Been looking at plans for building a used oil heater. The budget is low but, I'm going to need heat in the shop this and following winters. I have access to a significant amount of used motor oil and used transmission fluid.
Would like to produce some heat with used oil versus sending it via the waste oil truck to a recycler. Any and all suggestions will be considered. I have a couple of friends that converted old pot bellied furnaces to burn used oil but I don't happen to have an old pot bellied stove laying around, looking for options.
My goodness, there's a lot of different information out there about this and these heaters. Might be worth it, might not. Not sure. I simply hate the thought of wasting all that fuel and oil. Seems like such a waste sending it back to a recycler when I could be warming my shop with it.
Will continue to investigate this. Thanks.
BTW, the "still in progress" front dozer/snow blade project for my Ford Tractor is about finished. Just in time to push the predicted snow next weekend.
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Originally posted by Hank is Here:
It has been a few years but the best plans I have seen involved a old water heater tank and a cast iron frying pan.
Yep, I've seen a few of them. They all seem to have a problem with oil/fuel flow. Think'n they need a filter and most likely a regulated pressure pump.
Rams
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 12-01-2017).]
First Check City/County and State laws for used oil heating.
Short version: Big reason why commercial built units are so expensive is making them run and not violating state and fed rules/laws is expensive. Even then some places ban them. DIY built ones can easily piss off State level EPA like Ky DEP and related resulting in big fines even jail time.
Why? Used motor/trans oil caries a lot of crap that USEPA DEP etc hates then burning thru most DIY units just pollutes the air w/ these compounds because most burn at low temperatures. Worse, Many compounds are heavy and can pollute ground and water near by too. Many People using DIY setups just ignore this or too dumb and they are gambling against the state finding out. All that takes one person mad at you reporting. A Business w/ DIY used oil heating can be fined, shutdown, etc. Many DIY handling scrap or worse smelting lead etc can have similar problems w/ State "EPA" and other agencies from City or County.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
Go to your local oil company that services burners. Many people are upgrading their heat units for the energy saving type while the government is offering rebates when you do, and they take out units that work fine but are not good on fuel.. Most areas around homes don't allow waste oil heaters.. check with your town hall, also check with your insurance company.. They may void your coverage if you use one..
When I had my old Mercedes SLs, I found a guy who had his own 6 stall home shop for them. His sole heat was an oil heater made out of two 55 gal drums. He used old motor oil. It kept it warm enough, he could even have a couple overhead doors open and keep it 75+ degrees inside when it was in the teens.
The one I had in the garage was a Coleman kerosine heater, converted to used oil. Basically I put the tank op over it with some square steel, and ran a copper line with a valve for the oil. Burner was a cast-iron pan with the handle cut off and some bolts laying in it. That one ran clean.
Out in the bunkhouse building it was 2 propane tanks cut and welded together, again with a pan as a burner. I never did get that one to burn 100% clean, there was always some black smoke coming out the chimney. I did screw around with adding an electric fan to blow air in, but all that did was turn it into a forge so I took it off again PDQ. LOL, had the whole setup cherry-red inside 30 seconds. No be do that
To do it again, I would just get a camp stove and burn old skids.
Was recently offered an old wood stove, square with four legs. Smallish.
Considering it. Have to come up with a blower system to circulate the heat, fuel feed system, a drip pan and exhaust (stove pipe) to exit the smoke that will most likely be created. All of which I was already aware of. Just not sure I want something taking up the required floor space.
Also looking at a wall mounted propane heater. Saves floor space and burns cleaner. But that means I would have to set a tank, buy the fuel and still send all this used oil to the recycler. Really would like to use the free fuel but, we'll have to see. Decisions, Decision, Decisions.....................................
Rams
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 12-03-2017).]
I've been playing around with some design work on an external stove.
Basically tear down a chest freezer for the case, line it with rockwall, and use stove-pipe to vent in the hot air. Put the stove inside it, and the whole thing behind the garage.
It works on convection, and keeps the ignition source outside the building. Since its positive airflow, there are now worries about fumes or vapors or sawdust or anything igniting.
Same basic idea as those outdoor wood furnaces, but no need to run a fan or dig down the piping.
Whn (if ) we get around to it, it'll go in a buddies garage a couple blocks away. Was going to build it for a wedding present for him last fall, but his new ball-and-chain needs a little more time to let the concept sink in. She still gives us crap about the e-bikes out there. WHAT ? We havent broken any laws.....recently
I've been researching many forms of alternative heating. I currently run a woodstove and they are hardly efficient and you need a constant supply of wood.
As for the oil burners, they do generate a ton of heat, but I am not sure about going the DIY route. If you have no experience in doing this you can easily burn your place down.
Other than that they seem to be a simple build. If I had a good supply of oil, I'd be doing it. I would love to do a cooking oil version,
I've been researching many forms of alternative heating. I currently run a woodstove and they are hardly efficient and you need a constant supply of wood.
As for the oil burners, they do generate a ton of heat, but I am not sure about going the DIY route. If you have no experience in doing this you can easily burn your place down.
Other than that they seem to be a simple build. If I had a good supply of oil, I'd be doing it. I would love to do a cooking oil version,
Have an acquaintance that uses used cooking oil in his Mercedes as fuel. He filters it and adds something (I think he uses diesel to thin it some). His source for this free fuel is his family's restaurant. He isn't interested in sharing and I don't blame him. I have access to quite a bit of used oil. Some of it is from my own vehicles. Two Cummins diesels, two Fieros, one Toyota Rav4, my Valkyrie and my Ford Tractor in addition to all the used oil my neighbors leave at my shop. So, it would seem a real waste of resources to not use that oil.
Going to research that MEM suggestion about an outside (contained) used oil furnace. That might be a doable idea. Then again, $$$ are tight for this DIY project, I have other priorities requiring my limited funds.
Rams
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 12-03-2017).]
The thing I hear about waste oil heaters is that they leave an oil residue on everything. Something to keep in mind.
I never noticed that at all. I do know you can not paint where there are kerosene blower type heaters because oil DOES float in the air and cause massive amounts of fisheyes. Dont ask how I know. Kerosene here has gone out the roof in price...its double what gasoline is.
[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 12-04-2017).]
Amazing how quickly we regress when looking for alternative energy. We all should have dirt cheap electricity by now, or other alternatives for energy,
Over sixty years ago they created a backpack nuclear weapon, but we are still in the pioneer days when it comes to some basic needs.
Would be cool to have some kind of energy reactor that was cheap, easy to maintain, and possibly half the size of a average refrigerator. It could supply all your energy needs, including heat, charge you car, and basic electricity needs. Most important would be no power lines. Can put a house anywhere.
Originally posted by RotrexFiero: Would be cool to have some kind of energy reactor that was cheap, easy to maintain, and possibly half the size of a average refrigerator. It could supply all your energy needs, including heat, charge you car, and basic electricity needs. Most important would be no power lines. Can put a house anywhere.
Why not the wood stove and use coal it last longer than wood.. Problem with much of these is open flame and the word shop.. Wood dust is as bad a paint fumes
He wants it cheap or free. With a stove, or propane...you have to BUY fuel, whether its propane, wood or coal. Oil burner would be using free oil you would just be throwing away anyway.
