Small Double Barrel Stove Questions

[PSNBYE]

Hey there, new to this forum and had some questions on building a smaller double barrel stove to heat my shop, which is 14' by 20'. I am using a old steel pipe thats 14" across and 26" long, the wall thickness is 3/8's thick. I have a slightly smaller pipe, same wall thickness, but about six inches shorter for the top barrel. I know its not that big, but space is at a premium in my shop. And with the double barrel, I think it will be enough heat.

I have never built a stove and I would appreciate some thoughts or tips on this. I have all the metal working tools I need and a good place to work on it, so thats not a problem. I just want to be sure to take my time and do this right.

Thanks in advance, cool forum.

 

[walrus]

Hey there, new to this forum and had some questions on building a smaller double barrel stove to heat my shop, which is 14' by 20'. I am using a old steel pipe thats 14" across and 26" long, the wall thickness is 3/8's thick. I have a slightly smaller pipe, same wall thickness, but about six inches shorter for the top barrel. I know its not that big, but space is at a premium in my shop. And with the double barrel, I think it will be enough heat.

I have never built a stove and I would appreciate some thoughts or tips on this. I have all the metal working tools I need and a good place to work on it, so thats not a problem. I just want to be sure to take my time and do this right.

Thanks in advance, cool forum.

I'll bet that baby is heavy once its done. What are you going to use to tie the 2 pieces of pipe together? What about a door?

 

[aim]

I gotta say that I've never seen one that small before. I can't say that it won't work but I doubt you will be happy with it. With such a small firebox your wood will have to be dinky and won't last long.
Check the local newspaper for a small cast iron stove or similar. Many times these can be bought for like $50 or so.
If your shop has any insulation at all a small propane wall hung unit would probably do ya even better. One of the ventless types takes up no space and is super easy to install. Another plus to the propane deal is no insurance problems.

 

[Wuzshadetree]

Standard 55 gallon drum dimensions are 24 X 35 roughly. Double barrel setups usually have cast iron fittings for the door, two cast connectors (usually situated at the opposite end from the door) with an opening sufficient to allow for X size pipe (said pipe sometimes included in the package) to connect the two barrels, a front holder to mount above the door to hold up the top barrel level with the connector at the rear, and two cast legs to mount on the bottom barrel, and a cast collar to receive the chimney pipe. This can be an excellent source of heat if properly installed. I used fire brick inside of mine for the bottom of the lower barrel, to about half the diameter of the barrel to prevent burnout of the bottom. The upper barrel serves as a retainer/distributor for some of the heat generated before it goes out the chimney, an improvement on the single barrel setup.

Yours does sound a little on the small side, diameter-wise, but the thickness of the steel is a great thing. It would likely never burnout. Welds would need to be kept full penetration w/coverpass throughout, for safety. I have seen many homemade 2 barrel stoves some with homemade doors, legs, and connectors, and most of them really put out the heat. Generally all you want or need and then some unless you are trying to heat a warehouse. Heat regulator is the adjustable vent in the fire door. But what you gain in using the setup you outline will likely become less than satisfactory when you come to realize how often you have to feed it, especially in really cold conditions. Bigger stove less feeding. Not less wood consumed mind you, just more trips to keep it fired up, possible small diameter wood chunks required. Depending on your circumstances, that might be just fine with you. Also bear in mind your property insurance agent, and how he/she will view your situation.

 

[s_ontario]

rough drawing of one i had 20 years ago when burning wood was fun lol

pipes between large dia pipes/barrows needs to be heavy pipe 6" not just stove pipe

don't laugh to hard at my art work

 

[PSNBYE]

Thanks for the observations guys, one thing I did not think of was the insurance angle. I knew I would have to feed it more, and then ther'es going out and getting the dam wood, chopping, stacking, all the smoke. Maybe I should look at the ventless wallhanging propane thing like Aim suggested(thanks). I might have to arm wrestle the wife to get her to let me buy some insulation too as it was 32 BELOW ZERO this morning.

Thanks again and the artwork was truly ispired s_ontario!

 

[Wuzshadetree]

Just a last point here... it's pretty darned hard to beat sitting next to a nice warm wood stove when it's anything below freezing, and doubly so at 64 degrees below freezing. The comfort and satisfaction of a good cup of coffee (or a beer, or two, or three if you're so inclined) and a comfortable chair can only be beat if it one does so with a friend or two. n'est pas? It can at times make up for the time and trouble of collecting the firewood, and getting hold of that insurance agent by the short hairs, if need be.

 

[walrus]

Thanks for the observations guys, one thing I did not think of was the insurance angle. I knew I would have to feed it more, and then ther'es going out and getting the dam wood, chopping, stacking, all the smoke. Maybe I should look at the ventless wallhanging propane thing like Aim suggested(thanks). I might have to arm wrestle the wife to get her to let me buy some insulation too as it was 32 BELOW ZERO this morning.

Thanks again and the artwork was truly ispired s_ontario!

You'll regret using a ventless propane heater unless you like mold and mildew throughout your garage. Burning propane puts out a ton of water vapor. Never ever use a ventless propane heater in a cold climate. They may work down south but they don't work in the cold cruel north.
I use a wood stove in my shop, works well but my shop is insulated well also so I don't have to spend all my time chopping