Author Topic: What portable heater? (Read 4972 times)

ssduramax66 · « **on:** Nov 01, 2015, 01:13 PM »

Hey guys, welcome back from vacation

I can't wait for this season on the ice. Anyways I purchased a clam xl2000 Bigfoot last year (floor size 90"x90") and I was looking for recommendations for a small portable heater. Does anyone have any preferences? Do you typically have issues with melting using a heater in a portable hub shelter? Thanks guys!

PoolGuy · « **Reply #1 on:** Nov 01, 2015, 05:47 PM »

Quote from: ssduramax66 on Nov 01, 2015, 01:13 PM

Hey guys, welcome back from vacation I can't wait for this season on the ice. Anyways I purchased a clam xl2000 Bigfoot last year (floor size 90"x90") and I was looking for recommendations for a small portable heater. Does anyone have any preferences? Do you typically have issues with melting using a heater in a portable hub shelter? Thanks guys!

Mr. Heater

TheCrittaC · « **Reply #2 on:** Nov 01, 2015, 06:59 PM »

I just use the same stove I use to cook my lunch as a heater.

Arctic Addict · « **Reply #3 on:** Nov 01, 2015, 08:26 PM »

I run a Big Buddy in my portable. I also use the 2x2 foam interlocking floor mats. It greatly helps keeping the heat in and the cold out.

NH piker · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 02, 2015, 06:22 AM »

Any one of the Mr. Heaters will work. I have both the Big Buddy and the small one. They have a Hunter model which has max. 12,000 btu's. I run the small 9,000 btu model with my Shappell dx4000 which heats plenty.

JIGGIN- · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 02, 2015, 06:35 AM »

i use a single burner propane cast stove with a piece of plywood under. It still melts the ice, so i move it around. also use a 2 burner coleman propane stove. Heat and cook.

jethro · « **Reply #6 on:** Nov 02, 2015, 08:09 AM »

I use a Portable Buddy by Mr. Heater with an 11lb propane tank and a 12' hose. Have a T fitting on the tank and have another hose that goes to a Coleman stove so I can run both at the same time. Seems like overkill but I can cook bacon and eggs at 6am on First CT in -20F temps and it's still t-shirt weather in my portable shanty!

merk42 · « **Reply #7 on:** Nov 06, 2015, 08:33 AM »

We used to heat with the coleman stove, but now all we do is grill out on the ice, so we switched to the little buddy heater. Even at -15 and wind, its plenty warm.

bart · « **Reply #8 on:** Nov 06, 2015, 08:49 AM »

My Mr. Heater Little Buddy suits me fine...

JIGGIN- · « **Reply #9 on:** Nov 06, 2015, 08:59 AM »

nice pic Bart....nothing like hot food on a frozen lake.

ssduramax66 · « **Reply #10 on:** Nov 09, 2015, 12:21 PM »

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll be going with a mr heater little buddy.

ssduramax66 · « **Reply #11 on:** Nov 09, 2015, 12:31 PM »

Quote from: bart on Nov 06, 2015, 08:49 AM

My Mr. Heater Little Buddy suits me fine...

Bart,
Is that a custom warming rack on the heater or did you buy that as an optional accessory? I looked around but couldn't find one like that.

bart · « **Reply #12 on:** Nov 09, 2015, 01:30 PM »

ssduramax66, I made the warming rack. I ordered a grill from Mr. Heater, modified it a little and drilled two holes. It fits into the holes and lays across the original grill that came with the heater.

DConICE · « **Reply #13 on:** Nov 09, 2015, 01:56 PM »

Great Idea... and it looks great.

I did the same thing after seeing the picture, looked all over the Mr. Heater website and other retailers for a rack accessory...

I have a new heater this season (ok, got it last season and didn't get out ONCE!) - this will make a nice upgrade...

Thanks for the post and update...

ssduramax66 · « **Reply #14 on:** Nov 09, 2015, 03:55 PM »

Quote from: bart on Nov 09, 2015, 01:30 PM

ssduramax66, I made the warming rack. I ordered a grill from Mr. Heater, modified it a little and drilled two holes. It fits into the holes and lays across the original grill that came with the heater.

