Definitely getting this for my new house,.. it’s everything I’m looking for in a durable stove,. Lovely big glass fire display with a lovely warm look about it even before it’s lit,.. ‘love its size because for me a stove is supposed to get the attention when you walk into the room,. And of course creating part of the warm atmosphere in the room, it’s got it all for me without even tying, 👌🏼❤️
Appreciate your championing of this fantastic home heating and home improving addition. One of the reasons I took the plunge. Regrets? Why didnt I Install one years sgo?
Hi Gabriel. Thank you for the review. How does the F205 compare to the F100 Eco you reviewed few months ago? Which of the two models is more adequate to run it seriously during winter time?
Both are excellent and really enjoyable stoves to use. However the 200 series is much larger and the more serious use focused. The F100 is perhaps more characterful and traditional, but also smaller and more focused on those cold evenings.
@@TheTortoise It's a very tall but narrow stove. Really like it. I'm interested in reviews of accumulating stoves like that one. I think it would fit perfectly in your place
@@TheTortoise Nice! Which stoves are on your wish list? I can imagine it's not very easy to test them since they are fairly heavy. especially the real big ones like Nordpeis or Tulikivi
One that I’ve seen recently is a Heta Scan-Line 50, but I’d love to try a Contura and I’ve recently been seeing Troja stoves online, but I’ve not heard of them before.
I have seen one running, fitted and sold them in the past too. They’re fantastic thing’s particularly the enamel which is a stunning piece of furniture. Sadly haven’t got to spend some time with one so far, but Jotul are always keen for some more projects in the future so it’ll be on the cards!
This is definitely the bigger beast so will certainly have an output advantage. Obviously the radiant blast will be potentially higher from the 602 as this the 200 series has a convection top, and the 602 has a cooking top. But the actual total output will be higher from the 200’s for sure.
@@TheTortoise ah ok I was aware of the convection top. I’m more a fan of a fully radiant stove. I just modified my F45 to make it more radiant since I have high cathedral ceilings with a loft with open floor plan. Should have bought a different stove in the first place. I may go soapstone in the future.
The Sudbury is a beautiful stove however what put us off is that it has a magnetic door catch and that isn't a good idea. We settled for a Dunsley Avance 400 more expensive , but the handle sealed the deal for us.
They’re both lovely, but the compact Sudbury will have a space for fuel advantage. I’m looking forward to trying a Sudbury soon, so I’ll be able to give better information once I’ve tried one. I expect it to be even better than the Blithfield, but that’s because I’m always burning wood.
With all stoves it’s always best to flue a stove from the top. You will find lighting and draw issues are far more likely with a rear flue. But it is possible to use a rear flue with this stove, and whilst this stove has a convection top, it would be possible to boil a kettle from the hot plate if a rear flue was used.
Cast iron isn’t necessarily an advantage. Something like that Dean Forge for example will be similarly controllable to the Jotul, but also tougher, more durable and more resilient to serious or rough usage. Only you know what you want, but as a general rule, there is no real reason why one should pick 1 material over the other. As most of the reasons mentioned aren’t actually true, E.g: Cast iron holds its heat better. However it’s much more about how much metal is used, so it’s almost the case that the heavier the better. Cast iron will last longer. This is more about how well designed the stove is, how it is used and the quality of the cast iron. Steel stoves generally have a better lifespan than cast iron, so it takes a really special casting to compete. This Jotul is one of those very special castings, so it has great longevity, but it is not your average. Cast iron stoves are generally better. This is again all about the design. No doubt there are some great cast iron stoves, but there is also some superb steel stoves. Again the material in this case holds no bearing on how well the stove works.
So you love it... I bought one, the least ugly high efficiency stove I could find. It is not easy to light. It rakes forever to start waing up the room. It doesn't have any grate at the front, so if you've been burning for a bit and open the door, burnung embers fall out. Onto my cat. The handle does heat up, although it takes a while. The sliding regulator at the front becomes too hot to touch. I HATE that self closing door, it closed on me several times and gave me burns. Would not recommend...
