Making a Wood Burner Stove using a Gas Bottle

Thursday, 13 November 2008 17:47

Gas Bottle Wood Burner / Stove

How to recycle an old gas bottle into a wood-burner and cooker

This is a on going project that I will probably spend a couple of months doing, please check back here frequently as I will update this page with my latest progress. I would like to use an old recycled gas-bottle to make an efficient woodburner and cooker for as cheaply as I can. If the project goes well and it works, I will probably sand the whole thing and they spray paint it black using exhaust paint. old gas bottle

Project Materials

Im using an old gas-bottled which was dumped at our local reservoir. I decided to help the country-side and myself by recycling this piece of kit and see if I could make good use of it. Its always satisfying when materials for projects come free. The bottle looks a similar design to the one displayed on the right, just a bit older with a lot less paint.

Gas Bottle Specs

- 50cm High
- 100cm Circumference
- 30cm Diameter
- 17.5KG Weight

The tank is now fully vented and depressurised! I've filled it with water to fully ensure all gas has been displaced.

Initial Design Ideas

After running a few design ideas through my mind, this is the main one that im contemplating at the moment. Basically keeping the main shape of the gas bottle and utilising its original stand.

Now my drawing isn't the best as you can see so everything's not quite to scale, I think the air-intake pipe will be a lot smaller in comparison to the diagram's scale. A basic door will be cut into the front with a number of hinges, not sure what type yet. I will try to keep the door as air tight as possible. (You can click the image to enlarge it.)

A hole cut and then a good chimney with a bent neck welded on. The top of the bottle will be cut-off and a large, thick metal plate will be used as a hot-plate, possibly a disc-brake will be used for this, I'll have to see what I can scavenge. This hot-plate can then be used for cooking, with a pan on the go we'll have sausages cooked in no time!

The idea with the bottom 'adjustable air-intake' will be to control the strength and heat of the burn. I will try to keep the unit as air-tight as I can, the door will be the main challenge. The air intake will quite simply be a pipe with four or five holes drilled in, and then a larger hole on the outside with some form of controllable/adjustment on there, still to decide on what I'll use.

I will have some sort of grill to hold the fuel in between the fuel-door and the air-intake pipe, so that the fuel does not block the air-intake.

Click on the diagram to view a larger, full resolution diagram.

Work in Progress

I've now cut the top of the gas bottle ready for the hot-plate, now I've just gota find one!

me cutting gas bottle with grinder and 1mm cutting disc

Here's me working on grinding out the fuel-door for my wood burning stove. The dimensions I went for were: angle grinding

18cm down vertically.

15cm across horizontally.

I had a 1mm thick cutting blade on the grinder to try and minimalism the amount of loss of metal in hope of using the metal-door that I cut out of the bottle, however I think even now there is too much loss and there will be a gap, I want to make it an air tight fit as possible to later have good control of air-flow. So I will be using a separate piece of sheet metal to make a door out of at a later date.

The work is going well so far, I have roughly cleaned up the edges of the cuts so far so they are not to sharp. Next I will need to decide on a size for my chimney and an appropriate hunk of metal for my hot-plate that will sit on top. Once I have decided on a chimney size I can cut the hole for that, and then providing I have found a hotplate I will prepare the bottle and joints for welding. I've got a disc for my grinder to clean off the paint etc. from the bottle. I don't have any experience in welding, Im pretty sure I wont be doing it myself (you never know!) so I'll probably get everything as ready as I can and then get a friend to do the welding.

cut out fuel door out of gas bottle new door in blue gas bottle stove wood burner

Article not yet finished come back later

Other Resources

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=373641&postcount=6

http://www.stonecarve.com/woodburners.html

Comments (53)

So you really aren't going to finish this stove build.

Eclectic thoughts:-
Wood burns best when vented from above.
Coal burns best when vented from below..(on a grate).

