Propane Bottle patio woodstove

I hope I got the Picks up. Not sure how to do it so I just did it ala craigslist by adding attachments. I took an old propane bottle The trash guys would not take and made a cool outdoor mini fireplace with it. Works real well and really throws some heat believe it or not. We fire it up on the patio on cool nights and sit close by and it keeps us toasty. I had some leftover pellet stove double wall and used it with some parts from Loews. I got a chimney flue round from local brick yard and the ring on the bottom of the tank fit just right. I cut it with a jig saw and a 4 1/2 inch grinder with a cut off disk. some fire brick for the floor of the unit and a air damper on the bottom and she cooks as well once the coals die down. I made up a little grill from a round replacement grill also from Lowes. Works great and no smoke or ashes in your face when the wind blows. Go make one it's very cool.

Thanks for the kind words, my head is expanding as I read. lol The tanks not hard to cut just use a new bi metal blade in your jig saw. To attach the pipe, after carefully cutting off the carrying handle with the 4 1/2 inch grinder with cut off wheel. Leave it a little proud of the tank and grind it smooth later. Then use a big as*ed stilsen wrench to unscrew the valve which is turned fully opened bty. Flush it out with some water and your good. Then mark two circles one as close to the valve threads as your saw will allow to cut out the threaded section and a second one a little smaller than the diameter of the pipe you plan to use. Once the center is out draw radial lines to the outside line and make a series of cuts. Bend up the tabs and you have a flange to attach the pipe to. Just slip it over and screw it and seal with some stove cement. I made a collar using cardboard for a mock up and when I got the shape right I cut it out of galv. sheet metal pop riveted it and slid it down onto the tank. I wanted it purdey. lol. I thought after making this I can't be the first guy to dream this up and it turns out I was not. Across the big pond these things are pretty popular. They heat sheds and garages with these things as well as Travel trailers. Google and You Tube will keep you busy. There are some really cool stoves that kick all hell out of mine. Google gas bottle stoves and have fun.

fossil said:

I probably possess...or at least at one time used to possess...all the requisite skills needed to reproduce that beauty. And there was a time I'd probably have given it a shot. But I'll never do it. Too old & worn out now. But I really admire & appreciate nice original creative work...particularly when the craftsmanship is so obviously skillful and attentive to detail. I think what you've made here is way cool and very nicely done, and it sounds like you'll get gobs of enjoyment out of it. The fact that you shared the pics with us here indicates to me that you are (quite justifiably) proud of how this project turned out. I can't help but imagine that your home is peppered/surrounded by lots of other clever/artful things you've created. A job very nicely done, I'd say. Rick

Click to expand...

Rick you're right, as the Adams Family song used to say my house is a museum. I am also getting a little long in the tooth but I keep playing. I'll rest when I'm dead. Thanks for all your kind words. You should always stay in the game Use it or lose it! Once you got it you got it so carry on.

ploughboy said:

Evil genius at work. Nice going.

I'm also wondering about how you secured the tank/firebox to the flue liner base. It looks like it would be a little "tippy" without that. Is it just a close tolerance fit between the O.D. of the tank foot and the I.D. of the clay?

Click to expand...

If you read post 9 I gave a little more detail about how to connect the pipe. I was also thinking about the smoker idea. Around here the small tanks are everywhere the bigger ones seem scarce. It cooks fast once the coals burn down it is some kind of hot in there. I tack welded little feet on the grill so it sits on the brick floor. With the tank jammed into the flue tile it's not tippy at all, solid as a rock

BobUrban said:

I was not questioning if it was tough to cut into the tank - was more concerned about an explosion?? I an using a tank that is a little larger to build a new forge for knife making but I was wondering if you filled it with water or anything prior to cutting. Or, did you just go for it and hope there was no residual propane inside?

Nice stove either way.

Click to expand...

Sorry, just being a little lazy and trying to answer another persons question in the same post.

Just for clarification Please read Post #9. I did not just attack the gas bottle without taking some precautions . Don't want anyone to go boom. Any questions feel free to ask. Safety first and all that. Thanks