MacGyvered Hot Water Tank for Off Grid Cabin - Fire Burning

[@ModernSelfReliance]

*New Tiny House Build:* kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH-mZ5ygipyjhqM *Instagram:* instagram.com/wood_chucker_987/

[@sch6353]

Nice work, how about instead of burning direct in the firebox, hook up a rocket stove type system and use the firebox for heat transfer only? it may cure the water drop on fire and cleaning the chimney potential issues. The burn area wouldn't be in the container so easier to clean and if the fire is heating the water too hot, maybe the rocket stove burn section could be detachable or diverted away from the current tank firebox?

[@NealD]

I don’t think the condensation would ever be enough to put out the fire. A flat metal plate in to the back and sticking out might make cleaning out and starting the fire easier.

[@f1s2hg3]

Kevin you are cool 😎 please keep making the videos!

[@f1s2hg3]

Great job 👏 😅

[@rudysaldivar4228]

My grandfather did this in Mexico over 60 years ago. He used corn cob as the fuel. Still remember being amazed of it.

[@ModernSelfReliance]

be a great way to limit btu and control over fireing.

[@crazyflatlady1816]

That was awesome thank you.

[@davidfranco1308]

I guess you could say you were a maze d at it lol

[@RamonHernandez-ux4uz]

Hey Rudy, you are right we are using this system in Anahuac, N.L. since I remember (early sixties) we got another one, we call it boiler also wood burning

[@UmBungo]

You mean “a-maize-d”? 😂

[@jackiesanders489]

I'm an 81 yearold missouri hill billy and grew up with a wood fired hot water heater

[@ModernSelfReliance]

That's awesome!

[@dalekronk496]

I was stationed in Germany and my girlfriend at that time had a woodfire hot water tank. This was on 1991

[@radroofer]

Great I'm in SW Missouri. I will do it.

[@Bobby-mg1uj]

Hey neighbor! Family from a Missouri thorp... village is so small it fits in a camera viewfinder. Good people, good life in those small towns.

[@ohsohighnow]

I like the setup my only advice would be to add a mixing valve to control the water temp coming out of the heater so you don't burn yourself

[@livingtherufflife]

My dad this over 40 years ago instead of heating the tank with propane. He did a lot of off-grid things while living on a small homestead. But we still had electricity and water. This is a great way to reuse old water heater tanks.

[@gstyles74]

i remember having this set up in Mexico about 35 years ago. it worked very well. I was only 13 when we used to use this

[@thatdude5104]

Great video, I'd go as far as to say you have a natural talent for making video's. Also great build!

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks for watching!

[@willmorton8254]

Maybe you could put a tee with a ball valve on the pipe above the tank on the hot water outlet , so you can open it while you are heating the tank, and after you have heated the water close the ball valve so youcan now pressurise the water and use it and you dont have to worry about over pressuring the the tank and lines

[@ModernSelfReliance]

That my friend is the simplest solution to a real problem... AWESOME! Thanks!

[@MrSprintcat]

Awesome video thanks. What you might want to do is make a basket when the water reaches its temperature pull the basket out with all the fire in it

[@ModernSelfReliance]

That's not a bad idea!

[@ChileExpatFamily]

Here in Chile we have been off grid for 7 years. A hot water tank like you are making is very common here in Chile. Plus hot water heating loops in wood cook stoves as well. The stove you are building is Illegal in many states in the former USA because .... you may hurt yourself. We have 2 PPR valves on our system and it makes steam in less than 30 min. Our little wood cook stove heats all our water for showers, Radiant floor heat and for the kitchen. Cool trick and video. Just thought you might find it as interesting as I did that the Chileans have been doing it for 100 years! Hahahah. Jim in Chile

[@ModernSelfReliance]

That's neat. I haven't really traveled so I don't get to see what they do elsewhere.

[@ChileExpatFamily]

@@ModernSelfReliance We burn a lot of wood here to say the least. Jim

[@ChileExpatFamily]

@@ModernSelfReliance Yes we burn a lot of wood here. We also have an insulated storage tank that keeps the water for 3 days. We like long hot showers. Jim

[@doneown503]

thx for the input, Chilli Jim!

[@Dustinhahn88]

How do you use wood to heat a radiant floor? @chileexpatfamily

[@mellissaa.kennedy7251]

Your video brings back a flood of memories of just such a project that my Father put together as he taught me the importance of improvising growing up. It was also for off grid and was a welcomed addition using this simple conversion. Cheers!

