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tent stove feedback? 55 gal drum kit

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tent stove feedback? 55 gal drum kit

Postby Billy Goat » 07 07, 2020 •  [Post 1]

my crew has used propane heaters the past several years. I do like the ease of control (on, off, proportional trim), but I hate how much propane we have to bring to camp.

thinking about using one of these kits to make a 55gal drum heater:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/US-Stove-Ba ... lsrc=aw.ds

does anyone here have experience with these? feedback appreciated.

It being large, bulky is not a problem for our setup, cause we bring box trailers to transport our stuff, and we camp next to the road (not "packing in").

I realize the purpose built stoves sole by Wall Tent Shop, etc would probably perform better, but my crew (me in particular.....) is cheap and likes a "project" for stuff like this.

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Re: tent stove feedback? 55 gal drum kit

Postby 7mmfan » 07 07, 2020 •  [Post 2]

No experience but looks interesting. Would be a fun project. 55 gallons seems enormous, I think our stove for our 15x18 is probably somewhere in the realm of 30. How big of a space are you heating?
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Re: tent stove feedback? 55 gal drum kit

Postby >>>---WW----> » 07 07, 2020 •  [Post 3]

These things really put out the heat. Unless you have something like an army squad tent, I wouldn't recommend it. I know some guys that have one in a squad tent that sleeps about eight guys. The stove sits out in the middle of the floor so there is no danger of burning the tent down.
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Re: tent stove feedback? 55 gal drum kit

Postby Indian Summer » 07 07, 2020 •  [Post 4]

They are exactly what you’d expect. The hardest part is cutting the holes in the barrel. You’ll get quite a few seasons out of it. To me the downside is how much space a 55 gallon drum takes up.
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Re: tent stove feedback? 55 gal drum kit

Postby Swede » 07 07, 2020 •  [Post 5]

I had the double barrel in my shop for years. Like Joe said they last for a long time. I doubt you would burn it out just using it for camping. I can't imagine one in my 12X14 tent. They put out a lot of heat. You won't have to worry about staying cold.
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Re: tent stove feedback? 55 gal drum kit

Postby Billy Goat » 07 07, 2020 •  [Post 6]

thanks for the quick feedback, gents.

our tent setup is a "paired" set of 16x16 army tents, totalling 16x32.

I agree it's huge for the application, but I think close enough for our purposes. as a bonus, I could probably use this to heat my shop occasionally in the off season.

the size of the unit isnt problematic for me, cause we take two 16' box trailers into the woods. in fact, it'd help me overall, cause we would bring fewer propane bottles.

we'd still have one or two bottletop propane heaters just in case, but I think this thing would work well.

for those of you with personal experience.... I assume you want to do a "hot burn" to bake off the original paint, then repaint with high temp BBQ grill type paint?
"First teach a child to love God,
teach them second to love their family
and third, teach them to hunt and fish,
and by the time they reach their teens, no dope peddler under the sun will ever teach them anything".

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Re: tent stove feedback? 55 gal drum kit

Postby Lefty » 07 07, 2020 •  [Post 7]

Like Swede we had a double barrel stove in our shop in Mn

Maybe consider a 30 gallon barrel
Or thin wall pipeline pipe if you have access

My first years elk hunting a big family and big camp they used barrel stoves
However they went all out and camp was in for 5-6 weeks they brought in a semi trailer with a forklift, carpeted floor full kitchen an dining
They also had a 2 Nd tent as a garage and gear that they heated when single digits and below with a battle stove

My first years in hunt camps were wood heated our shop was wood heated
And the house we have now was wood/ pellet heat
My in-laws house was wood heat

I like to watch a fire
I hate smoke I really hate the smell of a two stroke

And gas is worth the less effort to me
If I would be at a place with vehicle access m , it’s gas
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Re: tent stove feedback? 55 gal drum kit

Postby saddlesore » 07 07, 2020 •  [Post 8]

I was gong to suggest a 30 gal barrel instead of a 55. Even with that 16 x32 the 55 is going to run you out.I had a 16 x22 and one of the Riley fold up stoves would heat it up.
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Re: tent stove feedback? 55 gal drum kit

Postby Indian Summer » 07 07, 2020 •  [Post 9]

I used to have a 55 gallon ducted into the cold air return in my house. I agree with Saddlesore that stove will have you opening the doors on both ends to let the heat out.
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Re: tent stove feedback? 55 gal drum kit

Postby >>>---WW----> » 07 08, 2020 •  [Post 10]

As for your question about burning the paint off ! Do it outside. No need to repaint it with hi-temp paint. You'll just have to burn it off again. The fumes will be terrible.
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Re: tent stove feedback? 55 gal drum kit

Postby Lefty » 07 12, 2020 •  [Post 11]

>>>---WW----> wrote:As for your question about burning the paint off ! Do it outside. No need to repaint it with hi-temp paint. You'll just have to burn it off again. The fumes will be terrible.


One of my first hunts my brother in law had a new stove built for wood and coal. He painted the stove the morning we left to hunt. I was already on the keep clean kick and had another small tent set up for my stuff. The first night it was -18 I lifted the side of the tent to get air. then slept in my little tent the next two nights
My throat still burns from those paint fumes :o


>>>---WW----> great advice
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