AT ONES OWN RISK..I accept NO responsibility.
My IDEA is for a wood / oil burning stove. When heated, drip old engine oil onto a piece of (now hot) metal (tow ball?) in the centre of the fire. The rate of flow of oil controlled by a simple twist valve like on a water pipe to the washer which is situated away from the heater. The waste oil is to be from a reservoir, eg a 5Litre can or plastic bottle with whe top cut off.
The feed for the oil is via some brake pipe.
As the oil hits the tow ball or similar, it splatters/vapourises giving rise to a hotter clean burn ..hopefully.
Thoughts anyone?

Just read the water and gas bit hmmmmmmmm just turn it upside down and open the valve the liquid gas will escape till its empty never try to cut the valve off always unscrew them with a large adjustable and a steel bar to brace the bottle with. I work with gas bottles before you ask.

Don't forget to burn it on a fire before you use this as they give of some fumes when the paint melts , also they make better cookers when you turn them on there sides as you can slice the side completely of and weld a flat piece of steel on which gives you a better work surface to work with.

I'm going to make a stove also, picked up some great ideas. I don't weld so am going to try to fabricate everything and bolt together and use exhaust paste. What do you think??

Fill cylinder with water holding up to the open valve takes time but pushes out the gas. Cut the top hand gard off 4 or 5 1inc welds ten cut off brass valve. Easy done, great for on your decking when sat in your garden on a summers night when it gets a bit chilly

Hi thats cool. I am just planning to make a stove now, from scrap materials (im starting with some old compressor tanks).
Have you seen the crazy complex flowering elbow design stove (downwards burning with a separate heating unit bit)?? I would like to know what you make of it??

What I did for the door, was that I got two tank ( same size ) cut the door. Then cut another door from the second tank a little larger, so the it over lap the hole from the first about one inch all the around. I got some replacement gasket from a wood stove store, and installed on door. That made the door air proof.

looks rather good so far :o) I made a similar stove a couple of years ago to heat my shed when I'm hiding from the kids in winter! I also used a thin disk in an angle grinder to make the door (one of the really thin "stainless steel" disks - don't be fooled, they'll cut anything!) and used the piece I cut out to make the door. To be honest, the gap is negligible in use and doesn't affect the air flow to any noticeable degree. One thing I did do though was to cut down one side first, then weld my hinges on (two mild steel butt hinges) and then cut the other three sides. That way I knew my door would be a good fit. For the air inlet I fabricated a hinged flap at the base below the door which works fine. I made a chimney from steel table legs welded together which are 3" diameter. This is really too small and I get problems with smoke until it's really warmed up so I'm looking to move up to at least 4". I like the hot plate idea - I may modify my stove to incorporate one too!

Phil

nice job im in the process of makin a stove with a oven using 2 bottles picked a few ideas off of yours

Ash, happy new year to you. Did you get this finished? I am starting one now. Regards mike

did this ever get finished ?or is it just another pro left in the corner gathering dust.

This looks really good, Great job matey! Have been looking at having a go at making one of these but probably a smaller gas bottle.. are you welding on door hinges?

hi what way do you turn the valve to remove it
thanks
chris

@Robert - I filled the tank with water by first venting the bottle as much as I could using a screwdriver in the valve, next unscrew the top of the gas bottle then I used a small tube and funnel to fill it.

Can you please tell me how you filled the tank with water in the first place?? i really need to find out how to completely empty the can of gas so i can safely cut it open!

Email:
beccleskingfishers20@hotmail.com

Many thanks.

Can you tell me how you fill the bottle with water before you start cutting the top off..?

If you can email me I would be very grateful
r.higginsdg2@yahoo.co.uk

Hi, having had a go with a baby 4.5kg bottle, I'm now looking to try a 17kg bottle.
The heat output is quite amazing. Its a shme we can't use these for backpacking, it would provide such s nice end to the day! warm bivi, hot tea and toast.
Thanks for the idea.

