which jotul?

[OpenSpace]

Hey all,

New member, great site! Question relates to most appropriate Jotul. Live in Flagstaff, AZ at 7,000 ft. (real winter) in a reasonably well insulated 1,200 sq. ft. house with 8' ceilings. Stove will be centrally located in an open main living area/kitchen which is roughly 650-700 sq. ft - back rooms are down a hall - not too worried about heat for them. Hope to use the stove as our primary heat source. Want the Jotul F 400 Castine but afraid it'll cook us out. I'll buy the F 3 CB but not psyched to be a slave to that small firebox. What do you guys think? Can I moderate the Castine so we're not cooked out and then stoke it up in the evening before bed for all night warmth? Also, will primarily burn ponderosa pine and juniper. Thanks in advance!

 

[branchburner]

not psyched to be a slave to that small firebox. What do you guys think

This guy thinks the same - not psyched to be a slave, too small for long burns. I'd get the Castine.

Welcome to the forums!

 

[Dakotas Dad]

They say them there soapstone stoves make a more moderate feeling heat...

what kind of low temps do you see, midwinter?

 

[Todd]

Burning Pine I would think your going to be a loading slave to the Castine as well. It only has a 1.5 cu ft fire box, pretty much on the small side. Maybe the Oslo would be better?

 

[begreen]

The Castine would be my choice if Jotul. It burns over a wide range of fuel loads and seems sized pretty well for the space. You can moderate it quite well, just give it less fuel.

We burned softwood in the Castine and I will say that although you will get good heat, your overnight burns (meaning hot coals for a restart) may disappoint unless there is a full fuel charge.

You might also look at the Pacific Energy Alderlea T5 (non cat) or the Woodstock Keystone or Palladian (cat) for longer overnight burns.

 

[firefighterjake]

Another vote for the Castine . . . especially if you like the look and want a slightly longer burn . . . as BG mentioned there are ways to have less heat when less heat is needed. Going with the Oslo to try to get a longer burn I feel would however drive you out of the house due to your home's size.

 

[polaris]

Castine x4. I have both the Oslo and Castine and the output diff. is not that great but you can coax an extra hour or an hour and a half burn time from the Oslo.
Good luck with your decision.
Joe

 

[cycloxer]

F3CB is too small. I'd go with either a Castine or an Oslo. It depends how much you want to spend and how often you want to re-load. I heat 1,100 sq. ft. with a Castine in New England burning oak and it is pretty much perfect. I could run an Oslo if I wanted, but it is not really necessary. The Oslo would be a better choice if you are looking to burn 24/7 in very cold temps. I have also burnt pine in the Castine and it does just fine, but it tends to burn it like an incinerator - hot and fast.

 

[OpenSpace]

You've all confirmed what I thought I already knew - the Castine! As a side note, just read the Wiseheat Castine reviews and saw some that we're pretty negative. I attribute most of those to poor setups our unrealistic expectations but what do I know? Is the Castine inherently tempermental? Also called a dealer who has a PE T5 he has been sitting on for a year and is ready to deal on. This stove certainly looks at least equal to the Castinen - any thoughts? Thanks again!

 

[begreen]

The Castine is a nice stove to run as long as it has sufficient draft. It prefers to be top vented. The fit and finish of the stove are excellent and it is a real good looker.

The T5 is a really nice stove too. A friend replaced his Intrepid II with one last year and has been very pleased with it. The stove has a lot of mass which softens the heat output and continues to give off heat after the fire has died down. It is more of a convection stove than the Castine. The firebox is square which allows N/S loading which is a big plus. It should also have longer burn times than the Castine. Overnight burns are easy, even with softwood according the owners I've spoken to locally.

 

[OpenSpace]

Thanks BG - sounds like I can't go wrong with either stove - it'll probably come down to price.

 

[cycloxer]

As a side note, just read the Wiseheat Castine reviews and saw some that we're pretty negative. I attribute most of those to poor setups or unrealistic expectations..

Any great stove, poorly installed and poorly operated will yield disappointing results. I've run a few different stoves over the years and I can tell you that the Castine, and Jotul's in general, are pretty simple stoves to install and operate. Jotul recommends a 14 foot minimum chimney height for the Castine. If the stove is to be centrally located in an open floorplan, I would go with a radiant stove design. This is where they truly shine because you get to take advantage of the radiating surfaces on all sides of the stove.

You won't go wrong with either a T5, an F 400 Castine, or even an F 500 Oslo if you like wearing shorts in the winter.

