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Gas Bottle Wood Burner

by btop on November 29, 2008 Table of Contents intro: Gas Bottle Wood Burner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 1: Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 2: Drain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 3: Prep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 4: Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 5: Chimney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 6: Air Vent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 7: Finishing off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 8: Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Customized Instructable T-shirts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 8 8 8 8

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas_Bottle_Wood_Burner/

intro: Gas Bottle Wood Burner

Gas bottle wood burners are very easy to make, efficient, and are perfect for late night parties. If you turn them right up, the middle can start to glow red, you can put a kettle on the top, or cut the top off and add a hot plate. These are really easy to make, and be changed however you want. Oh, and Please vote for me in the Keep Warm contest!

Image Notes 1. Mmmm, Fire. 2. Ping. 3. Begone, Rain!

Image Notes 1. Hinge 2. Handle (Bolts) 3. Box Section 4. Rod for controlling air regulator 5. Air Regulator 6. To stop door closing into the bottle 7. To cover a gap

Image Notes 1. Handle and section of steel to stop door going inside.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas_Bottle_Wood_Burner/

step 1: Materials
You will need: -Gas Bottle (Large (47kg) or medium, but not the really small ones. The main image is a medium one.) -A ~6 Inch Diameter Pipe 90 Degree Bend (I Used Lorry Exhaust) -A length of ~6 Inch Diameter Pipe For Chimney (I Used Lorry Exhaust) -Something For Handle, (I used two bolts welded together and a scrap piece of metal for latch) -A Section Of Heavy Duty Hinge, Average Door Hinge Wont Be Strong Enough -Box Section For Air Vent (~3 inch square for medium bottles, double for large bottles) -Length Of Rod For Air Regulator (Optional, for damping fire down) Tools: -Grinder -Welder -Hose Pipe

Image Notes 1. Hinge 2. Handle (Bolts) 3. Box Section 4. Rod for controlling air regulator 5. Air Regulator 6. To stop door closing into the bottle 7. To cover a gap

step 2: Drain
Unscrew the gas valve in a ventilated open space, preferably outside, away form open flames and sparks. Turn the bottle upside down, then wait for allot more gas to come out. Wait until gas stops coming out, then unscrew the valve from the bottle, which requires allot of force, and probably a vice. A little more gas should come out. Turn the right way up, then fill with water. Leave the water in until you are ready to cut. Bottle should now be gas free :)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas_Bottle_Wood_Burner/

step 3: Prep
First, you will need to empty out the water, then cut the guard off of the top of the bottle, then grind the stubs left until its fairly flat. Mark out where you want the door, about 6 inch from the bottom weld line for the fire base and big enough to put logs in. mark a hole for the chimney on the opposite side from the door, just below the top weld line and just smaller than your chimney diameter (~5 1/2 inches). You could have the chimney coming out of the top, but it is more efficient with it coming out of the back of the burner, as it heats the top of the bottle instead of going straight out the chimney. Mark out a section for the Air Vent, Making sure the bottom weld line of the bottle is just below the top of the vent, about 1 inch off the bottom of the actual bottle.

Image Notes 1. Door 2. Vent 3. Chimney 4. Latch

step 4: Door
Carefully cut out where you have marked the door using an angle grinder. Once cut, remove the section you have cut out, and position in the opening where the door should go. Offer up the hinge, and test how the door opens. Move it until the door opens well, and doesn't catch too much on the bottle. Once you have found the correct place, clamp the hinge to the door and weld it in place. You may need to remove the door from the opening to do this, so mark where the hinge is going on the door so you don't lose it's position. With the hinge on the door, place the door back in the opening, and weld the other side of the hinge to the bottle, making sure the door will open and close without catching too much. Weld a section of steel, doesn't matter what size, to the other side of the door from the hinge, so that the door cannot go inside of the bottle. For the latch, drill a hole through the scrap section of metal, and bolt to the door, with another bolt on the bottle for the metal to latch on to. The metal will need a section cut out so that it will latch onto the bolt. Then weld a bolt or other section of metal onto the middle of the latch, bend it 90 degrees, and this will be the handle.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas_Bottle_Wood_Burner/

Image Notes 1. Scrap Metal 2. Bolt through door and metal. 3. Latch 4. Handle

Image Notes 1. Handle and section of steel to stop door going inside.

step 5: Chimney
Using an angle grinder, cut around the marked section for the chimney opening. keep the bit you cut out if you are going to make an air regulator. Weld the 90 degree bend over the hole in the bottle, obviously pointing up towards the top of the bottle. Weld the section of pipe for the chimney to the top of the 90 degree bend. This section should long enough to keep smoke out of your face but not so long the weight caused to burner to fall over.