Don't use exhaust paint, it will stink your room out for a year. Use proper stove paint, it isn't expensive. That stinks a bit on firing up but not half as much as exhaust black.

i looked at he idea of making a wood buring stove out of a gas bottle and i have sucessfully achived this and would like to share my film for all if you have any questions fire away

Here is the youtube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLNZupbz9d0

I've made one of these, and am now half way through modifying it again - I'll have to sort some pics or something for you. Enjoyed your knife reviews by the way.

You should check out "hotpod" stoves i think they are based in the south west and do this as a business, their stoves are inverted bottles and vw beetle parts. Now they make the parts up rather than 100% recycled which is a shame but understandable

Looks absolutly awesome!

It hasn't yet been finished Julia, I do what I can but I've started many dozens of other projects since, you know what it's like! :(

I one day hope to finish it, I need to get round to learning some welding skills from my cousin. Keep checking back as there will be something new hitting NaturalBushcraft very soon!

Hello, it's almost 2years to the day since this article was posted, was wondering if it ever got finished and if so where I can find the rest of the instructions.

Hi Fella really great idea,

What i would have done was cut the door for fuel lower with the door wider and fatter, and then on the top of the bootle put a hinge with a lock and have a grill in the middle of the bottle aswell as the hot plate on the top, but awesum idea fella

Joe

Hi all ive had a go at making one of these and its great ive had it fired up a cupple of times now and it works perfect, i would like some advice on painting it please ive burnt most of the paint off and its gone like a grey colour( it was a blue bottle to start with ) to paint it would i need to sand it down to bare metal then paint or would it be ok to spray strait onto the grey?

I used inert beer-gas (co2) to expel the propane remnants before cutting with disc.

Thankyou

This is a great idea. Be careful if the valve is still in the bottle even when empty of gas though. I used to work in a gas bottle factory and we reconditioned them and refilled them. We had a special tool to take out the valves (which are often glued in as well torque set). Every now and again Health and Safety would give a demo showing how a bottle that had been emptied of gas could still retain enough pressure to send a valve 100 feet into the air! If someone was standing over it doing it by hand, they wouldn't have stood a chance. So do try and get one that has been already devalved.

Having said that, these stoves are a great idea and I would certainly like to have a go at making one. A great article. Good luck!

Hi good morning i wish to biuld a woodburning stove compleat withig oven to fit into my narrowboat so is the any body out there who can help with any designs thanks Mike

Started Nov 2008, is this not finished yet? Love to see it if it is..........

If you have a vice you can chins a piece of wood through the support stand holes at bottom of stove.simply get the wood well through the holes and use the leverage to twist the thing. Probably you will need the valve clamped upside down in the vice. De gas with water, then cut away to your hearts content! Be aware the tank will stink until it is lit up.

>> Johnny
It's only stupid if you don't know how to safely discharge the gas from these bottles. If you fill them with water and empty them they are safe to work with, you would be paranoid to think otherwise.

Why would someone do something like this? Maybe because it's a project? something new to learn? Skills to practice and try, fun to be had in the trying & testing and final use? Knowing that you've recycled numerous parts of junk and turned them into a functional/useful piece of kit that would have otherwise gone to landfill. It's a mentality like yours ("Cheap Chinese stoves .... justa few quid") that puts more broken crap into landfills.

How Stupid. Why would you want to bother? Cheap Chinese stoves are available for justa few quid and involve far less effort. Cutting up gas bottes (even empty ones) using an angle grinder represents the height of stuipidiy and is highly irresponsible. Leave these containers well alone. If you do want to do your bit from the environment buy dragging out rubbish from your local canal I would suggest rescuing an old shopping trolley... and turning it into a BBQ instead.

hello. ive used a 15 kg bottle and ive got a 4inch flu at the top the door ive cut is pretty much top to bottom just before it curves round ive used the same bit of metal as the door with hinges but ive got a blades width gap all the way round it ive got a grill for the wood to sit on and ive cut a slot below the grill for air intake it works well but when i open the door smoke comes out in to my shed and when i close the door the fire burns a bit to quickly any susgesstions thank you

You gotta love a gas bottle stove! In response to Amanda's post about a burner for her van, I was in Scotland a couple of years ago and met some people with a long wheelbase LDV and for their burner they had a trimmed down lamp-post, perfect. All they had to do was cut it to the required lengths top and bottom, put hinges on the door and weld a plate into the bottom. Truly one of the most inspired burners I have ever seen- so simple.

