Wood Stove - Don't build this one

[crash325]

Wood stove #5 is almost completed. Built the first fire in it yesterday. First test went pretty well. A few creaks & groans at first and 1 loud bang when it got real hot. There was a little smoke coming out of one of the heat traps. Maybe a burn through hidden by flux. Plan on sealing the ends of them anyway.

This morning another real hot fire to get all the metal relaxed. Then seal the door, add finishing touches & paint.

Performance wise, it works well. When dampers are set right smoke can be seen swirling around air inlet, with just a wisp or no smoke out the pipe. When set wrong stove can get into what I call a huffing condition. That is where it flashes back. Cure for that is to shorten the damper pipe inside the stove. Burn time should be real good. Loaded with old cut off 2x4s after 2 hours of mostly hot burning it was still going strong. I shut it down and quit for the day.

Building was a bag of worms, almost nothing went right or according to plans. Tried too many new ideas and the parts count went out of site. Over 60 and it felt like over a 100. Way too much cutting, fitting & welding. Should I build another stove it will be back to simple. Stove weights around 200 pounds, fair amount of thermal mass.

#1 - Ash hole for clean out. - Not really needed, just as easy to shovel
the ashes out. Now I need to make a rake to pull them out with.

#2 - Flap type air damper door. - Back to the tried and true Guillotine type.

Hot water tanks are now only about 90 thousands thick. In the future will try to find old propane or compressor tanks.

In last picture the stove is burning. Look close and there is a wisp of smoke.

 

[jimmyj]

Me no see smoke kimosabe. But me see cool stuff in background of picture!!!!

 

[crash325]

Me no see smoke kimosabe. But me see cool stuff in background of picture!!!!

:thumbsup:

Stove was burning like intended. Damper about 1/2 shut and just a faint wisp of smoke.

Those be some of my "Trash & Treasures". :laughing:

 

[NormL]

I hope that after all that work you get good service out of it.:thumbsup: Looks to me like you could be the right guy to pose a question to: If I were to build a real small stove, say using a 20# propane tank (well evacuated of all volatile gasses, of course), what size chimney pipe would I need?

 

[crash325]

I hope that after all that work you get good service out of it.:thumbsup: Looks to me like you could be the right guy to pose a question to: If I were to build a real small stove, say using a 20# propane tank (well evacuated of all volatile gasses, of course), what size chimney pipe would I need?

Hi MormL,
Unless you only want to heat a very small area, you should build a little larger. My original small stove 14x25 sure is nice.

With that said a stove you are talking about a 4" pipe would work OK. Not sure if it can be had with a damper in it so you may have to build one.

Did another hot burn today. Worked out well, now its time for the Ginger Bread and sealing. Will have a picture later.

Merry New Year to 1 & All
Jim

 

[Sutol]

Made this one from one of those bottles you get with the gas in for blowing up baloons, it is very small and light and was made for my friend who wanted to take it on top of his land rover to use when camping.

The pipe is only 2 or 2 and a half inches definately no more as it was a piece of exhaust pipe I had in the garage (shop)

It went very well and threw out a lot of heat but needed a damper. He used to put a piece of slate partialy over the top to act as a damper and slow down the burn

 

[crash325]

Made this one from one of those bottles you get with the gas in for blowing up baloons, it is very small and light and was made for my friend who wanted to take it on top of his land rover to use when camping.

The pipe is only 2 or 2 and a half inches definately no more as it was a piece of exhaust pipe I had in the garage (shop)

It went very well and threw out a lot of heat but needed a damper. He used to put a piece of slate partialy over the top to act as a damper and slow down the burn

:thumbsup:

Cute little stove, yep a small wood stove will put out some big heat. Long stove pipe, does it have a joint in it??

 

[NormL]

Made this one from one of those bottles you get with the gas in for blowing up baloons, it is very small and light and was made for my friend who wanted to take it on top of his land rover to use when camping.

The pipe is only 2 or 2 and a half inches definately no more as it was a piece of exhaust pipe I had in the garage (shop)

It went very well and threw out a lot of heat but needed a damper. He used to put a piece of slate partialy over the top to act as a damper and slow down the burn

Exactly the size I'm talking about. I have plenty of 3" pipe so that can be my exhaust size if 2.5 worked for your friend. Thanks!:thumbsup:

Crash325:
For the space I have to heat, which is my smallish shop, I call it "The Cave", the 20# propane tank will be more than adequate. It is only 10'x20' on the floor and one wall is the side of a steel Quonset and slopes inward. I have it well insulated. It really is cave-like since the only window is on the door:laughing:. This is where I will finish building the mini backhoe I started last June.

