IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
IceShanty Main => General Ice Fishing Chit Chat => Topic started by: mrjohnny on Jan 25, 2019, 05:59 PM
-
So tell me about these.How well do they work? Are they automatic light?
-
Bought one last year and have been very pleased with it. Yes, they are automatic light and fits perfectly in my Frabill Recon. It also has an automatic shut off if it gets knocked over.
-
other than being top heavy and that makes them tipsy, they work like the other mr heater portables. they are the cleanest burning heater i have ever used and i am allergic to smoke and fumes, so it is important to me.
i keep it with spare tank and stands and chemical hand warmers and mini propane glassless lantern with spare mantels and tiny cooking stove in a cat litter bucket with lid that serves as a table top.
the little buddy is not enough heat in hub shelters for us because we have the largest made in two brands, so we have the mr heater buddy heater also.we can use them both for extra heat. the little buddy is 3000btu. the buddy heater is 4000 to 9000 btu. the little buddy is ok for flip over single person.
the bigger buddy heater is great to hurry up the heating process when your getting out of the cold and i would recommend it over the little buddy if you have the room. i like that i can turn it to warm the air up faster and then turn it down to about what the little buddy is. or keep it blasting if it's extra cold or windy out.
put something that won't melt under it to keep it off the ice of put it on top of a crate or bucket. i use an inflatable hunting cushion and keep the heater forward on the edge of it to keep it from melting.
-
Id go with the portable buddy.good for 1 man or bigger shelter.i have both and my little buddy is unreliabe if it will lite or not.my portable buddy lites all the time.little buddy is 3800 btu fwiw.
-
yer right, 3800 btu. i was thinking of my coleman propane catalytic heater with fan.
-
I just returned a little buddy that I bought about 13 months ago. I used it last ice and deer season, and used it on one ice trip this year without any issue. On my second ice fishing trip, the unit crapped out. The pilot light would ignite with a strong blue flame, but the ceramic tile would not light. I emailed the company and they said to smack the unit 5 times with the palm of my hand due to the fact that a switch occasionally gets stuck. They also suggested that I clean the pilot tube with alcohol and a qtip, which i did. The unit lit off once after these measures and never worked again. They sent me a pre paid fed ex label and told me to ship it back for a free replacement, which i just did. Have not received the replacement unit yet. We shall see.
-
I have a little buddy heater and it started giving me problems lighting at the end of last year. I tried cleaning the tube but that didn't do anything. I found that tipping it forward and to the side toward the thermocoupler would get it to start. I think the thermocoupler is the problem.
-
I have a little buddy heater and it started giving me problems lighting at the end of last year. I tried cleaning the tube but that didn't do anything. I found that tipping it forward and to the side toward the thermocoupler would get it to start. I think the thermocoupler is the problem.
Mine wouldn't start a couple years ago. Rather than toss it, I tore it down. It's the Anti-tip switch sticking, thinks it still tipped over. They're so top heavy it's easier to lay them down or store on their side. The switch doesn't want to reset when you turn it upright. I turn mine upright and swat it a time or two or shake it a little and it fires right up. I cut a plywood base to fit in a bucket and screwed the plastic tank holder to it. Spends more time upright.
-
I started using one in my FX100 because my regular Buddy was usually too warm. I like it because the smaller footprint takes up less area on the ice surface in front of me, and the angled design allows me to place it close to the front canvas. Only issue I've experienced is it can be a slow starting rig at times - the pilot starts right up, but the main burner may take 2-3 minutes to fully ignite. Happened more when the unit was new, but will still do it occasionally - always fires up eventually. Also like that I can mount it directly to my 5-lb propane tank or to a 1-lb bottle.
-
I started using one in my FX100 because my regular Buddy was usually too warm. I like it because the smaller footprint takes up less area on the ice surface in front of me, and the angled design allows me to place it close to the front canvas. Only issue I've experienced is it can be a slow starting rig at times - the pilot starts right up, but the main burner may take 2-3 minutes to fully ignite. Happened more when the unit was new, but will still do it occasionally - always fires up eventually. Also like that I can mount it directly to my 5-lb propane tank or to a 1-lb bottle.
Bucket... How do u connect to your 5 lb Tank?
-
Bucket... How do u connect to your 5 lb Tank?
