herbenny
Guest
well done Jess...your so arty and crafty I wish I was creative as you ....that looks great a really nice feature and hopefully it will heat the van up nicely
Good Job x
Good Job x
Flyboy
Guest
Nice One Looks brill if you can get the wick sometime instead of the pan scrub it will burn more effectively and absorb the fuel try ebay shop socks&more but look around your find it cheaper cut the wick to the size of the cup (width not the depth of the cup ) don't overfill the cup if using the correct wick fill to the depth of wick about 2ins let it soak the up the fuel experiment with the amount of fuel you use to get the flame size right for your fire and don't compress the wick when putting it in. Need any Help let Me Know.
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whitevanwoman
Guest
Flyboy, could you send me an ebay link to the right stuff, I can't find the seller you mentioned.
Marcs
Guest
It looks really good, and I bet it gives off great heat. Is it fixed within the van and if not what happens should you need to make a sharp exit? You've probably got this covered but thought it was worth mentioning incase you haven't.
Flyboy
Guest
Flyboy
Guest
Hi yes i can clamp it down if need be No is not fixed into the van so i can store it when not in use
whitevanwoman
Guest
When testing mine last night, it doesn't give off huge heat in the house, but hopefully it will be better with the fibre glass wick. Without the lid on the top of the chiminea, the heat rises straight up so would need to be as low as possible, on the floor, which is why I've made a fireguard for it, and this also makes it more stable and less likely to fall if knocked. With the lid on, the whole chiminea heats up and it keeps that heat for a good hour after going on, again not huge heat but enough to keep a background chill off, and it makes a great foot warmer or even hot water bottle. With the lid on, the heat tends to be released more slowly, like a radiator, from the body of the chiminea, and so it can stand safely on the metal sink drainer, or even in the sink, which is probably the safest place for it.
In the event of it being knocked over, the main risk is spillage of the burning fuel but as the amount in my bowl is small, this is minimal, and I have a fire blanket and extinguisher within easy reach, and I also have a wool blanket on my bed which makes a reasonable fire blanket as wool smoulders rather than burns and so it would contain any flames for a few seconds allowing time to stamp it out or reach for fire blanket. The chiminea is also stood on a baking tray which again would contain any burning fuel. It's not without risk but I've considered the risks and taken what I feel are appropriate safety measures in my circumstances.
I foresee myself using it for an hour or 2 in the evenings when the van is already warmed up from driving or cooking, to maintain the heat and stop the temp dropping too quickly. Also, first thing in the morning, it's quick and easy to light and then jump back into bed whilst the kettle is boiling on the gas cooker. That means that by the time the kettle is boiling, with 2 heat sources going, getting out of bed should be bearable on cold mornings.
Mine will be stowed away during travel (I shall have to make a storage space somewhere for it), and as it doesn't need to be stowed upright, it could fit into an otherwise unused space.
Really pleased to have given another lease of life to the chiminea, I always liked it but never really used it as it was too small for a fire and if used with a candle, it didn't give off much light. So it's just sat in the yard and rusted for a couple of years, and I was going to sell it at a car boot sale. And I really like the simplicity of the idea, and the fact that the fuel is environmentally friendly (compared to other fuels). I'm sure that BE will become easier to find over the next year or so as there are alot of BE house heaters now available.
Certainly it isn't as heat effective as a proper fitted heater, but for what it's cost me to produce and install, I can use alot of BE fuel before it starts to cost me more than fitting a heater would have cost. It may not be a permanent feature in my van (I'm still hankering after a small wood burner but £££, fitting and space in the van are issues which would need resolving to go down this route) but for the moment and the foreseeable future, this solves a problem for me.
In the event of it being knocked over, the main risk is spillage of the burning fuel but as the amount in my bowl is small, this is minimal, and I have a fire blanket and extinguisher within easy reach, and I also have a wool blanket on my bed which makes a reasonable fire blanket as wool smoulders rather than burns and so it would contain any flames for a few seconds allowing time to stamp it out or reach for fire blanket. The chiminea is also stood on a baking tray which again would contain any burning fuel. It's not without risk but I've considered the risks and taken what I feel are appropriate safety measures in my circumstances.
I foresee myself using it for an hour or 2 in the evenings when the van is already warmed up from driving or cooking, to maintain the heat and stop the temp dropping too quickly. Also, first thing in the morning, it's quick and easy to light and then jump back into bed whilst the kettle is boiling on the gas cooker. That means that by the time the kettle is boiling, with 2 heat sources going, getting out of bed should be bearable on cold mornings.
Mine will be stowed away during travel (I shall have to make a storage space somewhere for it), and as it doesn't need to be stowed upright, it could fit into an otherwise unused space.