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@FeelLuckyToday]

Great video Kevin. I really enjoy your MacGyuverism and cabin additions. It is not a simple off grid cabin but a nice place for retreat and enjoy nature. Good luck with the coming projects!

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks Dato!

[@TheGreenAcreWI]

You are one of the KZbinrs that inspired me to start my own channel on sustainability! We live on a single acre with plenty of zoning ordinances restricting the type of lifestyle we can live. However, we are doing everything we can to live a lifestyle of self-sufficiency and documenting our journey here on KZbin. We currently have gardens, orchards, a vineyard, chickens, honeybees and hope to one day install a solar system to go off grid. I love your channel, keep up the inspirational work!

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Glad I could offer some inspiration! Thanks for watching!

[@chrispycriter6682]

I got one on top my wood furnace and drilled a hole on top of the tank for it to vent the steam/no boom,it heats our cement pad for our house and heat rises,helps with cold feet in winter

[@cmosphoto1]

Genius!

[@theycallmebacon5692]

Macguiver hot water..... Not so much. Appalachian American technician level 10 engineering? Yes... Absolutely yes! I couldn't be any prouder of your channel.

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks Bacon!

[@peteterry8563]

super underrated channel. great knowledge of the trades! my new favorite

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@goddessofgreen1]

I just found this channel, and I'm totally with you on that! One of my favorites also, and I'm only two videos in 😂

[@pfow2006]

only a couple mins in but i love the honesty and sincerity in the start of your video, “is this gona work? i dont know, i never saw this before” lol

[@ArielleViking]

Really interesting and fascinating reuse of an old hot water heater. I love it fullstop. 👍

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks for watching !

[@Skudster13]

Better water pressure and added power savings from raised water storage. Power savings could be used on a second water pump for exclusive hot water feed to negate lower pressure when using both cold and hot water.

[@JJ-Legacy]

Absolutely it will work, it will just have to be cleaned a lot dude to the flue damper. Plus there will be no temperature control you’ll have to install a gauge to make sure you know how hot the water is so you can prevent scolding.

[@tittiger]

Smaller versions of these are sold in hardware stores just across the border in Mexico.

[@daynerohn3259]

Great build, ever since I started following I now look up videos on repurposing things before I throw them out! Awesome!

[@ModernSelfReliance]

You are gonna get a pretty good stockpile of stuff!

[@williamnelson4066]

Also love the info you included in the description. About the self reliance.

[@kuzadupa185]

Great job! Awesome how excited you are. Setup a very very similar system 2 summers ago at a friend's cabin, where we made his hot water tank multifuel (it can burn gas, diesel, used machine oil, engine oil, cooking oil, wood, etc) and the system has also an inline with shut off/redirect valves and pipes a small gas water heater, as an emergency measure that can run in natural gas or LP/propane. He had an extra 1 from a job he did and we thought itd be nice to put in. BUT when we were running the piping, we did not make holes and push through the bottom of the cabin. Instead we got a bunch of pipe connectors /extenders (the kind that are male tipped on both ends) and labelled them (cold kitchen. Hot kitchen. Cold bathroom, hot bathroom. Etc. male on both ends, so we have these mounted halfway in the bottom of the floor, heavily caulked and sealed off, with added insulation, and we then added on the inside shut off valves before laying in the piping. This not only make it neater but it made it compartmentalized, so in the future it may be easier to service and extend replace. Etc ) One benefit of this was before this years winter we came across some extra piping, enough to put it into the bedroom floor, some heated flooring piping, using a small pump to circulate the hot water standing still in the hot water piping.

[@dallastrygstad3120]

Yes it works! My aunt and uncle had a wood burning water heater for several years... worked great. Dont build too big a fire and careful with the temp. It gets HOT. And you smell like a campfire after your shower. 😂

[@cmosphoto1]

This one's closed loop you won't smell like camp fire afterwards!

[@denislosieroutdoors]

Cool build I will try this thanks for sharing... in the past I have used the burner tips from old hot water tanks to make turkey fryers roasters just hook up to a propane tank

[@cmosphoto1]

You telling me I should have just cut it off..

[@catgynt9148]

When I was stationed at Indian town gap military reservation (IGMR) we used coal fired hot water tanks. Similar system with larger firebox. Cheers.

[@cmosphoto1]

That's neat!

