** Hacks are done at your own risk ** These are cool hacks, but you need to know that any time you use a product outside of what it was intended for, you are doing that at your own risk. Did you know any of these? Have you tried them before? What do you think? I love my Buddy heaters and these hacks make them just that more awesome. Check out my Mr. Heater list of awesome items on Amazon here: www.amazon.com/shop/seidelranch/list/2IQW33UHGF9JO?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsfseidelranch_KA46S1NMT43MV0KY3TBM
The stove fans are not to be used at temperatures over 650F (more or less). Propane burns at 1,940F and will damage the fan. I tried the paint grid trick and it melted my handle.
@@Northanteus Probably, but they are made to handle a decent amount of heat. Anything above that will probably melt more than just the wires. It might burn out the motors.
I have the smaller Mr. Buddy, the single tank. I just recently survived 2 weeks of 7, 5, -3, snow, sleet, 40 and 50 mph winds and more snow. In the cab of a truck. Never had to run it on high, not once. I cannot believe how well it worked. It saved my life.
@@patrickconrad396co2 can get to bad levels with just breathing alone sealed up in a car, probably try to crack it as much as possible.. or periodically.. just my thoughts I don’t have it.: have worked with lot of propane though
I actually used one just like this when camping in a tent years ago. Keeps your tent warm and comfortable as long as you keep it on low and you open you roof vent.
Three points: Don't turn in your 20 lb propane tank for one already filled. It probably only has 18 pounds of propane in it. Have it refilled at a gas station that sells propane. They weigh it as it is being filled so you really get 20 pounds of propane. Second point, the propane "filters" are empty condensation chambers, not filters. So, make sure they sit upright so accumulated oil doesn't flow into your hose if it's set up on its side. Third point: Re-used one pound propane bottles will eventually slowly leak thru the rubber stopper after it stiffens with oxidation and multiple use wear from dust and debris falling down the port. So, keep the black cap on the bottles when not being used. Testing with soapy water may not show the leak because it might be too slow to bubble while you're watching. Good video, thanks for sharing.
Here in Ontario Canada it doesn't matter where you go to refill your tank, you only get 17lbs. It is against the law to fill the tanks more than 85%. I have 30lb tanks for my camper and average cost to fill one is $36. The way I've found around that is I go to the rez, they don't check the dates and they fill the tanks up.
As a newbie quite a few years ago, I exchanged my brand new, empty barbecue propane tank at the grocery store tank exchange. Little did I know, the filled tank had been used many, many times. Re-painted right over the rusty spots! I was really ticked off! From then on, I found the volume retailer and got my own tank (NOT a re-used rusty one!) Re-filled when the need arose!
If you don't have a drain at the lowest point of your plumbing those can prevent frozen pipes by letting you conveniently drain the system. RV owners do it often but most homeowners in warm states don't know that dirt cheap and easy way to protect their investment. Adapters to blow out residual water with an air compressor are only a few bucks (I use then when doing repairs) and work great.
Yeah. Sadly most are. I would recommend burning all that off using a fire pit first. I did not on mine but may end up throwing it in a fire to clean it off. Good info.
Funny story. I'm an electrician.... doing a big construction job that had those big 80k BTU nipco heaters. One of our apprentices used a 4 square box and a piece of pipe kinda like a frying pan to make his lunch. He usually reheated already-cooked brats. We tried to stop him because he was already on his last 2 brain cells, but he didn't care.
How can you absorb enough zinc to get poisoned. I don’t believe it. Nor do I believe you will answer the question, as most all commenters simply restate their view, NEVER give reasons, explanations, or mechanisms to establish their claims. How about NIH data?
Since you shared a hack with me I’ll do you one back. Pro Tip: An easy way to find placement for your screw holes is by first apply masking tape/duct tape long enough to cover both holes horizontally, then with a marker color in the indentations of the covered holes you just taped. Now you will transfer the marked tape to the wall. Just add some screws to your marked tape on the wall. So effortlessly done and clean. If you need help finding a stud that’s hiding behind Sheetrock, just use a magnet. (The stronger the better). Thx 🙏
I use mine to heat my hunting blind and it works great. I can't stay in the cold very long due to health problems and the heater allows me to get out in the winter and hunt. I love it.
To avoid annual filters and oil hose issues of Big Buddy's built-in-regulator, use the alternative "low pressure quick-connect" circuit. That keeps the high pressure propane and high pressure oil at the tank regulator. Buddy indicates "no filter needed" using this low pressure quick-connect hose. I have no oil issues using a 20ft quick-connect hose. Another tip from the RV shop, frozen tanks produce less BTU's than warmer tanks. They have ways to insulate and warm your tanks. Happy Heating, from Michigan.
I'm going to have to go back and reread the product details because I don't recall seeing any of this discussion when I bought my unit & hose (10'). I'll stick with the time proven threaded fittings, thanks, though I am very familiar with quick connects on Oxy/Acet gas lines and other high pressure cylinders, but that was mostly always outdoors. I prefer to err on the side of caution. So a pressure regulator at the tank alleviates the problem of a flawed application, eh? Huh, like I said, I need to look into this further, thanks for the info!
@@thomasmckelvey8961 Some believe it is safer to regulate at the tank, so there is no hi pressure regulation inside the Budy heater. However, I use either regulation pressures "hi- threaded / low-quick" for different applications. 1. The quick-connect has other end threads to pipe in house wall. 2. The buddy threaded hose is just extra deal i use, unfortunately the company recommends annual filters for Budy's regulator. As I indicated in hi/low pressure details related to regulation location, only the quick-connect instructions indicate no filters needed. Instructions don't detail why as I have. I simply added detailed information as to the physical setup difference as it is related to oil/pressure location. Either connection is safe, I just prefer regulating the stinky high pressure stuff outside the house as much as possible and not in the Budy. Happy heating, Michigan
@@thomasmckelvey8961 It suppose to and I think I will make a video on it. BTW, this is only for the Big Buddy heater. The other buddy heaters do not have the quick connect built in.
Pretty cool ideas. Lots of fan companies now make clips so you don’t have to mod your heater anymore to mount them which is nice. The one thing missing especially since you mentioned you don’t have to lock the dial on lo, med, high, is a good quality carbon monoxide detector. They state that running the dial in between settings results in less efficient burn of the propane increasing the carbon monoxide risk.
Very good that you mentioned this point! I went and bought a car on monoxide detector just for when I use my heaters at home. Actually I bought a 10 year detector so it's always making sure our air is safe.
I live in a camper in Michigan, and I use my Buddy Heater every Winter, except I hook mine to a 100-pound tank (with a double filtered hose) and it works great. This Winter will be Winter Number 3 for my heater. I have 2 100-pound tanks and I switch between them when needed. I also have 2 20-pound tanks just in case.
Smart, I live in a camper in pa mountains and do the same. Buddy heater is my backup though, last year I used a kerosene as backup but as you know space is a premium and big buddy produces a nice glow too. Not as cool as radiant kerosene globe but I don't have to burn it dry and worry as much.
Thank you for making this video, it certainly helped me to make a decision to purchase one. I was in Home Depot last week looking at them and went back last night and they were almost gone so I grabbed one for $78 (portable buddy). Went back today and grabbed the paint grid, Carbon Monoxide alarm and ordered a fan from Amazon that is specifically designed for the these heaters. The fan comes with a small bracket that slides on like the paint grid and the fan has a slit/slot that cuffs under the top of the heater bracket. I'll use the paint grid when I want to boil water etc. Again, thank you for such an informative video!
I love my big buddy heater. I do use the 20 lb tank with the proper hose. I have only used the low setting for my small space. I brought an eco fan and since I only use it on low, the fan sitting sideways works very well without modification. Love the idea of using it with the paint grid for cooking. Definitely will explore that option. Thank you for this informative video.
@@kathleenredick275 I Swear I Remember My Mother Doing That... I Thought I Imagined That. Thank You For Breaking That Memory Out Of Childhood Jail. 😅 Cheers Kathy!
I bolted two small hooks to the stovetop fan base (rear) . This catches the second from top crossbar on little buddy front grille. sits level and secure in the "sweet" spot. If you use the paint grille you can secure bits of titanium heat wrap or other heat rated material where it hooks under buddies handle! Great ideas in this video, thanks!
I have a Little Buddy heater. I use it for back up heat if the power goes out. I got the 6 foot propane hose and have 1 20lb tank and 1 40lb tank. I have never had any problems. No CO2 issues either. Nice hacks.
I have been using those fans on top of my wood stove for 20 years, I burn wood everyday at home in the mountains in winter +, very hard wood, oak, sometimes iron wood and I’m sure it gets way hotter than Mr Heater, mine have no wires, no problem. Great tips, thanks.
Yeah, these fans are pretty nice. I use them for multiple things. I think the issue with the Buddy heaters is people stick them right on the hottest part of the heater and melt the wires in the back.
@@carmenmartinez2882 They usually have wires from the electric generator to the motors of the fans. Yours may be made better than some of the others and have the wires hidden and secured behind shields. I have 3 of these fans and 2 of the 3 have wires that just hang out the back exposed to the heat. I tucked them in the housing the best I can but they are still exposed.
Okay, Now I'm Actually Upset I Didn't Stock Up On Mini Propanes For My Buddy Heater. This Is Slick. I Like The Cooking Bit, That's A Great Hack. How Many Of Us Wanna Live On Sandwiches For A Week? Best Wishes 🙌
I've had a stovetop fan on my little buddy for a couple of seasons now and it still works great. I did the mod of cutting in a slot to hook the base to the little buddy's front screen grid. The tip about the paint grid is fantastic. I'll going to get one soon to try it out. 👍
I have the original heater from 20 years ago. It works just fine. I wonder if they addressed the issues with the newer heaters catching fire randomly. As for refilling canisters take the weight of the empty canister and mark it on the bottom. From there you can weigh the canister with the one pound weight plus the canister weight after refilling. Or you can purchase the Flame King refillable canisters and their refill adapter. You will need a digital scale to take the measurements accurately.
That is a great idea on marking the canister. I usually just fill them until I hear the hissing stop, but I know they are not getting 100% full. Thanks for the info.
Determine propane level without a scale. Drop a full tank (new) into a container of water so that it's in a vertical orientation. Mark where the water level goes up to on the tank. That's full. As the tank empties, it will float higher and higher. Mark the tank for empty level the same way. As long as the tanks are from the same manufacturer, you're good to mark the same point on all tanks. This is how backpackers tell how full the little cans are without a scale, just a pot of water. Have a Good Day👋 👽
I love Mr Buddy but for some reason they will only work for 1 season and then I can't get it to light. SO I buy another one. Closest service center is 100 mi from me and they charge $100 an hour. Cheaper for me to go buy another heater.
If you put the one pound cylinder in the freezer for about 30 minutes prior to refilling it the cold cylinder will draw the propane from the 20 pounder a lot faster thereby shortening the time it takes to refill the 1 pounder. And if you want to refill the 1 pounder to capacity, take a pair of needle nose pliers that you have bent the tip up on using a torch and using the needle nose pliers you can now pull up on the Shraider valve allowing the 1 pounder to fill to capacity. This basically works the same way that a commercial refill nozzle does by allowing the propane to force the trapped air out of the 1 pounder. And always make sure that you have depressurized the 1 pounder before refilling by pushing down on the valve pin located down inside the fill port with a small Phillips screwdriver. I hope these tips help you with your refilling of the 1 pound tanks.
