CB classic to gassifier

[leeallen5]

I presently have a CB 6048 classic that does a good job serviceing my 5000 sg ft old farm house and a 1000 sq ft garage.
We are having a cold snap in Maine and the old classic is eating the wood big time. I think it might be time to move into a outdoor gasifier - although I hate to get rid of my ole reliable CB unit. I have read about the issues with the CB 2400 and would like people's thoughts on a good reliable gassifier that would burn less wood than I am presently using ( approx. 20-25 cords). I have looked at Wood doctor, Pro-Fab, and the Sequoyar- any ideas on the best choice?

 

[twitch]

I believe Econoburn also recently started selling an outdoor gasifier. Sorry, no input on the ones you listed.

 

[ISeeDeadBTUs]

Didn't Sequya go belly-up?

 

[Reggie Dunlap]

20-25 cords? You'll never see that statistic in Central Boiler's advertising.

I'd consider building a small shed and putting a Garn, EKO, or Tarm in it, and make it big enough for a couple years wood storage. Any of those gasification boilers should cut your wood consumption in half. But it will need to be dry, split hardwood.

 

[flyingcow]

Yup, what reggie said. Also, seen some posters using a Portage-Main outdoor gasser. Liked the look of it. Good Luck.

neighbor/friend has an E-classic. For the same money you can buy a gasser plus buy the storage. Also, people have used a GARN and loved it. gassers' wil use alot less wood than an E-classic.

 

[Como]

I know someone who is getting through 8 cords a month with the E 2300, and that was before it got really cold.

Say a CB6048 could put out 250,000btus at 30% efficiency, that would be about 2/3rd's of a cord a day using average hardwood.

A Garn seems a good bet, but probably still getting on for 10 cords a year.

It will cost whatever, so it depends on the wood saving, if it is free to harvest it will be a very long payback.

 

[Duetech]

I don't really know any specifics but there is an outdoor gasifier by portage nad maine http://www.portageandmainboilers.com/gasification.html that may resemble what you are looking for. (saw it in another post: ie crazy englishman..)

 

[varna]

I have a Wood Doctor HE5000 on my second heating season. 2000 sqft house and attached 800 sqft in-law suite with 2 forced air heaters kept @ 75 degrees 24/7, heat all DHW using 2 showers, 2 clothes washers, 2 dishwashers, keep my 500 gal hot tub @ 104, and keeps my 24' X 32' lightly insulated pole barn @ 50 all winter. I love the boiler, really well built. I used about 10 full cord last winter and I am on trak to use the same this winter. I put a wheel barrow full of wood in 3 times a day during these cold snaps......less when temps stay above 30 or so. I would recomend a Wood Doctor gasser to anyone. On the really cold spells, I think that I should have gone with the 8000, but I have never run out of heat, but when down in the teens, I am working the 5000 hard. As mentioned, the portage and main optimizer gassers look like a nice unit too. Don't know if they were out when I got my Wood Doctor, but I would have seriously considered one if I saw it then. I also looked at the e-classics, pro-fab, empyer (I think) and settled on the Wood Doctor . Like I said, I am very happy with it.

 

[Singed Eyebrows]

That P&M gasser sure seems nice. The Garn has a hellofa proven rep. though & is hard to beat in its btu range. You can get good money for your CB & put it toward a Garn. I don't think you would ever look back, Randy

 

[firecaptain]

i have the profab empyre pro series, uses a lot less wood than my friend who has the CB. get a pretty good burn time too.
which ever brand/model you decide on.... go with a gasser.