Buzz
A wood stove blazing in a contemporary condo. ©iStockphoto/Dave RaboinWith a few simple tools, leftover materials, and a steel barrel, you can easily build your own wood-burning stove without breaking the bank. Here's how to go about it:
- Remove the top (plugged end) of a 55-gallon (208.2-liter) steel barrel. This circular piece will become the stove's cooking surface.
- Clean the barrel thoroughly.
- Place a stovepipe on top of the barrel, leaving about an inch (2.5 centimeters) from the seam. Trace a circle around the pipe. Inside that, draw a second smaller circle, ¾ inch (1.9 centimeters) in diameter.
- Drill a pilot hole in the smaller circle. Fit a jigsaw into the hole and cut it out.
- Cut ½-inch (1.3-centimeter) wide lines from the center to the edge of the circle. Bend these tabs upwards with pliers. Place the stovepipe over the tabs and secure it with two L brackets.
- Cut a 12-by-8-inch (30.5-by-20-centimeter) rectangle above the top crimp of the barrel, opposite the seam. This will serve as the firebox. Below the bottom crimp, cut a 14-by-10-inch (35.5-by-25.5-centimeter) hole for an open space. Keep the larger piece for the firebox door and the smaller piece for the air draft.
- Attach the firebox door using a well-used hinge (to allow for thermal expansion).
- Create a latch for the door using two L brackets.
- Secure at least six L brackets around the barrel beneath the top crimp.
- Attach the firebox floor, sealing the edges with aluminum foil.
- Cut a leftover metal piece into a 2.5-by-9-inch (6.5-by-23-centimeter) piece to make an air draft. Mark ½-inch (1.27-centimeter) columns across it. Hold it up to the door and drill air holes through every other column. Attach six carriage bolts so the draft can slide. Add a knob and slide the draft to cover the holes in the door [source: Countryside].
- Perform a test fire to burn off any paint and identify any flaws. Do this outdoors and wear welding gloves for protection [source: Backwoods Home Magazine].
- If desired, paint the stove with stove spray paint.
Ensure your stove is placed on a fire-resistant surface, such as concrete or brick, and maintain a safe distance from nearby walls.