A few fittings from Menards.
(https://i.postimg.cc/sMRCjftQ/1940155-A-3-CBF-4016-BFDA-2-FABAF28-A21-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sMRCjftQ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BXFGfPwf/87-FD585-C-E558-4-AE4-9937-E3-BEEF0-A3-F08.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BXFGfPwf)
(https://i.postimg.cc/LJBKnKpy/9-F01-CB42-A4-C9-45-E6-A6-FF-8-E5609-A3200-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LJBKnKpy)
(https://i.postimg.cc/jCmr14ch/E3-F44-D41-F257-43-CC-B905-58-AB84767747.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jCmr14ch)
-
thanx
-
For a fast lite I carry a small butane torch and heat up the screen when it`s real cold, works great, if not it takes a long time to get the burner screen up to temp.
-
the one i had was a pos...over priced and needed a ton of replacement parts to keep it going after 2 short seasons of use. I've had a mr heater heater/cooker for a while now, 0 problems
-
Mine has gone thru the ringer and is over 10 years old. Only replaced the rubber gasket for lp tanks it dried out. Works great.
-
other than being top heavy and that makes them tipsy, they work like the other mr heater portables. they are the cleanest burning heater i have ever used and i am allergic to smoke and fumes, so it is important to me.
i keep it with spare tank and stands and chemical hand warmers and mini propane glassless lantern with spare mantels and tiny cooking stove in a cat litter bucket with lid that serves as a table top.
the little buddy is not enough heat in hub shelters for us because we have the largest made in two brands, so we have the mr heater buddy heater also.we can use them both for extra heat. the little buddy is 3000btu. the buddy heater is 4000 to 9000 btu. the little buddy is ok for flip over single person.
the bigger buddy heater is great to hurry up the heating process when your getting out of the cold and i would recommend it over the little buddy if you have the room. i like that i can turn it to warm the air up faster and then turn it down to about what the little buddy is. or keep it blasting if it's extra cold or windy out.
put something that won't melt under it to keep it off the ice of put it on top of a crate or bucket. i use an inflatable hunting cushion and keep the heater forward on the edge of it to keep it from melting.
Yes you guys are right on the days it's below 0 it tacks a couple min. like a good 2/3 min. to get it to light. But that's all the trouble I have. Hey that is a good idea,what make of Lantern / cook stove are you using. That wood be better then my big lantern and a metal plate to warm thing's up.
-
A few fittings from Menards.
(https://i.postimg.cc/sMRCjftQ/1940155-A-3-CBF-4016-BFDA-2-FABAF28-A21-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sMRCjftQ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BXFGfPwf/87-FD585-C-E558-4-AE4-9937-E3-BEEF0-A3-F08.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BXFGfPwf)
(https://i.postimg.cc/LJBKnKpy/9-F01-CB42-A4-C9-45-E6-A6-FF-8-E5609-A3200-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LJBKnKpy)
(https://i.postimg.cc/jCmr14ch/E3-F44-D41-F257-43-CC-B905-58-AB84767747.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jCmr14ch)
That's a very good idea. Were did you get the parts for that. At the hardware, I can't fined the end for the tank just separate.
-
That's a very good idea. Were did you get the parts for that. At the hardware, I can't fined the end for the tank just separate.
Not my idea - got the info from an older post right here on Ice Shanty. I picked up all the parts including the tank connection fitting from a local Menards store.
-
i keep it with spare tank and stands and chemical hand warmers and mini propane glassless lantern with spare mantels and tiny cooking stove in a cat litter bucket with lid that serves as a table top.
could you give a brand or a link for the glassless latern? I like the sound of that and cant seem to find it on the Google
thanks!
-
I run an old, from the 90s, small sunflower on top of a 20lb tank. I had to buy a 90 degree adapter but that paid for itself the first 20lb tank. I think my sunflower is far more fuel efficient than the little buddy's.
-
Not my idea - got the info from an older post right here on Ice Shanty. I picked up all the parts including the tank connection fitting from a local Menards store.
I posted this in 2014, reply #27 in the following thread https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=272090.msg2806207#msg2806207
(https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=272090.msg2806207#msg2806207)
-
could you give a brand or a link for the glassless latern? I like the sound of that and cant seem to find it on the Google
thanks!
they are not as bright as with glass, but it got old breaking globes from fish splashing water on them. i won't go back to using globes after finding this one.