Cast iron stoves will always take a long time to heat up, but on the flip side they do hold the heat for longer. In terms of lighting it, this is probably to do with draw on the chimney, as there’s no reason for it in the stoves design. It may be worth trying a much larger fire when starting? In terms of ash spillage. If you push the ash into the pan, then hopefully you can keep the level a bit lower. It’s also really worth stacking wood front to back rather than left to right, as this will minimise wood falling forward. With the self closing door, thankfully you can remove this function if that’s helpful. It’s not perfect, and it’s a shame you’ve struggled with such a high end lovely stove, but it truly is an excellent bit of kit in most cases.
Amy: “Gabe, whatever you do don’t touch that CAST IRON stove when it’s lit 🔥….” Gabe: “Amy do you think I’m stupid???” ………F*** that’s hot!!!!! Amy: “Great, now I’ve got another kid to look after 🙄”
I really like your reviwes of wood burning stoves.
Definitely getting this for my new house,.. it’s everything I’m looking for in a durable stove,. Lovely big glass fire display with a lovely warm look about it even before it’s lit,.. ‘love its size because for me a stove is supposed to get the attention when you walk into the room,. And of course creating part of the warm atmosphere in the room, it’s got it all for me without even tying, 👌🏼❤️
I’m with you, it’s got an incredible feel and presence about it 👌
After 6 months of research......and having it fitted.....Still not seen a stove nicer than the clock blithfield 5 ❤
There’s a committed fan! 😆👍
Will you ever review vermont castings your reviews are the best
That’s a great idea. I’d love to!
The intricate nature of those would make a great video too!
Your reviews are the best. Will you ever review any vermont castings. I think they are in the UK now. Thanks Carl from america
They are, and I know one of the importers quite well.
Appreciate your championing of this fantastic home heating and home improving addition. One of the reasons I took the plunge. Regrets? Why didnt I Install one years sgo?
😆 glad to hear it!
As someone else here mentioned, it's a very close run thing between this and the Clock Blithfield 5!
Hi Gabriel. Thank you for the review. How does the F205 compare to the F100 Eco you reviewed few months ago? Which of the two models is more adequate to run it seriously during winter time?
Both are excellent and really enjoyable stoves to use. However the 200 series is much larger and the more serious use focused. The F100 is perhaps more characterful and traditional, but also smaller and more focused on those cold evenings.
Once again a lovely review!
Ever considered a Leenders stove? Leenders Kilo in particular?
Genuinely never seen one actually 😬.
I need to get in with that!
@@TheTortoise It's a very tall but narrow stove. Really like it.
I'm interested in reviews of accumulating stoves like that one.
I think it would fit perfectly in your place
Yea I’m hoping that during 2025 I can get a look at a couple stoves with heat accumulation and/or soapstone cladding etc.
@@TheTortoise Nice! Which stoves are on your wish list?
I can imagine it's not very easy to test them since they are fairly heavy. especially the real big ones like Nordpeis or Tulikivi
One that I’ve seen recently is a Heta Scan-Line 50, but I’d love to try a Contura and I’ve recently been seeing Troja stoves online, but I’ve not heard of them before.
Any experience with the Jotul F305? Thanks for the great video’s!
I have seen one running, fitted and sold them in the past too. They’re fantastic thing’s particularly the enamel which is a stunning piece of furniture.
Sadly haven’t got to spend some time with one so far, but Jotul are always keen for some more projects in the future so it’ll be on the cards!
Nice little stove. How would you compare the heat output to this and the Jotul 602?
This is definitely the bigger beast so will certainly have an output advantage. Obviously the radiant blast will be potentially higher from the 602 as this the 200 series has a convection top, and the 602 has a cooking top. But the actual total output will be higher from the 200’s for sure.
@@TheTortoise ah ok I was aware of the convection top. I’m more a fan of a fully radiant stove. I just modified my F45 to make it more radiant since I have high cathedral ceilings with a loft with open floor plan. Should have bought a different stove in the first place. I may go soapstone in the future.
