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Backyard Entertaining:
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Eh, most of those wood burning cons only applies if you have an open box, or a crappy insert.
Fully enclosed wood stoves and zero clearance inserts don't have the the open-flue/cold house or closed-flue/smoky issues.
Lightning fires is as easy as putting in a safe fire starter and walking away https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KC009Y/
There's not a lot of tending with good fireboxes.
But yeah, having to manage wood/critters you can't necessarily get out of.
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I have a newer 2015 EPAII zero clearance and it's amazing. Put a couple logs in there, put a fire starter on it, light it, open flue, close doors and walk away. At full flue open I'm putting a log on it once an hour to keep it around 500 degrees. I had it going probably 5 out of 7 days this winter - The heat of the fire keeps the glass clean, so no need to clean it more than twice a year. The ash removal is a weekly thing, but not bad. The re-burning of smoke pretty much turns everything in to heat. The chimney cleaner was just out and said to call back in another 3 to 5 years as they only removed about a half a solo cup of soot.
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If OP is looking at net-new install, and has a easy/cheap way to get wood, zero clearance or a stove hands down my choice.
That ridge will prevent you from putting in a false bottom that fits. I have one of their aluminum pots with the same ride, and ran into that problem.
https://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Classic-1060-62-Quart-Stainless-Steel/dp/B000VXHKMC?th=1
Also available on amazon prime for 52, larger size for 60~
I'm 5'9" (181cm) and use thisas my main DJ table: https://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-80160-Commercial-Adjustable-Folding/dp/B003DYZQKY with a black drape over it. At its highest setting, it's perfect for DJing.
https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F215100-3800-BTU-Propane/dp/B001CFRF7I?ref_=ast_sto_dp
$65 at Wal-Mart.
This one is better for a car.
https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F232000-Indoor-Safe-Portable/dp/B002G51BZU
I am on the research phase for my first smoker as well. This electric one on Amazon is super well reviewed. I am curious what the folks here think.
Masterbuilt 20070910 30-Inch Black Electric Digital Smoker, Top Controller https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00104WRCY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_IaZFxb1FT7XY3
We have yet to use this, but I was recommended a Mr. Heater little buddy for our RTT annex room. It’s recommended to turn the heater on about 30-45 mins before bed, and the heat will rise up into the tent.
Mr. Heater F215100 MH4B Little Buddy 3800-BTU Indoor Safe Propane Heater, Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CFRF7I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_hCp8FbV2M5N5Q?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
There's a Mr. Heater Little Buddy I've been thinking about getting for this exact purpose.
You can get a Weber Jumbo Joe for $70 from Amazon. 18 in charcoal grill. Or check Walmart, or your local hardware store.
https://www.amazon.com/Weber-1211001-Jumbo-18-Inch-Portable/dp/B0098HR0RC
Same price on Amazon
Some Weber grills come standard with this grate. It has hinges to allow access to the coals. If yours doesn’t have it, you should consider picking one up; it’s worth the $20.
For sure. My go to strategy for this is to quarter a log and then baton off sticks from the cut pieces. I then light one of these wax firestarter nuggets and stack my sticks made from dry wood on top of it. The nuggets burn for 15 minutes and light up everything. Boom. Fire.
All it costs in weight is an axe and a firestarter that weighs less than your cellphone.
Dunno if you care about all that but maybe it saves you some strain on your next trip.
Good stuff man for sure. There’s a grill grate that will change your life. It changed mine for the better.
We bought one of these during the pandemic and our kids were virtual schooling.
They're great as portable desks.
https://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-80160-Commercial-Adjustable-Folding/dp/B003DYZQKY
Id replace it. I went with one that has hinged edges: https://www.amazon.com/Weber-7436-Hinged-Cooking-Grate/dp/B000WEPHKW/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=weber+hinged+grill+grate+22+inch&qid=1653330782&sprefix=weber+hing%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-3
This this the smallest system I would start with. It’s a much better battery and inverter. this battery is >5kw compared to <1kw for the one you’re looking at. With enough panels you’re fine for what you need, but keep in mind that 1 kw heater would only last ~ 5 hours here at full charge with nothing else running.
Electric heat is just not efficient at all. Buy a small propane camp heater like this.
