Tyler
Member
One thing that I know for keeping warm is to use candles in a pot over a layer of rocks. The rocks capture and re-radiate the heat
How about a cheap way to heat in case of an emergency?
- Thread starter GWprepper
- Start date
Help Support Doomsday Prepper Forums:
Bravery
Active Member
This was my question too! I believe that it could be useful in an emergency but is it really practical? Here is a video of what I found. It answers the question for me. AGAIN, in an emergency I believe it would help in a pinch.
Now for something I feel is more practical and efficient check out Youtube for Rocket Stove Heater. This uses twigs and branches so it might not be practical in the city. AND you will need to vent the exhaust because it would be deadly otherwise. There are MANY different designs, all based on the same principle.
Last edited:
Bravery
Active Member
Oh, keep in mind that I haven't invested much time or effort into this kind of prepping because I live in Florida (North Florida but still Florida). As a matter of fact, my car had issues with the heater coil so I had it bypassed so I have no heater in my car. My knowledge base on this subject is limited so I will defer to that know more.
kay13
New Member
the wood stove is excellent if you have a place u can do that with...ive used a few out of the box ideas during power outages and all have worked great and are safe which is a plus with kida
I know I'm going a bit modern but we do live in a technologically advanced time. I would go to wal mart and get a mini propane heater that takes the green Colman propane tanks the green tanks are like 3 dollars for two at academy here in Texas so for 100 bucks you can get 66 tanks which I'm assuming each tank last about 5-9 hours for heating. Little bit warmer than candle power
Bravery
Active Member
That would definitely work!!! but you should have redundant ways to stay alive. Heat is not a real survival issue in most cases where I live... just a few days a year might it be a problem. But I have several different ways to cook should something happen... for example if a hurricane hits... I have a propane tank (100 gallons) and stove/oven in the house. Then I have a Volcano Stove and I just bought a Rocket stove (which I think is perfect if a storm blows through because there will be all kinds of branches and that is exactly what it would use). I wish I bought the Rocket stove first... then I might not have bought the Volcano.
The point is if I run out of propane, I have two other methods of cooking. The same mindset should be with heating and other survival needs. In my humble opinion.
Unknown, I think you are not getting the point. Lets say you live where you need to have heat. You did not get to Walmart or you were where in cold wet place. This is an alternative heating source. I have been in civilized zones, after floods, hurricanes... where those who could not afford or saw no need to prepair. Walmart, Sears, Ace hardware, H Depo... were all looted, for things they needed and things they just wanted, even though they could never use a flat screen TV,( with no power) or ten pairs of sneakers.
Just saying. Learn now use later.
Danil54grl
Top Poster
My alternative heat source has been wood for our fireplace and in a pinch you can cook over it with cast iron pots and skillets (I have actually had to do this a few times). When we have a fallen tree on the property we cut it up and stack it. Also if we are doing our errands and see one that has fallen on a house property or commercial property, we ask if we can remove it. . .in exchange for the wood. We have built up quit a bit of firewood this way that will last us a couple years. For a homemade fire starter, I save drier lent in cardboard egg cartons and pour in melted gulf wax. . . . works like a charm.
[Daniel="Danil54grl, post: 45660, member: 540"]My alternative heat source has been wood for our fireplace and in a pinch you can cook over it with cast iron pots and skillets (I have actually had to do this a few times). When we have a fallen tree on the property we cut it up and stack it. Also if we are doing our errands and see one that has fallen on a house property or commercial property, we ask if we can remove it. . .in exchange for the wood. We have built up quit a bit of firewood this way that will last us a couple years. For a homemade fire starter, I save drier lent in cardboard egg cartons and pour in melted gulf wax. . . . works like a charm.[/quote]
Danil, if you or a friend or neighbors have those good smelling candles, after the wick burns out you can melt the wax and use with your dryer lent in the same way. This way you can save your Gulf wax for canning jams and jelly, when we/you can't get it.
Good luck, be safe, and God bless.