Great video, thank you for the hacks. Love the grill option. Thanks for warning us of some of the problems that can occur with the hacks as well. Much appreciated.
Good tips. I have a Little Buddy that just came in very handy and helpful during a power outage. I use the adapter hose for larger tanks. I will pick up one of those adapters for filling one pound tanks though. Those cans have many uses. Much appreciate people who appreciate gadgetry.
If you use the refill setup to refill the 1 pound tanks from a 20 pound tank, does the oil from the refill hose allow the oils to enter the 1 pound tanks and eventually gum up the heater?
@@aulii11 That's a darn good point, and why I will probably just use the adapter hose and larger tank for anything I consider good equipment. Or anything with a regulator. Which kind of limits those refilled small cans somewhat. But then again, as long as we're burning the gas, with the tanks vertical, the oil should stay at the bottom. Right? Someone else has probably already answered the question. I haven't read into available info enough yet. And that particular oil and grade, I wonder how well it might burn clean? But still that's a good point
@@whitebeardskydaddy6756 My understanding is that the oils are present in the non-Mr. Heater hose to keep it flexible, not the propane, so my question concerns whether the hoses in the "Amazon" 1 pound refill kits have the same oils. I spent a bunch of money for a Flame King refill kit that includes DOT compliant refillable 1 pound bottles and no hose between the 20 pound and 1 pound tanks. Expensive, but if you use a lot of 1 pound bottles, it might justify the cost.
@@aulii11 Ah, okay I see now. I've filled uncountable smaller tanks from the big thousands pounds motorized pump tanks and honestly never gave the hoses or oils much thought. But since watching this and other videos I had intended to pick up one of those fittings to refill one pounders. I was simply rationalizing where any oil would wind up and guessing, having encountered twenty pounders that were empty of propane but still had a bit of something swirling around in there. Always figured it was water and oil or just oil, but hating the smell of the additive I never bothered to dump it to find out. I would think your investment was worth it. Thanks for the exchange
I've been refilling the bottles for our Big Buddy Heater for several years with no problems. I talked to an engineer that knows those bottles and he said they can handle refilling many times. He also showed me how to easily fill them to 20 oz, On low two bottle will burn anywhere from 10 to 12 hours at 20 oz. I use the refill adapter with a hose, much easier and safer. Will definitely be getting your fan setup and thanks for sharing.
California is banning the disposable canisters (They ban everything under the sun .) They are used for too many things. Surely, somebody will make some that are refillable, and hopefully, California won't ban those too.
Important tip. Anyone using an extended propane hose should get the Stainless Steel Braided Propane Adapter Hose. I had originally purchased the rubber hose that wasn't covered in SS braiding and melted a hole through the hose when it touched the front grill. I didn't realize it until I returned to the heater and heard a hissing sound.
Yeah, happened to me. Turned around and saw bulges coming out of the rubber hose, mine did not technically rupture; but once I saw that hose I turned it off immedicately!
Or you could be more careful. LOL. Just kidding. That’s a good tip. We live on our sailboat. We use the heater on cold mornings. The propane tank sits in a cockpit locker and the hose is just long enough to allow for the heater to sit in a good spot on the cabin sole. Hence, there is little risk of what you experienced. My wife mentioned the other day that we really should have a spare hose. I’ll definitely find a braided one. We’ve been using ours on the boat since 2013 using the OEM extension hose. No issues. In Sept 2018 we were at a marina in New Bern NC for hurricane Florence. Water level rose 12 feet over the docks. 1/2 the marina was destroyed. We were without power for 14 weeks. It got pretty cold in December and January and the heater was our only source of heat. It worked great and we stayed nice and warm.
This vid is great! I live in Texas and we are hit an miss with power all winter season and was wondering how I would cook indoors with propane-PROBLEM SOLVED! Thank you!!
Great tips, thank you! I run my Little Buddy on both a 5lb tank and on a 20lb tank for camping or emergency use. I've never refilled the 1lb tanks and don't feel comfortable doing that, but agree that that is both MUCH less expensive than buying new ones all the time, and is probably better for the environment not to keep discarding them. (I'm not against refilling them,, just don't do it myself). I never thought of using the paint grates, I appreciate that tip and will get one. I also want to order one or two of those fans, they make the heater much more efficient. Thanks again for the great tips, it's appreciated!
Flame King makes a refillable 1# propane tank and a device that will fill them from your 20# tank. Definitely worth the investment, the tanks are really solid!
@@chachi5975 Mr. Heater also makes a refillable 1LB tank called the "Fuel Keg". I find it better than the Flame king as it has a over fill prevention valve that is attached to the tank and does not need an allen wrench to use it. BUT you have to use the Mr. Heater refill adapter to fill them.
Good tips, thanks! Ive been using heaters in hunting blinds for many years. Mr Buddy has been the best so far, lasted longer than the others. Hacks are great to share, especially the refill! Let me add one additional tip to that I haven't seen after reading about 50 comments. When you refill the 1lb as he said, your bottle will typically balance out a little less than 2/3 full. It's still way better than buying new, i get it. However if you freeze your 1lb first, and leave the 20lb out in the warm sunshine you will find you can refill the bottle much closer to full! Easy peasy. Just be prepared to answer your wife questioning why theres green propane bottles in the freezer lol!😂😂 Stay warm y'all!
The grate out of a collapsible çoleman oven fits perfect in between the uprights of the handle and rests fairly level on the heat guard. You could make some extra supports out of coat hanger pieces going from the oven rack to the heat guard for extra strength if you plan on using larger pans . Just be careful not to put enough weight to tip over the heater. And keep the edge of the pan away from the heaters handle or you will melt it. Most standard mess kits work perfectly for cooking on this setup without adding extra supports but if you have larger pots in your kit you may want to add the supports to use them.
All great tips. My cooking set is tiny so I don't have to worry about tipping over, but the cloths hanger idea sounds great. I wonder if that is how people are melting the handle on the heaters. Not so much the paint grid, but the fans or pots themselves reflecting the heat to the handle.
great tips. I used your links. While watching I thought about taking a two wheel truck (moving dolly) and putting the 20lb tank on it and mounting the heater above it. Making it very portable.
Dangerous and illegal if used in an enclosed space. External tanks must be outside of living areas in a well ventilated enclosure or strapped down to keep them from tipping. Leaks or the pressure vent popping off will blow you up or burn you down. Educate yourself and don't spread dangerous ideas. Never use a bulk tank indoors.
I'm glad you are doing it safely. I'm sure you wouldn't want anyone to use your setup accidentally inside. There are many safety laws against that, of course. @@SnowyOwlPrepper
Love the painters grill hack!! Love the Buddy heaters. Use them for our tents, sheds and just hanging outside. I also refill the 1lb tank. Can’t go wrong at $1 per refill Lol!!
I have been using two Big Buddy heaters to heat my shop which is a big metal tall building that has bag insulation for about 5 years. The first year I used small 1# tanks but graduated to the Big Buddy hoses with regulators. I do not use filters on the hoses. On the outside of the building, I installed RV power cord doors to put the hose through. I never run with the tank inside. The outside temperature can not be below 38F or 3.33C; otherwise, I can not heat it up to 50F to work out there. I did buy the Flame King propane filler kit and I have 5 refillable Flame King bottles. I have an oscillating fan up in the loft to circulate the heat that rises.
I melted my handle using the paint grate trick. I believe the issue was because I had a pan on the paint grate which directed the heat back towards the handle. In the future I will use a smaller pan and make sure it is positioned as far forward on the grate as possible to allow the heat to escape without directing it toward the handle.
My big buddy heater has the fan kit, also I like the cooking feature never would have thought to do that. Using the 1lb cans is not a option with me ,my heater has a quick connect behind one of the 1 lb connector and I bought the made up hose on Amazon ,it has the regulator on the connection at the 20 pound tank. Usually lasts me a month.I use it to supplement my heat in the house.
Those ones with the fans were great. I hope that does make a comeback. I agree on the 20lb hookup. If you are going to use it a lot, that is really the only way to go. Just be careful with those 20lb tanks in or near a house.
I've never thought about these. For one reason, I'm new to Mr. Buddy. Thanks for the tips. One observation though. As heat rises, I wouldn't recommend mounting it very high on the wall. I would think that closer to the floor would better heat the whole room.
Yeah, I agree. I usually put it stomach or chest height when in the garage or shop. It doesn't heat the whole area but it does heat the area I am in well.
Heat rises very fast if you ever put your hand on top of a lit candle. In the winter I use a small fan on low aimed at the ceiling to drive the heat down and makes the room comfortable without any cold zones.
Thanks for discussing the in-line filter. I ordered the Buddy Pro, a 20 lbs tanks, and 10 foot hose, but I hadn't considered the filter I just ordered one. Thanks for the very informatine video, especially since this is my first propane heater. I live in Texas, and in Feb 2021, We were without gas and electri for over 5-days.
Thanks for all these tips! I do not have any type of heater but thinking of buying one of these to knock the chill off inside of tent. I’m wondering how many hours the 1# containers last and do they simultaneously run or automatically switch from 1st container to the second container. Goal is to sleep all night without being interrupted to switch to full canister.
Glad it was helpful! These are awesome for tents, just keep them at a safe distance. The big buddy will drain them both at the same time I think. You can also run the big buddy on just one and it will still let you run it on high. If you want heat all night, put in 2 canisters and run it on low. That should do it.
I never tried running on low with two canisters. I want to see how that works but I used up my four canisters. Two on my water heater . I just ran the gas hose outside now I can get a 20 lb bottle for my water heater. As for my buddy heater I learned some things new. I guess I need only one hose attachment to run my big buddy heater I thought you had to hook both sides with a special hose. 73
I have been refilling my 1# tanks using the single brass attachment fir a couple years . I find I can only fill them to around 9oz on the first try. I have to undo and reconnect a 2nd time to fill to around 13oz total. I wouldn't try to fill up to a full 1# as it's not accurate and these are used bottles so better to be safe and not over stress a used bottle. I wonder if using the hose connection showed if they fill up to full on one try. By the way I use a scale to fill those used bottles. I put the empty bottle on the scale tare it out, then fill and weigh again. Thus u know exactly how many oz you have filled.
Here's a Tip for SeidelRanch. If you want to use the mounting keyholes on the back of the heater, use a level and a tapemeasure. You'll need a drill and a pencil. There are a number of different types of anchors depending if the wall is drywall, or something else. The Tips You Provided Were Great. Thanks for the insight.
I got the 2gallon bucket grid for my big buddy and i'm hoping it's large enough to accommodate the Voda thermal heater i've ordered as well as the thermometer. Hey, on these heaters - are they designed to blow more forcefully at hotter temps? I'm guessing yes. Thanks
Thank you... 🙏 😔 🙏 The video was very informative. It is becoming more necessary to prepare for unpredictable weather events in our area. These "little" heaters are amazing. Again thank you.
I totally agree. Parts of central Texas are still without power just because of some ice. We need to prepare to be able to live more off grid and just hope we never need to.
