BlueStar

alaskanassasin

I am about to pull the trigger on a 30" base model BlueStar range. I like the burners, the easy wok conversion, there does not seem to be any electronics also a plus. Anyone out there have one, or been around one?

alaskanassasin

@Thatgrimguy I think you turned me onto them. Any feedback would be appreciated.  I am basically buying onsite unseen, there are not any showrooms with a 30" BlueStar in stock in Ohio.

Ozzie_Isaac

alaskanassasin said:

@Thatgrimguy I think you turned me onto them. Any feedback would be appreciated.  I am basically buying onsite unseen, there are not any showrooms with a 30" BlueStar in stock in Ohio.

You are lucky!  I have drooled over them since learning about them.

One sarcastic question.  Not sure why you are buying sight unseen, if you are onsite?

Legume

BiL put a huge setup in a couple of years ago, they love it, I love it.  The super low simmer where it shuts off and reignites is very cool.

alaskanassasin

@Ozzie_Isaac exchanging emails distributor ready to purchase however they do not have one available on their showroom to play with. Lets say I am onsite where it is going to go and I have never seen one.

Botch

I can't remember if it was @Thatgrimguy who turned me onto them (it was a thread something like "How do you heat your wok?" or something like that).  They have an outlet in SLC but I haven't been there yet.
 
I didn't see anything about a wok conversion, which was my main interest, was it on their main site?  The 36" cook top would drop right into my kitchen, and I'm very interested.  

womaus

Interesting.
I've recently acquired a BlueStar RNB Nova 30". Waiting for the electrician and gas fitter to make a couple of modifications for the final install.
With the pallet it weighs 375lbs. 
I picked mine up at the appliance dealer (short answer for why, I saved a little over 10%, about $600. End cost to me was $4995). I moved it into the house on the pallet, outer box intact. Damn, don't do that. The cast iron parts and the racks, all easily removed, must weigh close to 75lbs.
I wanted something like this for 40 years. Longtime restaurant experience, working on Vulcan, Garland, etc. Open burners. High output.
Some guy in the White House decided to give my wife and myself some cash. Hell, that cash paid for half or a BlueStar? Well OK then....maybe he'll pay for the rest? Before he's gone?
Took 8 weeks to get it. Factory was closed down for a week or two. Shipping issues. But it eventually arrived.
Pics show the use with woks. Pull the upper grate out, it provides a well for the wok. The two front burners are 22K BTU, right rear is 15K, left rear is 9K simmer. The removable upper grates has incremental adjustments by rotating, if you need another 1/4" space away from the flame.

womaus

Have, not has.
I blame the beer.

lkapigian

I don’t need this, I don’t need this, I don’t need this

womaus

And going further:



This is from a few years ago...they say 22K BTU. I believe they've got models that offer 25K.

 

55Kevy

When we built our house (moved in in 2015) I decided to put in a 48" Bluestar Platinum cooktop. Ordered it with the grill/griddle option, which I rarely use. But otherwise I love the stove.  It has a 25k btu burner that gets stuff hot fast, and I really enjoy the way my 39 year old wok fits in it.  And the simmer burner is great for braising.  I'd definitely buy one again.

At the same time I decided to go with Wolf wall oven.  It hasn't worked for over 6 months now, but at least Wolf is paying for all the parts and labor that has gone in to diagnosing the problem. I wouldn't be surprised if I end up with a new unit.

Botch

@womaus, thank you Thank You for posting that!
Is the "BlueStar RNB Nova 30" a stovetop, or a "cooktop"?  The reason I ask, is that the bottom pan of that unit looks like its between 9 to 12" below the "top surface" of the counter/stove.  If that's the case, it'd zero out the storage I have in the top shelf of my cupboard below the stove, which is my primary pot storage!  When I visit my local dealer, I need to bring a tape measure.  

Botch

womaus said:

And going further:



This is from a few years ago...they say 22K BTU. I believe they've got models that offer 25K.

 

 Well, I don't think I'll need the exhaust hood, as I don't plan on dumping almost a pint of cooking oil into my wok!    

Ozzie_Isaac

Botch said:

womaus said:

And going further:



This is from a few years ago...they say 22K BTU. I believe they've got models that offer 25K.

 

 Well, I don't think I'll need the exhaust hood, as I don't plan on dumping almost a pint of cooking oil into my wok!    

I dream of having a decent exhaust hood on my stove.  Every house I have owned has a microwave that is to low and no exhaust hood.

buzd504

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Botch said:

womaus said:

And going further:



This is from a few years ago...they say 22K BTU. I believe they've got models that offer 25K.

 

 Well, I don't think I'll need the exhaust hood, as I don't plan on dumping almost a pint of cooking oil into my wok!    

I dream of having a decent exhaust hood on my stove.  Every house I have owned has a microwave that is to low and no exhaust hood.

We put in an 800cfm exhaust vented to outside when we renovated, and while not the strongest exhaust on the market, I can blacken stuff and do pretty much anything else without setting off the smoke alarm.

Pro-tip - only put one baffle into the ductwork, or you are going to have problems.  Ask me how I know.

womaus

lkapigian said:

I don’t need this, I don’t need this, I don’t need this

Well, maybe you do? 

