control board carries extensive diagnostics for problems, as well as a socket where a Bixby service agent can plug in a computer.

It is possible to empty the ashpan on this stove while it's running, as long as you don't take more than twenty minutes. A logset is provided as standard.

Below is a short video of a Maxfire in action.

If you are unsure of the meanings of the terms in the pellet stove review below,or their implications, please go to the Pellet Stove Reviews page for an explanation.

Heating Area 2,200 sq. ft.

Max. Heat Output 50,000 btu.

Min. Heat Output 8,000 btu.

Automatic Ignition Yes

Manual Ignition Yes, using propane torch

Hopper Capacity 106 lb.

Burn time 57 hrs.

Fuel Type Any biomass pellet, corn

Glass Air Wash Yes

Built in Blower Yes

Convection Blower Capacity 275 cfm.

Thermostat Compatible Yes, see comments below

E.P.A. Approved Yes

Emissions 2.25 gr./hr.

Efficiency 78%

Dimensions

Height 33 in.
Width 28 in.
Depth 30 in.

Weight 380 lbs.

Window Size 15 in. by 7.75 in.

Flue Vent Size 5 in. Includes inlet air, see comments below

Top Vent No

Rear Vent Yes

Rear Vent Height 9.5 in.

Battery Backup No, See Stove Sentry

Surge Protector Recommended

Colours Black, Burgundy, Navy Blue, Hunter Green, Blushtone, Silver

Exhaust Temperature Sensor Yes

Low Draft Shutdown No, see comments below

Construction Type Fabricated steel

Automatic Shutdown and Re-ignition No, see comments below

Warranty

One of the best available

Seven years
Deftects in material and workmanship.

Four years
Mechanical and electrical failure

Original owner only

Options

Colours, see above
Gold or Nickel trim
Thermostat
Safety screen

Comments

The Bixby Maxfire will not shut down and re-ignite from a thermostat. If no heat is called for, it will run on the low setting.

There is no low vacuum switch. There are switches on the ashpan and the door to tell the stove when one of these is open.

While the combined inlet and exhaust venting system is a good idea, The cost will be more than a conventional pellet stove venting system

Maintenance

Every few days:

Empty the ash drawer and clean the glass.

Monthly:

Clean the burnpot, heat exchanger,fuel hopper, fuel feeder tube, the lower ash dump paddle and the convection blower filter.

Annually:

Inspect and clean the venting, exhaust fan, exhaust manifold and the ignition air filter.

Review

If you would like to leave a review of the Bixby Maxfire pellet and corn burning stove, please use the form on the contact page.