How To Make a Donkey Boiler
A donkey boiler is a water-heating system installed outdoors. Based on the "donkey boilers" on ships' decks for use when the ships are in port, donkey boilers are an economical way to warm water for use indoors or outdoors. The simplest systems involve a metal drum filled with water and heated by a wood fire.
Steel drums come in sizes ranging from 5 gallons to 55 gallons. Choose the right size for your needs. A 5-gallon drum is large enough for an outdoor shower, but the largest drums can be used as auxiliary hot water sources for homes.
Things You Will Need
- 2-by-4-inch lumber
- Nails
- Tamper
- 1-inch black iron pipe
- Wire
- Concrete
- Bow rake
- Tight-head steel drum with two bungholes
- Threaded drum faucet
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Build a concrete slab for the donkey boiler. Excavate an area 6 feet long on each side to a depth of 4 inches. Nail 2-by-4-inch pieces of lumber together to build a frame that fits inside the edges of the excavation. Tamp the bottom of the excavation smooth.
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Install the supports for the barrel. Set the bottoms of two pieces of pipe in the ground inside the form about 4 feet apart, then cross the pipes until they form an "X." Wrap wire around the spot where the two pipes intersect. Push the bottoms of the pipes into the ground. Repeat the process with the other two bars, making sure the intersection of the X on the second set is at the same height as the intersection of the X on the first set. The supports form two X shapes that the barrel rests atop.
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Mix the concrete according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Pour concrete into the frame and use a bow rake to work it into the corners and around the pipes. Smooth the surface with a board. Let the concrete set for 24 hours and remove the frame.
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Prepare the steel drum. Unscrew the two bunghole covers. Install a drum faucet in one of the holes according to the manufacturer's instructions. Drum faucets screw into place or are tapped into the hole until the faucet fits snugly. Set the steel drum in place on top of the pipe supports with the open hole farthest off the ground.
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Insert a hose into the steel drum and fill it with water. Build a wood fire on the concrete pad under the drum to heat the water. Drain heated water from the drum by attaching a hose to the drum faucet or opening the spigot to fill a bucket.
Tip
Set the two X's about 30 inches apart for a 55-gallon drum. Adjust the measurement for a smaller drum. Flush the steel drum occasionally with a 50/50 bleach and water solution to clean it.
Warning
The water may be very hot if you use the donkey boiler for an outdoor shower. Check the temperature rating for the drum faucet. Some don't withstand high heat.
The Drip Cap
- A donkey boiler is a water-heating system installed outdoors.
- Steel drums come in sizes ranging from 5 gallons to 55 gallons.
- A 5-gallon drum is large enough for an outdoor shower, but the largest drums can be used as auxiliary hot water sources for homes.
- Set the bottoms of two pieces of pipe in the ground inside the form about 4 feet apart, then cross the pipes until they form an "X." Wrap wire around the spot where the two pipes intersect.
- Unscrew the two bunghole covers.
- Install a drum faucet in one of the holes according to the manufacturer's instructions.
References
Writer Bio
Meg Jernigan has been writing for more than 30 years. She specializes in travel, cooking and interior decorating. Her offline credits include copy editing full-length books and creating marketing copy for nonprofit organizations. Jernigan attended George Washington University, majoring in speech and drama.
Photo Credits
- Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
- Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
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