How do you know when the 1lbs can is refilled? Does it make a change in sound? Is it possible to overfill/explode the 1lbs bottle? Thanks for the video.
Yeah, you can hear the bottle making a filling noise and it will stop when it's full. I have not had an overfill issue since the amount is all based on pressure and they have about the same pressure. Thanks for watching.
When you connect the cylinder to the tank and open the valve, there is a hissing sound and the cylinder gets cold. Fill for one minute (there are videos showing how) and shut off the valve. It is possible to overfill the cylinder, but there is an pressure release valve near the top.
Nice, I did the same thing with an old toaster oven rack I bent to fit and tied it in with bailing wire, works great making hot ham n cheez in foil packs while deer hunting and keeping warm, and I run a 20punder on a standard buddy heater
@@SeidelRanch i had had an old semi rigid bulk tank hose I got years ago.uaed it on a Primus propane generator in an old school Coleman stove. Works great for years now, no filter needed, not. Soft rubber hose
I have this very same unit. I haven't used it yet and only purchased it for emergencies. I did try it out though and it really put out the heat! A couple of years ago we had a power outage during a very cold winter and I thought me and my two dogs were going to freeze to death. Everything was covered with ice and I could hear trees and branches breaking all around the neighborhood. I decided then to buy some emergency supplies in case it happened again. I bought this unit and some extra propane bottles and one of the items I have is a one-burner cook 'stove' that uses butane. I actually used this recently when our power went out for three days caused by hurricane Helene. Some people lost power for a long time.
I have 12 green propane canisters and refill them several times each before I toss them and buy new ones. I use a kitchen scale and weight a empty one before filling it. I use a Allen wrench tool to let air pocket out of the empty before starting to fill it. And repeat this procedure until my scale shows that I have one pound of propane in it.
Thanks I've been racking my brain and back trying to maintain tain a comfortable temperature to reside in my rv. Lack of insulation is my main delimna. I've skirted it but wanted a safe solution for my pipes. I've been using a drop light but will now try the extreme heater your vid mentioned. Thanks for real as frozen pipes is not a great way to start your morning!!
From what I have heard about the filters, you shouldn't need one if you use a regulator on your propane tank. It's the high pressure in the hose causes the tube to leech out the oils.
Thank you for all the tips. Just got the bigger heater last year. Haven't had to use mine yet. But it's going to happen when you live in Wyoming and the power goes off because of a storm. Usually for a couple hours. Its happened for weeks once in 2007. Thankful i had a woodstove then.
On the subject of mounting it on the wall, using the holes on the back of a mister buddy, you don't have to line up the holes with the nails. Just use a level to draw a line, and then measure the distance between the two holes. Use anchor screws and place them at the same distance. Finished!
Maybe I missed it, but these heaters have a built in fan. There's 4 D-cell batteries in the back towards the bottom, the switch is underneath the handle same side as the heat controls. Did enjoy the video never thought of using it to cook on ....👍👍
The older big buddy heaters had fans built in. The newer ones do not. Mine is probably 10 years old and does not have a fan. It does though have the spot in the back for the batteries, just no fan or wires.
Interesting...to tell you how long I've had mine... Found them on sale for 49.95, bought two... LoL... fist one works as well as when I took it out of the box, the other is still in the box...thx for the reply...👍
I had a big buddy heater that was black and army green that caught on fire . I have had several and given them as gifts. It did burn my camper floor , but got it out and off . I sent it in and received my new one the same week . I do recommend buying big buddy heaters.
I use a Mr Buddy, with a fan which I took my angle grinder and cut a slot , works great, but thanks for the paint screen idea. As for fuel, I use a 20# or a 40# , have a number of propane tanks, because I live off grid and fill up all once a month maybe in winter. But I strongly recommend that you use a filter for using those tanks, the bottle ones you get at walmart are clean inside, no debris or sediments, but those tanks you get at stores, the refill tanks, they have sediments whcih will clog your Mt Buddy, Mr Heater ceramic plates. You have to buy a whole new heater if that happens. Ive had this one for four years, bought only one filter...and it still works like a champ. The filter says to change every year, or recommends, but ive used the same one for 4 years and it still works just fine. If you are in a 12x20 room or shed cabin, this will put out good warmth a fan, it actually warms it better than my wood stove. I use one for hot tent camping in early spring, late fall ...ive even camped in snow, these little heaters are awesome. They use them in Ice Fishing huts, people live in the ice fishing hut like its days in the Bahamas, they get hot in their ice fishing hole.
I left my handle up one time, and it began melting it. I have been using one for 6yrs now. Set a jug of water 6in in front of it for bathing or dishes. Love the grid idea. I have a tea pot that hangs over mine, to add moisture to the air. And for instant stuff. Never have to wait .lol
i think one thing to watch out for is the paint grids might be galvanized steel, which would have a zinc coating. so don't put anything acidic on it which would dissolve the zinc and possibly lead to consumption if i misunderstood and it was never meant for direct contact with food ie. grilling, then ignore this comment
I have purchased several 16 ounce Coleman propane cylinders for a Big Buddy heater in case of power loss this winter. Hoping someone can educate me on the best way to store them. I have heard many insurance companies do not permit storage within the house in their homeowner's policies. I don't have a shed, but was thinking about storing them outside in Rubbermaid storage bins I use for container gardening. Appreciate any advice offered. Also, do they need to come up to "room temperature" prior to use?
I would store them outside in a container or maybe in the garage instead of in the house. I have used the tanks when they were cold so I don't think that is an issue.
IF YOU USE A HOSE... and use a filter. your filter is only rated for 300 hours, 12 , and a half days. runtime. I hear people say the filters don't work... the oil still got in... then find out they been using the same one for 2 years. it keeps oils from the hose, from damaging the heater. just giving people a heads up...
Good info. So it's not like a water filter where you will start seeing a reduction in flow? The filter will just saturate with oil and then risk sending that to the heater.
I have used the little buddy heater hooked up with a hose to a 20 lb tank, and according to the literature that was included with the filter, it says that you only need to replace the filter once a year.
Using a fan near a gas flame could cause it not to burn properly and excess carbon monoxide could be distributed throughout the room. Best place for a low volume fan would be as high in the room as far away from the heater as you can go. Heat rises so kind of tilt the fan downward a little to push the air back to the floor
A) The Mr Heater Mr Buddy hose does not need a filter. It's just a waste to use one with their specifically made hose. B) those paint trays are either galvanized or zinc plated, which will give off toxic gases when heated and even after heating I would not cook directly on them. C) that tray could easily be bent so that it would hook in to the front grill and eliminate the concern of getting the handle too hot plus you can then still use the handle to move the device around.
On the topic of aligning the screws for mounting... I have been known to use thumb tacks, but if you use a piece of tape to hold a drywall screw in the grove for the fully mounted position you can then simply press the item you are mounting into the drywall while using a torpedo level leaving giving a quick way to know where to put your screws. Side note I recommend using a stud finder so that at least one screw is secure leaving the other screw to keep your heater, picture, etc. level... And that's my quick tip for the day. Thanks for your help and may the grane be with you!
Re: melting the handle: The Mr buddy was designed to not do that. Unless you redirect exsesive heat from the heating element there shouldn't be a problem. And I didn't here the warning (maybe I missed it) but that rack hanging over the heater gets VERY HOT like a stove, so let it cool down before touching it!
I use my Big Buddy in the garage with a 20lb tank, but have never used a filter so far. Since I don't have an easy way to mount a ceiling fan in my garage, I use a floor fan blowing upwards to circulate the heat more evenly in the garage.
There are videos out there on how to clean/repair a Mr. Buddy to get it working again. Also supposedly their extension hose is made to not have issues, And don’t need a filter.
Its not just recommended to turn the large propane tank upside down, it HAS to be done because thats the only way you can transfer the propane, which is liquid
Well, not really. Propane is a gas that only turns to liquid at either -45° F or if it's under pressure at or over 120 PSI. If the tank is upright it will still fill it, just not as much as if it was flipped. That is only because the liquid propane is cooler than the gas at the top of the tank which makes it more dense. How much propane goes into the 1 lb tank mostly depends on how much pressure your 20 lb tank has in it and what the temperature is outside when you do it.
Have you used them? I was thinking about buying them to start replacing mine. This is what I was thinking of buying: amzn.to/3XGmvLr. That is not a horrible price if they are built tough/strong/quality to last years. Some of the reviews on them though make me wonder.
@@SeidelRanch I have 6 of them that I keep on hand and take RVing. The refill method is safe and releases pressure as you fill so the risk of over charging and explosion is removed.
Very helpful. I learnt a few things here personally tyvm 👌🏼 I have several electric radiant heaters and was wondering if those fans would also work with them which would be amazing. Converting heat energy to locomotion. It’s not only scientifically educational but it’s just nifty. More of these DIY real world applications vids pls
I've got a little buddy Mr heater and I love it!!! It's the 4000 - 9000btu model. I live in North central Texas and back in the winter of 2019-2020 when the Arctic blast hit the south it literally saved my life for I was without electricity for 5 days and if I had not had this heater I would have died. I was able to cook on it by flipping the front grill up and over and the bottom wire of the grill lined up perfect with the top hoses. Which gave me a platform to cook on. Even during that winter I didn't have to use it on high, 4000btu was sufficient for my survival. And on that note, when I use this heater during a normal winter in my area I run it on a mid-low sitting (approximately 2000btu). Without this heater I would not be here today to tell you this story. I thank the God above that I was able to acquire one of these in the time of need. So in conclusion I recommend that everyone should have a Mr Buddy heater in their home be it the little buddy or the big buddy... which ever fits your needs but it is a must have item for survival. Thank you for the opportunity to pass on this knowledge. RL.
I bought "new" units with the battery fan option from a guy on CriagsList that had around 50 of them. I put D size RECHARABLE batteries in it. Works great!@@SeidelRanch
I live in a fifth wheel camper an I've used my big buddy heater for 4 years an didn't know about the settings u can use in between, thanks for the info.
Thank you for your video and all the hacks. I start with my first buddy heater next week when deliver. (single canister) Mostly it costs 250,- Euro, but I bought one for 108,- Euro. (refurbished) Incl. the adapter for our european canisters. You need a propane filter most, when you refill the canisters. Because you transfer liquid propane. And wit this you can transfer alo dirt, rust, etc. You cannot expect, that the one who refill your 20 lbs gas bottle has used a propane filter. Greetings from germany (middle europe)
@@SeidelRanch Oh yes, it works great. And i bought a propane Tube and Connect it with a 10 lbs bottle. A lot cheaper. And it needs small propane. I have No Problems indoor with Carbon monoxide or oxygen. But better refresh the Air daily.
@@SeidelRanch Now it works very well. With a 10 lbs gas bottle. My house heating got broken. I need a new oil pump. But when I sleep, I shut everything off. In my small RV I want to install a diesel heater. But I will take my buddy heater too, for a backup. And the buddy heater is easier and faster.
So for 1 and 2, I just use a Dyna Glo Grab N Go heater. They are absolutely as good as a big buddy, waaaaaaaay cheaper and are already flat on the top for cooking and thermoelectric fan placement and the handle is metal.
@@SeidelRanch Not sure, I use mine outside when I smoke. I smoke quite a bit 2-3 packs a day. It usually takes 10-12 days to run through a 20 lb propane cylinder. I hope this helps.
