MATTHEW D. wrote:Picked up this boiler at a yard sale this weekend. The guy was asking $150, I got it for $100. It has a 24'' "fire-jet "grate and puts out 1,660,000 BTU/H.R.. Thinking of installing it in my garage. My wife been asking if somehow can we heat it. The garage is 14' by 22'. I'm just concerned it might be under sized with the garage door always opening. Should I look for something bigger?
Worth 3 times that just in scrap price. Plan on starting you own district heating system for the neighborhood?

Actually, I had heard of these things, but thought they were pretty much lost to history until I found this one. As I understand it, the 85R, and the slightly more reasonable 60R, were "big brothers" of the "UFR" conversion stokers. The 85R has a 26" burn pot and weighs about as much as a complete 520 unit (around 1250 lb). If you're used to the quiet efficiency of the 520/700/900 boilers you might duck a little when it starts up, but we've been very pleased with it.