Just sayin'.

womaus

Botch said:

@womaus, thank you Thank You for posting that!
Is the "BlueStar RNB Nova 30" a stovetop, or a "cooktop"?  

It's a range. Gas on gas. 
Will take a full size sheet pan in the oven. Has convection.
And no clock. And no timers. 
But I think it may have a light in the oven.

womaus

And oh yeah. The install specs say you should have a 300cfm hood over the range.
I've got a JennAire 600 cfm. I worry for the small animals in the house. 

womaus

Here's my exhaust. 7", going out horizontally about 20'. Yeah, I know. But if I put it through the roof I'd risk ice dams. 
Doing that (self installation) in mid summer was a treat. Had to get up in the space early in the morning, by noon it was an inferno.

pgar171

We have the 48" range.  It is the best investment we have made for the house.  Go for a wild color.  You won't regret it.  

Lowcountrygamecock

Pardon my ignorance here.  Are these natural gas units or propane?  I would LOVE something like that in my house but we don't have natural gas.  Only option would be propane.  Right now I'm running my gas grill, blackstone, gas logs and soon to be firepit off of a 100 gallon propane tank.  I'm afraid if I add much more I'll have to bury a 500 gallon tank.  

alaskanassasin

Thanks! @womaus Thanks for all the information, I haven't shopped hoods yet but I think it has to be under 300 or 400 cfm otherwise you have to supplement the air in the house some how per code. 

 @pgar171 I just ran the color option idea by the budget committee she gave a firm no. 

@Lowcountrygamecock you can get either propane or natural gas models. We will be on propane.

Thatgrimguy

Oh yeah, I have one. And it's the nicest range I've ever seen. I've been putting it to work for over a year now. I stop cooking and turn to my wife at least once a week to tell her how much I love that thing. The wok conversion is literally just taking the grate off.  I'll post pics.

Thatgrimguy

My Mom has a lot of viking equipment. My brother went all wolf. and my grandparents have some super nice german thing and they are all jealous of my bluestar.

Thatgrimguy

Ok, I'm trying to make sense of these pictures. I posted from my phone and now trying to organize. But these are most of the pics I've taken since buying it. 


The wok fits in by removing the grate and then it just sits right in there. and gets HOT.



The griddle is the best part of the range. It's controlled by a temp sensor. 




Hard to believe she was ever this clean lol



Baking Bread with a baking steel




I'm using a wok to fry catfish





Lobster dinner!!




You can see the Hue strip light I installed in the shelf. Helps a lot with lighting and looks cool. You can easily see my custom build hood. It was the same price as a Wolf or Bluestar hood, but it's easier to maintain and it's hidden in my brickwork. The fan is a 1100cfm Wolf fan mounted in the attic.



Everything all lit up.



My 3 year old and me at christmas time (she was 2 here)



I clean up the marks on the back every now and then. but I use the griddle daily so w/e.  I'm so glad I got the stainless back though. it would be a nightmare without it.



Move in day was STRESSFUL

Thatgrimguy

Lowcountrygamecock said:

Pardon my ignorance here.  Are these natural gas units or propane?  I would LOVE something like that in my house but we don't have natural gas.  Only option would be propane.  Right now I'm running my gas grill, blackstone, gas logs and soon to be firepit off of a 100 gallon propane tank.  I'm afraid if I add much more I'll have to bury a 500 gallon tank.  

I had mine converted to propane and it's working GREAT! I run 2 instant water heaters, my gas fireplace, a gas firepit and my bluestar off a 100gal tank and it's only getting filled 2-3 times a year with 40-50 gallons per fill. And I cook A LOT. 

alaskanassasin

ohh yeah that is Awesome @Thatgrimguy!

Lowcountrygamecock

Thatgrimguy said:

Lowcountrygamecock said:

Pardon my ignorance here.  Are these natural gas units or propane?  I would LOVE something like that in my house but we don't have natural gas.  Only option would be propane.  Right now I'm running my gas grill, blackstone, gas logs and soon to be firepit off of a 100 gallon propane tank.  I'm afraid if I add much more I'll have to bury a 500 gallon tank.  

I had mine converted to propane and it's working GREAT! I run 2 instant water heaters, my gas fireplace, a gas firepit and my bluestar off a 100gal tank and it's only getting filled 2-3 times a year with 40-50 gallons per fill. And I cook A LOT. 

That's great information.  I replaced my water heater a few years ago and didn't even think about going the instant route.  Would have been easy too.  My water heater backs up against the gas line to my blackstone.  Hopefully what I have will last years but next time around it will get replaced by gas.  

Ozzie_Isaac

@Thatgrimguy wish I could like a post 1000x.  That range and kitchen is a work of art!  Thank you for sharing.

Mark_B_Good

womaus said:

Here's my exhaust. 7", going out horizontally about 20'. Yeah, I know. But if I put it through the roof I'd risk ice dams. 
Doing that (self installation) in mid summer was a treat. Had to get up in the space early in the morning, by noon it was an inferno.

Did you tape the joints?

Thatgrimguy

The unsung hero is definitely the vent fan. Get the absolute most you can afford. You won't regret it, and without it you won't get full use of your range.