[@CorMorse]

I had to google that to see if its the same place as FIG, and I guess they officially changed the name to Fort Indiantown Gap in 1975 lol. Its been probably 10 years since I was down there for qualifications. Cant remember where we stayed, but they were similarly built to Ft Drum's WW2 barracks.

[@catgynt9148]

Kevin the Wood Chucker after everyone showered we shoveled glowing coals out in piles under engine blocks and fuel tanks of our diesel trucks to warm them on winter mornings. Untreated diesel fuel gels at about 30°F.

[@catgynt9148]

Cor Morse thanks for update, I was there in 1971 while prepping for Vietnam. Those WW2 barracks were temporary shelters that were still in use in the 70’s. T’was better being 20 in the 70’s than 70 in the 20’s now.

[@Chris_at_Home]

Great idea. We have an off grid/road cabin and we use a lot of propane in our RV water heater.We also used a couple of tote tanks to store water. I have it figured out, a tenth of an inch gives me 30gallons off the roof. This cabin has been a 20 years project so far. We spend most of our summers there now.

[@candyslife160]

Good Job Kevin! You never cease to amaze me. Keep up the good work.

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks for watching!

[@greensnapper1602]

cool different we scrap all the time have about 20 old tanks laying around waiting to take apart to take them to the scrap yard.. We will pile up all different types of Metals, by scrapping picking up all the Metals we see in our travels... Its just smart to do while living on a homestead.. You keep most metals so you have if needed at another time... Like having your own scrap yard, letting other's know that live over the hill from you so if they need ,then you can trade or swap.. Thanks

[@cmosphoto1]

That's good advice! Always nice to have spare parts on hand.

[@greensnapper1602]

@@cmosphoto1 yes some towns or stores to purchase things that you need are way to far to get to or just way to much $, having your own scrap yard is very nice.. That way you can have and others can trade you or buy out right.. We have ours on other side of hill so its not by other things on land ..

[@ragheadand420roll]

When i lived in philippines they had white charcoal burning water heaters... back of apartment I painted mine black,, after that you didnt even need to use charcoal The heat in philippines was so intense... u had hot water almost any time you wanted

[@paulineackermann2598]

Wow! Great idea.~:>

[@tellkemp6869]

I LOVE watching what you can build!! Fantastic video as always !! Lots of love to you and your family, all the way from Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks for watching!

[@scottewen2522]

Ideal Build. 1- elevate water containment/storage higher than hot water boiler. 2- Elevate higher on the hill than a shower head to create water and pressure. 3- combine smoke house and hot water tank. Fire box under hot water tank. Run multiple copper tubes up through bottom of water tank and out into the bottom of the smoke house evenly spaced. The hold the heat in tank for a while brick it in with rock on out side and sand around inside of tank. This lets you be able to pull it out if you need to get at it. Cap with a metal cover that could have a steam discharge like a moon shiner would. This would allow you to boil water and collect the condensation off the steam to drink safely. Get hot water for outdoor shower and sink while you are smoking meat at same time. Could even boil a mash up to make home made beer, water or something else. 👍😀

[@cmosphoto1]

So many things to think about!

[@JCK0711]

Like a water tower

[@Conservchick]

Very, very cool. I just changed a water tank and now I know what to do with the old one. THANK YOU.

[@samq2844]

They have water heaters that are built with both electric and wood fired in Europe. I used one in Northern Italy at my aunts house. It’s been around for a long time.

[@ModernSelfReliance]

I'd own one if those were around here.

[@pistolpunch349]

Yeah they are quite common, my parents heat the whole house with them, having floor heat. You should get one with a temometer installed so you know it is not getting to hot and explodes. Winter might be a problem with the tubing too. If you use a circular system with insolation you could keep it going, but that requires constant wood and electricity and I guess that is not what you are after.

[@shedtalksreloaded]

Right on Kevin! I'd love me one of those cool wind chimes! Looks like your soldering skills are good too! Keep up the great videos, we the people are very entertained!

[@cmosphoto1]

Head on over to the scrap yard and get yourself a wind chime!

[@robertalejocruz7902]

Outdoor shower,.. I also live where there's not electricity and water,..

[@robertalejocruz7902]

Can't wait for your next project,.. ( outdoor shower ),..

[@randylanhart1796]

VERY NICE YOUNG MAN...YOU GAVE ME AN IDEA FOR MY WOODED REFUGE.

