Outdoor wood burner project

Paul N · Nov 30, 2012

Congratulations! You now have a quality outdoor wood burner for less than half the cost of buying one. You also have the bonus of gained knowledge, skill, and self reliance. I built one back in 1993, still using it today. The difference in mine is that I used round firebox and round water jacket.

bullydogcj · May 8, 2013

Well after the first season Im estimating that I saved around $1000.00 on my electric bill

Dr Dave · May 9, 2013

Congrats, its better to have that $1000 in your pocket, than your utilities.

Dave

ericher69 · May 10, 2013

bullydogcj said:
Well after the first season Im estimating that I saved around $1000.00 on my electric bill

bullydog;

I hope your numbers are accurate!

I have a coworker that has an outdoor burner and he buys a truckload of wood at least once a year plus whatever he can collect from his property.

Point being he does not consider the following;
1. Delivered wood bought
2. Time to cut and split/stack etc
3. Time to collect cut/split/transport/stack
4. Cost of gas/ chains/oil/chainsaws
5. Cost of electricity for blower
Etc etc

Point being he is kidding himself by saying he is saving money!

I know personally my time is worth $25/hr cash or $40+ taxed

Beautiful work! Did your son help at all? You seems like you could teach him a thing or two and he obviously seems interested though still a little young.

bullydogcj · May 15, 2013

I cut a years worth of wood in three days, hauled it and dumped it in a pile. I don't split anything I put in my OWB. I sell firewood so I have everything on hand to work with. I pretty much burn all the poplar and pine I don't sell.
My son is an automatic rod dispenser, I get twice as much work done when he helps me out

yomax4 · May 16, 2013

Funny how wood heats you so many times. Cutting, stacking, hauling and at last in the house. I have an outdoor wood stove and I burn a dozen cords or so a year. I do have 5 pumps running to heat 2 buildings so there is an electric adder to my bill. I have not used a drop of Propane in 4 years so there is a savings. I just enjoy the exercise and even if the stove was a wash in savings, I would still do it. Good luck..

Slickheadhunter · May 19, 2013

Nice stove!
Is the foam insulation what you used to insulate the firebox?

My Father was a very good welder by profession, and believe it or not I never learned to weld very well. I also heat my home with wood and haven't had to buy oil since 1994, I use a soapstone wood stove in my house and burn about four cord a year. There's nothing like wood heat in my opinion!