Has anyone used the Cabela's Sheepherder Stoves. Those are the small barrel type stoves with a water tank attachment off to the side. What I am wondering is are these only for tent camping or would they be good as a main heating unit in a cabin? I am wondering if the sheetmetal is so thin that they would burn out with constant use. They do look like very nice little stoves with a nice flat cooking top and water tank and oven.

-- marty (marty@alaska.tv), February 14, 2002

Answers

Rather that "guessing", I'd ask Cabela's technical line what they'd recommend. Maybe they can read the warranty, if there is one.

-- Mike inPa (smfine@yahoo.com), February 14, 2002.

Another manufacturer, I believe in Idaho, makes a really neat wood stove meant for camping. It does not have the water tank, but has two tube "ovens" for baking potatoes, and allowing you to heat pots and skillets. I will try and find out where the he is located; the magazine reviewer was very impressed, he sold them from his own shop, and attended mountain man rendevous (sp?), where he sold them.

-- j.r. guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), February 14, 2002.

It's not a good idea. A good stove should be lined with firebrick or sand or something to absorb and radiate heat. A tent stove doesn't have any in order to save weight. Tent stoves are also made of comparatively thin metal. This means it will wear out more quickly and will cool too rapidly when the fire dies down. When you're camping that's a compromise you have to live with, but for a cabin you can do better.

-- Curt (curtislarson177@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

The name of that stove I mentioned above is the Great Northern Camp Stove, manufactured by Bob Peiper in Bend, Oregon. It is made with 14 gauge rolled steel, with a firebox 10" in diameter, 18" long. It weighs 33 pounds, and has a chimney that will reach 7'-6". It has removeable steel legs, that when assembled, the top is 26" high. The legs and stovepipe are able to be put in the firebox for transportation, for easy packing. There are also folding steel racks, that allow pots and pans to be used, as well as steel oven cylinders allowing potatoes and foil wrapped fish to be cooked at the same time. A ring at the back of the stove holds a teapot, allowing you to heat water also. It can also take briquets, coal, or presto- logs. The body is strong enough to be cooled quickly by pouring water on it and not allowing the walls to warp. It costs $165 (1999 dollars), and this cost includes cost of shipping to any point within continental U.S. which is west of the Mississippi. For more information, the address is Bob Pieper, Great Northern Camp Stoves, P.O. Box 7878, Bend, Oregon, 97708. phone # (541) 317 - 5962.

-- j.r. guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), February 15, 2002.