Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Mr. Heater Portable Buddy-Gear Review



I bought this heater for my 12 x 16 studio which is a metal building with R13 insulation and panneling installed. It has a pressure treated floor and carpeting. During the winter I needed some form of heat which did not require electrical hook ups. I wanted something that would not be dependent on a power source.

This heater cost $84 bucks at Walmart. It uses one pound propane cannisters which can be screwed into the system quite easily. There are two settings, high and low, and is designed to shut off if it tips over.

A person can buy a hose and hook it up to a 20 pound propane cannister. I've decided to keep the portability feature to enable instant heat in the corner of the studio I'm working. A one pound cannister will burn about 6 hours on the low setting.

A great feature is it could also be taken on camping trips, used during power outtages inside our home, or lent to someone in need. Little ventilation is needed. I simply open the window a tiny bit when using the heater for any length of time.

I am quite happy with the heat it generates. It can melt fabric if set too closely to curtains. Once my jogging pants began to melt while I was standing too close enjoying the first heat.

The propane cannisters can be recyled. They can not be refilled, a disadvantage to fuel supply. This Portable Buddy-Mr Heater is a great buy.

4 comments:

  1. Hi,

    I have the Big Buddy Mr. Heater. I use it to help heat my cabin when the wood stove isn't enough.

    When I first got it, I thought about using the disposable cartridges and had found articles about refilling them. Do a search to find them.

    However I hooked my up to a 20lb tank. It's really easy to hook up and disconnect if you ever decided you want to make it more portable it's as easy as disconnecting a fuel canister.

    I got mine through amazon, it was cheaper than Walmart.

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  2. Thanks Crow, for the feedback. I think this next fall I'll get the hose and 20 pound cannister.
    The one pounders say not to refill them. I thought maybe they were prone to explosion, or something? Will a propane dealer refill them?

    I got mine on closeout at Walmart, thanks for the info on Amazon.

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  3. Here's a You Tube video about how to do it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKCYIOnxwkg I don't think a propane dealer will fill them.

    The sense I got from reading stuff on the internet is that people that spend a lot of time in base camps, like Search and Rescue folks do it themselves with no problem. Amazon sells the adapter http://www.amazon.com/Heater-F276172-1-Pound-Disposable-Propane/dp/B000AMC5WO/ref=pd_bxgy_k_text_c

    When you get your hose either get the hose and the filter or just get the green hose. http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F273704-Plasticizer-Free-Portable/dp/B001CFWF5U/ref=sr_1_cc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299522539&sr=1-1-catcorr

    I tried the black hose without the fuel filter and it eventually got plugged up. You don't need a fuel filter if you go with the green hose. If I had known that I would have bought the green hose to begin with.

    Also if my heater ever stops working I blow out all the dust with a can of pressurized air and it starts working again.

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  4. Wow, thanks for the great information, I will definitly go with the green hose.
    I hadn't thought of looking at Amazon for the hose. I did wonder about the filter, so thats great to know, Crow.

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