Image Notes 1. 90 Degree bend

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas_Bottle_Wood_Burner/

step 6: Air Vent

Cut out the hole for the air vent using an angle grinder, make sure it is just bigger than the box section. Slide the box section into the hole about 2 inches in, and weld in place. It should stick out about 4 inches. For an optional air regulator, find a section of metal just big enough to rotate inside the box section. Drill a hole either side of the box section in the center. Push a section of bolt through, any rod will do. Weld the section onto the rod, so that it will rotate when the rod is turned. Bend one end of the rod 90 degrees so that it can be adjusted. Attach a stop onto one one one end of the rod so that the friction will hold the valve open.

Image Notes 1. Stop 2. Vent 3. Rod 4. Box Section 5. This line should be just below the top of the box section. this vent is about an inch too low. 6. Bottom of the bottle.

Image Notes 1. Scrap Metal 2. Bolt through door and metal. 3. Latch 4. Handle

Image Notes 1. 90 Degree bend

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas_Bottle_Wood_Burner/

Image Notes 1. Door 2. Vent 3. Chimney 4. Latch

step 7: Finishing off

To keep heat in, fill the hole where the valve was with weld. If the gaps around the door are too large, attach a thin section of steel to the door like in the picture below, so that it covers the gap.

Image Notes 1. Hinge 2. Handle (Bolts) 3. Box Section 4. Rod for controlling air regulator 5. Air Regulator

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas_Bottle_Wood_Burner/

6. To stop door closing into the bottle 7. To cover a gap

step 8: Lighting
To light, you will need to lay down about a whole newspaper of screwed up paper, or just to the top of the air vent. Close the air vent Light it, then whack on some small sticks to get the fire going. Once the sticks have caught, put on small logs, and once they have started burning, place bigger logs on. when the fire has a good base, open the air vent. Once going well, the paint will turn black, and start pinging off in hot areas.

Image Notes 1. Mmmm, Fire. 2. Ping. 3. Begone, Rain!

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Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 52 comments
Mar 6, 2009. 8:15 AM REPLY

newvegan says:
These are cool. My brother makes smokers for cook-off competitions out of the large propane tanks. Great way to reuse them!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas_Bottle_Wood_Burner/

wierd idiot says:

Why would you want a wood burner when you can make a very good truck muffler out of em?

Feb 17, 2009. 6:12 PM REPLY

carpespasm says:

Feb 12, 2009. 4:35 AM REPLY A good idea I've seen for similar things is to use stainless for any handles. It stays much cooler (though probably still pretty warm in this case) than normal steel and it welds to plain steel fine.

zyda says:

Feb 11, 2009. 4:42 PM REPLY Very cool project! It has been quite cold in these parts the last few nights and I certainly have thought about ways to safely make a fire to warm me up...

phidauex says:

Feb 11, 2009. 9:00 AM REPLY Just a note to readers - this process may seem like a lot of effort, but "positive displacement" is the only safe way to cut into a gas bottle. I do actually know someone who was injured by cutting into a gas bottle that hadn't been properly displaced of propane!

Spokehedz says:

Feb 11, 2009. 11:14 AM REPLY I also agree with the above statement. The $1 you spend on water will save you many hundreds of dollars in hospital and/or rebuilding your house bills.

paulpcc says:

Feb 7, 2009. 7:15 AM REPLY nice. when our water tank started to rust, we used the old one years ago for bonfires. (you could cook cool jacket potatoes in the ashes in about 20mins too).

paulpcc says:
wrapped in foil of course :o)

Feb 7, 2009. 7:16 AM REPLY

sensoryhouse says:
so i could use a compressor tank right?

Feb 5, 2009. 4:20 AM REPLY

static says:

Feb 7, 2009. 12:29 AM REPLY Sure, but if it' s used one there's a chance it's corroded to the point it would be unsafe as shop heater. As a patio heater any holes might look attractive at night.