I looked and looked and figured it had to be home made. Looks good I will be making that modification when I get my heater. Thanks bart!

ssduramax66 · « **Reply #15 on:** Nov 09, 2015, 03:57 PM »

P.S. looks like you got some action on the bottom on your flasher lol

800stealth · « **Reply #16 on:** Nov 09, 2015, 05:18 PM »

17 pages dedicated to cooking with a buddy heater, with a few different rack setups...
http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=132730.0

FrostBack · « **Reply #17 on:** Nov 09, 2015, 06:09 PM »

Here is the way I use my Big Buddy, It cost less than $5.00 and took less that 5 minutes to adapt.
Just buy a cooling rack form Wal*Mart kitchen dept and bend it in half, then wire it in your heater so it looks like this:

ICEHOLE · « **Reply #18 on:** Nov 11, 2015, 12:53 PM »

x2 on heater buddy with addition of custom cook rack...i just went to walmart and bought a paint roller screen for like $1-2 give it a bend, done

lowaccord66 · « **Reply #19 on:** Nov 11, 2015, 03:54 PM »

Icehole! Nice design! Aluminum too so its quick to cool. My last buddy heater suffered from a melted handle after using my lasko scoop to rest a pan on. Won't be doing that this year!

ssduramax66 · « **Reply #20 on:** Nov 12, 2015, 06:12 AM »

Thanks guys for the enthusiasm, can't wait to get my buddy heater and do some modifications!

jethro · « **Reply #21 on:** Nov 12, 2015, 10:11 AM »

Quote from: lowaccord66 on Nov 11, 2015, 03:54 PM

Icehole! Nice design! Aluminum too so its quick to cool. My last buddy heater suffered from a melted handle after using my lasko scoop to rest a pan on. Won't be doing that this year!

Yeah, well also be careful with whatever pan you use. I was cooking some breakfast and left the bacon to sizzle away and next thing I know the wonderful smell of bacon was replaced by the horrible smell of burning plastic. The pan was directing too much heat towards the back and the handle. The best way to cook on a buddy is how people show exactly above- precooked food just heated up in an aluminum pan!

ICEHOLE · « **Reply #22 on:** Nov 14, 2015, 08:47 AM »

i really dont do so much cooking as I do reheating...i have a portable propane grill if I need to cook, but I try to keep my meals simple on the ice and the small loaf pans hold a belly full and I can perfectly fit two on the heater rack. nice thing with loaf pans, you can make something night before like my favorite mac and cheese. haul it in loaf pans, heat it in loaf pans, and eat it from loaf pans. with patience ive even reheated a big ol chunk of lasagna. game changer for eats on the ice

lowaccord66 · « **Reply #23 on:** Nov 16, 2015, 06:44 PM »

Quote from: doctorgee on Nov 12, 2015, 10:11 AM

Yeah, well also be careful with whatever pan you use. I was cooking some breakfast and left the bacon to sizzle away and next thing I know the wonderful smell of bacon was replaced by the horrible smell of burning plastic. The pan was directing too much heat towards the back and the handle. The best way to cook on a buddy is how people show exactly above- precooked food just heated up in an aluminum pan!

I have leftover exhaust wrap from my downpipe on the car I am going to use to protect the handle. I do the precook thing most of the time but sure as hell won't ever pre cook eggs!

jethro · « **Reply #24 on:** Nov 16, 2015, 08:09 PM »

Quote from: lowaccord66 on Nov 16, 2015, 06:44 PM

I have leftover exhaust wrap from my downpipe on the car I am going to use to protect the handle. I do the precook thing most of the time but sure as hell won't ever pre cook eggs!

Oh hey, that's actually a great idea! I may do that as well, I think I have some exhaust wrap laying around.

JoeGG · « **Reply #25 on:** Nov 17, 2015, 04:39 PM »

I have a Mr Buddy heater I have used one time. I then had a wood stove given to me. I am in Freedom. Maybe we can trade something.

lowaccord66 · « **Reply #26 on:** Nov 17, 2015, 07:29 PM »

Quote from: doctorgee on Nov 16, 2015, 08:09 PM

Oh hey, that's actually a great idea! I may do that as well, I think I have some exhaust wrap laying around.

Ya I learned after totally destroying my handle!

jethro · « **Reply #27 on:** Nov 23, 2015, 12:30 PM »

Quote from: lowaccord66 on Nov 17, 2015, 07:29 PM

Ya I learned after totally destroying my handle!

Mine came close! Another 30 seconds and I would have had a meltdown I believe!

holehopper · « **Reply #28 on:** Nov 23, 2015, 04:23 PM »

For the guys using "stoves" to heat your shacks, be careful if you have an open flame for heat. I'm no expert but I believe that open flame gives off a fair amount of carbon monoxide. The "Mr. Heater" style heater tends to be a "ventless" heater that's why you see them used frequently in wheelhouses since you don't need to run a vent thru the wall/roof. The issue I'm talking about is heating your shack with a camp stove, etc. Those are the ones that shouldn't be used in a confined space for an extended period of time.

Somebody that is smarter than me weigh in on this but I don't think you want to heat your shack with anything that has an open flame and is not vented.

SirCranksalot · « **Reply #29 on:** Nov 23, 2015, 04:32 PM »

anything that burns propane will produce C O. I have used a camp stove as well. I normally fish in the open but it was quite windy, so we put up the tent. That same wind made sure that CO was not a problem.

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Author Topic: What portable heater? (Read 4972 times)