@SeidelRanch I'll subscribe and click the bell, I'd love to see it. Helpful hint, buy the green one. It's cheaper than the red but there's no difference except for the color. I have both.
Yeah, I actually picked up a few. With the prefilled 1lb tanks getting so expensive it's making the empty ones from Flame King (amzn.to/3Uihev9) not so expensive to buy. Thanks.
Thanks for the tips. I found a person on TH-cam that makes a custom steel shelf for the Buddy heaters. Perfect fit, strong and I can place a fan or anything else I want on it to cook or boil water.
For most people the little buddy heater is a short term solution. I used one of them in a tent and went through a $5 can of propane in less than 6 hours. A better option is to use a wood burning rocket stove heater (you can build your own very easily), with a exhaust tube (chimney) running outside. It's free heat that's fuled by sticks and scrap wood. And you can store the heat in a mass (I used granite rocks from the rail road tracks), and that heat will be released slowly for many hours after your fire is out
Yeah, these are not the cheap way out but they are very useful. We mostly use them in the RV or when camping. It's a lot cheaper using the 20# tank than it is the 1# canisters.
They are good for quick temporary heat.And not expensive.Building a stove fire is good for an all day situation.but for several hours they are hard to beat.Especialy if you don't have a wood stove.
Really. I wonder if different paint grids heat differently. Mine has not melted my handle at all. I have heard others have had the handle melt too. Maybe there should be some weather striping or something added to the paint grid to keep it from heating up the handle. I will play around with this. Thanks for the info.
@@SeidelRanch Hi-temp silicone OVEN sheet cut to size and laid on the rear of the grid to deflect heat away from the handle with the fan removing more heat too SHOULD do the trick . If cooking , let the pot do the heat removal instead of the fan , WITH THE SILICONE SHEET STILL IN PLACE , and replace the fan after . **In ANY case, PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL . These tgings get **_incredibly *HOT_* , on the order if 600d or so. PLEASE BE _VERY CAREFUL_ . I'd add a pair if HEAT Resustant gloves to your PPE (Persinal Protectivr Equipment) Kit if I were you . Even _if_ tgey aren't needed for one _soecific_ task or another , having them AVAILABLE _could_ become crucially _important_ , should a sudden "NEED" arise 👍 .
@@wolfman2702Hi-temp silicone OVEN sheet cut to size and laid on the rear of the grid to deflect heat away from the handle with the fan removing more heat too SHOULD do the trick . If cooking , let the pot do the heat removal instead of the fan , WITH THE SILICONE SHEET STILL IN PLACE , and replace the fan after .
Question... you mentioned a filter from hose to the buddy... should that also be used on the filling of the one pound tanks if your using the hose set up for filling them?
I have thought about that also but never have done it. I have been told that if there is a regulator to drop the pressure it's not an issue, but again I have never tried it. I use the hose to the 20# tank a lot more than I use the 1# canisters.
We use 1lb containers when camping so before covid hit I bought the Flame King refilling kit and a dozen of the Flame King DOT-certified refillable 1lb containers. I paid $11 each here in the US at that time. I notice that the DOT-certified 1lb containers are now being sold by Walmart on-line for $33 each. It doesn't make sense paying that much for them unless you are using them every day. In that case they would pay for themselves in a few months.
I've been using one of those little fans on top of my heater for 2 years with no problems, but I used a solid piece of aluminum 5 in wide and 7 inches long. I put a 90° Bend in the last 2 in of the 7 inch length and drilled a row of big holes on top along the bend. I'm calling the 5 by 5 section the top because that's where the fan will sit, and I put a single short screw in the center about an inch and a half from the front edge to rest against the wire grid so it won't slide back against the plastic handle and melt it. I also use the head of the screw to place the edge of my fan against, which is the best location for my fan IMO. I use this on a little buddy heater, it works great. You can buy brass caps with seals inside to screw on 1 lb propane tanks. It's effective in stopping leaking and makes storing them a lot safer. If your pilot light starts getting yellow too small uneven whatever you can use a q-tip, that the cotton doesn't come off the end easily, and stick it down the pilot hole while turning and pull it out still turning.
The official bulk tank hose does not require a filter because it supplies regulated low pressure gas into a fitting behind the onboard 1 pound cylinder regulators. Other adapter hoses simply provide full tank pressure to the 1 pound tank port. This higher pressure apparently can squeeze oils out of the rubber hoses that end up in the Buddy Heater regulators ending your fun.
@SeidelRanch This is correct, the low pressure hose doesn't need a filter, although my Buddy Heater doesn't have a quick connect, so I'd have to use a high-pressure hose. It's made a bit more confusing by the fact that apparently some Mr. Heater high-pressure hoses require a filter and some don't.
My single canister Big Buddy does 'slow leak' down any pressure left in hose. It will not hold pressure when tank valve is closed and heater valve 'off'. I also use a gas filter screw-in to eliminate any oil or dust from getting into heater. I connect my tank directly to the heater instead of using the 1 lb cans.
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** Hacks are done at your own risk ** These are cool hacks, but you need to know that any time you use a product outside of what it was intended for, you are doing that at your own risk. Did you know any of these? Have you tried them before? What do you think? I love my Buddy heaters and these hacks make them just that more awesome. Check out my Mr. Heater list of awesome items on Amazon here: www.amazon.com/shop/seidelranch/list/2IQW33UHGF9JO?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsfseidelranch_KA46S1NMT43MV0KY3TBM
The stove fans are not to be used at temperatures over 650F (more or less). Propane burns at 1,940F and will damage the fan.
I tried the paint grid trick and it melted my handle.
@@Rebekahdavignon Sorry to hear the paint grid trick did not work for you. What Buddy heater do you have?
Thank you 4 all the intel
New sub HERE ALSO have a great day.
You could probably wrap the wires on the back of the fans with aluminum foil to reduce the heat impact on them?
@@Northanteus Probably, but they are made to handle a decent amount of heat. Anything above that will probably melt more than just the wires. It might burn out the motors.
I have the smaller Mr. Buddy, the single tank. I just recently survived 2 weeks of 7, 5, -3, snow, sleet, 40 and 50 mph winds and more snow. In the cab of a truck. Never had to run it on high, not once. I cannot believe how well it worked. It saved my life.
I thought you needed ventilation with these heaters? If used in vehicle or a room etc.
Can you clarify the ventilation? Currently sitting in my cab and freezing. Wondering if I can keep the window closed?
@@patrickconrad396co2 can get to bad levels with just breathing alone sealed up in a car, probably try to crack it as much as possible.. or periodically.. just my thoughts I don’t have it.: have worked with lot of propane though
@@patrickconrad396no you cannot. You must crack the window or have another source of fresh air.
I actually used one just like this when camping in a tent years ago. Keeps your tent warm and comfortable as long as you keep it on low and you open you roof vent.
Three points: Don't turn in your 20 lb propane tank for one already filled. It probably only has 18 pounds of propane in it. Have it refilled at a gas station that sells propane. They weigh it as it is being filled so you really get 20 pounds of propane. Second point, the propane "filters" are empty condensation chambers, not filters. So, make sure they sit upright so accumulated oil doesn't flow into your hose if it's set up on its side. Third point: Re-used one pound propane bottles will eventually slowly leak thru the rubber stopper after it stiffens with oxidation and multiple use wear from dust and debris falling down the port. So, keep the black cap on the bottles when not being used. Testing with soapy water may not show the leak because it might be too slow to bubble while you're watching. Good video, thanks for sharing.
Great info. Thank you. The refilled tanks around here only have 15#s in them, so they are really cutting back on the customer.
Here in Ontario Canada it doesn't matter where you go to refill your tank, you only get 17lbs. It is against the law to fill the tanks more than 85%. I have 30lb tanks for my camper and average cost to fill one is $36. The way I've found around that is I go to the rez, they don't check the dates and they fill the tanks up.
@@barrydano1701 That’s crazy. I get my 30# tanks filled at a local propane distributor for $22.25 after tax. And they fill with the full 30#.
@@barrydano1701 Nice.
As a newbie quite a few years ago, I exchanged my brand new, empty barbecue propane tank at the grocery store tank exchange. Little did I know,
the filled tank had been used many, many times. Re-painted right over the rusty spots! I was really ticked off! From then on, I found the volume retailer and got my own tank (NOT a re-used rusty one!)
Re-filled when the need arose!
Thankx for the tips being 75 you can always teach a old dog new tricks !!!!!!!!!!!
I learn new tricks everyday. They say you are as old as you feel, so I am about 250 years old. Thanks for watching.
@@SeidelRanch I wanna fry a steak with it..
Two buddy heaters saved my house from freezing back in 2021 Texas Uri ice storm. Awesome heaters.
Same. That ice storm was no joke for many in Texas. Glad you had some heat.
That was a deadly situation 😊
If you don't have a drain at the lowest point of your plumbing those can prevent frozen pipes by letting you conveniently drain the system. RV owners do it often but most homeowners in warm states don't know that dirt cheap and easy way to protect their investment. Adapters to blow out residual water with an air compressor are only a few bucks (I use then when doing repairs) and work great.
Make sure your paint grids are not galvanized. If they are you can get very sick from the zinc.
Yeah. Sadly most are. I would recommend burning all that off using a fire pit first. I did not on mine but may end up throwing it in a fire to clean it off. Good info.
Funny story. I'm an electrician.... doing a big construction job that had those big 80k BTU nipco heaters. One of our apprentices used a 4 square box and a piece of pipe kinda like a frying pan to make his lunch. He usually reheated already-cooked brats. We tried to stop him because he was already on his last 2 brain cells, but he didn't care.
@@Jaw-t3t There is always that guy. Can't stop them all. No matter how many warning labels you put, they will do what they do.
How can you absorb enough zinc to get poisoned. I don’t believe it. Nor do I believe you will answer the question, as most all commenters simply restate their view, NEVER give reasons, explanations, or mechanisms to establish their claims. How about NIH data?
Once they've been burnt a few times it dissipates
Since you shared a hack with me I’ll do you one back.
Pro Tip: An easy way to find placement for your screw holes is by first apply masking tape/duct tape long enough to cover both holes horizontally, then with a marker color in the indentations of the covered holes you just taped. Now you will transfer the marked tape to the wall. Just add some screws to your marked tape on the wall. So effortlessly done and clean. If you need help finding a stud that’s hiding behind Sheetrock, just use a magnet. (The stronger the better). Thx 🙏
Great tips. Thank you.
brilliant! Thank you
When Filling 1 lb tanks put them in freezer for 20 minutes then fill they will fill much faster and full
@@BradPorath Thanks. Great tip.
Please explain; in what way would using a magnet help one find a stud?
I use mine to heat my hunting blind and it works great. I can't stay in the cold very long due to health problems and the heater allows me to get out in the winter and hunt. I love it.
Glad it works so well for you. I agree, it's an awesome heater.
How much co does it give off
I used one just like this in my dome tent years ago and it worked great on low with the roof vent slightly open.
My problem also love the buddy
I also can't stay in the cold very long because I don't like it.
