Small Used Wood Stoves: Jotul or Timberline?

[soupyerin]

Hello! I'm building a tiny house on wheels which will be about 190 square feet. There are two wood stoves for sale on craigslist near me...one that I have experience with and one that I don't. I'd like to know

1) which of these stoves will perform better for a tiny home (mostly I'd love to not have to add wood in the middle of the night, and I don't want to overheat)

2) what questions I should be asking these sellers (things about baffles or air circulators etc?)

3) if the asking prices are reasonable for these two stoves.

Here are the links to the stoves:

Jotul F 602 - $800. I actually have this exact stove in the tiny home I'm currently living in and have enjoyed it--on very cold winter nights a couple locust or ash logs typically still leave coals in the morning. (broken link removed to https://charlottesville.craigslist.org/hsh/6223576342.html)

Refurbished Timberline (built in the 70's or 80's) - $550. I know nothing about Timberlines and it seems the company no longer exists? (broken link removed to https://charlottesville.craigslist.org/for/6243055553.html)

Any help appreciated, thanks!

Erin

 

[stovelark]

Hi Erin, I'd pass on the used 602 because that is too high.... 400-500 is the norm here for a used 602, in much better shape that that. We sell it new for 949 and Jotul has their summer change out program on, the 602 gets another 150 knocked off. I'd pass on that one. The timberline was a good stove back in the day, that looks like a pretty good non clean burn stove. I'd suggest a new small steel stove for what you are asking, such as Home Depot's England stoves, or maybe an Osburn 900 or Drolet equivalent. You can get a nice new steel stove for under 800 bucks. I'd normally be on with Jotul, but that one is too much. Good luck.

 

[begreen]

It's going to be hard to impossible to provide an overnight burn in a 190ft space unless the door and windows are wide open. You need a 1.7-2.0 cu ft to have enough fuel for an overnight burn and the btu output even on low is going to be much higher than needed. One option might be the Englander 17VL if you burn a single high quality compressed fuel like a Homefire Prest-Log or Northern Idaho Energy Log. This fuel will burn for 6 hrs. Cordwood is not a great heating option for a very small space. That said, here are some options:
http://rockymountaintinyhouses.com/wood-stove-options-for-tiny-houses/

 

[WoodyIsGoody]

Hello! I'm building a tiny house on wheels which will be about 190 square feet. There are two wood stoves for sale on craigslist near me...one that I have experience with and one that I don't. I'd like to know

1) which of these stoves will perform better for a tiny home (mostly I'd love to not have to add wood in the middle of the night, and I don't want to overheat)

2) what questions I should be asking these sellers (things about baffles or air circulators etc?)

3) if the asking prices are reasonable for these two stoves.

Here are the links to the stoves:

Jotul F 602 - $800. I actually have this exact stove in the tiny home I'm currently living in and have enjoyed it--on very cold winter nights a couple locust or ash logs typically still leave coals in the morning. (broken link removed to https://charlottesville.craigslist.org/hsh/6223576342.html)

Refurbished Timberline (built in the 70's or 80's) - $550. I know nothing about Timberlines and it seems the company no longer exists? (broken link removed to https://charlottesville.craigslist.org/for/6243055553.html)

Any help appreciated, thanks!

Erin

Both of those stoves are too big for your tiny space. The Timberline is the least attractive of the two options. I wouldn't disqualify the Jotul 602 simply based on the asking price, that's just the asking price. If they want to sell it they will eventually have to hit market value. But I think it's too big anyway. Don't be afraid of not having an overnight burn - just have a nice supply of fire-starters on hand and nice, dry wood. Fires almost light themselves when you have that.

I would only consider the $4000 Kimberly. But if you don't have $4000 to spend on a stove you will have to compromise. Maybe something like this (or the slightly larger Grizzly):

(broken link removed to https://cubicminiwoodstoves.com/collections/all/products/cb-1008-br-cubic-mini-wood-stove)

 

[stovelark]

Well, not many stoves smaller than a 602- I think ran moderately, it would work. As BG pointed out tho, it'll be difficult to achieve an even close to overnight burn.....

 

[begreen]

Smaller and better sized for a small space and a magnitude cheaper than the Kimberly
(broken link removed to https://cubicminiwoodstoves.com/products/cb-1008-br-cubic-mini-wood-stove)

 

[Squirrely]

Hello! I'm building a tiny house on wheels which will be about 190 square feet.

Cool!

Tinyhouses are the wave of the future. Simple minimalist living on a small footprint leaves more land free for growing food. I watched lots of youtubes to get design ideas. We built a 200 sq ft 10 x 12 two story loft in the back yard for my Mom.



(kitchen/bedroom/living room)



(bath)



(second bed upstairs)



It was really fun figuring out how to fit a sink, stove, refrigerator, toilet, shower, table, and bed all into 10x12.

We're also shopping for a small wood stove and haven't decided yet. It's going to have to be a ~really~ tiny one as there isn't much space to fit it in.

Greg

 

[littlalex]

190 sq ft? Without sarcasm - an electric space heater.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[Squirrely]

A small space doesn't preclude the enjoyment of a wood stove. It's just a matter of scale. Living in a canyon is like being at the end of an extension cord, so we lose electric power and usually in the most inclement weather. That knocks out the built in thermostat controlled electric wall heater, the electric stove burners, as well as the electric hot water heater. Even a small wood stove can be used for off-grid heating, cooking, and hot water.