After purging the bottle of gas by opening the valve and standing the bottle upside down outside for 48hrs, jig saw the top half of the handle off the cylinder. Next , clamp the valve with a set of stetsans and bash the handle of the stetsans anti clockwise with a lump hammer {an ordinary claw hammer just doesn't pack enough punch} Keep hitting and eventually you will see the valve begin to turn slightly, at this stage the valve will become easier and easier to remove with each blow of the hammer.
Good luck. hope it works for you and lets all stop giving our hard earned money to these greedy energy suppLIARS who want us all to be at their mercy.

good idea with gas bottle i happen to have a few tall water pressure tank used for the
the old sistern so i built a decent wood stove it has 4" flue pipe and bottom inlet be low brick layer is a rotor off a car for air and to holes below loading door that 5/8 diameter bolts slide into for air adjustment any question on problems call 740 343 0119

Hi, thanks everybody sharing their ideas...
im hoping to make a burner myself for my van. It seems natural to me that if you wantt a hot plate you just turn the bottle upside down,
Or is that a bad idea? why in that case?

I've made a good few stoves and BBQ's out of gas bottles now and have occasionally come across a valve that won't budge. Once you have vented as much gas as possible by conventional methods i.e. through the valve reducing the contents to atmospheric pressure, it is possible to drill the cyclinder. You need to use a drill on a slow speed and use a coolant (oil or water) to keep the temperature of the drill bit and the cylinder low and also to prevent sparking. Make sure the drill hole is at the absolute highest point when filling with water so no gas pockets remain after flushing. Removing the valve is always the best option but with this technique you can still use cyclinders when you can't shift the valve or you can make novelty stoves/BBQ's that retain the main identifying features of a gas bottle. Never be tempted to rush the first parts of the job, particularly flushing with water - diving in prematurely with an angle grinder will end in tears!

I am extremely impressed with the resourcefulness and experience of many of the contributors to this article. I would love to give this a try myself but lack the skills and materials required. Would anyone who has successfully made one of these gas bottle burners consider making one for me to purchase?

Thank you.

Daniel.

Brilliant idea this gas bottle stove for cabins/greenhouse etc but what about details of hinges and fire door latches? Looking forward to more of this, regards to all, Ian.

Hi Guys

I want to heat my hot tub with something similar and whilst surfing for info I cam accross this. I was think of coiling thin copper pipe inside the upper part of the chamber and pumping water through it> I have seen someone on you tube do it without a pump. Whilst I'm at it, I may as well go the whole hog and join another bottle on the side and have an oven (I say that on youtube too). Anyone got advice on any pitfalls etc.... Great info already on making efficient burner. Daz

Unscrew the brass stopper with the right size spanner (my stopper was square and not hexagonal) unscrew anti-clockwise, it will be tight but give it a good bang with a hammer to get it going, it should then come off no problem

Thanks for that great advice Corwen, I will certainly take heade of it when I finish the project off.

Hi Ashley, I've lived with gas bottle stoves in trucks and boats for years so perhaps I can offer a little helpful advice.

Arnie is right, air from below will make the fire gutter and then go out with wood, though it works with coal. Better than an air pipe is a close-able hole in the door, just cut a semicircle out of the door, and bolt a bigger semicircle of metal over it to make an adjustable air vent. Fold one edge of the semicirlcle outwards so you have something to tap round with your poker. Sand in the bottom will work well to insulate the bottom.