DrStoooopid says:
I don't know why not.

Feb 5, 2009. 9:58 AM REPLY

Midnightrider1 says:

Feb 5, 2009. 11:19 AM REPLY I think it would be a lot easier to use a barrel to do what your doing. They do make kits you can buy for the doors if you don't like making the doors and stuff. And it is a lot safer that cutting on it than a propane bottle. A lot of people still heat their homes with barrel stoves. They been around for year. I'm a journeyman Boilermaker and what your telling people to do is gonna get someone hurt.

static says:

Feb 7, 2009. 12:24 AM REPLY No doubt there is some risk, but the risk can be mitigated to certain degree. Persons have been injured by metal drums that they didn't know the history of how the drums had been used.

mister fixit says:

Jan 30, 2009. 9:15 PM REPLY this is a good set of plans. Icould not find a gas bottle so i used a 40 gal. water heater. The water heater is made of thin boiler plate.It works good .

ehmbee says:

Feb 1, 2009. 7:09 AM REPLY The water heater makes a great burner-Mother Earth News has an old set of plansfrom the 70s if you wanted one and did not want to fly by the seat of your pants. It looks like you want to be pretty proficient with a welder and torch, however.

static says:

Feb 7, 2009. 12:06 AM REPLY Use 2 HWH tanks to make a heavier duty facsimile of the barrel stove. Save yourself some grief and hook up a garden hose to a tank you hope to use to test for leaks, before you have too much construction time invested.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas_Bottle_Wood_Burner/

btop says:

Jan 31, 2009. 2:15 AM REPLY Cool, I find gas bottles are readily available to most people, and a company recently went bust in the UK so there is alot of bottles that cannot be returned.

KD7CAO says:

Feb 5, 2009. 9:24 AM REPLY Remember that in the United States it is unlawful to use an LPG Cylinder (or any other compressed gas cylinder/tank) for anything other than it's rated use. This is a Federal Law. You can receive a fairly hefty fine for violating this law. Last fine I heard of was in the order of $5000.00.

static says:

Feb 6, 2009. 11:56 PM REPLY Then again how will the Feds know, if I have a wood stove constructed out of a propane bottle in my shop? Anyway in my part of the US I'd be money ahead going to an oilfield pipe yard and getting used pipe line of the desired size.

Lochy says:

Feb 6, 2009. 1:19 AM REPLY Cracking LPG bottle wood burner. I fit wood burning stoves for a living and have seen a good few of these but this one has some lovely touches. Great door lock, really good vent and control. Controlling air into a stove and getting rid of smoke is critical. This design could only be improved by adding a throat plate/baffle about the height of the top of the door. This would cause the combustion gases to swirl, give a secondary burn, giving cleaner emissions and keep the hot air in the burner longer. The plate would need to be removable for soot clearing but if the unit burns good and hot, it'll not soot up much. Wood burns best with air from above (coal from below) so the air control could raise a little. The bottles tend to burn out if used regularly (workshop etc) but you can get around this if you fit a bottom plate and bed in some fire bricks, vertically around the burn area. Overall a lovely stove. Well done mate.

btop says:
Thanks, I was going to put a baffle in, but decided not to. I was thinking on how to get it through the door.

Feb 6, 2009. 10:30 AM REPLY

numenius says:

Feb 6, 2009. 4:40 AM REPLY This is a good instructable- a guy here in England made really high quality indoor 'stoves from these old gas tanks a few years ago and used VW parts for the legs, handles etc (I don't remember why he used VW camper parts - I think it was a hippy thing) - they were stove-enameled and sold for a **lot** of money to yuppy types! Last time I looked his web site had gone though - maybe the gas company objected..? Anyway, I picked up some old tanks I found dumped on the roadside a year ago with the idea of doing one of these and never got round to it (luckily they are from companies that no longer exist, which is probably why they were dumped) - but I'm going to follow your plans and start today! This would be really cool on a spring or autumn (fall) night in the garden.