Greg

 

[begreen]

I would probably heat with an RV propane or diesel heater if the desire is to be off-grid.

 

[WoodyIsGoody]

I would probably heat with an RV propane or diesel heater if the desire is to be off-grid.

Blasphemy!

A propane/diesel heater instead of a woodstove?

 

[begreen]

Guilty. I don't have a woodstove in our camper and don't want one there.

 

[littlalex]

Blasphemy!

A propane/diesel heater instead of a woodstove?

Perhaps sir, but eminently usable, though the stink of diesel vs wood smell... Hmmmmm

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[peakbagger]

I have heard of some folks using these. https://shop.hamiltonmarine.com/products/heater-newport-solid-fuel-4000-6500-btu-6844.html. Definitely not an all night burn, but pretty difficult to find anything so small that can heat all night

 

[soupyerin]

Hello! I'm building a tiny house on wheels which will be about 190 square feet. There are two wood stoves for sale on craigslist near me...one that I have experience with and one that I don't. I'd like to know

1) which of these stoves will perform better for a tiny home (mostly I'd love to not have to add wood in the middle of the night, and I don't want to overheat)

2) what questions I should be asking these sellers (things about baffles or air circulators etc?)

3) if the asking prices are reasonable for these two stoves.

Here are the links to the stoves:

Jotul F 602 - $800. I actually have this exact stove in the tiny home I'm currently living in and have enjoyed it--on very cold winter nights a couple locust or ash logs typically still leave coals in the morning. (broken link removed to https://charlottesville.craigslist.org/hsh/6223576342.html)

Refurbished Timberline (built in the 70's or 80's) - $550. I know nothing about Timberlines and it seems the company no longer exists? (broken link removed to https://charlottesville.craigslist.org/for/6243055553.html)

Any help appreciated, thanks!

Erin

Thanks for all the replies!

I went and looked at the Jotul and it is in much better shape than the photos. It truly has just been lightly used for three seasons. I was able to get him down to $700.

However, now I'm looking at the Grizzly Cubic mini wood stove. (broken link removed to https://cubicminiwoodstoves.com/products/cb-1210-br-cubic-mini-wood-stove#shopify-product-reviews)

With shipping it would be about $550. Anyone have any thoughts on that stove? My main questions are:
1) Will I be able to get a decent overnight burn (a couple of the reviews say a several hour burn is possible)
2) Anyone know of any good alternative websites to the dealer's to get a better deal?
3) The wall mount is quite convenient but quite expensive. Think there's a way I could make one of my own for cheaper?
3) Is it going to be very inconvenient to cut all that lumber so small (although I am friends with enough carpenters that I think it won't be a problem to get scrap hardwood).
4) What's the main differences between steel and cast iron stoves? I assumed cast iron was superior because of the thermal mass...I don't quite understand how a steel stove holds the heat in as well.

 

[begreen]

Your best bet for an overnight burn in a tiny stove will probably be with a quality highly compressed energy log like HomeFire's or NIELs. That may require building a tiny garage to store them. Otherwise, with cord wood it's not going to happen in a <1 cu ft stove.

Regardless of stove, don't go cheap on the installation. Safety is paramount, particularly in a small space if there is only one exit.

 

[peakbagger]

Thanks for all the replies!

I went and looked at the Jotul and it is in much better shape than the photos. It truly has just been lightly used for three seasons. I was able to get him down to $700.

However, now I'm looking at the Grizzly Cubic mini wood stove. (broken link removed to https://cubicminiwoodstoves.com/products/cb-1210-br-cubic-mini-wood-stove#shopify-product-reviews)
.

FYI - In looking through the site I don't see any references to certifications. I did see a comment somewhere that it is not certified. If you plan to insure the tiny house it may be worth trying to see what they require for certification and what the stove has.

 

[Squirrely]

Thanks for all the replies!

I went and looked at the Jotul and it is in much better shape than the photos. It truly has just been lightly used for three seasons. I was able to get him down to $700.

However, now I'm looking at the Grizzly Cubic mini wood stove. (broken link removed to https://cubicminiwoodstoves.com/products/cb-1210-br-cubic-mini-wood-stove#shopify-product-reviews)

With shipping it would be about $550. Anyone have any thoughts on that stove? My main questions are:
1) Will I be able to get a decent overnight burn (a couple of the reviews say a several hour burn is possible)
2) Anyone know of any good alternative websites to the dealer's to get a better deal?
3) The wall mount is quite convenient but quite expensive. Think there's a way I could make one of my own for cheaper?
3) Is it going to be very inconvenient to cut all that lumber so small (although I am friends with enough carpenters that I think it won't be a problem to get scrap hardwood).
4) What's the main differences between steel and cast iron stoves? I assumed cast iron was superior because of the thermal mass...I don't quite understand how a steel stove holds the heat in as well.

There is no way to get around the fact that small stoves will have short burn times. There are some small stove reviews on youtube. You might want to take a look at the Salamder Hobbit. It's a full featured stove with only a tiny 12W x 11D footprint. They're sold in the US now and offer a DEFRA approved model. It's one we're considering for the tinyhouse.

 

[begreen]

The link posted in #3 lists all of these stoves and more.