We had a double stacker at home for our shop.

Yeah, if the drum steel is that lighter guage stuff, get some firebrick or gravel to put a layer in the bottom, or you'll burn thru that beechnut. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" />

The stuff for the stack should be metalbestos, and I also recommend a strap bracket to the wall to keep it plumb. We use that hardware up here for earthquakes. I like Ted's suggestion about the concrete block around it. Good thermal mass.

You might want to give your fire marshall a call to see if there is any code for that thing. Code here is a MINIMUM distance of 18" from the wall and 4" off the floor. I also recommend a reflective barrier of some sort; I've got some AL diamondplate for that job; it's offset from the wall by 4" Good place to dry yer gloves! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

Also if your home insurance finds out you have it, your rates might go up. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" />

Do a little homework for your install. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

So let me get this right. FOR IN MY HOUSE, I could build a block wall, insulated with Sand, around the wood burner. How would I tie into my current duct work so that I can utilize the fan on my furnace to push heat upward. I really want to be able to get off the Gas Company teet this winter...it's unbelievabley expensive. In the garage, I'll just build around the barrel stove, filing the cores with sand. I doubt I'll need more than just the ambient heat, but if I do, I figured I could put a couple vent fans in to push heat around.

I thought this BARREL STOVE was going to heat your garage??? NOT your house??

On your house vents, do some inspecting to see if any of the ductwork is loose/leaking air. They've got some AL tape for sealing that stuff up.

Got a basement I take it? Can't give you any help for your muddled description or what it is you actually want to do what the barrel stove. Fire marshall would frown on that thing being in the basement with a gas furnace.

What about an outside wood furnace with a water circulator?

IF Stoney wants to do this on the cheap, that won't happen soon.
Gotta get the kids a little bigger to help get in the wood too. Those are actually pretty popular up in the Interior.
In Spokane WA where my Dad's family lives, they banned wood burning stoves in the county several years back.

Sounds like he's got forced air heat. If he had a boiler in place, IIRC, you can plumb them in. So there's a plumbing job to be had on top of it.

My grandparents' place had a forced air wood furnace. We'd go thru about 12 cords/year for about 2400 SF in the Idaho panhandle. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

I think that much wood, and there goes Stoney's kids' swing set!

Stoney, scope these; out of MN.

http://www.yukon-eagle.com/index.html

You could use the official Army Corp of Engineers campsite fireplace:

I've got 3 of 'em. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

my camp has one from a duece and a half.