HOMEMADE WOOD STOVE

[DIM TIM]

Been thinking about this one for a while, and right at the moment I'm gathering materials for the build.

I have emergency heat sources to keep the pipes from freezing in the winter if the power goes out, but I'm thinking more along the lines of real heat now, and I decided that it's time to take the plunge into a wood stove. I could save my pennies to buy a commercial one that is used, but after looking at possible alternatives, I decided that making my own will be cheaper still.

I scrap metals for trade for FRN's with the scrap yard to get survival and preparedness supplies, and I come across some great finds to add to my stores along with what I trade to the scrap yard for those FRN's. Lately I came across a sweet deal from a guy at work that bought a property with two homes on it, and it's just a little over a stones throw away from where I live (literally). He gave me the appliances, tub (cast iron), and water heater from the one, the same from the other plus the original 1930's gas furnace that probably still worked, and another water heater out in the large garden barn in the rear of the property.

I'm keeping one of the water heaters to cut apart the tank for the stove body, and taking some of my FRN's from the trade with the scrap yard for some of the metal, and using them to trade back to them for some steel plate to make the front, the door, and a surface plate for the top to cook on, and a section of steel pipe of suitable diameter to make the throat collar for the connection to the stove pipe that I'll purchase with some more FRN's from scrap metal trades. I'll also need to get the stove pipe damper, any elbows, and a rain cap for the top, but I won't have to worry about legs or the air intake vents. I recently found these items while I was scrapping. Both legs are what appears to be some from one of those barrel stove kits that are advertised in publications like MOTHER EARTH NEWS, and the vent is most likely something along those lines as well.

I got the original idea from an article in one of MOTHER's mags back in the late 70's. SO...I'll tear off the jacket to go to scrap, and save the other half of the tank for a possible second stove later on, and when I get the sheet and pipe for the first, I'll make sure there is enough for the second as well. Legs for the second can be easily made from some of the angle iron I often find being thrown away during my scrapping. :cool:

[610Alpha]

Have you considered a Rocket Mass Heater? Check out Paul Wheaton on youtube or Ernie and Erica Wisner.

[1Admin]

If you can find it, a copy of
"Wood stoves how to make and use them" by Ole Wik
would come in extremely handy.

Northern sells those barrel stove kits with the legs, door, opening for flue, etc. I've been meaning to buy some of these on sale to put up for barter. Lots of folks have electric heat in their homes, even in the country. They are going to have a rough row to hoe the first winter without electricity. I'm guessing they will figure they can find a barrel and do the work themselves. Who knows what you would get then for one of the barrel stove kits and some 6" black stove pipe you also bought on clearance at Lowes.

For those not so inclined to build, the little Vogelzang thin metal stoves can be found at Lowes for $199. While they aren't the perfect solution, they are something. If you can wait till spring, they usually mark down heating stuff on clearance then.

I found one at a Farm and Fleet type store in Wisconsin in 1996 for $99. and we packed it in the trunk of the car and carried it here, stored it till we needed it at the hunting camp.

[DIM TIM]

Yep, I've considered all these things and a few others besides. The K.I.S.S. methodology has a lot going for it so really, any of these will work pretty good. Just happens that I get the occasional hot water heater while scrapping, and so the coming build just fit the plan is all.

The most important thing is to provide emergency heat in my climate zone.