[@nonyabusiness9747]

I really appreciate your demeanor. Subscribed for that fact alone. Great builds are a plus to priceless demeanor.

[@johnjones1181]

You amaze me Kevin you are so inventive and funny when youre working another good video

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks for watching!

[@f1s2hg3]

Kevin you are a talented young man who is great show others that need tutoring. I know you are smart because you tell people when you know the science you tell it perfectly and when you don’t you just say that’s it I don’t know! That’s HONESTLY THE BEST THING TO SAY BECAUSE EVEN THE SMARTEST PEOPLE GUESS!

[@c6q3a24]

Just an idea - you could rig up a simple water line that vents into the firebox if the tank runs over pressure. That way the tank won't explode, and it will put the fire out for you.

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Just re-direct the pressure relief pipe to spray inside the firebox.. self monitoring.

[@cjjenson8212]

I can't believe someone else did this, yeah!!! So what I did to mine to keep it stronger and the water hotter for far far longer is tear out all the insulation and refill the cavity with aircrete! I use ponderosa pine cones, about a paper shopping bags worth and 15 minutes gives me all the hot water I ever need. In fact I got bored seeing how long. The cones just keep it hot forever 👍

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Pine cones would be just enough heat fast!

[@cjjenson8212]

@@ModernSelfReliance they also never boil the water👍

[@jacelandadventures1523]

Did this 15 years ago! I welded a 17 “ truck steel wheel to the bottom, cut out the center, put it over a fire brick chamber! Works better than anything else!

[@ModernSelfReliance]

awesome!

[@carolhewett3756]

Cut out the center of what? The hot water heater? I'm really fascinated by this set up.

[@jacelandadventures1523]

Carol Hewett I cut out the center of the wheel! Where you bolt it up to a car! That 17” rim fits perfectly, under a 40 gallon gas water heater, the rim will give you the space you need to have a fire chamber under it! Two rims stacked on top of each other welded together, will give you even more room for a fire chamber! And for the top of the water heater, the exhaust hole in the center !!!!! Needs a pipe added a few feet above the tank, just like a wood burning stove pipe! I used a tractor pipe. Fit like a glove !

[@carolhewett3756]

@@jacelandadventures1523 gotcha, thx

[@jacelandadventures1523]

Carol Hewett I should mention it is just a couple of spot welds do not weld all the way around the rim to the water tank!

[@living6a916]

Again a great one ! I am definitely doing this one with my brother at our cabin. Thanks. I will be heeding the “Don’t boil warning “

[@cmosphoto1]

Let me know how it works out.

[@MrMEmEmEmEMEMEeeeeee]

"Hot water hysterectomy"...Liked/subscribed for that remark alone!

[@williamnelson4066]

Oh and if you like the idea, I think its 48 retaining wall bricks to go around the rim to make it aesthetically pleasing to the eye instead of looking at the rusty old rim. I remember you saying you like things to look pleasant.

[@cmosphoto1]

I like the look of rust it's a nice patina .

[@adamjacobson1993]

You should try to elevate your reservoir so your water is gravity fed.

[@michaelyarmie4858]

Yeah you should of milled some wood to make a tower for that water tank . At least higher then the taps in the kitchen.

[@cmosphoto1]

Maybe a Future build!

[@gazzabowers1184]

Bang on boys perfect suggestion save pump and better pressure. Stay safe everyone 😷.. Gazza

[@JCK0711]

Yeah water tower!

[@catgynt9148]

Kevin will have to add a second or third floor to the cabin, raising the roof sufficiently to gravity feed captured rainwater into a water tower. Perhaps a tarpaulin could be stretched and strung from several trees forming an additional catch basin for rainwater at a higher level.

[@ruththomas6361]

In the home I grew up in (and perhaps many more in the area) we had copper coils inside the firebox of our oil cookstove. The stove had been converted from a wood burning cookstove to oil sometime in the early years of the 20th century. The pipes to the coils came into the house from the water line, and the line out went to the water tank which was in the attic. This, of course, meant that there was no constant temperature, and your wood burning heater would be the same. But we had a good supply of hot water as long as the stove was on, and since it also heated the house, it was kept on. Once a year in the summer, we turned off the carburetor, and Dad took the stove outside (because of all the soot.) He cleaned everything including the coils, and we were all set for another year.

[@jalleman61]

MacGyver lives again.Good job

[@ModernSelfReliance]

I'm still surprised how well it works.

