Jotul F500 vs F600

[525fury]

Hi, I posted here last week, trying to decide on stove placement.
We decided we can't install either stove in a "corner" fashion because of the side doors and having to have 36" clearance from it. Really now where else feasible to install it either.
So we are going to install the stove straight against the back wall. We have the option of sliding the stove down 3' + from the short stub wall, getting the F500 Oslo, and doing the side loading from the left. Or get the F600 and side load from the right.

F600: I have a 3100 sq foot home, that I think this stove has the capability to heat it better. But this stove will only suppliment the propane furnace, not be the primary heat (at least for now!). Not sure I like the double doors, and using the detached handle. Although I know the side door will be primarily used. My gut tells me to go with this stove.

F500: Like the single front door, side door size seems to be the same. Much smaller firebox. Reading everyone's comments on this stove, they seem to be very happy with it.

I am attaching a photo of the wall I will be installing it in.
Which stove would be best for me?

Love all the wisdom and advice I am getting from this forum. It is awesome
Thanks!

 

[Gridlock]

The F600 might be a bit tight to load from the side based on the picture, since it comes with a right-side loading door only. The F500 comes with a left-side loading door.

 

[Hanko]

get both of them and quit woring about it

 

[begreen]

Based on the crowded furniture in this room and proximity of HD TV I say neither. My vote is to put in a convection or a soapstone stove.

 

[fraxinus]

It's really not necessary to open the front doors of the F600 at all except for thorough annual cleaning. It's a good thing, too, because there's just no way to do it without ash (and, potentially, a pile of red hot coals) from spilling out onto the lip. All loading, fire tending and an occasional glass cleaning can be done from the side loading door. You do need to check carefully to see if you will have the necessary clearance on the right side with your proposed hearth design.

This stove is a very powerful radiant heater, so do think about BeGreen's concerns over the proximity of furniture, TV, etc. If you run the F600 at Jotul's recommended stove top temperature range of 400 to 600, it may well be too much heat depending on the size of the room.

 

[colebrookman]

I would re- think the location. Way to tight to really get the BTUs out of either stove without throttling down and creating creosote. Just my opinion. Be safe.
Ed

 

[Fsappo]

I have to agree with the convection stove suggestion based on that photo. If you HAD to buy a Jotul, I'd go with the Oslo. You'll still get overnight burns. In my opinion the Oslo is an easier and friendlier stove to use..and the door opens on the correct side for your set up.

 

[Coach B]

I have a similar sized home and climate and chose the 500 over the 600 about two months ago and have been pleased. Depending on your home layout neither one will completely heat the far reaches. For example when my stove room is humming along at near 80 the back corner of the back bedroom can be in the 62-64 range. I can live with that as thats just the way it is with my setup. I almost only use the side door, its just easier for me to load that way especially considering the ash spill from the front. While the firebox is smaller on the 500(both are tiny compared to the 22.6 cubic feet on my OWB) I have had no problems having plenty of coals for a relight in the mornings. Stove ran 24/7 for over 10 days during the big snow a couple weeks ago. Never once had an issue relighting.

 

[dave360up]

I have the F600 and am glad I chose it over the F500. I actually do use the front doors almost exlusively for loading and rarely use the side door. I am loading N/S, which I find burns much better than E/W, plus I can generally fit more wood in the stove that way. I also find that at the times when cracking a door is necessary, such as when starting the stove cold or from very few coals, cracking the front door works better than cracking the side door.

I'm not crazy about the front door latch mechanism, but it is what it is and it functions ok. You definitely need to use a glove to open and close the front door or the radiant heat will burn your hand in the seconds it takes to put the handle in place and turn it. Coals spilling out the front are not a problem at all if you are loading N/S with 16" logs.

It does put out a lot of radiant heat, mainly toward the front. The side clearances though are actually less than the F500 (13" versus 14" for the Oslo). I don't recall the rear clearance, but I think it was less or the same (assuming you get the rear heat shield).

I am heating a 2200 sq ft older house with it in upstate NY and am glad to have the capicity of the F600. I think the Oslo would do it as well, but I would be reloading more often and wouldn't be able to load N/S, which I have really come to appreciate in the F600.

If you are using the stove to supplement other heat, the capacity of the Firelight might not matter as much to you.

 

[billb3]

Can't see a 600 there unless you put it parallel to the wall rather than at a 45 to the corner.

Stairway and entrance makes it look like it will be tight going in and out of that room.


You won't be sitting on that end of that blue couch in the Winter.

 

[525fury]

Yes, the stove will be going parallel to the wall, not in the corner.

I appreciate all the feedback I am still mulling it over....

 

[525fury]

....the porcelain tile hearth will be 7-1/2' across the back and out from the wall, with 45'ed on the end. It may have less of a 45 than what the picture currently shows, depending on which stove I go with.

Would anyone in Middle TN have a F500 or F600, that would be willing to let me "feel" and see one of these in action???

 

[Joe Matthews]

It does seem that a stove in that area could be pretty tight, especially since it looks like a heavily traveled area in the house with the stairs there and also the entrance to the room. Is this the only area in your home where the stove would be practical? How about installing it farther down the wall instead of right in the corner at the stub wall? I would not want a stove there in my home, but there is not a lot to go on with the one photo.

 

[CarbonNeutral]

Well I'm not in TN, but this is a great excuse to post pics of my stove.

 

[begreen]

Nice, the install looks like it's straight out of the catalog CN. Pup looks pretty content too.