DrStoooopid says:
***SAFETY WARNING***

Feb 4, 2009. 6:30 AM REPLY

Propane will permeate the metal throughout years of use. It is EXTREMELY important than when you take the valve off an old propane bottle you let it sit for several days in the sun, to allow the propane that is attached to the metal to release and vent into the atmosphere. (remember Propane is heavier than air, so let it sit UPSIDE DOWN.)...also before you cut with a torch, it would be wise to purge the cylinder with argon or CO2. A Propane explosion is a very real concern, and you do not want to get caught with your pants down. Safety is very important when dealing with Propane. or Propane accessories.

Calorie says:
Hello, my name is Hank Hill. I am an assistant manager of Strickland Propane. I sell propane and propane accessories. (Sorry, couldn't pass it up.)

Feb 5, 2009. 3:33 PM REPLY

I'm surprised to hear about propane reacting with the interior walls of the container. That's something you'd want to avoid when designing a tank. Any idea of how it happens?

DrStoooopid says:
yeah yeah yeah...(to tell a truth I answer the phone with Hank Hill's voice all the time)

Feb 6, 2009. 1:02 PM REPLY

The liquid propane becomes staurated into the metal, as well as some weak ionic bonds, if I remember right. The as the propane heats, the propane molecules become excited and migrate from the metal, as they have too much energy to stay wedged in there. (someone feel free to correct me, or give a better explanation)

technodude92 says:

Feb 4, 2009. 1:26 PM REPLY Won't the water do the same thing as an argon/co2 purge? I think the water would be better even, because it is easy to tell the water level. not so with CO2 or argon. not to mention a helluva lot cheaper. Or will the water keep the propane from un-permeating(FIXME:need new word) the metal.

DrStoooopid says:

Feb 4, 2009. 2:21 PM REPLY no, you put the CO2 and/or argon in the cylinder to prevent it from exploding while you're cutting on it. How're you going to use a torch on a cylinder full of water? Also you WANT the propane to seep out of the metal. That's why you have to give it time to air out.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas_Bottle_Wood_Burner/

DimBulb says:

Feb 5, 2009. 8:07 AM REPLY The way to use water is to put the part you are cutting like the door facing up so the water won't leak out. Other ways to purge oxygen is to pipe exhaust gas from a car into the tank or put dry ice into the tank or nitrogen. Argon is expensive so that would be my last choice. I'm a journeyman welder and have welded and brazed on automotive gas tanks. Same process however. Don't try to do this without purging the tank first. If not write what you did and place the note about 100 feet away so the first responders will figure out what happened and can tell your remaining family members.

DrStoooopid says:

Feb 5, 2009. 9:58 AM REPLY gotcha..but the water would leak out of the valve hole, and if you plugged it off, the heat from the cutting would cause some expansion, and that'd be bad news as well...I do like the exhaust idea, but you do know exhaust gasses will burn right? (not exactly safe)....the dry ice idea is even better...

DimBulb says:

Feb 5, 2009. 11:53 AM REPLY Water works the best because the total volume of gas is now much lower because of the water. Actually after you made the first cut there would be no pressure since you already punctured the container and any gas buildup would escape through the hole you just created. Initially there might be a slight buildup but any buildup would leak out the valve hole stuffed with a rag etc. I see no problem with this. I've done this myself and am cautious by nature. I had a welding repair business for a few years have bureau of ships certification welded on the Polar Sea and the Polar Star icebreakers and the Seattle domed stadium back in the mid 70's so I have practical experience with welding repair. According to Washington State the maximum hydrocarbon emissions are 220 ppm. 220 ppm is actually only .022% hydrocarbons. I would guess that this is too low to burn especially considering that the oxygen level is depleted as well. If there were any gases that would burn in the exhaust gas they would likely burn before the catalytic converter. After passing through the catalytic converter the hydrocarbons would be even less. Yes a car that backfires does have a fire in the tail pipe but the car would have to be really rich in gas and not have a working catalytic converter. I know the technique of using exhaust gas works but I personally prefer water since gases are liberated (especially from liquid hydrocarbons like oil) from the heat of cutting with a torch and the water cools the tank and prevents this and limits the volume of gas possible and also would prevent heat distortion. I see no problem with this approach with exhaust gas but personally prefer the water method. I guess it boils down to what you feel comfortable with. Take your pick all these methods work and are in use currently in the field.

mortero says:

Feb 5, 2009. 3:22 PM REPLY Excellent idea ? Only we have to be very carefully to handle this issue. No change nothing and to be attention with kids or another young people to want make something similar.

goodgnus says:

Jan 30, 2009. 1:17 PM REPLY Can you please add a picture of a gas bottle prior to modification? Perhaps in Step 2? I would like to see the guard and tabs that need to be cut/ground off. Here in the U.S. I think we have different gas bottle designs as the gas bottles you're using don't look familiar to me. Thanks!

btop says:
I would, I haven't got one just now, ill try for this weekend. Cheers.

