Shot version: Jotul F602 V2 vs Hearthstone Lincoln - which is better?
Full version: Please help me choose between the Jotul F602 V2 and the Hearthstone Lincoln. I'm definitely leaning towards the Jotul as you can see below and you might think I've already answered my own question, but I'm genuinely open to the Lincoln and carefully considering my options. I appreciate all constructive opinions and advice. I'm pretty new to the world of wood burning. Thank you for your help.
The purpose here is to comfortably heat the finished side of my basement, which is 612 sqft (the purpose is NOT to heat anywhere else in the house). Also, in a power-out situation, it would serve as a cook top and our only source of heat as we all huddle down there. I have narrowed it down to these two stoves based on product quality and the fact that Jotul and Hearthstone are the only two brands that my preferred dealer/installer carries (and he's definitely the guy I want to use). I guess you can mention other products if you want, but I really have already spent tons of time looking at everything on the market (including seeing many products in person) and am not inclined to reverse course at this point.
Other than the Lincoln having an 18" log capacity (realistically more like 17-1/2" max, and Hearthstone *recommends* 16") compared to a tight 16" capacity for the Jotul and allegedly a more "gentle" heat given it's soapstone box, the Jotul more strongly appeals to me given its track record for quality, simplicity, durability, reliability and longevity. The Lincoln does have a cat, which I'm indifferent about since I could use it if I want or just leave it in bypass mode or maybe even just remove it. The Lincoln costs $500 more, but it also yields a tax credit unlike the Jotul.
Some more relevant details.
- Location is northern Virginia. Winters are relatively moderate.
- The finished basement area has no windows or exterior doors, but it does have doors/open passages to the upstairs and the unfinished basement side (which both have windows and exterior doors), so that would be my way to let out excess heat. From comparing the specs of the two stoves, excess heat seems to be more of a concern with the Jotul than the Lincoln.
- I don't expect to often burn 24/7. Rather, it's for stints of hours when we're in the basement for movie time or other activities, or huddled down there during a long power outage. So, if the soapstone takes an hour to heat up, that could be a problem (but maybe the Lincoln doesn't take that long to heat up given its small size...?); and the lingering heat of the soapstone is not an attraction in our case since we'd usually be out of the basement by the time the fire dies out anyhow.
- While I'm gearing up to process my own firewood and can then cut to any size I want, for this and the next season or so I will be purchasing firewood. Suppliers in my area generally cut 16-18". So, for any firewood that's too long, I'd have to shorten it myself.
Full version: Please help me choose between the Jotul F602 V2 and the Hearthstone Lincoln. I'm definitely leaning towards the Jotul as you can see below and you might think I've already answered my own question, but I'm genuinely open to the Lincoln and carefully considering my options. I appreciate all constructive opinions and advice. I'm pretty new to the world of wood burning. Thank you for your help.
The purpose here is to comfortably heat the finished side of my basement, which is 612 sqft (the purpose is NOT to heat anywhere else in the house). Also, in a power-out situation, it would serve as a cook top and our only source of heat as we all huddle down there. I have narrowed it down to these two stoves based on product quality and the fact that Jotul and Hearthstone are the only two brands that my preferred dealer/installer carries (and he's definitely the guy I want to use). I guess you can mention other products if you want, but I really have already spent tons of time looking at everything on the market (including seeing many products in person) and am not inclined to reverse course at this point.
Other than the Lincoln having an 18" log capacity (realistically more like 17-1/2" max, and Hearthstone *recommends* 16") compared to a tight 16" capacity for the Jotul and allegedly a more "gentle" heat given it's soapstone box, the Jotul more strongly appeals to me given its track record for quality, simplicity, durability, reliability and longevity. The Lincoln does have a cat, which I'm indifferent about since I could use it if I want or just leave it in bypass mode or maybe even just remove it. The Lincoln costs $500 more, but it also yields a tax credit unlike the Jotul.
Some more relevant details.
- Location is northern Virginia. Winters are relatively moderate.
- The finished basement area has no windows or exterior doors, but it does have doors/open passages to the upstairs and the unfinished basement side (which both have windows and exterior doors), so that would be my way to let out excess heat. From comparing the specs of the two stoves, excess heat seems to be more of a concern with the Jotul than the Lincoln.
- I don't expect to often burn 24/7. Rather, it's for stints of hours when we're in the basement for movie time or other activities, or huddled down there during a long power outage. So, if the soapstone takes an hour to heat up, that could be a problem (but maybe the Lincoln doesn't take that long to heat up given its small size...?); and the lingering heat of the soapstone is not an attraction in our case since we'd usually be out of the basement by the time the fire dies out anyhow.
- While I'm gearing up to process my own firewood and can then cut to any size I want, for this and the next season or so I will be purchasing firewood. Suppliers in my area generally cut 16-18". So, for any firewood that's too long, I'd have to shorten it myself.