Hello from Alaska! What are your thoughts on the f45 Greenville? Just bought one but not installed yet. I wanted a non cat stove.
I think that stove has now been discontinued, but it certainly looks like a ferocious beast 😅
I can’t decide between the Clock Blithfield compact and the Clock Sudbury compact.. eg multi fuel or wood burning…
The Sudbury is a beautiful stove however what put us off is that it has a magnetic door catch and that isn't a good idea. We settled for a Dunsley Avance 400 more expensive , but the handle sealed the deal for us.
I’m trying to decide between the Clock Blithfield compact and the Clock Sudbury compact.. eg multi fuel or wood…. Hard decision!
They’re both lovely, but the compact Sudbury will have a space for fuel advantage. I’m looking forward to trying a Sudbury soon, so I’ll be able to give better information once I’ve tried one. I expect it to be even better than the Blithfield, but that’s because I’m always burning wood.
It looks like it can be fitted with the flue out the rear, correct? Would it be suitable to put a pot ir kettle on top? Thanks.
With all stoves it’s always best to flue a stove from the top. You will find lighting and draw issues are far more likely with a rear flue. But it is possible to use a rear flue with this stove, and whilst this stove has a convection top, it would be possible to boil a kettle from the hot plate if a rear flue was used.
@@TheTortoise Thank you for the information. I was set on the Dean Forge Baker 8 until I realised they are steel and now not so sure.
Cast iron isn’t necessarily an advantage. Something like that Dean Forge for example will be similarly controllable to the Jotul, but also tougher, more durable and more resilient to serious or rough usage. Only you know what you want, but as a general rule, there is no real reason why one should pick 1 material over the other. As most of the reasons mentioned aren’t actually true, E.g:
Cast iron holds its heat better. However it’s much more about how much metal is used, so it’s almost the case that the heavier the better.
Cast iron will last longer.
This is more about how well designed the stove is, how it is used and the quality of the cast iron. Steel stoves generally have a better lifespan than cast iron, so it takes a really special casting to compete. This Jotul is one of those very special castings, so it has great longevity, but it is not your average.
Cast iron stoves are generally better.
This is again all about the design. No doubt there are some great cast iron stoves, but there is also some superb steel stoves. Again the material in this case holds no bearing on how well the stove works.
@@TheTortoise Thank you for your greatly appreciated information and advice. I have some thinking to do.
So you love it... I bought one, the least ugly high efficiency stove I could find. It is not easy to light. It rakes forever to start waing up the room. It doesn't have any grate at the front, so if you've been burning for a bit and open the door, burnung embers fall out. Onto my cat. The handle does heat up, although it takes a while. The sliding regulator at the front becomes too hot to touch. I HATE that self closing door, it closed on me several times and gave me burns.
Would not recommend...
Cast iron stoves will always take a long time to heat up, but on the flip side they do hold the heat for longer. In terms of lighting it, this is probably to do with draw on the chimney, as there’s no reason for it in the stoves design. It may be worth trying a much larger fire when starting?
In terms of ash spillage. If you push the ash into the pan, then hopefully you can keep the level a bit lower. It’s also really worth stacking wood front to back rather than left to right, as this will minimise wood falling forward.
With the self closing door, thankfully you can remove this function if that’s helpful.
It’s not perfect, and it’s a shame you’ve struggled with such a high end lovely stove, but it truly is an excellent bit of kit in most cases.
You must be baking 🥵🥵, with the heat off that plus outside temp 🥵
Filming recently has been far from simple 😆
Particularly with a pregnant wife who was already dying with the heat!
Amy: “Gabe, whatever you do don’t touch that CAST IRON stove when it’s lit 🔥….”
Gabe: “Amy do you think I’m stupid???”
………F*** that’s hot!!!!!
Amy: “Great, now I’ve got another kid to look after 🙄”
😅
🤌