Jan 30, 2009. 1:39 PM REPLY

DimBulb says:
Nice job with the instructable.

Feb 5, 2009. 8:20 AM REPLY

A trick to make things easier. Cut two slots in the tank where you plan to put the hinges. Then weld the hinges on the tank next. Then cut out the rest of the door. That way the hinges are perfectly aligned when you completely cut the door. You can also cut the tank door out using an angle grinder or a sawsall with a fine tooth blade rather than torch or a plasma cutter. Again you have to purge the tank with water, exhaust gas, dry ice etc. Don't even think about trying to avoid this step. I've made a blacksmith's forge using a 50gal water heater by cutting and using the bottom about 5 inches from the bottom all the way around. You could weld a wheel rim to the bottom if you want additional stability also.

chalky says:
this is a brilliant idea,you could even weld a griddle type'o'thingy to the top so you could fry burgers/sausages lol EXCELLENT! i will try and make one for my garage

Feb 4, 2009. 3:58 PM REPLY

awang8 says:
Pretty cool, but I think it would be better to sand off the paint first and add a little sand at the bottom for ballast.

Feb 1, 2009. 10:49 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas_Bottle_Wood_Burner/

btop says:
The bottle is quite heavy, it didn't need any ballast.

Feb 4, 2009. 1:08 PM REPLY

Holden_vy_s says:

Feb 4, 2009. 4:19 AM REPLY Why not attach a fan (an old hair dryer works wonders) to the vent and give it a bit of forced induction? Add some coal it there and you got yourself a furnace.

btop says:
Sure, the compressor hose makes it roar when i shoved that int he air vent,

Feb 4, 2009. 1:07 PM REPLY

Esque says:
Nicely done, I'll be building one of these soon :-)

Feb 2, 2009. 5:30 AM REPLY

Da_Fudge says:
What a great idea!!! Great welds there too!

Jan 30, 2009. 7:36 PM REPLY

btop says:
Wow, thanks. It was my first time as well.

Jan 31, 2009. 2:14 AM REPLY

Da_Fudge says:
No problem. I know how good it feels to get a positive comment on an instructable, so I give them when I see one!!! Fudge.

Feb 2, 2009. 2:01 AM REPLY

martynbiker says:

Feb 1, 2009. 4:45 PM REPLY good instructable!!!!!.... just ONE safety point I would like to add, It may be a good idea to put some "legs" on the bottle and slant them out at 45 degrees to make it more stable as the pipe may make it 'top heavy' or more prone to fall over ( dont ask me how i know.... but i will say picking one of these up after it falls over is a nightmare!)

stephenniall says:
tut Me and my dad just got hold of a few gas bottles and was going to make these and post a instructable but you beat us lol

Jan 31, 2009. 5:11 AM REPLY

see-saw says:
Here's a pic of a UK gas bottle like the one used here.

Jan 31, 2009. 3:34 AM REPLY

BeanGolem says:
Safety tip: Do not drink too heavily around these types of stoves, then trip, then try to catch yourself with the stove. Enjoy your fingertips. Note: wasn't me.

Jan 30, 2009. 3:43 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas_Bottle_Wood_Burner/

btop says:
Ouch. Sounds painful. They do get extremely hot, and if its dark it allot harder to see it as you cant see the flames. BE CAREFUL!

Jan 31, 2009. 2:17 AM REPLY

see-saw says:
(removed by community request)

Jan 30, 2009. 5:34 PM

see-saw says:

Jan 30, 2009. 5:41 PM REPLY PS Thanks for this Instructable, I've been wanting to make a wood burner from a gas bottle for my workshop for weeks but couldn't find the right design. Will have a go next weekend and post some pics.

view all 52 comments

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas_Bottle_Wood_Burner/