I came across this and was wondering how good they work. Wondering how long the barrel may last and how much heat it might put out. Thinking of using it in an area that is covered and tarped on two sides to block the wind. Need something cheap that heats and diverts the smoke out.

Personal experience would be great.

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/pr...ID=GSHOP_433921

We use a regular wood burning stove without a fan. It works great. We have a drafty cabin and it can run you out of there. The problem with the barrell is the light steel. It will burn out quicker than a regular wood burner but you can just build a new one with the parts.

Did a search on craigslist and found some old wood stoves from about 100 & up. So for a few dollars more the wood stove would hold up lots better and I would not be as worried if the fire really gets hot. I just saw the barrel heater and was the first time I had come across it. I would be a little worried about using a barrel in a closed environment but in a shop or at the lease like I was intending it seemed possible.

Ok yep I've got one simular and really like it! We've only used it 1 season so I don't know how long the barrel lasts. Barrel still looks fine right now.

We had an old cast iron stove it burnt out after about 10 yrs we replaced it with this and really like it. It seems to put out more heat (or maybe it just wasn't as cold this year).

I got mine from Northern Tool, it cost about $45. and the name is something like Volker

What else ya wanna know??? Oh and it was easy to assemble.

The first one (s) I ever saw were in Alaska and people were using them to heat their houses. I don't really think safety is an issue.

Use a new barrel without any rust and line the bottom with fire brick. You might also want to do the first burn outdoors because it will stink as the original paint burns off.

-ww

Sand in the bottom works and its cheaper than firebrick.

If you use sand would you just put another piece of metal over the sand?

Have seen these made from scratch by welding buddies they work great.

I use one just like it in our wall tent. It gets hot in a hurry, make sure the vent hole is extra insulate, we have burned a hole in our tent more than once!

We used one at our place in Eldorado for years, it would heat our 16 x 20 cabin with no insulation with no problem.
we never did have to change the barrel.