help please on hay bale heater

admin

Hello folks, I'm starting a New Zealand rabbit farm. I have a 40x100 barn for the rabbits. I have to keep it warm enough mainly to keep the water from frezing( around 45 or 50) I'm thinking of useing a hay bale heater. 6'x15'x1/4" pipe fire box with forced air on the fire on a thermastat 55 gallon drum as a heat reclamer. The only thing I do not understand is how to build the door.... It is going to be on the out side of a roon in the weather so I have to isulate it but still have it so it will easly open( so my wife can load the stove) How could I do this with out woarping and able to keep a seal and open enough to get a 4x5 rould bale in it. Thank-you..It does not matter how long, how much, or how you done it there is some one out there that knows more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (something I have learn the hard way)
Reply:From the internet Google search HAY BALE HEATER.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:From what I have learned from big doors is precision hinges that are well aligned can move mountains. Hinge design and size would be related to the weight of the door.I would use a lot of strong backs welded to the door (flat bar) This will keep it flat and lower distortion. Stitch weld pattern. For insulation, you probably would need that white blanket style insulation. It will not burn. (Silica Mate).Last edited by oxygen454; 02-08-2011 at 12:45 AM.
Reply:what kind of water trays will you have?..does the barn need to warm for any other reason?  run a recurculation pump to keep the water runnung and not freezing
Reply:Pretty neat, never saw a heater that used hay as the fuel.Ought to work good.  I started my round bales on fire years ago when I was burning brush piles and the wind shifted.  The bales burned/smoldered in layers for around 3 days.Was quite a day........I called the fire department, they came and immediately suggested that I make a firebreak in the bale area.  I have around from 150-300 round bales stored in a relatively small area near the dry lot.While the fire doods hosed me down, I was able to stay on the tractor and remove enough bales to make the fire break.  It was pretty weird, couldn't see in front of me as soon as I entered the smoke.  And the water was real cold when it me.  My loader tractor has no windows in the cab except for the windshield.As it was, with the help of the fire guys, I only lost 60 bales to the fire."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:As it was, with the help of the fire guys, I only lost 60 bales to the fire. DOHMiller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:thank-you guts for the help... I'm traiding the rabbit dropings to a man tht is useing it on his hey fields and he is giving me the "junk" hay off a new field he bought... so free fuel...... I just have to get this heater to work and free heat.......The water system is a gravity fead.... KISS..... is my wayIt does not matter how long, how much, or how you done it there is some one out there that knows more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (something I have learn the hard way)
Reply:Originally Posted by damiana rabbitrythank-you guts for the help... I'm traiding the rabbit dropings to a man tht is useing it on his hey fields and he is giving me the "junk" hay off a new field he bought... so free fuel...... I just have to get this heater to work and free heat.......The water system is a gravity fead.... KISS..... is my way
Reply:kidding
Reply:The water is coming from rual water supply. fill small tank with flat valve then grav to the cagesIt does not matter how long, how much, or how you done it there is some one out there that knows more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (something I have learn the hard way)
Reply:Originally Posted by damiana rabbitryThe water is coming from rual water supply. fill small tank with flat valve then grav to the cages
Reply:I'm getting water from the county water company... hate to but my well went bad... water test said that it is not fit for aniamalsIt does not matter how long, how much, or how you done it there is some one out there that knows more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (something I have learn the hard way)
Reply:The Farm Show magazine has had several articles in the last year or so about home made bale heaters. Some of the articles probably gave a phone # to contact the builder.
Reply:mmmmmmm bbq rabbit