To avoid annual filters and oil hose issues of Big Buddy's
built-in-regulator, use the alternative "low pressure quick-connect" circuit. That keeps the high pressure propane and high pressure oil at the tank regulator. Buddy indicates "no filter needed" using this low pressure quick-connect hose. I have no oil issues using a 20ft quick-connect hose.
Another tip from the RV shop, frozen tanks produce less BTU's than warmer tanks. They have ways to insulate and warm your tanks. Happy Heating, from Michigan.
Thank you. Awesome info. I will look into buying one of those.
I'm going to have to go back and reread the product details because I don't recall seeing any of this discussion when I bought my unit & hose (10'). I'll stick with the time proven threaded fittings, thanks, though I am very familiar with quick connects on Oxy/Acet gas lines and other high pressure cylinders, but that was mostly always outdoors. I prefer to err on the side of caution. So a pressure regulator at the tank alleviates the problem of a flawed application, eh? Huh, like I said, I need to look into this further, thanks for the info!
@@thomasmckelvey8961 Some believe it is safer to regulate at the tank, so there is no hi pressure regulation inside the Budy heater. However, I use either regulation pressures "hi- threaded / low-quick" for different applications. 1. The quick-connect has other end threads to pipe in house wall. 2. The buddy threaded hose is just extra deal i use, unfortunately the company recommends annual filters for Budy's regulator.
As I indicated in hi/low pressure details related to regulation location, only the quick-connect instructions indicate no filters needed. Instructions don't detail why as I have.
I simply added detailed information as to the physical setup difference as it is related to oil/pressure location. Either connection is safe, I just prefer regulating the stinky high pressure stuff outside the house as much as possible and not in the Budy.
Happy heating, Michigan
@@thomasmckelvey8961 It suppose to and I think I will make a video on it. BTW, this is only for the Big Buddy heater. The other buddy heaters do not have the quick connect built in.
Nice.
Pretty cool ideas. Lots of fan companies now make clips so you don’t have to mod your heater anymore to mount them which is nice. The one thing missing especially since you mentioned you don’t have to lock the dial on lo, med, high, is a good quality carbon monoxide detector. They state that running the dial in between settings results in less efficient burn of the propane increasing the carbon monoxide risk.
Very good that you mentioned this point! I went and bought a car on monoxide detector just for when I use my heaters at home. Actually I bought a 10 year detector so it's always making sure our air is safe.
I live in a camper in Michigan, and I use my Buddy Heater every Winter, except I hook mine to a 100-pound tank (with a double filtered hose) and it works great. This Winter will be Winter Number 3 for my heater. I have 2 100-pound tanks and I switch between them when needed. I also have 2 20-pound tanks just in case.
That sounds like a nice setup.
Smart, I live in a camper in pa mountains and do the same. Buddy heater is my backup though, last year I used a kerosene as backup but as you know space is a premium and big buddy produces a nice glow too. Not as cool as radiant kerosene globe but I don't have to burn it dry and worry as much.
That is so fun. We lived in our RV in Colorado for 6 years & Mr. Heaters kept it cozy. Unforgettable adventure!
Thank you for making this video, it certainly helped me to make a decision to purchase one. I was in Home Depot last week looking at them and went back last night and they were almost gone so I grabbed one for $78 (portable buddy). Went back today and grabbed the paint grid, Carbon Monoxide alarm and ordered a fan from Amazon that is specifically designed for the these heaters. The fan comes with a small bracket that slides on like the paint grid and the fan has a slit/slot that cuffs under the top of the heater bracket. I'll use the paint grid when I want to boil water etc. Again, thank you for such an informative video!
Sounds like a cool setup.
I love my big buddy heater. I do use the 20 lb tank with the proper hose. I have only used the low setting for my small space. I brought an eco fan and since I only use it on low, the fan sitting sideways works very well without modification. Love the idea of using it with the paint grid for cooking. Definitely will explore that option. Thank you for this informative video.
Yeah, these are great heaters and can do so much with a little modification. Thanks for watching.
I just cook on a Coleman stove. I have even canned on a Coleman.
@@kathleenredick275 I Swear I Remember My Mother Doing That... I Thought I Imagined That. Thank You For Breaking That Memory Out Of Childhood Jail. 😅 Cheers Kathy!
My Big Buddy Heater Comes With A Built In Fan. It Runs On 4 D Batteries. It Works Great. Thanks For All The Tips. 👍
The ones with fans in them are great.
Mine to but I can't tell any difference with fan on. You ?
@@russpeaknuckel9525 Really? The one I saw with a fan seemed to push the air pretty good. That was years ago though.
My built in fan works just fine, it helps heat a room faster
I love the fan-powered Big Buddy heaters that come with a blower already. Great hacks
yeah, those are the good old ones.
Bought one a few weeks ago, yes, the built in fan works great.
I bolted two small hooks to the stovetop fan base (rear) . This catches the second from top crossbar on little buddy front grille. sits level and secure in the "sweet" spot. If you use the paint grille you can secure bits of titanium heat wrap or other heat rated material where it hooks under buddies handle! Great ideas in this video, thanks!
Thanks. And great tips. Thanks for sharing.
I have a Little Buddy heater. I use it for back up heat if the power goes out. I got the 6 foot propane hose and have 1 20lb tank and 1 40lb tank. I have never had any problems. No CO2 issues either. Nice hacks.
Thanks. These are a great backup option.
Where do you put the 20 lb cylinder? Do you have a hole through the exterior wall and run the hose through?
*My Old Mr Buddy that I bought in California, has now transitioned to Mrs Buddy and refuses to cook for me*
Sounds about right. I hear the Mrs Buddy is the only one allowed in CA now.
😂😂😂😂😂
The ones from China that do that are… “recycled”.
😂🎉😂
That's a damn shame, since women are naturally meant to be the servants of men
I have been using those fans on top of my wood stove for 20 years, I burn wood everyday at home in the mountains in winter +, very hard wood, oak, sometimes iron wood and I’m sure it gets way hotter than Mr Heater, mine have no wires, no problem. Great tips, thanks.
Yeah, these fans are pretty nice. I use them for multiple things. I think the issue with the Buddy heaters is people stick them right on the hottest part of the heater and melt the wires in the back.
@@SeidelRanch mine have no wires? Why? I’ve been using these for 20+ years at home, they work with heat alone no need for wires of any kind.
@@carmenmartinez2882 They usually have wires from the electric generator to the motors of the fans. Yours may be made better than some of the others and have the wires hidden and secured behind shields. I have 3 of these fans and 2 of the 3 have wires that just hang out the back exposed to the heat. I tucked them in the housing the best I can but they are still exposed.
@@carmenmartinez2882 can you please share where I can get the same fans?
Okay, Now I'm Actually Upset I Didn't Stock Up On Mini Propanes For My Buddy Heater. This Is Slick. I Like The Cooking Bit, That's A Great Hack. How Many Of Us Wanna Live On Sandwiches For A Week? Best Wishes 🙌
I've had a stovetop fan on my little buddy for a couple of seasons now and it still works great. I did the mod of cutting in a slot to hook the base to the little buddy's front screen grid. The tip about the paint grid is fantastic. I'll going to get one soon to try it out. 👍
Thanks. Keep an eye on the pain grid. I have not had issues with it but some say they do.
I have the original heater from 20 years ago. It works just fine. I wonder if they addressed the issues with the newer heaters catching fire randomly. As for refilling canisters take the weight of the empty canister and mark it on the bottom. From there you can weigh the canister with the one pound weight plus the canister weight after refilling. Or you can purchase the Flame King refillable canisters and their refill adapter. You will need a digital scale to take the measurements accurately.
That is a great idea on marking the canister. I usually just fill them until I hear the hissing stop, but I know they are not getting 100% full. Thanks for the info.
Determine propane level without a scale.
Drop a full tank (new) into a container of water so that it's in a vertical orientation.
Mark where the water level goes up to on the tank.
That's full.
As the tank empties, it will float higher and higher.
Mark the tank for empty level the same way.
As long as the tanks are from the same manufacturer, you're good to mark the same point on all tanks.
This is how backpackers tell how full the little cans are without a scale, just a pot of water.
Have a Good Day👋
👽
I've had one of these heaters for 3 years, and I love it. I would buy another one.
Totally agree.
I love Mr Buddy but for some reason they will only work for 1 season and then I can't get it to light. SO I buy another one. Closest service center is 100 mi from me and they charge $100 an hour. Cheaper for me to go buy another heater.
If you put the one pound cylinder in the freezer for about 30 minutes prior to refilling it the cold cylinder will draw the propane from the 20 pounder a lot faster thereby shortening the time it takes to refill the 1 pounder. And if you want to refill the 1 pounder to capacity, take a pair of needle nose pliers that you have bent the tip up on using a torch and using the needle nose pliers you can now pull up on the Shraider valve allowing the 1 pounder to fill to capacity. This basically works the same way that a commercial refill nozzle does by allowing the propane to force the trapped air out of the 1 pounder. And always make sure that you have depressurized the 1 pounder before refilling by pushing down on the valve pin located down inside the fill port with a small Phillips screwdriver. I hope these tips help you with your refilling of the 1 pound tanks.
Great info. Thanks.
Please make video showing this
How to refill 1 pounder
@@joancooper4174there are already videos out there. I like to weigh them as I fill them. Go back to original full weight so I don't overfill them.
@@joancooper4174 Check this video out: th-cam.com/video/ai4N-a43b1w/w-d-xo.html
Great video, thank you for the hacks. Love the grill option. Thanks for warning us of some of the problems that can occur with the hacks as well. Much appreciated.
Glad to help! Thanks for watching.
Good tips. I have a Little Buddy that just came in very handy and helpful during a power outage. I use the adapter hose for larger tanks. I will pick up one of those adapters for filling one pound tanks though. Those cans have many uses. Much appreciate people who appreciate gadgetry.
Thanks. I do like these heaters.
If you use the refill setup to refill the 1 pound tanks from a 20 pound tank, does the oil from the refill hose allow the oils to enter the 1 pound tanks and eventually gum up the heater?
@@aulii11 That's a darn good point, and why I will probably just use the adapter hose and larger tank for anything I consider good equipment. Or anything with a regulator. Which kind of limits those refilled small cans somewhat.
But then again, as long as we're burning the gas, with the tanks vertical, the oil should stay at the bottom. Right?
Someone else has probably already answered the question. I haven't read into available info enough yet. And that particular oil and grade, I wonder how well it might burn clean? But still that's a good point
@@whitebeardskydaddy6756 My understanding is that the oils are present in the non-Mr. Heater hose to keep it flexible, not the propane, so my question concerns whether the hoses in the "Amazon" 1 pound refill kits have the same oils. I spent a bunch of money for a Flame King refill kit that includes DOT compliant refillable 1 pound bottles and no hose between the 20 pound and 1 pound tanks. Expensive, but if you use a lot of 1 pound bottles, it might justify the cost.
@@aulii11 Ah, okay I see now. I've filled uncountable smaller tanks from the big thousands pounds motorized pump tanks and honestly never gave the hoses or oils much thought. But since watching this and other videos I had intended to pick up one of those fittings to refill one pounders. I was simply rationalizing where any oil would wind up and guessing, having encountered twenty pounders that were empty of propane but still had a bit of something swirling around in there. Always figured it was water and oil or just oil, but hating the smell of the additive I never bothered to dump it to find out. I would think your investment was worth it. Thanks for the exchange
I've been refilling the bottles for our Big Buddy Heater for several years with no problems. I talked to an engineer that knows those bottles and he said they can handle refilling many times. He also showed me how to easily fill them to 20 oz, On low two bottle will burn anywhere from 10 to 12 hours at 20 oz. I use the refill adapter with a hose, much easier and safer. Will definitely be getting your fan setup and thanks for sharing.
