I went back to the start of the thread to try to find out what was so wrong with a wood burning stove whether the OP was peed off with collecting, chopping wood, humping said wood to the stove, smoke, dust or a mixture of the whole lot.
It would appear that the first few replies from folk that still post on here was mainly concerned with smoke and dust.
With hindsight, I ought to have had a canopy built over my PRITY wood burner and probably an extractor fan built into the chimney, but I didn't and I can only now 'manage' the fire better.
If like tonight, I didn't have enough good tinder to get the flames going from the strike of the match, it will smoke through the vents (it can also happen if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction, but I'm now used to this and better prepared). However, if I had emptied the ashtray instead of posting on here (

) I would have grabbed the Wife's hairdryer and given the stove a blast of hot air.
The winter wood supplies thread has lots of ideas about green and dried wood, but obviously the drier the wood, the cleaner the chimney together with the design of the chimney are all going to help a lot in reducing smoke.
I still make the mistake of forgetting to open the flue and the air vents when wanting to throw another log or two on the fire. Result, smoke rising to the ceiling that was cream, but is now a shade of Dulux cream with a hint of wood smoke.
However, I have been considering having either a copper canopy made to stop the smoke spiralling up to the ceiling every time I don't get things right or placing some aluminium sheeting (the nice looking stuff) which would allow me to clean that area above the stove every now and again.
The other dirt/dust problem comes from the ash. I still haven't got around to making a cover for the ash bin when carrying it outside nor, have I got around to trying one of those vacuum cleaners sold especially for this task. I can't think of a better way of getting rid of the ash without some dust being spread all over the place.
As far as the OP asked for alternatives, they're all covered, but for cost, renew ability, I would suggest an external wood pellet burner. Especially, if like myself, your hot water, under floor heating or radiators are being heated from your stove. There again, one might not have an external or cubby hole to place such. So, the MW alternatives are: Freeze or move to warmer climes for winter.
