Is the barrel stove set up horizontally? If so, and it's been done reasonably, I'd go with the barrel myself for several reasons:

1. Larger surface area for more overall heat transfer, need to make sure it's shielded from accidental brushes or chemicals though.

2. Lighter steel material should make for faster heat output and faster cool down when your done - less possibility of an unattended contact burning your garage down.

3. Other stove would be nicer in the house, the barrel would just fit in with the decor you've already shown us. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />


The biggest thing is making sure it's a reasonable conversion though. If you have any doubts at all about using it as a firebox, ditch it and go with the intent-built piece.

I know of many a garage/shop I grew up around in NE that had a barrel stove for the winter. Worked great. The really fancy-dancys would have double barrels stacked vertically with stove pipe from bottom to top and then from top up to catch residual heat in the smoke.

James