Thanks. What is the trick to getting 20oz in the bottles?
How do you know when they're full??
@@loriflarson4236 You can weigh them. That is what most people do I believe. I only get mine about 50-70% full using the hose.
California is banning the disposable canisters (They ban everything under the sun .) They are used for too many things. Surely, somebody will make some that are refillable, and hopefully, California won't ban those too.
Important tip. Anyone using an extended propane hose should get the Stainless Steel Braided Propane Adapter Hose. I had originally purchased the rubber hose that wasn't covered in SS braiding and melted a hole through the hose when it touched the front grill. I didn't realize it until I returned to the heater and heard a hissing sound.
Oh wow. That would be scary. Thanks for the tip.
Yeah, happened to me. Turned around and saw bulges coming out of the rubber hose, mine did not technically rupture; but once I saw that hose I turned it off immedicately!
Or you could be more careful. LOL. Just kidding. That’s a good tip. We live on our sailboat. We use the heater on cold mornings. The propane tank sits in a cockpit locker and the hose is just long enough to allow for the heater to sit in a good spot on the cabin sole. Hence, there is little risk of what you experienced. My wife mentioned the other day that we really should have a spare hose. I’ll definitely find a braided one.
We’ve been using ours on the boat since 2013 using the OEM extension hose. No issues.
In Sept 2018 we were at a marina in New Bern NC for hurricane Florence. Water level rose 12 feet over the docks. 1/2 the marina was destroyed. We were without power for 14 weeks. It got pretty cold in December and January and the heater was our only source of heat. It worked great and we stayed nice and warm.
This vid is great! I live in Texas and we are hit an miss with power all winter season and was wondering how I would cook indoors with propane-PROBLEM SOLVED! Thank you!!
Glad it was helpful!
Hey you a camping stove work's a lot faster and it has 2 burner's
Great tips, thank you! I run my Little Buddy on both a 5lb tank and on a 20lb tank for camping or emergency use. I've never refilled the 1lb tanks and don't feel comfortable doing that, but agree that that is both MUCH less expensive than buying new ones all the time, and is probably better for the environment not to keep discarding them. (I'm not against refilling them,, just don't do it myself). I never thought of using the paint grates, I appreciate that tip and will get one. I also want to order one or two of those fans, they make the heater much more efficient. Thanks again for the great tips, it's appreciated!
Flame King makes a refillable 1# propane tank and a device that will fill them from your 20# tank. Definitely worth the investment, the tanks are really solid!
@@chachi5975 Mr. Heater also makes a refillable 1LB tank called the "Fuel Keg". I find it better than the Flame king as it has a over fill prevention
valve that is attached to the tank and does not need an allen wrench to use it. BUT you have to use the Mr. Heater refill adapter to fill them.
Good tips, thanks! Ive been using heaters in hunting blinds for many years. Mr Buddy has been the best so far, lasted longer than the others. Hacks are great to share, especially the refill! Let me add one additional tip to that I haven't seen after reading about 50 comments.
When you refill the 1lb as he said, your bottle will typically balance out a little less than 2/3 full. It's still way better than buying new, i get it. However if you freeze your 1lb first, and leave the 20lb out in the warm sunshine you will find you can refill the bottle much closer to full! Easy peasy. Just be prepared to answer your wife questioning why theres green propane bottles in the freezer lol!😂😂 Stay warm y'all!
Great tips, thanks. The wife knows by now that odd things in the house is my fault.
The grate out of a collapsible çoleman oven fits perfect in between the uprights of the handle and rests fairly level on the heat guard. You could make some extra supports out of coat hanger pieces going from the oven rack to the heat guard for extra strength if you plan on using larger pans . Just be careful not to put enough weight to tip over the heater. And keep the edge of the pan away from the heaters handle or you will melt it. Most standard mess kits work perfectly for cooking on this setup without adding extra supports but if you have larger pots in your kit you may want to add the supports to use them.
All great tips. My cooking set is tiny so I don't have to worry about tipping over, but the cloths hanger idea sounds great. I wonder if that is how people are melting the handle on the heaters. Not so much the paint grid, but the fans or pots themselves reflecting the heat to the handle.
@SeidelRanch
Something to think about...
As the gas is consumed, the stability may change.
Well you could go both ways off of the heater as counterweight to keep the stove from tipping over.
great tips. I used your links. While watching I thought about taking a two wheel truck (moving dolly) and putting the 20lb tank on it and mounting the heater above it. Making it very portable.
That would be a great portable heater that lasts a really long time.
Dangerous and illegal if used in an enclosed space. External tanks must be outside of living areas in a well ventilated enclosure or strapped down to keep them from tipping. Leaks or the pressure vent popping off will blow you up or burn you down. Educate yourself and don't spread dangerous ideas. Never use a bulk tank indoors.
@@craigglover4344 My living space is not enclosed, thus perfect compliance.
@@craigglover4344 What? Why did you go straight to that from what he said? Really?
I'm glad you are doing it safely. I'm sure you wouldn't want anyone to use your setup accidentally inside. There are many safety laws against that, of course. @@SnowyOwlPrepper
Love the painters grill hack!!
Love the Buddy heaters. Use them for our tents, sheds and just hanging outside.
I also refill the 1lb tank. Can’t go wrong at $1 per refill Lol!!
Beware, the seals eventually wear out
Those 1lb tanks have gotten crazy expensive.
That is very true. I have recycled a good number of them for leaking. Spray with soapy water to test for leaks.
I have been using two Big Buddy heaters to heat my shop which is a big metal tall building that has bag insulation for about 5 years. The first year I used small 1# tanks but graduated to the Big Buddy hoses with regulators. I do not use filters on the hoses. On the outside of the building, I installed RV power cord doors to put the hose through. I never run with the tank inside. The outside temperature can not be below 38F or 3.33C; otherwise, I can not heat it up to 50F to work out there. I did buy the Flame King propane filler kit and I have 5 refillable Flame King bottles. I have an oscillating fan up in the loft to circulate the heat that rises.
That sounds like a real nice setup.
I melted my handle using the paint grate trick. I believe the issue was because I had a pan on the paint grate which directed the heat back towards the handle. In the future I will use a smaller pan and make sure it is positioned as far forward on the grate as possible to allow the heat to escape without directing it toward the handle.
Yeah, I think that is the tip right there. I have always kept an eye on the handle to make sure it was not getting real hot.
Wrap the buddy handle with tin foil, it will deflect heat , keep it from getting to hot.
@@robbourn7379 Cool idea.
Pro tip, wrap handle in heat resistant tape
@@Nigriff That is a good idea.
My big buddy heater has the fan kit, also I like the cooking feature never would have thought to do that. Using the 1lb cans is not a option with me ,my heater has a quick connect behind one of the 1 lb connector and I bought the made up hose on Amazon ,it has the regulator on the connection at the 20 pound tank. Usually lasts me a month.I use it to supplement my heat in the house.
Those ones with the fans were great. I hope that does make a comeback. I agree on the 20lb hookup. If you are going to use it a lot, that is really the only way to go. Just be careful with those 20lb tanks in or near a house.
I've never thought about these. For one reason, I'm new to Mr. Buddy. Thanks for the tips. One observation though. As heat rises, I wouldn't recommend mounting it very high on the wall. I would think that closer to the floor would better heat the whole room.
Yeah, I agree. I usually put it stomach or chest height when in the garage or shop. It doesn't heat the whole area but it does heat the area I am in well.
Heat rises very fast if you ever put your hand on top of a lit candle. In the winter I use a small fan on low aimed at the ceiling to drive the heat down and makes the room comfortable without any cold zones.
Riiiiiiiiiiight!😅
Thanks for discussing the in-line filter. I ordered the Buddy Pro, a 20 lbs tanks, and 10 foot hose, but I hadn't considered the filter I just ordered one. Thanks for the very informatine video, especially since this is my first propane heater. I live in Texas, and in Feb 2021, We were without gas and electri for over 5-days.
Thanks for all these tips! I do not have any type of heater but thinking of buying one of these to knock the chill off inside of tent. I’m wondering how many hours the 1# containers last and do they simultaneously run or automatically switch from 1st container to the second container. Goal is to sleep all night without being interrupted to switch to full canister.
Glad it was helpful! These are awesome for tents, just keep them at a safe distance. The big buddy will drain them both at the same time I think. You can also run the big buddy on just one and it will still let you run it on high. If you want heat all night, put in 2 canisters and run it on low. That should do it.
@@SeidelRanch thank you so much!
I never tried running on low with two canisters. I want to see how that works but I used up my four canisters. Two on my water heater . I just ran the gas hose outside now I can get a 20 lb bottle for my water heater. As for my buddy heater I learned some things new. I guess I need only one hose attachment to run my big buddy heater I thought you had to hook both sides with a special hose. 73
Approximately 6 hrs on low
Per 1# tank
We use a 2-tank Mr. Buddy, as well as the smaller ones, and love them. We use a larger tank, 40# iirc, for longer use. Thanks for these tips!
Sounds like you have a setup like mine. I love mine too. Thanks for checking out the channel.
Thank you for the tips. 115 years old and learning more every day!
Funny
Whippersnapper
I have been refilling my 1# tanks using the single brass attachment fir a couple years . I find I can only fill them to around 9oz on the first try. I have to undo and reconnect a 2nd time to fill to around 13oz total. I wouldn't try to fill up to a full 1# as it's not accurate and these are used bottles so better to be safe and not over stress a used bottle. I wonder if using the hose connection showed if they fill up to full on one try. By the way I use a scale to fill those used bottles. I put the empty bottle on the scale tare it out, then fill and weigh again. Thus u know exactly how many oz you have filled.
Great tips, thanks.
Here's a Tip for SeidelRanch.
If you want to use the mounting keyholes on the back of the heater, use a level and a tapemeasure. You'll need a drill and a pencil. There are a number of different types of anchors depending if the wall is drywall, or something else. The Tips You Provided Were Great. Thanks for the insight.
Thanks for the tip.
I got the 2gallon bucket grid for my big buddy and i'm hoping it's large enough to accommodate the Voda thermal heater i've ordered as well as the thermometer.
Hey, on these heaters - are they designed to blow more forcefully at hotter temps? I'm guessing yes. Thanks
You could buy a heat resistant silicone baking sheet and cut a strip and cover the paint shelf on the back end to protect the handle...
Good idea. I never have had an issue but I do hear once in a while someone melted their handle.
Or silicone tubing...
@@FinalWarningFilms That sounds like a winner.
You can wrap, loose wrap so air can circulate through it, with aluminum and it will deflect the heat away.
Thanks
Thank you... 🙏 😔 🙏
The video was very informative. It is becoming more necessary to prepare for unpredictable weather events in our area. These "little" heaters are amazing. Again thank you.
I totally agree. Parts of central Texas are still without power just because of some ice. We need to prepare to be able to live more off grid and just hope we never need to.