The rest is doable and power tools would run off the above system if you’re using them intermittently. You could also expand this for some lv 1 EV charging but you’d want to double the battery capacity and mount as many panels as the system would accept. But down the road it’s adaptable for that purpose
we grew up with them and yeah they’re great, but just too expensive.
been using these fire starter nuggets for the last 2 years now and i’m a lifer for them. re basically semi spheres of the same thing. saw dust with some wax/resin holding them together. as long as you build you initial log pile properly, they work like a charm and are affordable. 1 box basically got me through the whole winter this year. throw 2 large pieces on the bottom of the stove as your base, one of these starters in the middle of the two, then put 2-3 medium and small pieces of wood that almost encase it in a chamber, then 3ish small tinder type pieces on top to close it off and that usually does it for me.
Here’s one I have used that fits your dimensions. It even has a standing mode!
This thing still works great after being abused, left in the rain, etc for over two years. Propane is expensive, so we refill the little 1 lb cans from a big 15 lb tank. It automatically turns itself off if it gets tipped over or tilted, and we have CO detector. One of us usually just holds it in our hands till we get toasty, then turn if off and go to sleep. We love it.
That's why most vagabonds here will head south for the winter, and north for the summer rather tan battle the elements.
You may want to consider getting a small propane heater, like a "Mr. Heater Little buddy".
Uses a 1 pound propane tank, which can get expensive, but far cheaper if you refill the canisters from a 20 pound propane tank.
Good luck!
The first winter on our property we lived in our SUV. This was our only keep source. We had a CO detector and kept windows cracked. Usually one of us just held it until we got toasty, then turn it off and go to sleep. But it turns itself off if it gets tilted or falls over. Worked great.
I don't know how I missed this thread!
As others have said, you'll need to size your kettle at double your batch size, especially for all-grain brews. I have mostly used the Bayou Classics kettles. They don't have a tri-ply bottom, but that's never been an issue for me. Right now the 11 gallon (44qt) is $78 on amazon. I do 6 gallon batches in this kettle on the regular. Link
Another option is a cheaper tri-ply kettle. If you want to spend a few more dollars, Beverage Elements has a 15 gallon kettle (which I've used for 10 gallon batches with some fermcap-S), complete with tri-clad bottom and weldless valve for about $120. I have this kettle and like it, though it's missing some bells and whistles that more expensive kettles have. Given the price, though, this is about as good as it gets. Link
My wife got me one of these back in 2017: https://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-20070910-30-Inch-Electric-Controller/dp/B00104WRCY
I call it my meat filing cabinet or mini fridge because that’s what it looks like. Super easy to use and managing temperature is a piece of cake. I would recommend storing it indoors though when the cold and wintery months are upon you. I had to replace my heating element this year, which was easy enough but waiting two months for the element to ship because they were out of stock was the pits.
I bought this one from Amazon and has lasted me three years so far in WA weather. It's considerably heavier than the Weber ones and fits my Spirit 310 perfectly. There are other sizes available depending on which grill you have.
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- You could also take it anywhere
- It will last you a good long time
- It's a weber
I'm 6'4. I also use a flight case and my table from Amazon is a little taller than most folding tables. Most tables are 29" high, but this one can go 36". Buying that table to upgrade from my old one is arguably the best DJ purchase I've made.
Edit: Table
- Probably not unless you end up going wood stove or something or are super cramped.
- You could. Why?
- Yes. You can find them on amazon, they are like a wall plug.
Two words for you: Electric blanket (alternator power tie in, 100AH pack in back)
If not, this is the SAFEST heater I know of. The design is practically a miracle. There is almost no way for it to go wrong.
https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F215100-3800-BTU-Propane/dp/B001CFRF7I/ref=asc_df_B001CFRF7I/
I've had really good luck with the Bayou Classic stuff on Amazon. Even the stainless steel kettles without a tri-ply bottom have worked great, and were affordable. They also have tri-ply stuff, though.
I'd consider the following 11 gallon pot, and add a port if you need to. I have this exact kettle, and it's my go-to for most brew days. That being said, I'm a budget brewer, so I don't need many bells or whistles.
We bought a small adjustable table one thanksgiving and that thing turned out to be a workhorse. I pull it out to the living room and pop it up to countertop height to fold laundry while watching some indulgent show. The kids can’t reach my piles up there. It also works for a kid table at the lowest height. One winter in desperation I put it half up like a ramp and let the twins roll balls, blocks, stuffed animals and whatever else down it. Eventually they started going down it like a slide. That table is still one of the most used things in our house. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003DYZQKY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_3im9BbKT7BEF9
I used to buy my friends who were getting into grilling and BBQ the Maverick because I got one as a gift and it is the dog's balls for low and slow cooking. Then I got a Thermapen, and now THAT's my go-to gift for cooks and grillers. I've probably bought a half-dozen of them.