Kerosene fired torpedo heaters????????????

JimR · Dec 6, 2004

Does anyone know anything about these heaters or own one? I was thinking of buying one to heat the project barn so I can work on it during the winter. I just don't know if it will smoke me out or not. The building is 36x60 and 2 stories tall.

TIA, Jim R.

Dargo · Dec 6, 2004

I have a 180,000 BTU model that works great as long as I use K1. It will work fine with diesel, but will kill you unless you have a gas mask.

btolle · Dec 6, 2004

They work great.

About the only time they smoke is when they are running out of fuel. They do have a burnt kerosene odor but they are lifesavers on construction projects.

Just be sure you have adequate ventilation, they will burn up a lot of oxygen.

Bill Tolle

JimR · Dec 6, 2004

Thanks guys, I will look into them a litle more now. I can vent the building with no problem as the floor boards are not nailed down.

CTyler · Dec 6, 2004

I have had a 50k btu kero unit for a lot of years but it does have a little smell to it. Its not to bad but I like the propane unit a lot better, virtually no smell. The propane unit is also adjustable from 40-80k btu.

PineRidge · Dec 6, 2004

We had one running the majority of the time we were finishing out our 24X36 pole barn. The smell wasn't bad but the noise level would give a deaf man a headache. (that's me)

Gary_in_Indiana · Dec 6, 2004

Would this be what I might call a 'salamander?'

GerardC · Dec 7, 2004

I believe so. That is what I get out of the description. Gerard

ScottAR · Dec 7, 2004

I like the propane ones myself, less smell. Leave the tank outside. If your in a semi closed area, Invest in the thermostat. Usually a separate item, very handy so you don't spend all afternoon putzing with the heater instead of working. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Gary, yes salamander

LMTC · Dec 7, 2004

We use one to bring the temp up quickly in the shop in the morning, then heat with wood. Lots of heat, very fast, very concentrated if you need it to be (we sometimes blow it on a block to warm a hard to start unit), but oh so NOISY! And ditt on #1 vs. diesel. It will burn diesel, but smells worse.