If you want to cook on your stove then a flat top is better with the flue coming out of the top at the back. If the cooking surface is above the level of the flue it won't get very hot. Best bet is a baffle which directs the air up the front of the stove and along the underside of a flat hotplate to a flue (steel stink pipe?) welded on at the back. If you cut the top off the bottle, then cut it in half and drop it down into the stove you get a ready made baffle. Weld a flat plate on top. Plus its easier to get a good fit for your flue into a flat surface.

Also the proportions of your door look too high, smoke will likely come out of the top when you open the door. A low wide door will allow you to run the stove with the door open without smoke coming out.

Anyhow god luck!

Jug, don't use anything made of aluminium whatever you do- it can melt at the sort of temperatures you can get burning wood. A steel beer keg should work OK though, and I've seen burners big enough to heat a large marquee made from oil drums.

Hi, great idea,I was thinking of buying a cast iron wood burner for my allotment cabin for the coming winter and these are around £150 plus for an half decent one.then on seeing this,thought great idea,got an old gas bottle in fact a couple at bottom of garden,as scrap man wont take.( a see why now,due to the risk of explosion these have to be vented correctly).so dont fancie risking that ..any way got me thinking can you use beer kegs and what matrial does it have to be,ie steel can you use aliminume kegs ect. Any feedback will be much appreciated.thanks ste

Hi Ashley.
As someone with experience of woodburners, allow me to offer a few thoughts.

1. It is far better to feed air from above the combustion chamber than from below in a wood burner. This encourages a bed of hot ash and
improves output and efficency. (This is very differnt to coal which is fed
air from underneath) It may well be that the gap around the door is
sufficent, failing this an adjustable vent fitted in the upper section of the door would do.

2. To increase the combustion temperature, and again improve output and efficency insulate the base of the combustion chamber.
A 25mm piece of lightweight building block cut to shape is cheap and easy. Use an old handsaw for slicing

3. To increase the output to the hotplate, a thinner steel section,
say 4mm of flat plate rather than the old disc brake. Even better cut the cylinder lower down and have a larger plate welded.

Thanks for the comment. I did say about filling the bottle with water to displace the gas in the article, perhaps I should make it bold to be clearer as it is an important step.

Cool idea, (or hot!), however, when the bottle is 'empty,' it still contains gas at atmospheric pressure. There is still a very real explosion risk. Venting the bottle is worse still as it results in a gas / air mix. Being contained this could well result in an explosion. Instead, unscrew the brass valve, (normal anti-clockwise, it will be very tight). Now fill the bottle with water to push out the gas, do this outside of course! Then empty and the bottle will now be filled with just air.

Thanks for your good question Jug. As you can see from some of the photos above I completely removed the valuve & the chunk with it by angle-grinding out the top of the bottle and taking it off, but yes first you do need to depressurize it and drain the bottle of any remainding gas. Never assume a gas-bottle is empty until you've done this.. when you've used/burnt up the gas using conventional methods, then carfully wedge a screwdriver to the valve to manually release gas, leave that going outside in a safe place for 48hrs. When I couldn't get anymore gas out by manually opening the valve I next slowly started to hacksaw the brass part of the valve, brass wont spark to therefore isnt a fire/explosion hazard, so I went slowly with the hacksaw until I took it off and there was an obvious hole in the top of the bottle, still dont assume the bottle is empty! I next inserted a plastic tube into the bottle and filled it full of water to the top, garanteeing that all gas was displaced & pushed out the bottle. At that stage I then felt confident to angle-grind the top of the bottle off.

Hello Gr8 Artical mate. ive been wanting to do this since i was a kid but never got around to it. I now have all the gear to go ahead and try making my own burner altho i am stuck at the very first stage which is how do i get the damn valve out of the bottle? I've tried using a spanner and undoing it but to no luck infact the valve is starting to twist, I also do not want to use a disc cutter on the bottle due to explosions from the spark.

So please could you help me and give me advice on how to remove the valve, The bottle i use is a 15KG (similar to the picture you have above.

Thanks
juggalo