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Post by swizzlenutz on Oct 30, 2009 4:28:12 GMT -8
I was just thinking about winter being at our door and my parents run a baitshop. I'd like to make a type of pocket rocket that could be used inside of an ice shanty. All attention paid to safety of course. Proper ventilation, maybe a small chimney hook up. Something cheap to make & functional that the guys could cook a burger or two or maybe some sausages. Any ideas or thoughts on this one? I'd like to keep them under $20 but I think 3 inch stove pipe might cost me a bit more then that. Swizzle
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Post by Donkey on Oct 31, 2009 19:43:23 GMT -8
I ALWAYS go scavenging for bits. Very rarely do I EVER buy stuff to make stoves. I buy safety relief valves for hot water systems and sometimes (very rarely) stovepipe, though I can usually find that in the metal pile at our local trash transfer station.
You could roll up some old sheet metal and rivet the ends to keep it rolled..
I'd just go looking for freebies, people change out their old but not damaged stuff for new and shiny all the time.
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Post by swizzlenutz on Nov 1, 2009 7:02:06 GMT -8
If there was a way to do it safely I'd like to use old propane tanks. The little disposable ones. Is there anyway to take all of the propane out of these so you can cut them up? They're about the most abundant mini, pot bellied stove set up just waiting to be used. Swizzle
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hpmer
Full Member
Posts: 240
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Post by hpmer on Nov 1, 2009 12:39:01 GMT -8
I just built one using (3) 4" pineapple juice cans inside (3) 6" spaghetti sauce cans with perlite insulation in between. Made a drop down feeder using one each of the same and connected them together with a regular soup can.
I consider the inside part disposable as it will likely have to be rebuilt each year, but it is scalable to whatever height desired and easy to put together. And VERY portable.
I use it as a cooking stove, but it could easily be adapted to be a heating stove with a simple connector. Plus, it is very light weight so moving it around is very easy.
So yes, scrounged parts are everywhere once you start to look.
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Post by swizzlenutz on Nov 1, 2009 13:53:43 GMT -8
Do you have any pics? The more the merrier and video would be a really nice bonus. How tall is it? For an ice shanty set up some of these guys would prefer something a bit bigger that could output more heat. Something about the size of a 5 gallon bucket bucket maybe a little smaller. Do any of you guys know a good source for "less" toxic 5 gallon metal buckets? I know a lot have tar and I'm not sure about the types with paint in them. I'm not apposed to spending a few dollars to have a decent looking and decent working stove/radiant heater. Once I get a decent design down or a decent idea of what I'm doing then I'd like a little bit of consistency in the design. Would mica pellets work for insulation? I have at least 5 bags of that that I could use. Swizzle
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Post by Donkey on Nov 1, 2009 16:20:38 GMT -8
If there was a way to do it safely I'd like to use old propane tanks. The little disposable ones. Is there anyway to take all of the propane out of these so you can cut them up? They're about the most abundant mini, pot bellied stove set up just waiting to be used. Swizzle Yep. Once the tank is empty, take the valve off and fill it up with water. Let it sit for a while, empty it and rinse it a couple times. The smell will be left behind but the tank will be safe to cut. |
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Post by swizzlenutz on Nov 2, 2009 9:31:29 GMT -8
I'm talking about the camping/backpacking sized tanks. The 1 pounders. I'm thinking about filling a 5 gallon bucket up with some water and then slow drilling the top of the tank with a small bit so it doesn't take 4 hours. Just enough water to submerge the tank with an inch or so of the bit submerged as well. The propane should stay at the bottom of the tank and drilling slow underwater shouldn't produce any sparks. After I pop a hole in it then I'll let it fill with water and drain it a few times before I hit it with the angle grinder that I haven't bought yet. Swizzle
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Post by Donkey on Nov 2, 2009 17:52:32 GMT -8
Oh, shit!
I dunno if that's a good idea, mate.
Those things are still under (some) pressure after they are no longer useful for their primary purpose.
Yikes!!
If there were some way to INSURE the thing is truly empty first.. Not sure how you'd go about it...
I suppose if you had a good, heavy vise down in the water to hold it with, it might improve safety factor a little..
I'd think about this one a bit before trying it.
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Post by swizzlenutz on Nov 2, 2009 19:09:40 GMT -8
The nozzle inside it can easily be depressed with a nail and I got a few little tiny puffs out of it. I put the tank underwater and hit the button. I did get some water to go inside it but it would take hours to fill it that way. Just inside that same nozzle is a bit of hard plastic. I'm thinking that if I can break the plastic ever so gently to avoid spark then I could fill it easier and purge it a few times. It looks like they screw in like a needle valve on a car. I'll think about it a bit and try to come up with the safest solution possible before I actually try any cutting and drilling. I can't imagine there's much left inside this thing. I had it right upside down on the gas grill for a few hours wide open after it ran out of gas and I didn't hear any swishing of liquid inside after that. There's still something in there though. I doubt it'll be a trip to the hospital though. I'll play it safe just to be sure. Swizzle
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Post by swizzlenutz on Nov 3, 2009 11:24:03 GMT -8
Ok after some tinkering, (very light and careful tinkering). I was able to break a small plastic plug that was down inside the canisters throat. I then used a screwdriver, (very carefully) to unscrew the needle valve inside and a rubber O ring popped out. I continued to unscrew the needle valve and it finally fell out. I filled it with water and shook it and tried to empty it but there doesn't seem to be anything coming out. It appears that there is a small metal tube that goes down into the cylinder. This would apparently make it impossible to burn all of the propane out of the tank. So now I have it in my burn pit just to see what will happen. Swizzle
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Post by swizzlenutz on Nov 3, 2009 13:24:40 GMT -8
Well no big booms. I brought it back inside after it cooled off for a bit and washed it off. Added more water to it and shook it good and then dumped out rusty colored water?!? Weird, well anyways even after all of that it still has a propane smell coming out of it so its definitely hanging in there good. I'm gonna go ahead and try to get it opened up a bit with my dremel and a sanding disc. Hopefully it won't blow up on me. After I purged it a few times I was able to hold my lighter right over the hole and even turned it upside down. Not even a flicker so hopefully I don't die on the next step. Swizzle
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Post by Donkey on Nov 3, 2009 18:03:02 GMT -8
Even after all that, your STILL not sure that it's safe to drill into.
Seems like a lot of effort for a little piece of tube.
I gotta give you kudos for the effort though..
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Post by swizzlenutz on Nov 3, 2009 18:09:14 GMT -8
I wouldn't bother if it was a tin can but this thing should be able to take more heat for a longer period of time. I just might try to find some hinges and turn this into a mini potbellied piggy stove. Swizzle
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Post by woodman on Nov 15, 2009 7:46:24 GMT -8
I have taken the larger size propane tanks used on gas grills where the valve won't come off no mater what. Just leave them upside down for a few days to drain, then (slowley) drill out the center of the brass valve with a 1/2'' drill and fill with water.
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Post by swizzlenutz on Nov 15, 2009 16:19:06 GMT -8
Right now I'm going to be working on a pocket rocket. I bought a steel bucket yesterday for a buck. Its probably 4 gallons but I think it'll work. I want to get 3 or 4 fat and short carriage bolts and nuts and drill some holes in the bottom and use the bolts for legs. Then I'll probably fill the bottom with 2 or 3 inches of concrete and let it dry. Then from there it'll be a classic pocket rocket for the first test. Then I want to add an inverted bucket on top to use as a radiator. The whole thing should be short enough to put a pan on top and cook some sausages or heat some coffee or unthaw your beer after being out on the lake all day. Swizzle
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