Wood-Burning Tank Heater Works Well

Wood-Burning Tank Heater Works Well ENERGY Wood Burners (65) 34-1-10 Gene Schendt of G T Metal had the same problem as many of his customers - keeping his stock tank from freezing in winter so his horses could drink. He finally hit on the idea of making a wood burning tank heater that sits right in the tank. "You can either bolt it down or weigh it down. Personally, I use either cement blocks or tractor weights, and take them out every spring," he explains. "I copied the design of the heater from an old one made in the 60's or 70's." The burner is made from 14-ga. sheet metal and is 8 in. deep at the bottom with an approximate 45 degree angle up to the top of the wood chamber. A 6-ft. chimney extends further from there. "I use it in an 8-ft. dia. tank but you could go down to a 5-ft. dia. tank or up to a 10-ft. tank," he says. "It needs to be loaded with firewood once or twice a day. It's very easy to use û as long as you can light a fire, you can set it up. I use fireplace embers to get it started." Last year, Schendt sold the units for $300 plus shipping, but the price fluctuates, depending on the price of steel. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, G T Metal, Box 187, Lawrence, Neb. 68957 (ph 402 756-7835 or 402 469-2157 (cell); 402 469-2085 (Jay); gtmetal@gtmc.net).

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