The world of homemade wood stoves is vast.
There are as many variations on the theme as you care to imagine, I have seen them built from everything from oil barrels, gas bottles (very popular), cutlery holders, canteens, etc..etc.. the list could go on and on, but basically its a fire contained in a box (a little more complex, we'll get to that later), the point I'm making is you're not smashing atoms or constructing an artificial heart, naturally the box itself has to be constructed from materials that can easily withstand fire, which got me thinking.
I have for some time been wanting to attempt to built a small log burner, In fact In a lazy half assed way I have already had an attempt or two, however until recently I had not discovered a suitable vessel for the project I had in mind. Now I use the word 'discovered' because the principle of the thing is to build something for nothing, or as close to nothing as possible. I will use no specialised tools or any industrial welding / cutting kit, generally it will be hand tools and whatever I have in the toolbox. As much as possible I will be using found, recycled or scavenged materials. I'll go through the construction step-by-step as I make it, this is the beginning, how will it end.? I don't know really know
Onwards.!
A quick note about attitudes.
I could easily have gone out and bought one, the modern tendency is to do just that, to assume everything we need has to be bought (goods or services). We quickly rob ourselves of the opportunity to test the limits of our own abilities. Considering yourself incapable without ever trying is to deprive yourself of independence. Enough preaching, now to work...
So here's the victim...
It's an old 9 litre fire extinguisher, what can I say?... I like Irony !!
So the first step was to get the thing apart...
I removed the clamp that kept the hose very firmly attached to the body by poking a screwdriver through pipe clamp and twisting side to side until it could be slipped down the length of the hose. Next was unscrewing the main ring that holds the whole point'n'squirt assembly together. This turned out to be annoyingly well screwed together, the solution was simple. I tipped it on its side, lined up a big screwdriver with one of the lugs and gave it a smart whack! Two or three more and it unscrewed with ease.
Pop the handle and other innards out.... and your donor is ready for surgery !! .
The top and bottom parts of the cylinder where very chunky, my guess is they are designed to withstand pressure.. My first point of attack was to assume the top part would be of little use. The top part made a handy ready marked out saw line for me to follow, so it was time to behead the bottle.
A handy tip here, whenever you are sawing something cylindrical it wants to roll away. My solution was to open out the jaws of the workbench as wide as they would go, I then sat the barrel between them and wrapped a ratchet strap over the barrel and bench to stabilize the whole thing, this kept it steady whilst sawed, rotated, sawed and rotated.
Tada... Topless bottle!!
At this point I decided the base is too heavy for my purpose , So I repeat the process with the ratchet strap and workbench for the bottom part.
Make very sure you get a super straight line right round the barrel.
Leaving me with this..
The worlds smallest fire extinguisher
Thats all for part one..
This is as far as its gotten for now.
There are as many variations on the theme as you care to imagine, I have seen them built from everything from oil barrels, gas bottles (very popular), cutlery holders, canteens, etc..etc.. the list could go on and on, but basically its a fire contained in a box (a little more complex, we'll get to that later), the point I'm making is you're not smashing atoms or constructing an artificial heart, naturally the box itself has to be constructed from materials that can easily withstand fire, which got me thinking.
I have for some time been wanting to attempt to built a small log burner, In fact In a lazy half assed way I have already had an attempt or two, however until recently I had not discovered a suitable vessel for the project I had in mind. Now I use the word 'discovered' because the principle of the thing is to build something for nothing, or as close to nothing as possible. I will use no specialised tools or any industrial welding / cutting kit, generally it will be hand tools and whatever I have in the toolbox. As much as possible I will be using found, recycled or scavenged materials. I'll go through the construction step-by-step as I make it, this is the beginning, how will it end.? I don't know really know
Onwards.!
A quick note about attitudes.
I could easily have gone out and bought one, the modern tendency is to do just that, to assume everything we need has to be bought (goods or services). We quickly rob ourselves of the opportunity to test the limits of our own abilities. Considering yourself incapable without ever trying is to deprive yourself of independence. Enough preaching, now to work...
So here's the victim...
It's an old 9 litre fire extinguisher, what can I say?... I like Irony !!
So the first step was to get the thing apart...
I removed the clamp that kept the hose very firmly attached to the body by poking a screwdriver through pipe clamp and twisting side to side until it could be slipped down the length of the hose. Next was unscrewing the main ring that holds the whole point'n'squirt assembly together. This turned out to be annoyingly well screwed together, the solution was simple. I tipped it on its side, lined up a big screwdriver with one of the lugs and gave it a smart whack! Two or three more and it unscrewed with ease.
Pop the handle and other innards out.... and your donor is ready for surgery !! .
The top and bottom parts of the cylinder where very chunky, my guess is they are designed to withstand pressure.. My first point of attack was to assume the top part would be of little use. The top part made a handy ready marked out saw line for me to follow, so it was time to behead the bottle.
A handy tip here, whenever you are sawing something cylindrical it wants to roll away. My solution was to open out the jaws of the workbench as wide as they would go, I then sat the barrel between them and wrapped a ratchet strap over the barrel and bench to stabilize the whole thing, this kept it steady whilst sawed, rotated, sawed and rotated.
Tada... Topless bottle!!
At this point I decided the base is too heavy for my purpose , So I repeat the process with the ratchet strap and workbench for the bottom part.
Make very sure you get a super straight line right round the barrel.
Leaving me with this..
The worlds smallest fire extinguisher
Thats all for part one..
This is as far as its gotten for now.
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