How many of you fellers have built a outdoor wood heater?

[Mastermind]

I've built three now, the first one was a real piece of crap. It was a forced air type that heated the air around it outside instead of the house.

The second was the same type but as vastly improved. I ended up melting it by forcing air in under the grates. Yeah, I have to learn the hard way.

My third try is also a forced air unit but works much better than the others, I've used it for three winters now with only one unresolved issue. If we lose the electricity the fan stops, without the fan working the stove will overheat. I was going to use a generator as backup but just don't like having to have a backup. So....

I also have a wood stove in the house that heats good enough, just a bit messier. The house is over 2200 sq ft so a stove that uses the ductwork is needed. I plan to build a outdoor water heating unit. I wouldn't really call it a boiler as I plan to build it vented instead of sealed. Who here has built something along these lines? I have most of the needed parts and pieces, pump, control unit, tank, and metal (from my last stove) and a plan that needs refined.

 

[corrupt]

Havent built 1 but hoping to start soon. Im going to go a garn type look but non gasser natural draft.

 

[H-Ranch]

building OWB

Here's mine: http://arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=143845&highlight=

 

[gw8017]

here is mine, this is my second season with it.
heating my DHW this year and my electric bill is a lot cheaper.
no regreats in this project, i would do it again in a second.
i get 24 hour burns no problem, i'm burning approx. 1 to 1 1/4 cords a month.
i have about $3000.00 in this one, including hooking it to the house, no labor only materials. good luck with your project, we'll help you all we can.

 

[Mastermind]

Thanks for the pics and the ideas guys. I'm not going to start this until warmer weather, but I'm one of those people that need a detailed plan of action before I start. Thanks again for the replies.

 

[loadthestove]

I've built two OWBS,, like you the first one was a flop.I cured most of my mistakes on the second one and I'm currently using it now.

I have just over $2000 in my complete setup.I happened across an old 500 gallon propane for $50 so that saved me some money.If you have the time to search the scrap yards you can scavenge a lot of useful parts.

I used a rancho control and grundfos pump that i purchased new.the rest of the stove parts were rescued from a scrap yard.

 

[jackel440]

Here is the link to the build thread on my gasifier.I hope to have it up and running by the end of the week.
http://**************************/forum/index.php?topic=642.0

 

[freemind]

I built my own forced air OWB this fall. Keeps this old drafty farmhouse at 75.

It is all in your duct work. I had a guy from across the country advising me about my HVAC ductwork. No blower to force air into the firepot of the stove. Don't need it.

I run two fans on mine. Both inside the basement, in a box of their own. One fan runs whenever there is a fire in the stove, the other is a booster fan that is set on a thermostat in the house.

 

[dave_dj1]

I didn't actualy build the firebox but I did fab it to be able to use it, works great!
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=154832

 

[Mastermind]

Great stuff guys. Keep em coming!!!!

 

[booger1286]

I know this is old but figured i would share. I made a copper coil last year to run through my flu and i have a fifty five gallon drum full of water that pumps the water through the flu coil which is heated then runs through modified indoor coil which air blows over and heats house.
When thermostat is satisfied it starts heating up barrel, which is isulated and stores the heat and allows me to use it and not burn so much.
I am welding up a homemade stove now out of gas pipe which will flow up to 18 gallons of water per min to catch more heat and i will use forced draft to get temps i want.

 

[THE PLUMMER]

Kinda depends on what your using for a water heater tank. How much tempered water do you need for your largest dump load.

SuperStor Glass Lined Storage Tank - HTP has an internal coil for big heat transfer, depending on your btu output and volume of water a 25 gallon or 30 gallon can provide endless hot water

Bradford White | Products | Storage Tanks cheaper version/ storage only

the amount of water you have on your burner will determine how much you can heat up and the size of pump you should use. The IDWH can handle big flow but then you need enuff btu to keep the amount of water hot enuff to stay ahead. This is why small IDWH work well as residential boilers have enuff output to heat small volumes, almost like matching the demand to the heat exchange surface area just right that it never runs out. Too big a tank and not enuf btu's can transfer quickly in the larger volume. A 005 or 006 pump can work with a sidearm that needs much less flow and less HX surface area. Also by presssurizing your setup you will have less maintenance and higher delivery temps depending on temp output.

 

[woodman6666]

The first pic is one that I built 10 years ago, its the one I personally use, works great 2-3week burn times, load with skid loader, wouldnt change a thing. Have built 4 more since. Good Luck

 

[REJ2]

Holy ****, thats a crematorium!

 

[vinced]

The first pic is one that I built 10 years ago, its the one I personally use, works great 2-3week burn times, load with skid loader, wouldnt change a thing. Have built 4 more since. Good Luck

How about somemore details. What size is the firebox? How much water does it hold? Did you start with salvage tanks or did you just build it out of plate steel?

 

[Felman]

Bathtub is made of cast iron, dump has great deal.

 

[jags]

Woodman - I through a "like" at ya, just for the sheer insanity of that thing.