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Ultralight-Compact-Camping-Lantern/dp/B00JQ2FOP4
takes an adapter
https://www.amazon.com/Kbrotech-Camping-Adapter-Cylinder-Canister/dp/B07CB4CV56
https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Company-Rosette-Lantern-Mantles/dp/B000PB7JBM
https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Ultralight-Portable-Backpacking-Ignition/dp/B00B4FY8YO
-
they are not as bright as with glass, but it got old breaking globes from fish splashing water on them
exactly my concern. do you see much benefit from this style versus a battery powered lantern of equal or greater price?
-
lanterns are a hassle compared to led lighting. i use a cob led hot glued to a small plastic harbor freight ammo box with a lithium battery in it for most of my main lighting anymore, plus a headlamp.
i break out the lantern for group fishing and set it out for an area light. it used to be for low heat and light and i like it much better than my single mantel glass globe propane lantern.
now i use the cob light and one of my mr heaters for heat instead of the lantern. nice as a back up light and heat source also.
-
thanks 3300, I have one of those free lights from harbor freight that has the hook. lights up the shanty pretty well. I have a little buddy now, so I think that will replace the old propane lantern for heat. I appreciate the info!
-
I have a Mr Heater and it's alright. It throws off a good amount of heat but it is loud as hell and will certainly eat any of your gear that you get too close to it. Had the great idea of cooking on the ice with it but that hasn't ever materialized. All in all I'd go for one of the buddies (or 2 if you have a big hub). We were out in my double a few weeks ago and had one of the big buddies and the mr heater and it got the job done.
https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F242300-000-15-Cooker/dp/B004W7VJU2
-
minus 17 air and minus 40 winds in a shappell fx100i and mr heater portable on high. quite a bit of air getting in from skirting. i had a fan on low pushing hot air back down, but didn't seem to do much.
right side hole kept freezing so did the fishing line. no puddles on the ice from the heater like we get closer to 20 degrees. had my coat, gloves and hat off and tunes on calling in the fish.
in the littler bucket i have another mr heater little buddy and a spare flame king full bottle of propane and the mini glassless propane i could have used for more heat if i wanted more.
(https://i.postimg.cc/sG1dBN5Q/screenshot-144.png) (http://postimg.cc/sG1dBN5Q)
(https://i.postimg.cc/5HfTW79C/screenshot-145.png) (http://postimg.cc/5HfTW79C)
could you give a brand or a link for the glassless latern? I like the sound of that and cant seem to find it on the Google
thanks!
temps were in the 30's and i took a picture for you to see this glassless lantern. you can compare it to the dual mantel coleman white gas lantern my buddy is using. i couldn't be near it for long, it was choking me out. same with his smokes. with the propane lantern i can be enclosed in a shanty and not get chocked out. it is loud tho.
i think a headlamp is a must have or at least it is for our group. i can hang it on the top bar of my flip shanty and aim it where i want it to stay.
lantern's
(https://i.postimg.cc/TKpQWXyJ/screenshot-143.png) (http://postimg.cc/TKpQWXyJ)
pic of cob led hot glued to ammo box powered with a lithium eo battery. i use it the most and a headlamp.
(https://i.postimg.cc/TK3NkytV/screenshot-146.png) (http://postimg.cc/TK3NkytV)
minus 17 degrees air temp and a picture taken early before sunset of headlamp on top bar facing ice holes and works great for tying or baiting hooks hanging this way (frost in thermal welds of tent were from previous days). i use rechargeable 14500 lion 3.7v batteries and keep four on me plus one in headlamp.
i can charge them on the marcum shuttle and my bluetooth speaker and phone or any battery under 5 volts.
(https://i.postimg.cc/8JZmfwVx/screenshot-147.png) (http://postimg.cc/8JZmfwVx)
-
For anything other than a small one man flip, I'd recommend the portable buddy over the little buddy. I have a bigger one man flip and the little buddy struggles to keep it warm on cold days.
-
thanks for all that info 3300 I appreciate it!
-
I love mine
-
When I worked at Cabelas I seen tons of those heaters come back weekly during ice season....
