Wood burner from an old gas bottle

[Dannytsg]

So we recently got an allotment (thread with pictures in the homestead sub forum) and the previous owner had left 2 empty gas bottles.

I've always wanted to make a wood burner and decided to use one of the bottles to make a wood burner for use in heating the summerhouse as required when we are at the allotment.

Before I started I had a look on the Internet and there were many many different ways of doing this, some with elaborate welding and some simple. I decided to go for a simpler option to test it out. I do have an arc welder but chose to go no welds on this.

IF YOU INTEND TO DO THIS, REMOVE THE VALVE AND FILL THE BOTTLE WITH WATER FOR 2 DAYS. THEN EMPTY THE BITTLE AND LEAVE UPSIDE DOWN OVERNIGHT.

I started by marking out my door using tape, drilling holes in the corners to start my jigsaw and then cutting out the door.

Once the door was cut I then marked the hinge locations and drilled the holes. The hinges were fixed to the door using M5 bolts.

Next was to drill the main bottle for the hinges and fit them along with the door.

Next was to cut a hole on the back of the bottle for the chimney/flue connection and drill vent holes under the lowest point of the fire to allow air in under the fire. I have decided to use a steel can as the flue point and will fit a flexible flue once it's sites in the summer house.

Once this was done the steel can was twist fitted into the hole. I intentionally cut the hole smaller than the can diameter to make it a very tight fit. A hammer is useful at this point.

The finished article

The final thing to do now is to take this up to the allotment and set it alight to allow the paint to burn off, then fit it into the summerhouse and pipe the flue out.

 

[Biker]

That looks swwweeeeet.

 

[Dannytsg]

Just need to fit some sort of handle/latch to the door and I think that'd be it. Should put out enough heat to heat the summerhouse and keep us toasty. May even at some point add a hot plate for the kettle

 

[vestlenning]

Simple and nice!

 

[Adze]

On a February afternoon/evening mine, when filled with surplus charcoal briquettes (alight - natch), was too hot to sit within 6 feet of, outdoors. They can be exceptionally warm, try it outside before you fill it with fuel inside

 

[vestlenning]

On a February afternoon/evening mine, when filled with surplus charcoal briquettes (alight - natch), was too hot to sit within 6 feet of, outdoors.

Charcoal in something like this is a bit on the far side, wouldn't you say?

 

[nic a char]

surplus...

 

[humdrum_hostage]

I have just seen an email from Alta Gas asking if you know anyone with surplus bottles, could they please have them back for re-filling......ooops!

Could it have been made upside down, then you would have the top as a stand, then the underside with a little persuasion with a club hammer could make a flat hot plate?

 

[Adze]

Charcoal in something like this is a bit on the far side, wouldn't you say?

Not really, they'll burn pretty much anything you have at hand that's combustible - paraffin used for cleaning, old veg oil, oily rags etc. It all goes in, occasionally some ash needs to be taken out.

The briquettes had been in the shed for years, brought round by a well meaning relative to barbeque over but never used - surplus to requirements, not military surplus.

 

[Dannytsg]

I have just seen an email from Alta Gas asking if you know anyone with surplus bottles, could they please have them back for re-filling......ooops!

Could it have been made upside down, then you would have the top as a stand, then the underside with a little persuasion with a club hammer could make a flat hot plate?

It could have been but it was very precarious standing it upside to drain the bottle of water so o wouldn't want to try it that way.

I have see. Some whereby the top portion has been removed with a grinder and then a hot plate welded onto the flate

 

[Dannytsg]

Fired it up tonight and gave it the first run. Quite smokey at dirt until it got a proper burn and radiates the heat well, especially when left to ember down.

 

[Adze]

If you fit a longer heavier flue it will draw better and heat up faster. Mine has about 4 feet of cast iron drainpipe attached which worked a treat:

[video=youtube;ScXKOeyTKQ8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScXKOeyTKQ8[/video]

 

[Adze]

I got the powder coat off like this:

[video=youtube;QnFWh6oeQaQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnFWh6oeQaQ[/video]

 

[jamesc76]

Heres my take on a gas bottle stove, more along the frontier stove route.

 

[Adze]

That's smashing! Love the flat top, bet it's useful. Mine is only ever used as a patio heater - beats gas any day.

 

[Nice65]

Excellent job, I've always wanted one of those for the patio.

A bloke on BB makes some lovely themed ones, he did a Darth Vader face, but this is my favourite:

 

[Adze]

That's insanely good! The amount of work that's gone into that is huge.

 

[barclay03]

I have 4 or 5 varied sized bottles awaiting the same fate. looks good!

 

[bbdave]

Would this work with an old Ali. beer keg? id like to make a small patio heater or is the Ali. not upto the heat.

Dave

 

[stuey]

Bbdave, unless you bought the keg/cask from someone legitimately then it still belongs to the brewery or the administrators supposing the brewery went bust. At 75 quid each casks are our most valuable asset and are actually worth more than the beer in them. Rather than harbour potentially hot property (no pun intended) kegwatch offer a no questions asked means of the container making its way back to its rightful owner. Oh, and for reference, publicans do not own the containers, casks, kegs that many seem ready to give away... They are the guardians and are responsible for looking after the container that they have been loaned.