Wood Stove

[mikeskodiak]

So I had a freind stop by the shop and ask, if I could or would build a wood stove. After a little bit of talking and understanding of what he wanted. I of cousre, am willing to take on a nice plate and table top job. Ok so here is the question to everyone..

This wood stove is 48Lx36Wx36H and he also wants a blower on this big A--
woodstove. So my question is, would 1/4 mild steel be ok for this big stove? He says he will only burn wood,I am sure that if something else will fit into the stove he will burn it (used oil).

I surely have never built a stove this big and just dont know how hot it will get with burning wood. I know my little wood stove gets to be around 900.

[Paul Seaman]

Due to possible warpage of the large dimensions, I would go 3/8 and a 1/2 top and bottom plate. That is for the firebox, if it is going to have a double hull to run air around it for a forced air heat arrangement the outside could be 1/4 I think. I would put ribs between the inner and outer boxes to avoid the outside warping also. The ribs would do two fold by adding heated surface area like a heat sink for the air to blow accross. I have seen several built but have never done one on my own. That is alot of surface area and alot of draw to pull out that much smoke. If it doesn't draft just right your going to have a indoor smoker that can't be controlled.

Things to think about,

If you do it I would greatly appreciate pictures of the in process and it all comes together.

Thanks

[Portable Welder]

Keep this in mind, If the stove doesnt have a UL listing on it theres a good chance they wont insure his house.

Paul is right about a bigger surface needing thicker plate due to warpage, but if you put fire brick in the bottom and half way up the side, 1/4 will be plenty.

I have a home made stove in my shop, but I over killed everything so im not worried about it causing a fire.

In my home however I would want the pc of mind knowing that Im insured

[KS2K]

Have you considered your liability in building wood stove to be used in a customers building ? Be sure your insurance will cover you if something ever went wrong.

Paul

[FusionKing]

Myself I would never dream of building one that thick...1/4" would be max for me. It is hard to get that much steel hot enuff to radiate..BTDT. If you get it wrong it can freeze yer @$$ off unless you build a fire straight from HE\_\_ every time you use it. A small every day fire just will not cut it. I think firebox size to thickness ratio could be figured some way but exp. means a heck of a lot also.
I do think that would be a great size firebox BTW.
I used to work in a fab shop where we built a wood stove out of a new unpainted septic tank. OMG did that sucker ever ROCK!!! You could make a small fire out of just average stuff and then choke it down and it had so much surface area and was thin enuff it heated a large shop quite well. It had a 6" stovepipe and four 1 1/2" adjustable holes for air intake. We cooked on and in that thing forever. Just laid a length of driveway grate over it.

I have a friend that had a stove made from a 500 gal propane tank. After freezing to death one winter they chopped it up for scrap.

I have a plain ole barrel stove myself with pipes run thru it and a chamber in the back to force air out thru the front via a fireplace blower fan. It does fine for a small shop.

In a nutshell I guess I'm only saying I'd rather have a somewhat wavy ratty looking old stove that kicked @$$ than a awsum super stout looking thing that you could literally lean against when working.

[phaxtris]

i built one close to that size a last winter, 10g for everything, the only problems i had was the door, if i made one again i would make the door a good 1/4-3/8 thick

[FusionKing]

I bet 10 ga. would be great for that size. And I do know how doors can warp.
Maybe a double walled door with slots cut in the bottom and top so it can still radiate.

[pipeline Dan]

I have built a few custom BBQ pits, and when it comes to the firebox I would go with 1/4 plate. I have had some people ask if I can insulate the firebox so I asked around to some old ranchers and how they did it, they use to insulate with sand. They would leave a 1/2-3/4 in gap between the firebox and the the outer shell and then fill with sand, it does make for more work and the weight may pose a problem but it works well. I will started to use this method when a customer wants a custom pit with an insulated firebox. just my 2 cents worth??

[mikeskodiak]

wood stove pictures

here are some pictures of the wood stove in its progress, we are just about done. I tried to upload some of the other pictures but it says they are to big, so here is what went in. Always looking for contructive criticism and well maybe a pat on the back also.

[pipeline Dan]

here are some pictures of the wood stove in its progress, we are just about done. I tried to upload some of the other pictures but it says they are to big, so here is what went in. Always looking for contructive criticism and well maybe a pat on the back also.

Looks good! looks like it it would work well?? what size of plate did ya end up using??

[mikeskodiak]

plate size

I used the 1/4 plate. Now that it is done, I sure like it too. I surely think it is one big A-- stove. I am just a little nerverous to think, it will warp and go crazy its a nice look stove and just hate to see a nice job go to the junk yard. I guess time will tell. Thanks Mike

[weldthis]

Made One 3 Years Ago For The Shop That Big Out Of 3/16..works Fine..

Put 3/4 X 3/4 Solid Bar Around The Door Edges Though