Just got a double barrel stove kit and a couple nice 55 gallon drums so I can heat my garage/workshop this winter. I was hoping some of you fine folks on the Hide have similar setups and could share some experience with me.
The first question I have is this; while the instructions recommend building a couple small fires in the stove initially to "condition" the paint and keep it from peeling/flaking, is that going to lead to misery down the road? Should I burn off the factory paint and reshoot them with high temp? (The barrels are very clean oil drums and have a good solid coat of red on them.)
If you suggest removing the factory paint, what is a good way to do so? I figure chemical stripper would be the easiest, but bead blasting would work (but, God, do I hate blasting), and I wondered about using a weed burner.
How about the small amount of oil left inside the drums? Just let it burn off with the first fire?
The manual recommends putting a couple inches of sand in the bottom of the fire box. My step-dad said just leave a couple inches of ash in the bottom...same "insulating" effect and less likely to hold moisture and rot out the barrel. I tend to believe him, as he's a savvy son-of-a-gun, but I'd sure appreciate any input from y'all.
I know it's 100 degrees outside right now and the last thing on most peoples' mind is wood fires, but I want to get this project finished before I <span style="font-style: italic">need</span> it and do it once (and right).
Thanks, Hiders!
The first question I have is this; while the instructions recommend building a couple small fires in the stove initially to "condition" the paint and keep it from peeling/flaking, is that going to lead to misery down the road? Should I burn off the factory paint and reshoot them with high temp? (The barrels are very clean oil drums and have a good solid coat of red on them.)
If you suggest removing the factory paint, what is a good way to do so? I figure chemical stripper would be the easiest, but bead blasting would work (but, God, do I hate blasting), and I wondered about using a weed burner.
How about the small amount of oil left inside the drums? Just let it burn off with the first fire?
The manual recommends putting a couple inches of sand in the bottom of the fire box. My step-dad said just leave a couple inches of ash in the bottom...same "insulating" effect and less likely to hold moisture and rot out the barrel. I tend to believe him, as he's a savvy son-of-a-gun, but I'd sure appreciate any input from y'all.
I know it's 100 degrees outside right now and the last thing on most peoples' mind is wood fires, but I want to get this project finished before I <span style="font-style: italic">need</span> it and do it once (and right).
Thanks, Hiders!
