Outdoor wood fired boiler

[WeePup]

Hello, Has anyone built their own wood fired boiler for in floor heating in a garage? If so I am looking for ideas build and anything you would change if you were to do it over again. I am looking at heating a 40x60 shop with 6" of concrete. Would really like some feedback and thanks in advance.

[Rondo]

I built mine after copying a Shaver stove made in Arkansas. I made it take 250 gallons of water. More water smoother recovery. I installed a coil of copper tubing that my potable water runs through with a check valve and heat my hot water with it too. Never run out of hot water. Also hooked in line is a ball valve hooked to an over flow so that I can add water to the stove. <-- Must have. If I re-did it I would make the water jacket thicker than 1/8". The fire box is 1/2". I use a Ranco to turn the fan on and off instead of an aquastat because it can be set to 1 degree differential. Million other things. I'm looking forward to NOT having to burn wood but it's been a good run. I've heated 6K sq ft for 12 years and have used Zero propane. But. Propane is now cheaper than my saw gas. Fun build though.

[scsmith42]

WeePup, I’m thinking about building something similar for a couple of 5,000 sq ft shops. I’d like to incorporate a self feed and automated ash removal system as well.

[ronsii]

WeePup, I’m thinking about building something similar for a couple of 5,000 sq ft shops. I’d like to incorporate a self feed and automated ash removal system as well.

I have very often thought about something like this... however I haven't made it out of the thought stage yet

[Hobbytime]

I have thought about an out door stove for a while, but a different design than a water holding boiler, I would build a large wood stove , no water jacket, then put coils of copper or old cast radiators all around the stove, then bury in 20 tons of sand as a heat sink...you get better combustion and no huge smoke plumes from those water jacket units, they dont let the wood to come up to proper combustion temps..and once you heat up all that sand it will stay warm for a day or 2 even if the fire goes out...
then each loop or set or radiators would be a heat loop or you run it to a heat exchanger and run your zones from there..

[scsmith42]

I have thought about an out door stove for a while, but a different design than a water holding boiler, I would build a large wood stove , no water jacket, then put coils of copper or old cast radiators all around the stove, then bury in 20 tons of sand as a heat sink...you get better combustion and no huge smoke plumes from those water jacket units, they dont let the wood to come up to proper combustion temps..and once you heat up all that sand it will stay warm for a day or 2 even if the fire goes out...
then each loop or set or radiators would be a heat loop or you run it to a heat exchanger and run your zones from there..

Lots of good ideas in that post, but how would you handle the routine ash clean out if the stove is buried in sand?

[Hobbytime]

Lots of good ideas in that post, but how would you handle the routine ash clean out if the stove is buried in sand?

the front of the stove would be in an insulated enclosure to hold the heat in, but give access to the front for cleaning and maintenance, also for dry wood storage to feed the beast....just for example, you could build a 10ft x 20 ft enclosure so you have room to work and have several weeks of dry wood, as you use the wood just replace it and the heated area will dry it out and keep it dry from any weather..you can make it as big or as small as needed..

[smithdoor]

I do know if floor is poored
The last one did I put 2x6 around inside about 6" from outside. The water pipe is about 12" from outside.

If you find a old oil fire boiler then all you need to do is build a fire box.

The gas fire boiler will clog up using wood.

I like Bell & Gosset pump they run for ever

Dave

Hello, Has anyone built their own wood fired boiler for in floor heating in a garage? If so I am looking for ideas build and anything you would change if you were to do it over again. I am looking at heating a 40x60 shop with 6" of concrete. Would really like some feedback and thanks in advance.

[scsmith42]

the front of the stove would be in an insulated enclosure to hold the heat in, but give access to the front for cleaning and maintenance, also for dry wood storage to feed the beast....just for example, you could build a 10ft x 20 ft enclosure so you have room to work and have several weeks of dry wood, as you use the wood just replace it and the heated area will dry it out and keep it dry from any weather..you can make it as big or as small as needed..

Great ideas, thx.

[snoeproe]

If you can find an older worn out one that’s out of service because it’s rotted out, buy it for the base.
Use the base and build your own design on top of the old base. The walls and roof are water jackets, not the floor/base.
Forced draft fans are more efficient than natural draft stoves with an air intake tube.