 

[dispatcher101]

I'm running a T5 currently in Colorado Springs; very similar climate and elevation to that of Flagstaff. Love the stove; great burn times on pine (all we can get here...for free I'm in a 1400 sq ft tri level with the stove on the middle floor and it is great for 90% of the house ( not a great floorplan for the upstairs bedrooms ) Never had a Jotul but my understanding is they are damn good stoves as well. I don't think you can go wrong with either. But definitely go with the bigger firebox on the Jotul if you go that direction. My vote is for the T5...but I am fairly impartial. Good luck

 

[allhandsworking]

If you are looking to heat your home seems like the cat soapstone is the way to go! Very long burn times heat output is controllable! If you are looking for a toy to play with fire secondary burn stoves are the way to go! After a few years burning when the novelty wares off your going to want longer burn times and more control! I am guilty of this also. I do love my insert but would love to get 20 hour burn times instead of 6 to 8! Do lot of reading here and do consider a cat. Stove! Oh and start bucking up wood as fast as you can!

 

[polaris]

If you are looking to heat your home seems like the cat soapstone is the way to go! Very long burn times heat output is controllable! If you are looking for a toy to play with fire secondary burn stoves are the way to go! After a few years burning when the novelty wares off your going to want longer burn times and more control! I am guilty of this also. I do love my insert but would love to get 20 hour burn times instead of 6 to 8! Do lot of reading here and do consider a cat. Stove! Oh and start bucking up wood as fast as you can!

"a toy to play with" That's funny.
Joe

 

[oldspark]

If you are looking to heat your home seems like the cat soapstone is the way to go! Very long burn times heat output is controllable! If you are looking for a toy to play with fire secondary burn stoves are the way to go! After a few years burning when the novelty wares off your going to want longer burn times and more control! I am guilty of this also. I do love my insert but would love to get 20 hour burn times instead of 6 to 8! Do lot of reading here and do consider a cat. Stove! Oh and start bucking up wood as fast as you can!

Who would have thought yu could heat your house for over 30 years with a "toy"!

 

[allhandsworking]

"it's not just a dessert topping it also a floor wax"

 

[OpenSpace]

Well my new "toy" is a Pacific Energy T5 for a good bit under 2K Funny thing this site, never would of guessed I could be so into a hearth forum but this place is addictive. I've studied up and learned a ton this past week and feel confident that I've made a good choice. The Castine looks like a great stove too but I couldn't pass on the T5 for the price. Wonder what my next new toy will be, a maul, a wood splitter, maybe a Stihl? Thinking this whole infatuation with the wood thing is gonna be good!

 

[begreen]

Congratulations and good choice. You are in deep doo doo now. :lol: Take lots of pictures. We love stove porn here.

 

[stovelark]

Congrats on the T5. I own a stove shop, VC, Enviro, Country and PE. Just started with the Alderleas, have a T5 in the store, have done a couple of burn in fires, it has impressed us all. Runs like a steel stove, starts easy and goes to it (has the same interior as their steel line). The Jotuls are beautiful wood stoves, I ran an Oslo for years too, the Castine is a good stove, think the T5 is a bit more tho. You prob will get a bit more useable firebox out of the T5 also. Good luck.

Stovelark
Enviro 1700 Kodiak FS
Enviro EF3 (Can you tell I like Enviro?)

 

[branchburner]

Funny thing this site, never would of guessed I could be so into a hearth forum but this place is addictive.

Yup.

Enjoy your toy - sounds like a good deal!

 

[BrotherBart]

Don't care what the wrapper is, that steel stove will heat ya just fine.

Have I ever mentioned that steel stoves rule?

 

[polaris]

Don't care what the wrapper is, that steel stove will heat ya just fine.

Have I ever mentioned that steel stoves rule?

IMO steel stoves are mere playthings for children.(well really all secondary burners are, or so I've heard)
Joe

 

[allhandsworking]

Don't care what the wrapper is, that steel stove will heat ya just fine.

Have I ever mentioned that steel stoves rule?

IMO steel stoves are mere playthings for children.(well really all secondary burners are, or so I've heard)
Joe

Ok Guys this "toy" thing is getting out of control! I did say I love my toy but would consider a Cat. stove. I heat my 1800 sf home with my toy also! Enjoy your non cat stove !

 

[OpenSpace]

Well, where to begin? Called to arrange the pick up of my new stove and after some pretty in-depth questioning learned it was a used demo/floor model. Furthermore, the first burn on the stove was a hot, sustained fire at the county fair (guy was clueless regarding break-in burns). Anyway, the burning in and of itself wasn't that big a deal but not knowing how important these break-in burns are, and working with someone who appeared to know less than newbie me, and being misled caused me to walk - caveat emptor.

So, back to square one. Best local shop in town carries Jotul and I've decided on a Castine or Oslo. Worried the Oslo might blow us out but really like the bigger firebox and side load. Putting money down on one of the two Jotuls tomorrow! A bit disappointed that the T5 is not in the cards but these Jotuls sure are purty!