I purchased the Cabela's Quiet Blind Heater/Cooker and its worked perfect so far, but it don't have the automatic shut off when tipped over or low oxygen sensor, use common
sense if you purchase this.
-
Got 2 big buddy heaters would never go a diff route for heater I love the things use both all the time. Only issues I had were ones of my doing. Cracking plastic cuz dropped it he shack accidentally off back of truck now just a trick to it for lighting. Other I picked up cuz if lighting being a pain when it’s cold. Solid unit recomended
-
I have a 20 year old little buddy.(back then my model was considered the little buddy) Last spring the drain backed up with all of the torrential rain we had. The street was a river. I got 14 inches of water in the basement and my little buddy was totally submerged. I left it on the deck to dry out (covered deck)for about a month. It sparked up on the first try and ran like a molested monkey. It still looks like hell, but I will be using it this winter. I keep a steel pie plate in my shack and it sits perfectly under the handle, on top of the heater. I heat burritos and hot dogs while I fish. :tipup: :tipup: :tipup:
-
Ahhh going to be pissing around trying to get my buddy heaters to light again this year.they never start when i need them the most..ive cleaned,disabled stuff and tore apart..i run my old coleman catalytic heaters.yeah they are a fireball when first lit but always lite no matter what.
-
Bucket rump
Are you useing a filter on that set up?
-
Go with the portable buddy heater you won't regret it.
-
Ahhh going to be pissing around trying to get my buddy heaters to light again this year.
I'm gonna get a 12pk so I can test all mine out this evening. I've had mixed results with all of them. I currently have 2 little, 2 regular and a newer big that replaced a beat up 15 yo one that was finally retired. That old one had the narrow collared dial that was prone to failure; that was epoxied, then replaced, 3-4 times over the years, but otherwise very reliable. My new big's PZT doesn't catch when cold, requires a torch unless warm. The regulars have mostly been champs and burn a lot of gas, but a third I had wouldn't burn hot enough even after rebuilding a couple of times, I tore that apart and only salvaged a few parts. My first little buddy crapped out right away, required some downward pressure on it at all times to run. I got two others going on 3 years that have been pretty consistent. One was dropped and banged up a bit and still has worked well.
I have two conclusions about mr. Heaters. It's the luck of the draw pretty much. And, a better and more reliable heater would be the most significant innovation possible for a lot of ice fishing fanatics.
-
Yeah i bought a bunch of little buddy and portable buddy heaters on sale for 30$ a piece a few years back.ive had brand new heaters not light,some light if warm and barely any start when its cold.i sold them all but 3 now.one portable buddy is sort of reliable,my little buddy is a crap shoot to light and i have 1 brand new portable buddy that I haven’t opened up yet.
-
I highly recommend the
Little Portable Buddy. The only issue a had was the wind blowing out the pilot. It was mostly probably my fault, I never bank the skirt on my fishtrap or use the zipper door. I made a wind guard, no issues. Also made a rack, warm food and piping hot coffee.
(https://i.imgur.com/40J5Nm8l.jpg)
-
I highly recommend the Little Buddy. The only issue a had was the wind blowing out the pilot. It was mostly probably my fault, I never bank the skirt on my fishtrap or use the zipper door. I made a wind guard, no issues. Also made a rack, warm food and piping hot coffee.
(https://i.imgur.com/40J5Nm8l.jpg)
not that it matters but thats the portable buddy.the little buddy is round and screws on top of the 1lb tanks.i need to do your wind guard mod on mine.
-
not that it matters but thats the portable buddy.the little buddy is round and screws on top of the 1lb tanks.i need to do your wind guard mod on mine.
Thanks, fixed it. Getting old ain't easy... ;)
-
I have the round little buddy and it would light sometimes I would have to smack that thing pretty hard to get it to light. Found out that the tip over switch was not resetting all the time after laying down. So removed the switch and installed a small jumper wire in its place, it fired up all the time the first time and for 3 seasons so far. I don't recommend doing this to your heater for safety reasons. It will run in any position even on its side. That's what's was wrong with mine.
-
Yes the tip over switch was stuck on mine also.thought it was a bad thermocouple.mine still has problems lighting tho.pilot will lite no problem but when i let off the button it quits.ive held it for 5 minutes before even.i even moved the thermocouple into the flame more.its about time for me to get them out and try lighting them.
