Neighbor L talked all last winter about replacing her pellet stove with propane – and then she really did it!
Normally this would be none of my business but she bought pellets by the ton, and they all had to be unloaded and stacked. When they first started doing it there were three of us and that was going on 15 years ago. Now it’s the two of us and we’re not younger. Plus that pellet stove took a lot of maintenance. I mean a really startling amount of maintenance, or it behaved badly. Too complex, too expensive, too fuel-hungry. I’m very happy to see it go away.
The first thing I noticed about my new porch fridge is that it’s very low to the ground. Like, an ergonomic nightmare. So…
…this morning I knocked together a stand for it.
Naturally I didn’t get the legs exactly right, so it rocks. I’ll cut some shims later, no problem. I’m still not actually using the fridge, because my batteries don’t need the abuse. But soon I’ll have a larger bank of new batteries, and then I won’t worry about it. As it is it would probably be fine, I’m just a worrier.
Even if you had made your 4 legs perfectly, a four-legged table is likely to rock unless it happens to be on a perfectly flat surface.
Just something to consider: 3-legged tables, chairs, stools don’t rock.
Just curious – why didn’t you ever go for a propane refrigerator, like RV’s use? The one in my trailer works remarkably well.
1) Consider bringing it inside come winter. Refrigerators don’t throw off much heat, but why waste it.
2) Your previous post about free-ranging Dobermans is why I always carry pepper spray. I won’t get fooled again. 🎶🎶 ( or bitten)
I had a propane fridge once, in the RV I spent my first five years in. It mostly didn’t work. My neighbors had a propane fridge – IT mostly didn’t work. Desert. Windstorms. Dust. Orifi. They’re not great in this environment.
Ok, understand. It had just seemed better rather than the electric drain will be on the batteries. However, your practical experience is much better than my armchair thoughts.
I’m glad that your neighbour L has come to her senses. Hauling heavy stuff is a young person’s game. I’m hoping that they have no issues with their new heating system. I’m curious (AKA nosey), are they going to get a large 500 gallon tanks installed and get someone to visit and fill it, or will they be using portable propane cylinders?
The bar fridge on the homemade table looking good. I have a similar one in the basement to keep refreshments in when we have our poker nights. I hope that it doesn’t suck up too much power, and you get plenty of use out of it.
If she’s now heating with propane, that suggests larger quantities than a bunch of 30 lb cylinders in the back of a Jeep would allow. So, how is she getting the necessary volume of propane? if it’s “deliver to a big tank by truck” can such a truck not make it to the Secret Lair?
@ Irving – 20 pound and 30 pound cylinders aren’t all there is. I know several people who heat with propane that use 100 pound portable cylinders because they live in areas where propane delivery trucks can’t get to them. In one case a friend has eight of them which he brings to town in his pickup and fills at a Superior Propane depot. And yes, they are heavy, and that’s what hydraulic receiver hitch cranes and sub compact tractors are for. 😊
D&L have always had a big tank. They’re right on the road so trucks have no trouble getting to them. The Lair does not have that luxury. I have to Jeep mine in in #20, #30 and #40 pound bottles. The big 100-pounders are too much for me, so the Lair’s two propane systems aren’t built to deal with them.
Uncle A – I use 100 pounders, which are pickup truck transportable; Joel didn’t provide any details so I wondered if L had found a way to get a propane truck to her place or was using “man portable” cylinders. Several 100s permanently mounted on a trailer manifolded together would probably also work.
I once owned a “river cabin” used for weekends and holidays. It had a propane-operated refrigerator and small cooking range. It was fed by a pair of “100-lb” propane tanks arranged for manual switching between the two. One tank would usually work for most of a season, but being able to switch tanks whenever needed was nice as I only had to haul one for refilling and was never out of fuel. In those days I could just handle one of those tanks into and out of my pickup, and the tanks were immediately accessible from my truck. Worked well. Not sure I’d be up to the wrestling these days.
That is why one makes “Engine Hoists”:
https://www.summitracing.com/search/department/tools-shop-equipment/section/shop-equipment/part-type/hoists
and other such paraphernalia.
I used to live where EVERYTHING was brought in by small boat, including the 100 lb propane tanks, 10 to 12 at a time. I was a lot younger then…..