Homemade Wood Stoves - Advantages, Disadvantages, and How to Make One

Do you wish to put together your own homemade wood stoves?

Here is a discussion on the issue, including the pros and cons of wooden stoves, as well as steps, tips and ideas on how to make your own.

With the increased cost of energy today, everyone is looking for ways to conserve their hard earned dollars. Heating your home can cost thousands of dollars each year. With a little ingenuity and research, you can put those dollars to better use by building yourself a homemade wood stove.

A wood stove brings back a feeling of nostalgia, and it's also a practical alternative to gas, electric, or oil heat. There is nothing better than the smell of a wood stove on a blustery fall or winter day. With a little creativity, your wood stove can also double as a spare cooking area for those stormy times when the power goes out!

This article will give you some tips and ideas on building a home made wood stove.

Advantages of a Home Made Wood Stove

Let's first discuss the advantages of home made wood stoves.

• They can be inexpensive to make.
  
  
• Fuel for your wood stove can be found for free with a little time and effort.
  
  
• Homemade wood stoves produce less pollution than other stove fuels.
  
  
• Wood heat is drier than other heat sources, which can be good for certain illnesses.
  
  
• A wood stove can double as an extra cook-top.
  
  
• A wood stove stays working with or without power, making them useful during storms and poor weather.
  
  
• A wood stove uses renewable energy, a good alternative to the nonrenewable energy sources available.
  
  
• Using homemade wood stoves is great if you have a limited or no power supply source, such as a cabin on the lake.
  
  
• A homemade woodstove is a good step to beginning living off the 'grid'.
  
  
• A home made woodstove is a perfect solution for a small workshop, barn, or garage, where occasional use prohibits running power supplied, continuous heat.

Disadvantages of a Homemade Woodstove

Although the good usually outweighs the bad, there are some disadvantages to a wood stove. Here are a few.

• In a small living area, finding an appropriate spot for a home made wood stove can be challenging.
  
  
• You must remember that a wood stove needs some space between the stove and the wall, and proper backing and flooring is essential, in case of high heat and sparks.
  
  
• If you are using your woodstove as a secondary cooktop, remember that the cooking time can be slow.
  
  
• Some type of fan is helpful to ensure the heat from your woodstove will be distributed throughout your living space.
  
  
• If it is free fuel you are looking for, you will spend some time in searching it out, transporting it home, and cutting it to size for your stove.
  
  
• If you are purchasing your fuel, you will need to plan in advance and have your fuel cut and stacked well before the fall season starts.
  
  
• Insurance can be higher on a home that uses a woodstove.

Things Required to Make Homemade Wood Stoves

The first thing you'll need to look into is to make sure you have all the necessary tools. You can actually create a wood stove without welding anything. Aside from that, however, you will need a saw, a drill, a screwdriver, a file or grinder, pliers, and a hammer. These are the absolute minimum tools you'll need. If you want to make a fancier wood stove, you may need a welder and other options.

When building homemade wood stoves, you'll also need raw materials. Again, for the most basic wood stove, you'll need a steel barrel that features a removable top that is clamped onto the can via a level lock. Some people have taken an old hot water tank and converted it into a wood stove.

How to Make a Home Made Wood Stove

Here are the steps to make a homemade wood stove out of an electric hot water tank.

• Find an electric water heater which is free from corrosion and rust. Make sure that this heater has a 30-50 gallon capacity. Ensure that the inside is cleaned thoroughly. Place it on one side and weld on legs to make it sit above the ground.
  
  
• Cut the top of the heater: cut off a portion around the top of the stove and then weld the same piece back facing upside down. Cut air holes in this piece to enable air to pass in.
  
  
• If you are going to use your homemade wood stove for cooking, now is the time to add a grill. Cut strips, such as you would see on a grill, on the upside down piece.
  
  
• Drill a hole in the back of the stove top for making a cover that can be attached to a steel rod for easy opening and closing of the vent for air. Make sure to attach a lever here in order to control the intake of air.
  
  
• Install a chimney pipe if you don't have one already in your roof. Attach the chimney pipe to the vents of the wooden stove.
  
  
• Your homemade wood stove is ready to be painted to match your home decor, or leave it plain it you prefer.

And those are some basic tips for building your own wooden stove. For more tips and ideas for building homemade wood stoves, we suggest that you use the search function of this website - you will probably be able to find more detailed instructions on making your own wood stoves.

All the best, and have fun!

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