Here's a kit you can use to convert a steel barrel into an efficient and economical woodburning stove for your farm shop or other buildings.

The four-piece Enderes kit includes a door frame and assembly, stove and pipe collar, a pair of heavy duty legs, and the necessary nuts and bolts. It converts either a 30 to 55-gal. barrel.

The door frame and assembly is a special design. A ridge on the door fits into a groove on the door frame, making a tight fit, compared with the usual barrel heater that has a flat door which can sag and leak air.

Another accessory recommended by the company is a grate for the bottom of the barrel. With a grate (or sand) in the bottom, the stove will last a long time. Without some protection, the hot fuel can soon burn out the barrel.

Other optional equipment offered by Enderes includes a stovepipe damper, wire handle, lid lifter, and hot plate (which provides a flat surface to heat a pan or kettle). For more heat output, you can buy extra collars and legs to attach two barrels, one above the other, or you can go three barrels high. For this or a conventional installation, the manufacturer recommends protective shields on the floor and surrounding walls.