Oh, you know, I mis-remembered the Bluestar requirements. The requirement isn't for 3" extra hood capture on each side, the requirement is 3" lateral clearance to upper cabinetry. In other words, with a 30" range, the upper cabinets on either side of the range must be 36" apart. Once you're clearing the way for a larger hood, there's no reason not to get it (unless you've already got a smaller hood that otherwise meets ventilation requirements -- which I do not have at the moment). In any case, this will be a piece-by-piece remodel, not the all-at-once remodel we did in the last house in 2006 where I got the larger hood and the Bluestar at the same time we replaced all the cabinets. If we do appliances before cabinets, I won't be able to install a Bluestar. If we do cabinets first, then I can get the larger hood to keep our options open for the Bluestar. My memory is failing me on how low the Bluestar simmer burner would go -- how does it compare to the 350 btu simmer on the fivestar (assuming a large enough pot for the fivestar). I'm assuming it's better than the CC simmer on those 23K btu burners.

IMO, Capital being smaller and "newer" and fighting for floor space by good word-of-mouth will "try harder". At the much larger F&P, I would think every customer is just a number. I bought a 48" Capital Precision 8 burner gas rangetop, sight unseen, based on reviews on GW, where I first heard of the brand, and based on my numerous phone calls with them. They were extremely patient while I sort of freaked out after my appliance retailer told me that due to whatever reason, my rangetop was going to be delayed beyond the 12 week window I was quoted (I ordered at the end of Oct. and the holdays were coming, blah blah). I think the delay originated with my area distributor wanting a full truckload or something, but all parties rallied and I got my range within the promised time frame which prevented my countertop fabrication from being held up! It is beautiful and I can hardly wait to cook on it! But, I wasn't yet done harrassing the kind people at Capital and my GC, KD, and myself, called their tech guys a thousand times as we tried to get my rangetop installed flush to the countertop AND cabinet face (I have a very deep cab. and can get it that way). It was designed to sit on top of the counter and in front of the cabinets - exactly as it would if it were a regular range installed in a 24" deep cab. But I dind't want it that way, and through persistance I'm told I'm ultimately able to have it the way I want it. I'm most impressed and grateful to the professional and friendly service we've had after the money was already spent, and fully expect that IF I have any troubles with performance that they will be quickly corrected. I never looked at DCS; are the prices similar?

I'm finally getting around to updating this post. The service guy came with the proper screwdriver and adjusted all by one of my simmers down to the lowest possible setting without having the burner blow out and start clicking to reignite. I originally thought that this adjustment affected my HI setting, making it slightly lower, so I asked him to leave one rear burner unadjusted to be used for rapid boiling of large pots of water. My Capital contact called back to ensure that the adjustment had been made and he spent a lot of time with me on the phone while I checked the burners and the control knob, etc. and now I understand that the screw that adjusts the simmer ONLY controls the simmer and it is impossible for it to affect the flow of gas at the hi setting. I don't remember exactly what he said, but apparently there are seperate valves for different settings and the screw behind the knob only adjusts the simmer. I've also learned that by design, the entire knob is not meant to control the flame height; only about 1/2 of the knob is able to control the flame and the low half has no impact on the flame height and is not supposed to. I think that marking the knob as if it has an effect is silly, since the mid-point SHOULD be a visual clue that it is your medium flame and not your simmer flame, but the bottom line is that you have to stoop down to check flame height if you want a medium flame and can not rely on the knob markings except for Ignite, HI and LOW (low flame will be achieved way before the low mark on the knob, but it sill still be Low so it doesn't matter.) Now, about the grates and tipping. Capital has confirmed that pots can tip and they are trying to redesign the grates to solve this potential safety issue, of which they were unaware until I complained of my experience. Either I'm the only one who this has happened to (and it will happen every time I cook with my smaller diameter pots unless I align the handle with a long support), or I'm the only one who bothered to call about it. It turns out that the fix is not as simple as one might hope. If you have a Capital rangetop, you can see that where the longer supports approach the burner cover, that the holes for the gas are of much smaller diameter. This is to prevent the supports from getting too hot when the burner is set to the Highest setting, and becoming damaged and ultimately rusting. All the other gas holes are much larger holes, and this is because there are no grate supports close. So, they can't simply have 4 more supports come closer to the center without considering the extreme extra heat that those supports would get, and still have the 19K BTU at HI that they want to offer. Bottom line, they are working on it and I'm confident they will find a solution before too many months and I will be able to have safer grates! While I was not entirely happy with my few months of slight buyer's remorse, I am very impressed with the ultimate response I finally got from Capital, especially with the fact that they are addressing the grate issue which I think it HUGE! Do I wish I had a different rangetop? Not anymore, because no one else offered an 8 burner option and my issues are either resolved as much as possible or are being worked on.

Hello all, first of all, thanks to all the great folks on this forum - you all have given us an education that we never could have gotten elsewhere! Getting down to the wire on range selection: Blue Star 36" vs Capital Precision 36" AG GCR366. Couldn't care less about style - feel that BTUs rule (the Rosengarten review of Blue Star, DCS, Viking etc. was a real eye opener) We'd snap up the BS in a second but have always dreamed of sealed burners. So... as far as we know, Capital has the hotest sealed burners available and hence the choice. Would so appreciate your advice: Would we be giving up a lot of capability and taste going sealed (22,000 btu BS vs 19,000 btu Capital)? Can Capital really get down to a very low simmer (Sunday sauce for hours, other delicate sauces, etc.) How does the Capital work with small pots? flames up the sides? thanks to all in advance C and R