 

[crash325]

Here are some pictures of burn #2 and the smoke at start up. 5 Or 10 minuets into the burn it goes away. Also burning junk wood, some had paint on it.

Though I throw in a picture of some projects along with the smoke.

Some of the problems with this build.
My newest angle grinder died. A Ryobi twist handle.

Cut off disks with center hole 2 small. Had to be forced on and 3 exploded after just a few cuts.

These problems can be chalked up to stupidity.
Changing from AC welding to DC after a few test beads. Thinking I was running to hot, when it was to cold.

Trying to find the tool I had just used.

Looking for the "Perfect hunk of Junk" for this or that part.

Grinding out crappy welds.

Doing with out thinking - Thinking instead of doing.

 

[Sutol]

:thumbsup:

Cute little stove, yep a small wood stove will put out some big heat. Long stove pipe, does it have a joint in it??

Pipe was about head height and no join, put a butterfly damper in the base of the chimney and dont go to big with the pipe, ideal thing for outdoor would be 3 inch with a 2 inch inside it to keep it hot so as it will draw or insulate the pipe with some exhaust wrap instead

 

[NormL]

Pipe was about head height and no join, put a butterfly damper in the base of the chimney and dont go to big with the pipe, ideal thing for outdoor would be 3 inch with a 2 inch inside it to keep it hot so as it will draw or insulate the pipe with some exhaust wrap instead

Thanks for some really helpful tips.:thumbsup: When I go with this I'll use a fireproof wrap (not sure I can find asbestos anymore Shouldn't use that anyway). I'd only wrap the part which exits the heated area to where it ends outside the Quonset. There's going to be a few kinks to deal with along the way!:laughing: I'm thinking of fueling this with used oil sometimes. Anyone have some nifty ideas for a simple "drip system"? I would only fuel it this way when I am actually working in the shop. The rest of the time I want to burn wood or plug in the construction heater I'm using now.

O.K. I think I'm done hijacking your thread, sir! Thanks.:thumbsup:

 

[Sutol]

Thanks for some really helpful tips.:thumbsup: When I go with this I'll use a fireproof wrap (not sure I can find asbestos anymore Shouldn't use that anyway). I'd only wrap the part which exits the heated area to where it ends outside the Quonset. There's going to be a few kinks to deal with along the way!:laughing: I'm thinking of fueling this with used oil sometimes. Anyone have some nifty ideas for a simple "drip system"? I would only fuel it this way when I am actually working in the shop. The rest of the time I want to burn wood or plug in the construction heater I'm using now.

O.K. I think I'm done hijacking your thread, sir! Thanks.:thumbsup:

Weld a plate in just under the chimney exit to stop the heat going directly up the chimney.
The fumes will curl round and over the plate and get burned again to create more heat. (afterburner)
You can also use this plate to drip your oil on to so as it will burn and create more heat.
Going to start on a new one for the garage (shop) soon with that sort of system using a 3" thick walled pipe.
I'll start a new thread when I get going on it as I'm sure there will be plenty of advice available for me on here.

 

[crash325]

Well the build is pretty much completed. A little sanding, painting and nice door handle and its done.

Have burned it 5 times about as hot as it can get. Metal has pretty much seated in, no more creaking or popping. Got all the leaks welded up and the door sealed.

Played all kinds of games with the air & pipe dampers. Could not get it to flash back. So that is not a problem.

You can have all the heat you could want out of it. If damped down correctly a 3 to 5 hour burn should work out. Maybe a little longer depending on how well you get it adjusted and the type of wood. Having a thermal mass of almost 200 pounds and with a good bed of coals, it should put out all night heat.

Would I build another one. Yes but a lot simpler with fewer parts. Having worked my way through this one, planning would be better as well.

 

[Sutol]

Nice job young man, lot of work gone into that stove.

Ours in the garage is due for an update and I have a new bottle ready to start work on when I get some time.

Heres a pic of the old one in use yesterday making some new pins for the backhoe stabliser...very handy

 

[Mechanos]

I hope that after all that work you get good service out of it.:thumbsup: Looks to me like you could be the right guy to pose a question to: If I were to build a real small stove, say using a 20# propane tank (well evacuated of all volatile gasses, of course), what size chimney pipe would I need?

