flcowgirl41 wrote:my brothers in-laws had a wood burning pool heater down in the keys..florida...they loved it...trying now to find a 50 gal barrel to make my own..any ideas...??
Hi
I built one last week!
You Need
1x Barrel, with lid
!x coil of small bore copper central heating pipe
2x hinges
1x drill
1x Jigsaw with metal cutting blade
1x small pond pump
2x meter reinforced plastic pipe
1.5 mtr steel bar app 8mm dia
1 small sheet of steel mesh, Expamet will do
Cut 16in long x 10in high section out of lowest part of drum.
refit this panel with the hinges to create a door (this is where the fire will be so keep it as low as possible on the drum)
drill 4 x holes 8in from the top of the drum,cut rod into two pieces and pass them through the drum to act as a support for the steel mesh to lay on.
coil your copper pipe neatly on the mesh passing the two ends of the pipe through two more holes you will have to drill in the drum.
Connect the pipes to hoses.
connect the pond pump to any end of the hoses
drop the pump and the remaining end into the pool
light a fire (best done in a sturdy tin) inside the bottom of the drum.
turn on pond pump and Bob's your uncle!
Adjust the position of the door and lid to create a draw.
This sound a bit Heath Robinson but trust me,AlthoughI am an Engineer this was all done with no measurements or plans and it works.
One word of warning!!! Turn on your pond pump to test it first, DO NOT turn it on after the fire has been lit, the water ,initialy, is as hot as any kettle. I found this out the hard way!!!!
Please be aware also there will be smoke, I know this is obvious but may be a pain to some,
please excuse the use of Metric and Imperial, I am old and English GOOD LUCK