[@pcmiller2710]

Love your videos and the witty sense of humor!

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks!

[@purplegeckocraftscrissietu9296]

Great ingeniuity.. forest shower sounds amazing x

[@cmosphoto1]

Nice calm hot water in the forest!

[@peregrinegrace8570]

I'm buying my little forest this winter. 5 or 6 acres. I'll keep watching 👀 for these great tips and tricks . The good life ..

[@wes11bravo]

I'm all for stuff like this. Yeah, I can build a poncho hootch and sleep on the ground and bathe out of a canteen cup if I have to. If you don't have to? DON'T. Build cool stuff like this!

[@cmh2111]

We did similar with two 45 gallon drums 50 years ago. One cut in half for the fire box and the full one on top. We elevated them on stilts, put a hose bib on the water drum, and had a outdoor shower. The water is collected from the roof and routed through a strainer system to the top drum. It's so nice to have a shower at the deer camp. The grandkids are still using that set up to this day.

[@ModernSelfReliance]

That's Awesome!

[@blueclothes1]

I get more and more jealous every time I see another amenity added to small cabin in the woods

[@harryrenner4016]

Cleanliness is close to Godliness when it comes to soldering. a lesson I learned a very long time ago. I'm probably showing my age in saying that. but it's a lesson that has served me well.

[@InsideTraderNancy]

I personally would have kept it a propane heater. Cleaning out the ash will be a nightmare. None the less its fun watching along.

[@jdude000]

I agree, it's because he gets free wood. Much cheaper that way for him.

[@cmosphoto1]

Leaf blower would probably work really well!

[@lindahon5109]

i Agree, just use this as back up, but i will modify the bottom of the burner with a steal box with legs or get a old wood stove weld on, so it can take big woods and easy to clean. just don't take shower with it use a tub.

[@Nevisblau]

Watching your channel while working out, makes me inspired for my house build back home. Unfortunately, Mom’s managing it due to COVID19 travel restrictions. Can’t wait to get my hands on DIYS as soon as I can travel back home. Your wit, humor and of course your expertise is crazy admirable! Keep on doing what you do! It’s awesome 😎 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks for watching!

[@deadly134]

This is amazing!! Please do more videos on this. Have you thought of expanding the fire box by taking an angle grinder and making the door a bit bigger so you could fit a good long burn log? Anyways amazing job keep it up!

[@cmosphoto1]

I wouldn't want to ability to add any additional wood.

[@StanleyGavin]

Never seen that done before and here in New Zealand see so many people throwing gas hot water heater's away only one problem I could see is the wooded beardsman can't cook on it but knowing him he will try keep up the dyo videos love them

[@cmosphoto1]

I'd like to see him try to cook on it..

[@TheMetalRedneck]

I've said it a million times people like us need a warehouse for all of the stuff we collect from other jobs.

[@cmosphoto1]

Right... It's hard to throw away useful stuff!

[@artisticboundaries]

I rented 2 storage units. One for my large tools and equipment and the other for left over materials and parts from previous jobs. It was one of the best decisions I made for my company. I could go shopping for parts and materials at my place...

[@TheMetalRedneck]

@@artisticboundaries And everyone thought you were probably nuts but you were the smartest one in the room lol.

[@josephRB1987]

Gotta call this channel “I was bored” because most of this is stuff I would do if I was dead bored! I’m glad I can watch you and not be bored af. Thanks :)

[@ModernSelfReliance]

LOL!

[@ChuckFinley88]

I think PEX degrades in UV lighting. So you might need to be aware of that.

[@ChuckFinley88]

@joann Loves CountryLife Yes he is. Branches and leaves don't 100 percent cover everything under it. If that was the case then he wouldn't have a lot of light shining on his cabin. Unless all those trees are evergreens, then in the winter the only thing covering his cabin would be branches. Either way, UV light is present and it degrades PEX. That's why PEX is only rated for indoor use, unless buried in the soil depending on code and stuff.

[@ontheroadwithyode390]

You are my new hero! So simple! I'm kicking myself for not thinking of this myself!

[@skm9420]

Just FYI: If you're learning how to solder you can definitely have to much flux because if you burn the joint you have to take it apart, clean, and re-flux. Otherwise you'll have a bad joint that will leek or fail down the road.

[@cmosphoto1]

How can you tell if you have too much flux?

