Solo Stove - outdoor fire pit type thing

[UTH]

Anyone got one of these?
https://www.blackleaf.com/Solo-Stove/blb819.htm

I saw it on This Morning the other day, and it certainly looked like it kicked out a lot of heat and flames, without too much smoke. As we enter the cold months I'm wondering if investing in one of these might make it at all appealing to be outside in the evenings with a blanket and the flames flying, or do we just accept that it's winter and the garden is basically useless until April!

[shocks]

Looked at getting the Solo then came across this instead https://geniestove.com/

Bought the deluxe and does what it says on the tin - very pleased with it

[UTH]

shocks said:

Looked at getting the Solo then came across this instead https://geniestove.com/

Bought the deluxe and does what it says on the tin - very pleased with it

Oh nice, same idea then?
How do you get it going? a few fire lighters and some dry logs, simple as that?

[Boozy]

I have a Solo Yukon and it's great, kicks out a decent amount of heat and burns through wood quickly, great for smores with the kids, very little smoke which is great and super easy to start with kindling.

[PurpleTurtle]

It seems a huge amount of money for what’s effectively a washing machine drum.

I’ve seen this a lot on camp sites this year, am just in the process of making my own after our washer packed up last week. It donated its innards!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wood-burner-UPCYCLED-WA...

[condor]

What's wrong with a traditional bbq?
or a garden incinerator if it's for burning wood/garden waste

[UTH]

condor said:

What's wrong with a traditional bbq?
or a garden incinerator if it's for burning wood/garden waste

I'm referring to this in terms of sitting outside and being kept warm by a fire, I'm not thinking about cooking on it.

[condor]

I was slightly confused by the word 'stove'

[shocks]

UTH said:

shocks said:

Looked at getting the Solo then came across this instead https://geniestove.com/

Bought the deluxe and does what it says on the tin - very pleased with it

Oh nice, same idea then?
How do you get it going? a few fire lighters and some dry logs, simple as that?

Yep, tend to put in a couple of logs, some kindling and fire starter on top then top down burn

Great heat, little smoke, easy to empty the ash from, pricey for what it is but cheaper than the Solo and does same job. Passed the SWMBO test.

[number2]

Plenty more attractive fire pits/chimneas etc. than a stainless steel drum. .

I have a Morso 'fire bucket' which looks good. Not 360 degree coverage but there's plenty of choice out there. https://osoliving.com/product/morso-fire-pot/?gcli...

[cb31]

Got a Solo stove, very impressive but the top and innards stain very quickly after heat. Not a problem but it doesn't look brand new for long.

So much better than a normal firepit, although they are a bit overpriced.

[fourstardan]

Something I accept is the garden being out of action till April.

A cheap chimnea is surely fine for some marshmallows?

[UTH]

condor said:

I was slightly confused by the word 'stove'

Ditto to be fair.

[Yabu]

UTH said:

condor said:

I was slightly confused by the word 'stove'

Ditto to be fair.

Caught a bit of then on tv the other day, explained as solo stove was/is a smaller version used for camping, then made into giant version for use in the garden but with the name kept.

[UTH]

cb31 said:

Got a Solo stove, very impressive but the top and innards stain very quickly after heat. Not a problem but it doesn't look brand new for long.

So much better than a normal firepit, although they are a bit overpriced.

Hmmmmm, I am in two minds. I do like the idea of something to make spending some time outside with a mulled wine and a blanket an appealing prospect, but on the other hand, I can see it being used once and then never again getting around to thinking "let's fire up the stove, get the blankets and cushions out and go outside" whilst it's nice and warm indoors.

[number2]

Fire pits - in my view - aren't for winter when it's damn cold outside, they're to take the edge off a cool evening and provide an interesting focal point.

[UTH]

number2 said:

Fire pits - in my view - aren't for winter when it's damn cold outside, they're to take the edge off a cool evening and provide an interesting focal point.

Hmmmm, good point here. When the sun goes down in August, it's certainly a bit chilly. Probably when a fire pit is useful. Middle of January perhaps not!

[sidekickdmr]

number2 said:

Plenty more attractive fire pits/chimneas etc. than a stainless steel drum. .

I have a Morso 'fire bucket' which looks good. Not 360 degree coverage but there's plenty of choice out there. https://osoliving.com/product/morso-fire-pot/?gcli...

I have a lot of morso stuff and its really fab, usally cast iron and weighs a bomb, should outlast me and it retains the heat well.

So this would get my vote over a stainless drum that will rust and dis-colour quick

[PurpleTurtle]

I’m intrigued by these solo stoves as I’ve been watching a lot of ‘outdoorsman’ type YouTube channels over lockdown. They all love a bit of stove geekery.

Whilst I’m happy with my washing-machine-drum-with-some-legs-on, reading about Solo they all seem to be about smokeless fire and secondary combustion due to the ventilation from below. Similar concept to a Trangia camping stove.

This bloke seems to have knocked up pretty much the same thing out of a couple of Bain Marie pots and a drill. I reckon 30 quid on parts tops, versus nearly 300 for a Solo.

https://youtu.be/b_lyMqUNMyg