Strongly thinking about buying a Wood Gun

[avc8130]

I can run my boiler without the controller since I use a solar controller which gave me more control like differential temp between boiler and storage and better temperature spread. My controller is basically an off--on switch.
I just removed the cover a couple weeks ago because I'm into some 4 year old wood which measures about 9 to10 percent moisture. When the fire gets real hot it burns so fast that I was getting a Wooosh every 10 seconds or so. I'm starting the fire and when it gets going real well I've been closing the air way down to slow down the burn.[/quote]

That makes sense. Sounds like "chugging".

That's pretty sick moisture content. Congrats on being FAR ahead on your wood supply!

ac

 

[Fred61]

I didn't want to call it chugging because it isn't like any chugging I had experienced or like any descriptinns of chugging described to me by others although it may be the same thing. Imagind a woosh every 10 seconds. not as short term as chugging.

 

[mikefrommaine]

I just saw something. This thread is stupid now. For this deal this is a no-brainer:

(broken link removed to http://www.newhorizonstore.com/Products/88-eko-gasification-boiler.aspx)

$4149 shipped to your door for the best boiler ever built!

ac

It's showing 5380 for the 40. Sales must have spiked after your endorsement.

 

[avc8130]

It's showing 5380 for the 40. Sales must have spiked after your endorsement.

?

25 is $3890 + $259 = $4149

 

[mikefrommaine]

?

25 is $3890 + $259 = $4149

I missed the shipping, it used to be included.

 

[avc8130]

I missed the shipping, it used to be included.

For some reason shipping for the boiler on sale is more expensive than for the others.

 

[arngnick]

I really can't understand why anyone would bother with storage. Yes it may burn more efficiently, a little less wood but for me not having to relight a fire all the time is a big advantage, I light my boiler once over the whole winter. and I heat 4000SF with 8 cord of maple which cost me $880.00. I load the boiler 2 or 3 times per day.

I origionally thought the exact same thing but lighting a fire and loading my unit litterally takes 5 mins. 8 if I need to do a little extra cleaining and I am confident that it will burn once I leave. I would have never consitered batch burning with my other because it took a while to get a fire going.

 

[maple1]

I really can't understand why anyone would bother with storage. Yes it may burn more efficiently, a little less wood but for me not having to relight a fire all the time is a big advantage, I light my boiler once over the whole winter. and I heat 4000SF with 8 cord of maple which cost me $880.00. I load the boiler 2 or 3 times per day.

Storage is a big plus for me, it lets me go without even looking at the boiler until the evenings. No more tending it first thing in the morning to avoid the oil burner cutting in. It is a bit more hassle having to light a fire every day, compared to my old one that I lit once in the fall - but I am much more happy not having to keep feeding the boiler when I really don't want to (like as soon as I get out of bed) so the fire won't go out. I wouldn't go back to my old way for love or money - but everyones preferences are different.

 

[avc8130]

Storage is a big plus for me, it lets me go without even looking at the boiler until the evenings. No more tending it first thing in the morning to avoid the oil burner cutting in. It is a bit more hassle having to light a fire every day, compared to my old one that I lit once in the fall - but I am much more happy not having to keep feeding the boiler when I really don't want to (like as soon as I get out of bed) so the fire won't go out. I wouldn't go back to my old way for love or money - but everyones preferences are different.

I have yet to hear of a person UNHAPPY with storage.

ac

 

[Scotts Bum Wine]

Who can boast having the oldest wood gasification boiler? What would that be?

Scott

 

[mikefrommaine]

hobbyheater has a 30 year old jetstream. Search for jetstream, kerr, titan, madawaska boilers fmi.

The woodgun was a descendent of those boilers. The garn came soon after.

 

[Fred61]

I installed my Wood Gun in 1980 but unfortunately it had eaten itself up by 1988.
I don't know what was available in the gasser line back then but I looked at the Essex and I was immediately scared away. The demo unit was already having problems with deterrorating refractory and it had all kinds of unrecognizable hardware hanging on it. It was a scarey beast.
Can I assume you are asking the question in order to gauge which boiler will have the longest life?

 

[Scotts Bum Wine]

Well, yes. A lot of folks love their particular brand of boiler, and like to encourage others to buy the same kind. I know how that is. I have done the same thing with cars. I am 50 years old. I have maybe 30 years on this earth remaining, at best, considering my heritage. Efficiency is not the top priority, but years of service-life is. That's why I reluctantly switched from Chevy trucks over to Toyotas. They last longer. I understand that soliciting opinions off a web-board is purely anecdotal, but Consumer Reports has yet to do long term studies on the reliability of wood gasification boilers.

Scott

 

[Blue Tornado]

The price of the EKO 25 was too hard to resist. Cost to me delivered was 4,085. The savings will go towards storage. Where else can ya get into gasification for under 5 grand?

Cripes a guy could get two and save the second for twenty years down the road.

And there is a lightly used garn posted for sale on this site. It is in Wisconson.

 

[Scotts Bum Wine]

Good point!