I designed this little stove several years ago to use in one of those "expedition" type wall tents. It's made from two 20# propane cylinders. Never did get around to building it though. I intended to line the bottom 1/3 of the lower tank (firebox) with some castable refractory cement to protect the firebox from burn-through in hopes of making it last a little longer. The upper tank is just a heat exchanger like the upper barrel on a double barrel stove.

I also modified the design to use two 30# cylinders and another one to use two 40# cylinders.

 

[rgs03833]

Nice job young man, lot of work gone into that stove.

Ours in the garage is due for an update and I have a new bottle ready to start work on when I get some time.

Heres a pic of the old one in use yesterday making some new pins for the backhoe stabliser...very handy

Good idea Sutol, better get a good use out of them Tanks :thumbsup:

 

[rgs03833]

I designed this little stove several years ago to use in one of those "expedition" type wall tents. It's made from two 20# propane cylinders. Never did get around to building it though. I intended to line the bottom 1/3 of the lower tank (firebox) with some castable refractory cement to protect the firebox from burn-through in hopes of making it last a little longer. The upper tank is just a heat exchanger like the upper barrel on a double barrel stove.

I also modified the design to use two 30# cylinders and another one to use two 40# cylinders.

View attachment 245450

Very Nice and Creative Idea. I think you should build them... Most people just buy it and use it in their Garage . With some good Paint, and also some Creative Art Designs on them, it will be a hit for sure :thumbsup:

 

[rgs03833]

Wood stove #5 is almost completed. Built the first fire in it yesterday. First test went pretty well. A few creaks & groans at first and 1 loud bang when it got real hot. There was a little smoke coming out of one of the heat traps. Maybe a burn through hidden by flux. Plan on sealing the ends of them anyway.

This morning another real hot fire to get all the metal relaxed. Then seal the door, add finishing touches & paint.

Performance wise, it works well. When dampers are set right smoke can be seen swirling around air inlet, with just a wisp or no smoke out the pipe. When set wrong stove can get into what I call a huffing condition. That is where it flashes back. Cure for that is to shorten the damper pipe inside the stove. Burn time should be real good. Loaded with old cut off 2x4s after 2 hours of mostly hot burning it was still going strong. I shut it down and quit for the day.

Building was a bag of worms, almost nothing went right or according to plans. Tried too many new ideas and the parts count went out of site. Over 60 and it felt like over a 100. Way too much cutting, fitting & welding. Should I build another stove it will be back to simple. Stove weights around 200 pounds, fair amount of thermal mass.

#1 - Ash hole for clean out. - Not really needed, just as easy to shovel
the ashes out. Now I need to make a rake to pull them out with.

#2 - Flap type air damper door. - Back to the tried and true Guillotine type.

Hot water tanks are now only about 90 thousands thick. In the future will try to find old propane or compressor tanks.

In last picture the stove is burning. Look close and there is a wisp of smoke.

Very nice Mr. :thumbsup: + Horseshoes??? LMAO

 

[crash325]

Nice job young man, lot of work gone into that stove.

Ours in the garage is due for an update and I have a new bottle ready to start work on when I get some time.

Heres a pic of the old one in use yesterday making some new pins for the backhoe stabliser...very handy

Thanks for the flowers. Me also be the youngest Old F. around.
With just a little work, your work place can be almost as messy as mine.

Very interesting burner you have there. I'd like to see and hear more about it. I have an old forge and us it now and then. Still hand cranked. Feed it a little wood and charcoal, then coal for the real and lasting heat.

Recently used it to bend pintle hooks for my roller & sheep's foot. Forged several hooks a few years ago. Keeps a person as busy as a 1 armed paper hanger. :laughing:

 

[Sutol]

Thanks for the flowers. Me also be the youngest Old F. around.
With just a little work, your work place can be almost as messy as mine.

Very interesting burner you have there. I'd like to see and hear more about it. I have an old forge and us it now and then. Still hand cranked. Feed it a little wood and charcoal, then coal for the real and lasting heat.

Recently used it to bend pintle hooks for my roller & sheep's foot. Forged several hooks a few years ago. Keeps a person as busy as a 1 armed paper hanger. :laughing:

The wood burner is an old propane bottle with a 5 inch pipe out the top which runs along the wall about 12 feet before going up through the roof.
The reason for that is because the pipe acts as central heating for the garage (shop) as it gives off heat all along its length.

No need to force the flames either to get metal cherry red in a few minutes, if air is to be forced in from the compressor then alluminium melts in seconds

Needs the door to be sealed better and a regulated air feed from outside as it draws heated air out of the building which is just what we dont want.

Next one will be better