Andy Dingley wrote in message . ..

Try CAT in Macynlleth for a range of stove books. DIY is practical;,
but there's a fair bit of craft knowledge in making a good woodstove
installation.

I was trying to think of where I'd come across the Alaska Woodburner
or Cabin Stove. I wonder if it was a booklet I saw there years ago. It
consisted of 2 x 45 gallon drums, one atop the other.

The wet/poor quality fuel burned in the first tin then the tarry gas
and etc burned in the top one.

In theory.

That Centre for Alternative Tech. is a great day out though. Highly
recommended. One day I shall live in a manner that embodies all those
ideals but at the moment, give me the simple life.

As for sources of fuel. The small stuff that comes out of the
"chipper" in a timber yard if there is one locally is a far better
fuel than the off-cut blocks they sell, easier to handle and probably
cheaper too.

If you know anyone that is in the window replacement business they
might be willing to supply you. For me; I would get a sawdust burner.
This is how to make one:

Two drums one that fits inside the other say one at 10 and a 25 gallon
one. Spot weld or rivet a shelf for the inner tin to stand on that
gives room to cover the outer one and allow flame and smoke to exhaust
the top of the inner.

Cut a vent in the side of the outer (near the bottom and leave one
edge so that it acts as a door. (Unless you are really clever and make
a proper sliding grate.))

Cut a hole through the centre of the inner tin, about 3" dia. but this
size depends on how much you need to burn. (A smaller hole will do
just as well, then if you wish to enlarge it.....)

Above the stand, another vent in the outer will take a chimney pipe.
(4" cast iron guttering or whatever you can snaffle.)

Draught:

The only air access is through the bottom vent and, with the top on,
the only egress is the one just above the shelf. Fit a 3" x 3" (or
whatever) in the centre of the inner tin and pack around it with
saw-dust. Remove the 3" x 3" and put a lid on the outer.

Light a piece of paper and stuff it in the bottom vent. (We never had
barbeque lighters in those days.) The flame should be drawn up through
the saw-dust igniting it in a slow burn that draws flame and smoke
between the two tins. Hopefully it will burn all the tar before it
solidifies in the pipe.

The workshop where this was used was a dismal little weather enclave
that gave me hours of fun first thing of a cold morning in winter.
However once going, it only needed restocking once or twice. This was
done over glowing dust embers we might have cooked potatoes on had the
shop next door not sold real bread and good, old fashioned ham.

You could use this thing outside as a barbeque if you wanted to try it
out. It will also burn logs. If you are using a dustbin for the outer
make sure the zinc is burned away before utilising the lid for
cooking.