[@ThatStevenLouis]

@Mando Halrissian laughing way harder than I should have at this one 😂😂😂

[@cerecedessquad6806]

It’s a pressure relief joint

[@martinvho]

This is so cool to see. I actually wrote about this in one of my books as I assumed it was possible, but never before got to see it in action. :D

[@cmosphoto1]

Cool!

[@martinpanev6651]

He looks kind of like Linus Tech Tips... Linus Modern Reliance Tips!

[@ModernSelfReliance]

I've gotten that at least once before!

[@jaimepegueroles8154]

Dude since a couple day i start following the channel i ask my self the same thing, both guys looks so similar.

[@martinpanev6651]

@@jaimepegueroles8154 I am not sure whether to believe Linus or Modern Self Reliance...

[@--2]

They don’t look that similar, but how they act is very similar! How linus talks when he’s building pc’s or installing AC in his house or something he always kinda mumbles something while doing something, and that guy does it too!

[@thirdeyesurvivor3886]

Linus is a really bad person, this guy is awesome.

[@djtomtrain2015]

I love this! I feel the urge to try this. Like a calling. Keep up good work. I will be learning a lot for my try at this in 18 months.

[@ModernSelfReliance]

You can do it! Just be safe with it.!

[@djtomtrain2015]

Thanks. And I will.

[@milesmoore5422]

It will be interesting to see just how long your "Firebox" lasts before it burns though.

[@socialhostage8534]

It might only burn through if you leave the water tank empty. You can even cook on paper without it burning!

[@deanweber4370]

I think it would be better if he cut out most of the bottom and had fire on the ground but then u need a door in the rim ?? something to use to put wood in

[@davidreid8353]

Great video Kevin. Simple build for the cabin. Build a separate shower building and put the hot water heater in it out of the elements.

[@cmosphoto1]

I have a idea and up coming project to store all the utilities.

[@GreenMasterMike]

Hey I have family in Mexico and that's how they do it dude but what they do is they in line the inside with brick so it's not hitting it directly

[@vinceglauser4770]

I'm looking forward to the next build.

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks for watching!

[@rev.taylor1245]

It would be pretty cool to have a wood stove heater/ water heater combined in the cabin, for the cold months just to get the most out of the wood being burnt.

[@carolhewett3756]

What a fantastic idea. I've also proposed bringing water into the house whether city or well water to bring it to ambient temperature BEFORE heating it.

[@scoobyallwork470]

"Hot water hysterectomy" Lord have mercy, I'm dead right now 🤣🤣😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣

[@ModernSelfReliance]

First one to catch that!

[@Fearlesslikeahoneybadger]

I was looking for this comment... If tearing it was a hysterectomy, putting the wood in was a prostate test...just saying...

[@joecieri5122]

I have been watching you for months now and I now finally subscribed , I enjoyed everyone of them thank you for sharing your projects you have really great ideas

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Thanks for subbing!

[@Shabam.01]

He sounds like a professional when he talks

[@ModernSelfReliance]

I try my best.

[@mikesmith8090]

Cool little project, many people would love to do stuff like this if only they had the place, house/cabin to do it all in. I myself want to use a HW tank like this but as a boiler to heat water to heat my shop & home with in northern, MN as I have a class A chimney on my shop and already have a hydronic system installed which uses a water to air heat exchanger in my forced air furnace in my house and also in the shop itself. Heating the water w/o the use of expensive boilers or large outside wood boilers was my goal as I wouldn't mind burning a smaller fire under a used or new hot water tank to heat with. I do like the idea/plan that uses a '' Rocket heater'' as the burn chamber though instead of a fire directly below the water tank itself for many reasons.. How we heat our homes, our water supplies for many needs can be fun but also requires a lot of thought put towards safety first! Loved the Video sir and I hope you learn many good ideas from the comments such as raising the water supply to use gravity to help ''push'' the water itself. A much better plan IMHO would be the use of a Hydronic water pump as they can last a lot longer than the smaller pumps out there. They do make a 12 volt model I believe.. If the water tank itself were placed on a heavy duty stand it wouldn't even need a pump I imagine.. Good luck and stay safe.

[@HobbitHomes263]

Teh purpose of th eWInd Chime is to slow down exhaust gasses to slow heat loss. It has to stay in there for this operation

[@richardbedard1245]

I'm glad you made this video. Now I think I may use your idea on my cabin as I get closer to finishing it. Thank you!