Really pleased to have given another lease of life to the chiminea, I always liked it but never really used it as it was too small for a fire and if used with a candle, it didn't give off much light. So it's just sat in the yard and rusted for a couple of years, and I was going to sell it at a car boot sale. And I really like the simplicity of the idea, and the fact that the fuel is environmentally friendly (compared to other fuels). I'm sure that BE will become easier to find over the next year or so as there are alot of BE house heaters now available.
Certainly it isn't as heat effective as a proper fitted heater, but for what it's cost me to produce and install, I can use alot of BE fuel before it starts to cost me more than fitting a heater would have cost. It may not be a permanent feature in my van (I'm still hankering after a small wood burner but £££, fitting and space in the van are issues which would need resolving to go down this route) but for the moment and the foreseeable future, this solves a problem for me.
Smaug
Guest
WVW
Why not just use charcoal in the chimnea? It will burn much hotter & be a lot cheaper with probably no more fumes if it gets plemty of air in to it. You could even set up a chimney to go out of teh window using a stainless flexi exhaust pipe - which could even be insulated.
Why not just use charcoal in the chimnea? It will burn much hotter & be a lot cheaper with probably no more fumes if it gets plemty of air in to it. You could even set up a chimney to go out of teh window using a stainless flexi exhaust pipe - which could even be insulated.
whitevanwoman
Guest
:scared: Are you seriously suggesting I use a charcoal heater in the van?!!!! You obviously haven't crossed swords with Aladdinsane on that subject.
If I had the time and money it might be worth investigating your idea but as I've no windows in the back of the van, I'd have to go through the front passenger window, which would have to be open, therefore letting in wind and rain, and I'd lose my curtain blackout and stealth capacity. Perhaps an idea for a meet or festival but in all honesty in those cases, I'd probably be sitting outside around a real fire or bbq. And I think what I'd gain in heat, I'd lose a considerable amount through the open window and by not being able to pull the insulated blackout curtain between the cab and the back fully across, which makes a huge difference to maintaining heat in the van.
And for the moment I have a portable heater which meets my needs, although when full timing I will have to look at a more effective option, probably a wood burner when finances allow.
Actually, looking at the chiminea, the bottom of the hole on the side is very low, only about 1cm above the base of the chiminea and so charcoal would fall out easily. I'd need to make some sort of containing removable rounded metal barrier to keep the charcoal in which would then make it too difficult to add more charcoal. It is only a small chiminea about 14" high, the height of the bowl is only 6", diameter of top of chimney is less than 2".
Keep the ideas coming though as it's always worth mulling them over, but on this occasion the idea's not really practical.
Smaug
Guest
Just bear in mind that BE is as dangerous as charcoal in terms of the risk of CO poisoning if it can't burn well due to oxygen depletion. I know there have been several deaths due to charcaol barbies brought into tents as a heater, but I'll bet they were all closed up "for safety" from burning without considering the hugely increased risk of CO poisoning.
whitevanwoman
Guest
But they were carbon monoxide related deaths, as opposed to carbon dioxide. And that's exactly why I prefer a BE heater as the risk of CO2 is much less than CO plus CO2 , as produced by a gas heater. BE doesn't produce carbon monoxide, only carbon dioxide and water vapour.
As I said in an earlier post, the fuel bowl only contains sufficient fuel to burn for about an hour. Having had me, the dog, the cat, a gas cooker and a couple of candles and a cigarette all generating carbon dioxide in the van for a couple of hours at a time, without any of us expiring, I think the risk of carbon dioxide is minimal. Plus as I've said repeatedly, I have a roof vent which is permanently open. And surely, if the bio ethanol heater was churning out so much carbon dioxide that there was a risk of suffocation, the flame in the burner would go out as there wouldn't be enough oxygen in the atmosphere to keep it burning.
And quite honestly I don't want the mess of charcoal, ash etc. And anyway, it's done now. Sorted.
outtolunch
Guest
Charcoal produces a lot of carbon monoxide even with good ventilation because as it burns away the combustion air required to get a complete conversion to carbon dioxide can not get to the centre of the charcoal pieces and a falling temperature helps to compound this.
bio ethanol on the other hand is initially burning in its vapour phase but this changes quickly as the alcohol heats up to its gaseous phase which will give a more complete combustion. I don't know if any CO is produced in small amounts, if you want accurate figures I can get the flue gas analyser out of the van and light the fire but a domestic CO alarm sat on the mantle above (before it moved to the camper ) gave no reading on its display.
bio ethanol on the other hand is initially burning in its vapour phase but this changes quickly as the alcohol heats up to its gaseous phase which will give a more complete combustion. I don't know if any CO is produced in small amounts, if you want accurate figures I can get the flue gas analyser out of the van and light the fire but a domestic CO alarm sat on the mantle above (before it moved to the camper ) gave no reading on its display.