How do you know when the 1lbs can is refilled? Does it make a change in sound? Is it possible to overfill/explode the 1lbs bottle? Thanks for the video.
Yeah, you can hear the bottle making a filling noise and it will stop when it's full. I have not had an overfill issue since the amount is all based on pressure and they have about the same pressure. Thanks for watching.
When you connect the cylinder to the tank and open the valve, there is a hissing sound and the cylinder gets cold. Fill for one minute (there are videos showing how) and shut off the valve. It is possible to overfill the cylinder, but there is an pressure release valve near the top.
There are a lot of TH-cam videos about refilling the 1# and the safety precautions to take 👍
Use a scale, digital best.
Where do I get the valve adapter to fill the little tank?
Nice, I did the same thing with an old toaster oven rack I bent to fit and tied it in with bailing wire, works great making hot ham n cheez in foil packs while deer hunting and keeping warm, and I run a 20punder on a standard buddy heater
Very cool. I need to fashion up something like that.
@@SeidelRanch i had had an old semi rigid bulk tank hose I got years ago.uaed it on a Primus propane generator in an old school Coleman stove. Works great for years now, no filter needed, not. Soft rubber hose
@@joemorris3617 I bet it a quality hose. Hoses now days are probably mostly junk compared the older versions. Glad its working well.
I have this very same unit. I haven't used it yet and only purchased it for emergencies. I did try it out though and it really put out the heat!
A couple of years ago we had a power outage during a very cold winter and I thought me and my two dogs were going to freeze to death. Everything was covered with ice and I could hear trees and branches breaking all around the neighborhood.
I decided then to buy some emergency supplies in case it happened again. I bought this unit and some extra propane bottles and one of the items I have is a one-burner cook 'stove' that uses butane. I actually used this recently when our power went out for three days caused by hurricane Helene. Some people lost power for a long time.
I have 12 green propane canisters and refill them several times each before I toss them and buy new ones.
I use a kitchen scale and weight a empty one before filling it. I use a Allen wrench tool to let air pocket out of the empty before starting to fill it. And repeat this procedure until my scale shows that I have one pound of propane in it.
Nice tips, thanks.
Thanks I've been racking my brain and back trying to maintain tain a comfortable temperature to reside in my rv. Lack of insulation is my main delimna. I've skirted it but wanted a safe solution for my pipes. I've been using a drop light but will now try the extreme heater your vid mentioned. Thanks for real as frozen pipes is not a great way to start your morning!!
No, frozen pipes is not fun. Hope this heater keeps you warm.
From what I have heard about the filters, you shouldn't need one if you use a regulator on your propane tank. It's the high pressure in the hose causes the tube to leech out the oils.
I have heard the same. Since I have one I still run it, but I did hear that.
Thank you for all the tips. Just got the bigger heater last year. Haven't had to use mine yet. But it's going to happen when you live in Wyoming and the power goes off because of a storm. Usually for a couple hours. Its happened for weeks once in 2007. Thankful i had a woodstove then.
A wood stove is the best, but these make great backup heaters. We take them anytime we go somewhere cold in the RV.
On the subject of mounting it on the wall, using the holes on the back of a mister buddy, you don't have to line up the holes with the nails.
Just use a level to draw a line, and then measure the distance between the two holes.
Use anchor screws and place them at the same distance.
Finished!
Great tip, thank you! I always dislike marking the holes to hang anything. That should make it simple.
My big buddy heater has a fan built in from factory and runs on batteries , but, the thermal fan idea is awesome, thanks for tips.
You have one of the older ones. They stopped making them with fans. Still not sure why.
Maybe I missed it, but these heaters have a built in fan. There's 4 D-cell batteries in the back towards the bottom, the switch is underneath the handle same side as the heat controls. Did enjoy the video never thought of using it to cook on ....👍👍
The older big buddy heaters had fans built in. The newer ones do not. Mine is probably 10 years old and does not have a fan. It does though have the spot in the back for the batteries, just no fan or wires.
Interesting...to tell you how long I've had mine... Found them on sale for 49.95, bought two... LoL... fist one works as well as when I took it out of the box, the other is still in the box...thx for the reply...👍
@@maleficentcop2752 Wow, nice. Hang on to those. They could be gold in the near future.
I had a big buddy heater that was black and army green that caught on fire . I have had several and given them as gifts. It did burn my camper floor , but got it out and off . I sent it in and received my new one the same week . I do recommend buying big buddy heaters.
I use a Mr Buddy, with a fan which I took my angle grinder and cut a slot , works great, but thanks for the paint screen idea. As for fuel, I use a 20# or a 40# , have a number of propane tanks, because I live off grid and fill up all once a month maybe in winter. But I strongly recommend that you use a filter for using those tanks, the bottle ones you get at walmart are clean inside, no debris or sediments, but those tanks you get at stores, the refill tanks, they have sediments whcih will clog your Mt Buddy, Mr Heater ceramic plates. You have to buy a whole new heater if that happens. Ive had this one for four years, bought only one filter...and it still works like a champ. The filter says to change every year, or recommends, but ive used the same one for 4 years and it still works just fine. If you are in a 12x20 room or shed cabin, this will put out good warmth a fan, it actually warms it better than my wood stove. I use one for hot tent camping in early spring, late fall ...ive even camped in snow, these little heaters are awesome. They use them in Ice Fishing huts, people live in the ice fishing hut like its days in the Bahamas, they get hot in their ice fishing hole.
All great info, thanks. I love mine and it does great. Goes with me all over in the winter.
I left my handle up one time, and it began melting it. I have been using one for 6yrs now. Set a jug of water 6in in front of it for bathing or dishes. Love the grid idea. I have a tea pot that hangs over mine, to add moisture to the air. And for instant stuff. Never have to wait .lol
i think one thing to watch out for is the paint grids might be galvanized steel, which would have a zinc coating. so don't put anything acidic on it which would dissolve the zinc and possibly lead to consumption
if i misunderstood and it was never meant for direct contact with food ie. grilling, then ignore this comment
Oh, yeah. Don't cook directly on it. Sorry. You need to use a pan or pot. The pain grids are not sanitary to cook on.
I have purchased several 16 ounce Coleman propane cylinders for a Big Buddy heater in case of power loss this winter. Hoping someone can educate me on the best way to store them. I have heard many insurance companies do not permit storage within the house in their homeowner's policies. I don't have a shed, but was thinking about storing them outside in Rubbermaid storage bins I use for container gardening. Appreciate any advice offered. Also, do they need to come up to "room temperature" prior to use?
I would store them outside in a container or maybe in the garage instead of in the house. I have used the tanks when they were cold so I don't think that is an issue.
Great hacks! And so much details for the tips make this a great video. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Best Mr. Buddy "hacks" video ever!. For a winter grid down scenario you've created an awesome, quick set up multitasker. I just subscribed. 😊
Wow, thanks!
IF YOU USE A HOSE...
and use a filter.
your filter is only rated for 300 hours, 12 , and a half days. runtime.
I hear people say the filters don't work... the oil still got in... then find out they been using the same one for 2 years.
it keeps oils from the hose, from damaging the heater.
just giving people a heads up...
Good info. So it's not like a water filter where you will start seeing a reduction in flow? The filter will just saturate with oil and then risk sending that to the heater.
I have used the little buddy heater hooked up with a hose to a 20 lb tank, and according to the literature that was included with the filter, it says that you only need to replace the filter once a year.
I’ve used the paint grids and they’re great. I painted mind with heat paint black. Also bought a heat fan that runs only on heat.
I should paint mine. They will rust over time, so painting them might fix that.
Using a fan near a gas flame could cause it not to burn properly and excess carbon monoxide could be distributed throughout the room. Best place for a low volume fan would be as high in the room as far away from the heater as you can go. Heat rises so kind of tilt the fan downward a little to push the air back to the floor
I use the fan over the heater, so it should not disrupt the burn. The fan they use to sell in them pushed air through the flame.
A) The Mr Heater Mr Buddy hose does not need a filter. It's just a waste to use one with their specifically made hose. B) those paint trays are either galvanized or zinc plated, which will give off toxic gases when heated and even after heating I would not cook directly on them. C) that tray could easily be bent so that it would hook in to the front grill and eliminate the concern of getting the handle too hot plus you can then still use the handle to move the device around.
Great tips on how to get the right balance between while using the Mr.Buddy heaters!👍
Glad it was helpful!
Flame king sells the 1 pound refill kit it’s designed to bleed off the air from the tank as it fills its super safe and takes all the guess work out.
I picked up some of the Flame King refillable bottles. I still need to fill them, but they look nice and sturdy.
Yes sir you will enjoy the savings with the refill tanks
I PUT MY HEATING FAN THERE TO BLOW THE AIR OUT---NO ELECTRICITY NEEDED JUST THE HEAT WAVES WORKS SO GOOD
They work great.
On the topic of aligning the screws for mounting... I have been known to use thumb tacks, but if you use a piece of tape to hold a drywall screw in the grove for the fully mounted position you can then simply press the item you are mounting into the drywall while using a torpedo level leaving giving a quick way to know where to put your screws. Side note I recommend using a stud finder so that at least one screw is secure leaving the other screw to keep your heater, picture, etc. level... And that's my quick tip for the day. Thanks for your help and may the grane be with you!
Re: melting the handle: The Mr buddy was designed to not do that. Unless you redirect exsesive heat from the heating element there shouldn't be a problem.
And I didn't here the warning (maybe I missed it) but that rack hanging over the heater gets VERY HOT like a stove, so let it cool down before touching it!
I did say the grid gets hot, but you know some will still touch it.
@@SeidelRanch😆 Too True.
Great vid, if you put a thin plate on your grid it will be better for your fan and the plate retains ambient heat and your wires will be safe.
Thanks for the info!
I use my Big Buddy in the garage with a 20lb tank, but have never used a filter so far. Since I don't have an easy way to mount a ceiling fan in my garage, I use a floor fan blowing upwards to circulate the heat more evenly in the garage.
That's a great idea! The filter is more of a precaution I guess. You have been lucky. I have heard of many people getting clogs from the 20lb tanks.
@@SeidelRanch In Tennessee, I don't have to use it that often, but should have said I would be adding a filter.
@@vonheise I did ruin a heater years ago using an after market hose without a filter. Clogged the nozzle in the heater
There are videos out there on how to clean/repair a Mr. Buddy to get it working again. Also supposedly their extension hose is made to not have issues, And don’t need a filter.
I applaud you! A great teaching video. Some great tips. I appreciate you sharing. Well done! 🙏🏆
Glad you enjoyed it!
Its not just recommended to turn the large propane tank upside down, it HAS to be done because thats the only way you can transfer the propane, which is liquid
Well, not really. Propane is a gas that only turns to liquid at either -45° F or if it's under pressure at or over 120 PSI. If the tank is upright it will still fill it, just not as much as if it was flipped. That is only because the liquid propane is cooler than the gas at the top of the tank which makes it more dense. How much propane goes into the 1 lb tank mostly depends on how much pressure your 20 lb tank has in it and what the temperature is outside when you do it.
Been using buddy heater to heat my hunting trailer for 20 + years . Always had the 20lb bottle upright with no issues !!!
Lol not true, it's under pressure.