-
same problem here. I thought it was the thermocouple but it turned out to be the tip sensor. Last year I read a letter someone posted (maybe not on this site) from Mr Heater. It seams that they know of the problem and their solution is to "smack it sharply on the side". Worked for me... when it stops working completely, I'll be looking for a different heater.
-
Anyone else put there heater in the tub of there flip behind them instead of on the ice in front of em
-
Yes the tip over switch was stuck on mine also.thought it was a bad thermocouple.mine still has problems lighting tho.pilot will lite no problem but when i let off the button it quits.ive held it for 5 minutes before even.i even moved the thermocouple into the flame more.its about time for me to get them out and try lighting them.
Mine did the same as yours when lighting until I removed the switch. I also moved the thermocouple into the flame. That switch in mine was a mercury switch very sensitive to movement P.O.S. I couldn't even move it while lit one light tap from any thing and it would go out.. I will keep it and run it like that just don't leave it on when not in my shack. I had a mr heater cooker style for years that thing would send out 2ft flames when the tank goes low,and sounded like jet engine while running and consume fuel like crazy. And it was a pain to keep away from anything that would melt. Still think the round little buddy is the best one burns quietly and has good shielding around burner and I can get about 3 to 4 hrs out of a 1lb tank. I use it in my fish trap pro non insulated and most days I have to remove my jacket and hat and my holes are not freezing over inside the shack idont need it 70deg. In the shack
-
Anyone else put there heater in the tub of there flip behind them instead of on the ice in front of em
I have milk crate that holds a 7 gallon bucket and have 4 in PVC tubes mounted to the outer side of it and the 1lb tanks fit it perfectly. I just offset the crate to one side a little and move my seat to the opposite , when I move which is alot just put the flip in wind break and leave on move the shack to new spot then drop front down and keep slaying the fish.
(https://i.postimg.cc/CzbQBMw6/20181216-103450.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CzbQBMw6)
(https://i.postimg.cc/hQnQj0Dj/20191109-071627.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hQnQj0Dj)
(https://i.postimg.cc/FY6fcvrw/20191109-071712.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FY6fcvrw)
-
Went To Menards today and picked up the parts for the conversion of Lil Buddy to 5 lb tank
(https://i.postimg.cc/cr0tCgj5/Lil-Buddy-Parts.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cr0tCgj5)
-
I use a portable Mr Buddy in my 2-person flipover and it is perfect size. I also hang a small fan from roof to circulate warm air down. I am surprised the difference in air temp btw bottom and top. You really need to circulate the air.
-
Anyone else put there heater in the tub of there flip behind them instead of on the ice in front of em
-
Now the real question.....how many of you trust these enough for night time sleeping?
-
Now the real question.....how many of you trust these enough for night time sleeping?
Well first several threads on using them over night. Don’t know what shack you’re heating. I have never been able to get any of my huts so air tight that I would worry about co2 poisoning. Most flip overs and hubs have multiple vents. Lots of folks talk about using co2 alarms. I would trust mine not to kill me.
Keep it safe! JDL
I have the portable.
-
Now the real question.....how many of you trust these enough for night time sleeping?
I do. I have slept with mine on in the shanty many times. When I do I have a 12v fan on all night, all of the vents open and usually the door cracked open a little. I also use a CO alarm which interestingly has never once gone off, even after jigging in the shanty with the heater on full blast during the day. It doesn't seem to kill me during the day so I don't really understand why it would at night.
-
Tractor supply had the portables on sale, early black Friday $67. Bought one about a week ago. Not sure they are still on sale. Yesterday I took my garbage to the dumpster and there was a buddy heater sitting on top of the trash, looked brand new. Tried it, flame was burning yellow, would not start. Did the alcohol clean of the tube (youtube), got the blue flame. Still would not work. Cleaned the thermocouple, nuttin. Started to take it apart and noticed the thermocouple was unplugged. Plugged it, sputtered a bit an and wa-la, kicking out the heat. Gotta love youtube. Keeping the new one, dumpster diver for a spare.
-
I think most portables leak enough air to be pretty safe, but a CO detector is always a good precaution.