Tbear
Full Member
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Much as I like Flyboys idea I cannot help but wonder if you have enough ventilation to make it safe, then you will loose much of the heat. On the other hand, as David said, the sight of the flames makes you feel warmer. I think the cast iron chimnea/radiator sounds a smashing idea. Someone else in another thread sugested an upturned flowerpot on the gas stove (not the plastic ones) to be used in a similar manner.
I'm going to stick with a nice warm down sleeping bag or quilt. Please be safe.
David,
Hot CO2 or Smoke rises
Richard
I'm going to stick with a nice warm down sleeping bag or quilt. Please be safe.
David,
Hot CO2 or Smoke rises
Richard
Flyboy
Guest
Comments,Idea's Welcome.
Hi everybody see what you think about this fire i am working on its half a 7kg gas bottle with a piece of 1/4in metal plate welded on the back.
I will be setting onto ceramic tiles attached to some cement board (fire board ) on a 2" frame which will be packed with fireproofing
Not sure if i should put an air gap between the fire and the wall panel has this is the side of the fridge.
Comments Welcome.View attachment 15034View attachment 15035View attachment 15036
Hi everybody see what you think about this fire i am working on its half a 7kg gas bottle with a piece of 1/4in metal plate welded on the back.
I will be setting onto ceramic tiles attached to some cement board (fire board ) on a 2" frame which will be packed with fireproofing
Not sure if i should put an air gap between the fire and the wall panel has this is the side of the fridge.
Comments Welcome.View attachment 15034View attachment 15035View attachment 15036
herbenny
Guest
I WANT ONE AND YOUR KETTLE :raofl:
herbenny
Guest
Steve seriously that looks brilliant and really effective ......how clever !!!
whitevanwoman
Guest
[No message]
herbenny
Guest
Jess we will be in the same boat .....I need heating I really do ever since my lymes disease episode I feel the cold, well I always have but more so in recent months .....in fact my bones ache so much I am lying here in bed with central heating on my fingers and hands have seized up, the attack of the monstrous rock and roll bed has played a small part though I suspect !!
Anyway like I was saying..no we wont be able to fund any heating in this van and will have to look for alternatives. I would seriously think of using Steve's heating method. It looks safe enough to me.
and certainly knows what he is doing.
Anyway like I was saying..no we wont be able to fund any heating in this van and will have to look for alternatives. I would seriously think of using Steve's heating method. It looks safe enough to me.
and certainly knows what he is doing.Tow Itch
Guest
Dear WVW
With respect to
I've no desire to be a troll, but....
I've managed to get a CO alarm to go off twice: One with a humongous Campingaz lantern about 7 inch glass diameter in a camper. I should have seen that coming an example of technology saving the egit.The other occasions were on a weekend when I was using the underfloor room sealed heater. The wind was such that the entire camper rocked and the walls and roof had a serious wind blowing through them. Even if I'd flued the heater into the room there were that many air changes that I fail to see how a buildup of CO could have occurred. To be honest I should have just switched the alarm off I was desperate for any aid to sleep that weekend.
WVW if you do know of low level chronic CO poisoning then I apologise but you are in a minority. CO poisoning isn't just about waking up dead. Lack of understanding sees people go from avoiding a definite risk or more aptly danger to fretting about lighting a match. I would suggest because no organisation is brave enough to inject a scale of risk and the factors that add to those risks. I've quoted them before these are my to favourite pieces on the dangers of CO please read and offer your comment: FAQ - Technical Details on Stoves Zen Backpacking Stoves - Carbon Monoxide Hazards
If you read through all of that try this as treat to play with for cooking with alcohol: Zen and the Art of the Alcohol Stove
With respect to
I've no desire to be a troll, but....
I've managed to get a CO alarm to go off twice: One with a humongous Campingaz lantern about 7 inch glass diameter in a camper. I should have seen that coming an example of technology saving the egit.The other occasions were on a weekend when I was using the underfloor room sealed heater. The wind was such that the entire camper rocked and the walls and roof had a serious wind blowing through them. Even if I'd flued the heater into the room there were that many air changes that I fail to see how a buildup of CO could have occurred. To be honest I should have just switched the alarm off I was desperate for any aid to sleep that weekend.
WVW if you do know of low level chronic CO poisoning then I apologise but you are in a minority. CO poisoning isn't just about waking up dead. Lack of understanding sees people go from avoiding a definite risk or more aptly danger to fretting about lighting a match. I would suggest because no organisation is brave enough to inject a scale of risk and the factors that add to those risks. I've quoted them before these are my to favourite pieces on the dangers of CO please read and offer your comment: FAQ - Technical Details on Stoves Zen Backpacking Stoves - Carbon Monoxide Hazards
If you read through all of that try this as treat to play with for cooking with alcohol: Zen and the Art of the Alcohol Stove