Does anyone use those "double barrell" wood stoves that stack one 55 gallon drum on top of the other? Are they any good? Do they still make the kits to put them together? Never installed wood burning stove before, any advice on running the stove pipe out of the roof? Thanks-
the sprint car guys i help out have a homemade one in the shop .it works very well.but they have a big fan behind it or it wouldnt circulate that well. but yeah it puts out alot of heat.
We've got a single barrel stove we've been trting to get rid of for years. It's dangerous, takes up too much floor space, is dirty, smells bad, and you gotta chop wood for it. Oh, and yes it does keep the garage warm. But it's not worth the mess or insurance liability. Go with natural gas. It's cheap, clean, and fast. I don't think there is anything more discouraging than having to go outside and light a fire to get the shop warm, then having to wait an hour for things to warm up. It's one of the reasons I'm on the computer instead of working on my car. Dave
A friend of mine has one in his 40x30 cement block garage.He bought the kit at a tractor supply store.The kit is the door for the bottom drum and the legs for both drums. Boy,does that thing work!! It takes a while to get it cooking but once the place warms up it stays warm for a long time.He ran the stove pipe up thru the roof using lots of flashing around the pipe to prevent leaks and keep it away from the wood roof. Also we rigged up a copper line and shut off valve that we piped into the top of the lower drum and we dribble used oil in once the fire is going using a 5 gallon can and gravity feed.
make sure that the pipe that goes through the roof is triple wall or whatever is code in your area. i will guarantee you that in case of a fire and the wrong pipe, the ins co will not pay you a dime.
Check insurance before installing wood stove. Some companys won't cover a garage with a stove. WhenI built my shop they told my no insurance with wood stove.
Dan, I will preach this again. Look into electric radiant cove that you mount up by the ceiling. Way cool, was about $125 for an 8 ft chunk last time I looked. Heats you and oblects. I do like wood heat, my shed has a stove in it. But I cringe witht the fumes when I want to spray a little paint and such.
that radiant heat thing reminds me of a microwave... It just sounds like it would give people cancer, or cook 'em, or make people with metal plates in their heads freak out and shit... How's it work, exactly...???
If you live out in the stricks and it's your only option, go with wood, I'm sure you would rather work in a warm shop vs. a frozen one. If you live near civilization and have a job, use a more modern, cleaner source of heat. My last two shops had no heat, the only time I was warm in the winter was when I was welding something. there is prolly 'bout a mile and a half of weld on my car Now I have gas heat, in a big shop. My heating bill is double what it used to be, but I'm warm, and my stuff is dry. Paul
Since we are do it your self types....how about this one? http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/ethanol_motherearth/me4.html Take a water heater, a couple cast iron frying pans and some perlite from home depot. Burns used engine oil or Fryer grease from your favorite Fast Food joint. definitely needs a fan to circulate the heat.
Trent - where do you find those radiant heaters? I think I have given up on the idea of wood heat, too many problems in a shop - I do like it for other areas though. We may be coming your way soon, I'll have to look you up.
What about using an oil furnace out of a house trailer? I know oil is a little $$ but I would think electric heat would be outrageuous. later plmczy
I'm using a gas wall unit, got it for free. Passed up a couple others this summer. I use LP (in the country) but it heats great. My place is insulated to shit. that's your cheapest heating option. Also the mobile home oil or kero units work fine and are all over the place cheap.
The cool this witht the radiant heaters is that they heat objects, you get warm, the toold get warm, your beer gets warm..........REALLY! I was sold on em while doing a remodel a couple years back. We added em in a basement. I came in one morning and turned one on to 65 degrees. After about 10 mintutes I was HOT!!! It feels hotter than it is set at. I found on a cold morning that 50-55 on the thermostat felt really good. The thing with these heaters is that they heat fast. You need to use them at point of use like light switches. Since they dont need to be turned on and run ahead of time to warm up the room, you actually SAVE money!!!! I am sold, my dads shop will get em in the very near future. Dan, I still have that Saginaw 3spd for ya
Big Dog has it nailed, if you can avoid wood heat, avoid it. As an Insurance agent let me tell you, at least in my area, it is damm near impossible to insure a garage with with any kind of wood heat even if it is a new unit and properly installed. Barrell stoves or any kind of home made units are totally taboo. Some companies have even denied coverage after the fire because of the wood heat. It may cost more to do it the safe way, but it is worth it in the long run and the safety factor is worth the extra piece of mind. The heat is more consistent and better distributed also. I just did an addition on my shop, 20 X 30 and had this unit installed. 24,000 "BTU" the cost was just over 700.00. Not cheap for sure but a no hassle, no trouble deal. My .02 B B
Or if you need to use wood, an outdoor furnace would be a good thing. You can set them up for forced hot air or plumb them into radient floor heat. The only thing that hurts is the initial cash outlay. I've been told they can last up to 20 years. just some more ideas,later plmczy
[ QUOTE ] that radiant heat thing reminds me of a microwave... It just sounds like it would give people cancer, or cook 'em, or make people with metal plates in their heads freak out and shit... How's it work, exactly...??? [/ QUOTE ] Did you ever stand next to a camp fire? One side gets warm,the other is cold? THAT my friend,is radiant heat! My house has electric radiant in the ceilings..... INSTALLED in 1953........NO moving parts........NEVER breaks down.......my electric bill,INCLUDING my shop(air compressor,plazma cutter,mig welder,lights,etc.etc.) Is only 165.00 per month........... MY SHOP however,has PROPANE fired radiant............ PENNIES per day to operate......... RADIANT heat warms OBJECTS,NOT the air.......... as a side note..... Radiant.......when you go to bed at nite? pull the sheets back? and the BED is WARM........ Hardwood floors......when you get OUT of bed in the AM? The FLOORS are warm.........I love it.
What ever heat you use if it has an open flame it should be mounted at least 2ft. off the floor. and if you are working with anything flammable OPEN the doors and vent the place!!!
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