 

[avc8130]

Another thing to consider: If you are 50, and you plan to live 30 more years, how many of those years do you REALLY plan on C/S/S wood and loading a boiler? You might not realistically need or WANT your boiler to last 30 years.

ac

 

[Fred61]

Well, yes. A lot of folks love their particular brand of boiler, and like to encourage others to buy the same kind. I know how that is. I have done the same thing with cars. I am 50 years old. I have maybe 30 years on this earth remaining, at best, considering my heritage. Efficiency is not the top priority, but years of service-life is. That's why I reluctantly switched from Chevy trucks over to Toyotas. They last longer. I understand that soliciting opinions off a web-board is purely anecdotal, but Consumer Reports has yet to do long term studies on the reliability of wood gasification boilers.

Scott

As you are undoubtedly aware, longevity and servicability of ones equipment has as much to do with the operator as it does with the equipment's quality and engineering. Most of my stuff is still in "new" condition after 20 years. I have a brother-in-law that will ruin any piece of equipment in six months to one year. There are some things that are beyond your control regardless what is done to keep your machinery servicable.

I probably shouldn't be talking here given the short life I got out of my Wood Gun. You probably have read of some of my misfortunes but the "coup-de-gras" that actually shut me down was the firebox that became so thin and porous that it would not hold water. I understand that problem has been addressed by going to stainless. Unfortunately some of the other problems that plagued me can only be cured by major re-design which would make the Wood Gun a totally different animal.

 

[Scotts Bum Wine]

ac-

This is true. Heating my home/shop with wood and coal for the last 27 years has made me healthier than most guys my age (I like to think) --- tendinitis notwithstanding. Installing a wood boiler in a location where I can heat both structures, and load wood less frequently than I do now will help power me into my golden years. At least that's how I have it played out in my little pea brain. We'll see. If the heating plant lasts 30 years, and my mushy old frame doesn't, then my daughter can sell this old barn of a house with a solid working wood heater. Suffice it to say, it is disheartening to have to replace something, when you thought you would never have to deal with it again.

 

[avc8130]

ac-

This is true. Heating my home/shop with wood and coal for the last 27 years has made me healthier than most guys my age (I like to think) --- tendinitis notwithstanding. Installing a wood boiler in a location where I can heat both structures, and load wood less frequently than I do now will help power me into my golden years. At least that's how I have it played out in my little pea brain. We'll see. If the heating plant lasts 30 years, and my mushy old frame doesn't, then my daughter can sell this old barn of a house with a solid working wood heater. Suffice it to say, it is disheartening to have to replace something, when you thought you would never have to deal with it again.

Sound logic.

Before you go buying ANY boiler, have you dont a heat loss calc to know just how much heat you NEED?

 

[Scotts Bum Wine]

Fred61-

I was wondering what had happened to your Wood Gun. You are so right when you speak of the operator's care in running his machine. This is very true in the construction industry. As I said earlier, there can be a lot of variables in how mush serviceability one can get out of a machine. Asking opinions on a web board is anything but scientific, but it is all I have to go on. I appreciate hearing everybody's input, and honestly I am heartened at how many people jump-forth and are willing to help out a novice. This really is a good forum. Thanks.

 

[Scotts Bum Wine]

ac-

A few years back, I had a family friend in to replace my fuel oil boiler. He had been in the business for 40+ years and did some calculations based on my needs, window size and numbers, lack of good insulation, etc. He added a bit of extra on to the final number, at my request. The bottom line came down to 189,000 btu. Knowing that this number is inflated, and adding in my well-insulated small shop, I figure a 140,000 btu unit would suffice, after reading that a wood gasification boiler should be a bit undersized.

 

[avc8130]

ac-

A few years back, I had a family friend in to replace my fuel oil boiler. He had been in the business for 40+ years and did some calculations based on my needs, window size and numbers, lack of good insulation, etc. He added a bit of extra on to the final number, at my request. The bottom line came down to 189,000 btu. Knowing that this number is inflated, and adding in my well-insulated small shop, I figure a 140,000 btu unit would suffice, after reading that a wood gasification boiler should be a bit undersized.

Ok, good. I didn't actually want you to do that calculation to size the boiler itself, per se. I was hoping you could do the calc to determine if a reasonable amount of storage could serve you well. If you truly have 140k btuh heat load, the typical 1k gallons of storage would last you ~2.5-4 hours depending on how well your current distribution setup works with lower temps.

ac

 

[Fred61]

Asking opinions on a web board is anything but scientific, but it is all I have to go on. I appreciate hearing everybody's input, and honestly I am heartened at how many people jump-forth and are willing to help out a novice. This really is a good forum. Thanks​

Be careful about whose opinion you take seriously. The guy that is in his first year of running his gasser is still in the honeymoon phase. Can't wait to get home and put the wood to that beautiful gasser. I, on the other hand, have several years under in the gasser bedroom. After the first or second year the excitement turns to reality and one finds the odd behavior not so tolerable.

I have used the analagy about the guy that installs a potbelly stove that's full of holes after heating with a fireplace and would recommend it to anybody. Never been warmer!! Then replaces it with a franklin stove. Wow, what a machine. Never been warmer!. I'd recommend it to anybody, etc.

I have burned wood since 1959 forward at hunting camp and in my homes since 1970 in all kinds of stoves including one made from highway signs.

 

[avc8130]

"Being humble is a lot less stressful than walking around with a big ego."

-Unkown

 

[Scotts Bum Wine]

in the gasser bedroom

Fred, my wife would say she already lives in one of those.