Stoker for Garage?

I have a 30x35 uninsulated garage. I don't keep it heated on a regular basis. I just run my 140k BTU kerosene torpedo heater when I'm working out there. The problem is, I hate the noise and the smell.

I know that a solid fuel appliance is not "up to code" for a garage, but it has to be a lot safer than the torpedo heater and its big open flame.

I was debating whether I should try to find a second-hand stoker stove and power vent it, or if I might be better off to just find an old oil furnace out of a trailer house and use that. I just need something that can crank out some serious BTUs, and doesn't have a long start up / shutdown time, like a handfed. The 140k torpedo has to run continuously to maintain a 40F temperature rise.

If you're only working in one spot in the garage at any given time why not try an infrared propane heater. Why try to heat the whole space when you might only need to heat yourself and the immediate space you're working? Those infrared propane heaters are fairly cheap.

I've got a good sized uninsulated barn too - haven't heated it in a while, because I haven't been able to afford to! I've got an oil furnace I bought of Craigslist for $200 several years back to replace the original one I burned out by burning used motor oil - it can maintain temperature, but it takes FOREVER for the place to warm up if it's in the 20's or lower outside. I've got a Mr.Heater 125k BTU torpedo that runs on kerosene only - I used to run that for an hour or so until I could kick on the oil burner.

Kerosene is like $3.90 a gallon and up, and hasn't dropped below that in years ... plus heating oil ain't much cheaper, so whatever is left in the tank I only use if I absolutely have to. Coal would be the cheapest way for me to heat, but I've got over 100 gallons of used oil kicking around. I really need to build a waste oil burner. Barring that, I'll continue to freeze out there.

Been freezing out there lately. Sure sucks the motivation right out of you ...

I have a 15k BTU propane infrared heater, but I don't like using it too close when I'm working, since it's generally automotive type work. I put the torpedo in the opposite corner of the garage from where I'm working to avoid catching anything on fire.

The propane units that kick out decent BTUs are considerably more expensive than these smaller units.

SMITTY wrote:I've got a good sized uninsulated barn too - haven't heated it in a while, because I haven't been able to afford to! I've got an oil furnace I bought of Craigslist for $200 several years back to replace the original one I burned out by burning used motor oil - it can maintain temperature, but it takes FOREVER for the place to warm up if it's in the 20's or lower outside. I've got a Mr.Heater 125k BTU torpedo that runs on kerosene only - I used to run that for an hour or so until I could kick on the oil burner.

Kerosene is like $3.90 a gallon and up, and hasn't dropped below that in years ... plus heating oil ain't much cheaper, so whatever is left in the tank I only use if I absolutely have to. Coal would be the cheapest way for me to heat, but I've got over 100 gallons of used oil kicking around. I really need to build a waste oil burner. Barring that, I'll continue to freeze out there.

I'd love one of those waste oil heaters, but they are prohibitively expensive.

SMITTY wrote:Been freezing out there lately. Sure sucks the motivation right out of you ...

Yeah. That's why I'm inside posting on the forum instead of wrenching on my truck!
Or
Hmm which do I choose?! LOL

I hear that - same here!

Yeah those pro-built ones are STUPID expensive. STUPID stupid! Could buy a car for what they ask new. No bargains used either ...

I plan on building my own out of what I've got laying around. For me it's just a matter of finding the right nozzle & pressure combo. All the pro ones use compressed air to atomize the oil. My grandfather built one way back in the day out of a 55 gallon drum that used no compressed air, and it burned clean as a whistle, and required little maintenance. He wrapped the oil line around the drum, fired it on #2, then switched over once it got hot. Used that thing for years and years in his cinderblock garage.

One way or the other, I'll make one work.

Once I get my EFM Boiler set up, I'm gonna run PEX to my 2500sf workshop. I got a 250k Modine heater that mounts on the wall. It looks like a big car radiator, with a fan behind it. Very simple technology... Hot water in, Fan blows air across hot vanes, then cold water back out to the boiler.
Best thing about it is there is no open flame, so I can be messing with flammable stuff and not have to worry about KA-BOOM.

Smitty, you can do this setup now, with your new stoker.

Northern Tool has a waste oil heater for about $2000.00

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_h ... il-heaters

I have a uninsulated 35x45 shop with 12' celings.I have a 225k BTU oil furnace,the other day it was 31 degrees and took 1hr to raise to 55 degrees,then I shut it off since I was laying under the truck anyways.I have a 195K BTU modine also,just need lot more of money to install it.My shop reaks of gas from cleaning parts,hate to have a explosion.

009to090 wrote:Once I get my EFM Boiler set up, I'm gonna run PEX to my 2500sf workshop. I got a 250k Modine heater that mounts on the wall. It looks like a big car radiator, with a fan behind it. Very simple technology... Hot water in, Fan blows air across hot vanes, then cold water back out to the boiler.
Best thing about it is there is no open flame, so I can be messing with flammable stuff and not have to worry about KA-BOOM.

Smitty, you can do this setup now, with your new stoker.

Gee...that's on my list of projects too...

SMITTY wrote:I hear that - same here!

Yeah those pro-built ones are STUPID expensive. STUPID stupid! Could buy a car for what they ask new. No bargains used either ...

I plan on building my own out of what I've got laying around. For me it's just a matter of finding the right nozzle & pressure combo. All the pro ones use compressed air to atomize the oil. My grandfather built one way back in the day out of a 55 gallon drum that used no compressed air, and it burned clean as a whistle, and required little maintenance. He wrapped the oil line around the drum, fired it on #2, then switched over once it got hot. Used that thing for years and years in his cinderblock garage.

One way or the other, I'll make one work.

I don't know if you generate enough waste oil to make it sustainable for most of the winter. Anything home built still needs safety controls and outside air supply.

Simplest and cheapest would be a double barrel wood stove with outside air supply. Used class A chimney straight up through roof.

That would work. Ha! Put a manual pipe damper on the outside combustion air supply pipe to control the burn!

LDPosse wrote:I have a 30x35 uninsulated garage. I don't keep it heated on a regular basis. I just run my 140k BTU kerosene torpedo heater when I'm working out there. The problem is, I hate the noise and the smell.

I know that a solid fuel appliance is not "up to code" for a garage, but it has to be a lot safer than the torpedo heater and its big open flame..........

While not up to code, 1 of the biggest problems as you mention is gas fumes. Most codes that I have seen for garages is to have the flames at least 18" above the floor. So using that logic, put a stoker up on some blocks to give you at least 24" above the floor. Might be a reach to fill the hopper but at least you won't be bending over to get the ashes out.......

I had an old Alaska stoker II then a Hyfire II in my shop. Never really an issue. If I knew I would be cracking fuel lines, I would let it go out, do my thing, and then light it back up. Easy enough to do with cowboy charcoal and some kero.

But the big issue would be how long would it take to warm up the building ?? That may require the torpedo to get it up to temp in a hurry and let the coal maintain the temps.

Rick

Could you enclose just enough of it to do the work you want and then heat that smaller, presumably well insulated space?

An oil furnace - hands down the best solution for your situation. Fast heat, a lot of it, and, the ability to blend clean waste oil w/ diesel, up to about 20% w/ out any modifications (just make sure the burner is running lean and firing greater than 1.0 gph).

The last oil furnace I bough used in good running shape cost me... less than $40

with prices like that, there's not much reason to look at anything else.