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tgvaillancourt]

I would recommend not actually having the fire in the bottom of the tank and just having the exhaust gas run through the chamber and flue. The flame impingement will cause the tank to corrode faster. Also you should keep the draft Hood on the top of the tank to cool down the exhaust gas that b vent is only aluminum inside and will melt.

[@ChunkOcoal]

What do you mean by this? I’d like to do this with an empty tank of mine

[@chrisstarnes2644]

That's cool idea love the way your brain works keep up the great content

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks for watching!

[@taxalterror]

Nice one Kevin, top job. :)

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks!

[@northerntranquility1614]

Just caught this video very ingenious, what I like the most is the price, heater was free and so is the hot water. Now I have a new project on my bucket list .Maybe I missed it but how long before you get usable hot water does it heat quickly. Another great video Thanks Dale

[@ModernSelfReliance]

It doesn't take long. 30-40 minutes.

[@bobbyduke777]

wouldn't you want to place it where you can feed it from inside? for the winter

[@Blessings.429]

Stunned as it was just last night that I was talking to my cousin about how in the 70's we had a wood fired hot water system and wondered why they stopped making them......

[@staceymarkum3873]

They didn't! They are still available in the USA

[@cmosphoto1]

Cool!

[@cmosphoto1]

@@staceymarkum3873 what's the brand name?

[@Blessings.429]

Stacey Markum not in Australia 😢

[@staceymarkum3873]

@@Blessings.429 that is such a bummer!

[@randyfredricksen5963]

I think you just invented...the boiler. lol

[@bencowles2105]

You can burn off the creosote with stuff available in stores designed to keep it burned off or you can use an old school trick and get a good bed of coals going and toss in a hand full of table salt. The burning sodium will clear out the creosote. Cleaning twice a year will also keep it clean.

[@cmosphoto1]

I heard burning a pop can will clear it up too.

[@bencowles2105]

@@cmosphoto1 i have not tried that one yet but i have used the salt trick. I will have to give it a try. I have made a small windmill with pop cans and used it to make electricity. It does not make much but it does make a little. I am working on building a double helix windmill to try and generate electricity on my homestead.

[@porkchop0711]

What a great idea

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Glad you think so!

[@allengermosen7982]

Best channel on KZbin

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks for watching!

[@allengermosen7982]

@@cmosphoto1 thanks for showing us young men the ropes you ah leader thanks for your service helping me alot

[@swann548]

You really need a wrap a round deck. Nice conversion on the water heat. Maybe if u remove the baffle & use it as a windchime. Paint it & it would make an awesome wind chime. I would watch that video ! That might stop the dripping. You got pex down. ☺👍

[@ModernSelfReliance]

NEXT UP: Wind chimes! USING Your water heater!

[@paulineackermann2598]

That's what I was thinking, great minds.~;>

[@vkeshelya]

Well done mate I love it when health and safety don’t exist keep up good work 🇬🇧👊🏻

[@chickfamilyink]

Hot water... Bucket list... I see what you did there. Next level punnery

[@ModernSelfReliance]

I'm Punny. Lol

[@benhightowerv]

That's awesome! Great addition to the cabin!

[@eddiehoff5278]

Nailed it. When will you be staying in the cabin for a weekend?

[@cmosphoto1]

It's almost ready... Probably this fall!

[@albertmills4435]

Nice job. That is a great idea. I would think of away to keep it from tipping over. That tank full of water could weight about 400 pounds. That dirt under the rim could wash away or shift. In the winter the Temperature/Pressure valve could freeze, then boom, boom goes the water heater. 🤪

[@cmosphoto1]

It's a three season water system... Won't be using it in the winter.

[@NightshiftCustom]

@@cmosphoto1 can just fill it as you light a fire in the winter time can also use this to heat your place with the hot water a rad and fan i do this with my shop as i don't want the fire inside !!

[@radagast6682]

At 11:16 you said "that's the sound of water heating up". It is the sound of bubbles of steam imploding when they emerge from the sediment into the water,. Because you used an old water heater from the junkyard.

[@joespivey9104]

Love this channel man super fun to watch

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks for watching!

[@MowenMcGuire]

Could use a refurbished propane grill in the fire ban season.

[@cmosphoto1]

That would definitely work.

[@richardsolomon8076]

Well done Kevin 👏 that's awesome

[@cmosphoto1]

Thanks!