Jim Wilkins wrote:
"SteveB" wrote in message
...
I am getting ready to buy/build 55 wood stoves for my shop. I see
the single stackers, the doubles, all kinds. The shop is roughly
15360. It is 40 x 32, 8' high, roof varies from 2' to 6' above that
low slope.

I like it warm. I wouldn't mind having two stoves, and take them
out and switch them with the swampers each year.

I see Wolfzang (sp?) stoves, and their ilk, which is just a pretty
well sealed up 55 gal barrel. I see others, with what looks like
varying degrees of craftsmanship, mass of metal in components,
differences in vents, and a few things that makes one better than
the other, as in thicker metal, more bolts, more vents, etc.

What makes a good wood burner, and what is good to look for? Are
the more expensive ones inherently more efficient? And just what
does the second barrel do, other than provide greater surface area?
And would it be possible to mount the second top barrel somewhere
other than directly over the lower one to take heat to another
portion of the shop?

Just how airtight are these? Is it necessary to monitor them very
closely with CO detectors, or is the inherent leakage of a hobbyiist
built enclosure safe enough?

Would one single stove be enough? Two singles? Two doubles?

And just how often does one have to paint these? In my area, I can
get pristine coconut oil barrels for $10 each with lids, so changing
them over the years would be probably easier than keeping up with a
swamp cooler.

Class?

Steve

I've been told the barrels don't hold up well, and it's no fun having
one fail with a hot fire burning.

I have a CO detector with a digital readout and test it over hot
charcoal in the ash bucket periodically.

Do you know how many BTUs you need now?

Do you think those barrel stoves would last longer if the burn area was
lined with castable? refractory or firebrick ? Our stove has bricks in
the lower part , and the firebox is made of relatively light sheet metal .
There are areas above the brick where it has gotten hot enough to deform the
metal , we don't fill
it up too much because of that .
--
Snag