Thanks for the tips! Wondering if you have set something up for turning the 20 lb tank upside down to keep that tank stable?
Do you mean during the refill process? When I do that I usually use a table or my tailgate.
Flame King makes a refillable 1 lb bottle and a refill kit. They are a little pricey but pay for themselves in the long run.
Have you used them? I was thinking about buying them to start replacing mine. This is what I was thinking of buying: amzn.to/3XGmvLr. That is not a horrible price if they are built tough/strong/quality to last years. Some of the reviews on them though make me wonder.
@@SeidelRanch I have 6 of them that I keep on hand and take RVing. The refill method is safe and releases pressure as you fill so the risk of over charging and explosion is removed.
I just ordered a refill kit. Comes with 1 flame king cannister. I ordered a 4 pack of extras, plus brass caps, thru Amazon.
@@henrykrecklow817 I think I will get it then. We use these a lot. Would love to have a stack of quality canisters.
@@soco13466 Keep us posted on the use of them. Would love to know how they work for you.
Very helpful. I learnt a few things here personally tyvm 👌🏼
I have several electric radiant heaters and was wondering if those fans would also work with them which would be amazing. Converting heat energy to locomotion. It’s not only scientifically educational but it’s just nifty.
More of these DIY real world applications vids pls
I've got a little buddy Mr heater and I love it!!!
It's the 4000 - 9000btu model.
I live in North central Texas and back in the winter of 2019-2020 when the Arctic blast hit the south it literally saved my life for I was without electricity for 5 days and if I had not had this heater I would have died.
I was able to cook on it by flipping the front grill up and over and the bottom wire of the grill lined up perfect with the top hoses.
Which gave me a platform to cook on.
Even during that winter I didn't have to use it on high, 4000btu was sufficient for my survival.
And on that note, when I use this heater during a normal winter in my area I run it on a mid-low sitting (approximately 2000btu).
Without this heater I would not be here today to tell you this story.
I thank the God above that I was able to acquire one of these in the time of need.
So in conclusion I recommend that everyone should have a Mr Buddy heater in their home be it the little buddy or the big buddy... which ever fits your needs but it is a must have item for survival.
Thank you for the opportunity to pass on this knowledge.
RL.
Glad it was as helpful as it was. I agree on how great these are. We used it the same here in central Texas.
@@SeidelRanch when I run it on mid-low (2000btu) I can get about 200 hours out of a 20lb tank.
My Big Buddy has an electric fan blower built in, with either D batteries or A/C adapter . The paint screen works nice.👍
Those older buddy heaters with the fans are cool. Not sure why they stopped making them that way.
I bought "new" units with the battery fan option from a guy on CriagsList that had around 50 of them. I put D size RECHARABLE batteries in it. Works great!@@SeidelRanch
They have a hose that has a quick disconnect, and you can use a bigger propane tank
I am going to order and try that hose. Thanks for the info.
I live in a fifth wheel camper an I've used my big buddy heater for 4 years an didn't know about the settings u can use in between, thanks for the info.
No problem. Just make sure the heating elements are lit and burning well. If you see flicker or shuddering, it need to be adjusted better.
Thank you for your video and all the hacks.
I start with my first buddy heater next week when deliver. (single canister)
Mostly it costs 250,- Euro, but I bought one for 108,- Euro. (refurbished)
Incl. the adapter for our european canisters.
You need a propane filter most, when you refill the canisters.
Because you transfer liquid propane.
And wit this you can transfer alo dirt, rust, etc.
You cannot expect, that the one who refill your 20 lbs gas bottle has used a propane filter.
Greetings from germany (middle europe)
Hope you like the heater.
@@SeidelRanch Oh yes, it works great.
And i bought a propane Tube and Connect it with a 10 lbs bottle.
A lot cheaper.
And it needs small propane.
I have No Problems indoor with Carbon monoxide or oxygen. But better refresh the Air daily.
@@sunnymas2656 Awesome to hear. We love these heaters when we RV.
@@SeidelRanch Now it works very well.
With a 10 lbs gas bottle.
My house heating got broken.
I need a new oil pump.
But when I sleep, I shut everything off.
In my small RV I want to install a diesel heater. But I will take my buddy heater too, for a backup.
And the buddy heater is easier and faster.
Seidel Ranch, thank you for this practical, easy to understand and informative video 👍
Glad it was helpful! Thanks.
So for 1 and 2, I just use a Dyna Glo Grab N Go heater. They are absolutely as good as a big buddy, waaaaaaaay cheaper and are already flat on the top for cooking and thermoelectric fan placement and the handle is metal.
I have been tempted to try one of those, but I have heard they run through propane a lot faster then the Mr Heater ones. Have you seen that issue?
@@SeidelRanch Not sure, I use mine outside when I smoke. I smoke quite a bit 2-3 packs a day. It usually takes 10-12 days to run through a 20 lb propane cylinder. I hope this helps.
@@leodanryan966 Thanks. I might get one and compare the 2 to see.
@SeidelRanch I'll subscribe and click the bell, I'd love to see it. Helpful hint, buy the green one. It's cheaper than the red but there's no difference except for the color. I have both.
Nice tips. Flame King does sell an official refillable propane cylinder that has a bleeder valve designed similar to the 20 pound propane tanks
Yeah, I actually picked up a few. With the prefilled 1lb tanks getting so expensive it's making the empty ones from Flame King (amzn.to/3Uihev9) not so expensive to buy. Thanks.
You can also get the adapter to use a 20, 30 or a 40lb tank
Yeah, we have one that uses the filter and connects to the 1 lb tank fitting and I just bought another that uses the quick connect on the big buddy.
Thanks for the tips. I found a person on TH-cam that makes a custom steel shelf for the Buddy heaters. Perfect fit, strong and I can place a fan or anything else I want on it to cook or boil water.
Thanks for the info!
For most people the little buddy heater is a short term solution. I used one of them in a tent and went through a $5 can of propane in less than 6 hours.
A better option is to use a wood burning rocket stove heater (you can build your own very easily), with a exhaust tube (chimney) running outside. It's free heat that's fuled by sticks and scrap wood.
And you can store the heat in a mass (I used granite rocks from the rail road tracks), and that heat will be released slowly for many hours after your fire is out
Yeah, these are not the cheap way out but they are very useful. We mostly use them in the RV or when camping. It's a lot cheaper using the 20# tank than it is the 1# canisters.
They are good for quick temporary heat.And not expensive.Building a stove fire is good for an all day situation.but for several hours they are hard to beat.Especialy if you don't have a wood stove.
@@davidschaadt3460 Agree. A wood stove is great if it's available. These buddy heaters transport easy and make quick heat when needed.
Awesome idea!
If I remember correctly you can purchase an adapter that will allow you to use the 20 lbs propane tank with your regular or you larger heaters.
If you use the hose on the big buddy, does it only allow one side of the heater to heat up? My heater is eons old. Well, almost.
Mine will let you use both elements even if only one side is hooked up.
Had handle melt doing that. Good thing for keeping the old ones for parts.
Really. I wonder if different paint grids heat differently. Mine has not melted my handle at all. I have heard others have had the handle melt too. Maybe there should be some weather striping or something added to the paint grid to keep it from heating up the handle. I will play around with this. Thanks for the info.
My melted as well
I thought that the handle melting would be a problem too. Heat transfer from the medal grate to a plastic handle doesn't seem like a good idea to me.
@@SeidelRanch Hi-temp silicone OVEN sheet cut to size and laid on the rear of the grid to deflect heat away from the handle with the fan removing more heat too SHOULD do the trick . If cooking , let the pot do the heat removal instead of the fan , WITH THE SILICONE SHEET STILL IN PLACE , and replace the fan after .
**In ANY case, PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL . These tgings get **_incredibly *HOT_* , on the order if 600d or so. PLEASE BE _VERY CAREFUL_ .
I'd add a pair if HEAT Resustant gloves to your PPE (Persinal Protectivr Equipment) Kit if I were you . Even _if_ tgey aren't needed for one _soecific_ task or another , having them AVAILABLE _could_ become crucially _important_ , should a sudden "NEED" arise 👍 .
@@wolfman2702Hi-temp silicone OVEN sheet cut to size and laid on the rear of the grid to deflect heat away from the handle with the fan removing more heat too SHOULD do the trick . If cooking , let the pot do the heat removal instead of the fan , WITH THE SILICONE SHEET STILL IN PLACE , and replace the fan after .
I have had one of those for a few years now, but I have never needed it. I consider them to be backup heat in case of a blackout.
We bought them for the RV and have used them for backup heat if the power goes out.
Thank you for this video. it made me want one more than i did before.
Glad I could help. These are great heaters.
Question... you mentioned a filter from hose to the buddy... should that also be used on the filling of the one pound tanks if your using the hose set up for filling them?
I have thought about that also but never have done it. I have been told that if there is a regulator to drop the pressure it's not an issue, but again I have never tried it. I use the hose to the 20# tank a lot more than I use the 1# canisters.
We use 1lb containers when camping so before covid hit I bought the Flame King refilling kit and a dozen of the Flame King DOT-certified refillable 1lb containers. I paid $11 each here in the US at that time. I notice that the DOT-certified 1lb containers are now being sold by Walmart on-line for $33 each. It doesn't make sense paying that much for them unless you are using them every day. In that case they would pay for themselves in a few months.
Yeah, they went a little nuts on price and it's hard to find them in stock too. You have to refill a lot to justify the cost on them.
I've been using one of those little fans on top of my heater for 2 years with no problems, but I used a solid piece of aluminum 5 in wide and 7 inches long. I put a 90° Bend in the last 2 in of the 7 inch length and drilled a row of big holes on top along the bend. I'm calling the 5 by 5 section the top because that's where the fan will sit, and I put a single short screw in the center about an inch and a half from the front edge to rest against the wire grid so it won't slide back against the plastic handle and melt it. I also use the head of the screw to place the edge of my fan against, which is the best location for my fan IMO. I use this on a little buddy heater, it works great.
You can buy brass caps with seals inside to screw on 1 lb propane tanks. It's effective in stopping leaking and makes storing them a lot safer.
If your pilot light starts getting yellow too small uneven whatever you can use a q-tip, that the cotton doesn't come off the end easily, and stick it down the pilot hole while turning and pull it out still turning.
The official bulk tank hose does not require a filter because it supplies regulated low pressure gas into a fitting behind the onboard 1 pound cylinder regulators. Other adapter hoses simply provide full tank pressure to the 1 pound tank port. This higher pressure apparently can squeeze oils out of the rubber hoses that end up in the Buddy Heater regulators ending your fun.
That's good info. I think only the Big Buddy has that quick connect port. My smaller buddy heater does not have the quick connect.
@SeidelRanch This is correct, the low pressure hose doesn't need a filter, although my Buddy Heater doesn't have a quick connect, so I'd have to use a high-pressure hose.
It's made a bit more confusing by the fact that apparently some Mr. Heater high-pressure hoses require a filter and some don't.
My single canister Big Buddy does 'slow leak' down any pressure left in hose. It will not hold pressure when tank valve is closed and heater valve 'off'. I also use a gas filter screw-in to eliminate any oil or dust from getting into heater. I connect my tank directly to the heater instead of using the 1 lb cans.