Danil, if you or a friend or neighbors have those good smelling candles, after the wick burns out you can melt the wax and use with your dryer lent in the same way. This way you can save your Gulf wax for canning jams and jelly, when we/you can't get it.
Good luck, be safe, and God bless.
Danil, if you or a friend or neighbors have those good smelling candles, after the wick burns out you can melt the wax and use with your dryer lent in the same way. This way you can save your Gulf wax for canning jams and jelly, when we/you can't get it.
Good luck, be safe, and God bless.[/quote]
P.S. Nice new pic, calves are fun and a hand full, enjoy!
Danil54grl
Top Poster
I do save my wax pieces from old candles, but hadn't thought of using them with the lint. Great suggestion! The calves are Jr., a Guernsey and Charlie, a Holstein. We had just unloaded them after picking them up at an auction barn. They were about 7 days old here and they were bottle fed for about 4 months. I am 5'9" and Charlie's back comes up to my neck, so he is my big boy now.
Shenandoah
Member
We heat solely with wood, our home, shop, and cabins so just a suggestion on the pot-belly stove....Yes, it will keep you from freezing but you will be putting wood in it every hour or so as they are anything BUT airtight! As their firebox is smaller, they just can't hold a fire very long. Also, with a pot-belly, get a damper for the stove pipe or all your heat will be going out the window...literally. You will want single wall pipe coming off the pot-belly stove and put the damper in the single wall pipe. Then use double or triple wall pipe where the pipe goes through anything combustable (ceiling or wall).
Also, I would opt for Masonite as opposed to sheet rock for behind the stove. The paper on sheetrock can and will burn. One 4'x8' sheet of Masonite will work wonders.
Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains, I have often seen stove pipes run out the window but just know they tend not to "draw" very well. But again....we are taking about shtf emergencies here and I vote for heat from the pot-belly as opposed to frozen extremities!!
Blessings,
Shenandoah
Shenandoah
Member
We have a pot-belly in the tack room and also one in the parlor...when buying yours, be sure you can feed it from the top. If you can only feed it from the front door, pass. The problem we have is when putting wood in the front door, because the fire box is small, coals and sparks pop out the whole time we are trying to put wood in. When you feed the stove from the top, you can completely avoid this problem.
You also asked about placing the stove on the granite...honestly, the floor under ours barely gets warm. The stove in the parlor has 8" legs so it sits safely on the floor, without anything under it. The one in the tack room we do have sitting on a large piece of flagstone just to be safe as its legs are shorter.
Blessings,
Shenandoah
That would work if Walmart had any in stock.
Danil54grl
Top Poster
With a pot belly stove you will need to make it air tight. Focus on the burner plate, firebox door, and ash door. You will need to buy fiberglass gaskets, gasket cement and high temperature black paint. They really are great in warming a home, cheap and you are only looking at about $50 dollar to make air tight. Just be careful on what you buy. . Make sure it is of good quality because making it air tight is only going to put more pressure on the stove walls and a cheaper version will end up cracking after years of use.
Danil54grl
Top Poster
I love my fireplace and now that the wood burning stove has been installed in the back of the house has helped warm up getting out of the shower and the electric heater doesn't run so often. We did have a cold snap that was about 4 days
Arcticdude
Top Poster
I think anyone that can should have a wood stove installed in their house. It should have a flat top for cooking on too.
Brent S
Top Poster
I put in a medium sized vogelzang. It has a two burner flat top that is great for cooking on. It was 125.00 when I bought it but are closer to 200 now. If patient you could do well on Craigslist or yard sales though. One consideration is where to place it. I have it in a seperate area I can close off if needed. So when it's cold I open it to the house, but if needed for cooking in the summer I can close the house and open the room to the outside. One other issue to have in mind is the flue. You will spend as much on it as you do the stove. You need double or triple wall pipe where going thru a ceiling, wall or attic. These things get really hot, so don't get cheap on heat shielding or using the proper flue pipe. Your house burning down will certainly keep you warm for a short while though.
Similar threads
