solar pop can heater

[greatwhite]

So I am thinking of building two of these each 2X8. I have pretty much everything I need and from what I read (Watch) I should get enough BTU's to heat my 900 sq ft garage. It will help to keep the shop above Zero much longer before I have to light a fire. Usually in the dead of winter if I light a fire in the garage every 2 or 3 days and bring the temp up to 20 C the shop stays above zero, don't think it ever dropped down below zero. So I'm thinking this should help reduce the amount of wood I burn. Actually I don't burn much but don't feel like cutting as much these days. I think I currently go through 2 face cords for the garage right now. Maybe I can cut it down to 1.5.

Anyone build one for their garage, shop or camp?

[gbk]

Let us know how it turns out- i was thinking years ago about it, but there are mold issues.......so I walked away.

[mosquito]

I made a small one 5 wide by 7 high one and put in the south facing window in the one room upstairs last winter, it got warm on sunny days but I didn't have any fans etc. and was just using it to collect solar heat since the furnace vent was on the floor near by. It was noticeably warmer than other items near by but if I left a black sweatpants in the sun or the cat laid in the sun they got warmer too. A solar heater will obviously only work on clear days, facing south etc. and it will add some heat for about 5 hours a day at best so it might make a fun project but checking for air leaks, better insulation and perhaps a heat exchanger. There are other types but here is a diy version
https://www.instructables.com/Woodstove-Heat-Exchanger/

[Bushmoose]

So in other words, you're trying to explain to your wife why you have all the empty beer cans? Good one GW!

[greatwhite]

The wife does not come into the workshop and we use the empty beer cans to buy groceries.

So in other words, you're trying to explain to your wife why you have all the empty beer cans? Good one GW!

[warningshot]

looks like a decent idea ...work smarter not harder