To properly heat a small enclosed room with a volume of no more than 40 cubic meters, it is enough to install in it a military cast-iron stove of the “potbelly stove” type, which is marked POV-57.
Such a unit will be excellent for heating a construction shed, a railway carriage, a country greenhouse, a garage, as well as other buildings that cannot be connected to the central heating main. The cast iron army stove stove POV-57 consumes a small amount of fuel, its consumption is quite economical. With one load of the firebox, the room will be provided with heat for 6–9 hours.
Design of an army cast iron “potbelly stove”
Since the times when the POV-57 stove was used only by military spacecraft (Red Army), its characteristics and design have not changed in the carriages and warehouses of the Ministry of Railways of the USSR.
It is still made of gray cast iron - an alloy of iron, carbon, graphite. For potbelly stoves, the following grades of cast iron are used: SCh 10, 15, 25, 30, 35. The higher the number in the name of the material grade, the more durable, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant the device will be. Collapse Contents:
- Characteristics and dimensions
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Installation Requirements
- How to use?
- Prices
- Where can I buy?
- How to distinguish a fake from the original?
- Conclusion
The main elements are made from cast iron in the POV-57 furnace; here is the structure of the furnace:
- Furnace body.
- Potbelly stove lid (removable).
- Grate (removable).
- Oven bottom (removable).
- Fire door.
- Blower door.
The body of the potbelly stove has the shape of a barrel, less often the base is made rectangular. The stove is placed on 4 legs. If there are no legs included, then before installing the POV-57 you will have to take care of constructing a fireproof base.
On the front part of the body of a military stove-stove there are two doors. One is needed for laying fuel material. Combustion products (ash, soot) are removed through the second door. At the top of the stove there is a steamer. A chimney is mounted to it, removing carbon monoxide.
When purchasing a potbelly stove, it is important to ensure that there is a metal plate with slots between the firebox and the firebox. It guarantees air circulation inside the furnace body and increases the efficiency of the device.
If you want to speed up the heating of the room and reduce fuel consumption, it is recommended to install side screens (there are none in the design of a standard stove): metal sheets are attached to the stove with long screws so that there are gaps of 5-6 cm in length between them and the walls of the potbelly stove.
A real army stove
Potbelly stove in various painting options
Popular factory models
If you need an inexpensive stove for your dacha, check out our detailed review of the most outstanding and interesting models of cast iron potbelly stoves. We will consider both foreign samples and Russian-made stoves.
Potbelly stove POV-57
Before us is one of the simplest and most affordable cast iron stoves. It will allow you to give your dacha warmth, and in sufficient quantities. The stove is designed to heat small rooms with a volume of up to 40 cubic meters. In some ways it looks like a barrel, but in fact it is cast iron, as evidenced by its impressive weight - approximately 45-47 kg. Its design is collapsible, so it can be quickly cleaned of dirt. The cast iron stove-stove POV-57 can operate on a variety of types of solid fuel - traditional firewood, fuel briquettes, European firewood and much more. The efficiency of the device is 80%, which is quite a large figure. Its cast iron body accumulates and retains heat, providing a soft return. You can cook food on the top of the stove. In addition, it can easily be called a long-burning stove - on one load it burns for up to 5-6 hours.
Please note that this cast iron stove was created for the military - this is another plus in the treasury of its undoubted advantages
Termofor Fire-battery 5B
Quite an interesting cast iron stove for a summer house and any country house, pleasing with its affordability and pleasant design. It can warm up a room with a volume of 100 cubic meters. Thermal power is 6 kW, firebox volume is 35 liters. On top we see a small hob. At the bottom there is a box for collecting ash. On the front panel we see a large loading door with a handle that remains cold at all times. The door itself is equipped with a small viewing window. The cast iron stove Termofor Fire-battery 5B is equipped with a slot convector, which further increases its efficiency. The potbelly stove drives air through itself, thereby heating it throughout its entire volume. For normal operation of the stove, you will need a chimney with a height of at least 5 meters. Another interesting feature of the unit is the presence of a small heat exchanger in it, which serves to prepare hot water - for this purpose an external tank is connected to it. The most striking drawback is the limited length of the firewood, which is 29 cm.
META Gnome 2
Before us is a somewhat clumsy cast-iron stove for heating the dacha. Here we see a simple cast-iron body, covered with metal sheets, forming a kind of convector. There are two doors at the front - one of them closes the ash pan, the second closes the combustion chamber. In the upper part there is a hob, next to which the chimney is visible. The power of the potbelly stove is 5 kW, thanks to which it can heat a room with a volume of up to 80 cubic meters. The META Gnome 2 cast iron stove got its name due to its miniature size. The model turned out to be good, but rather scary - there can be no talk of any design here. The potbelly stove is well suited for use in the country house and garage. The only thing that confuses you is the small volume of the firebox - you will have to add more and more firewood to it quite often.
Blist ZAR
The Blist ZAR cast iron stove combines excellent technical characteristics and an attractive design with a ceramic finish. With a power of 8 kW, the potbelly stove easily heats volumes of up to 130 cubic meters. The stove is equipped with a wide door with a loading window and a large ash pan. There is also a small compartment for storing firewood. The body of the potbelly stove is somewhat rounded, with decorative inserts visible on the sides. A special feature of this cast iron stove is that it is lined with fireclay. Among the shortcomings is the lack of a hob, which would definitely come in handy here. But this potbelly stove is presented in several color finishes, thanks to which it can easily fit into any interior.
Characteristics and dimensions
The stove is designed to heat the air of a room with a perimeter of 42-45 meters. The duration of normal heat transfer is 7-9 hours. Firewood, coal, and garbage (suitable for thermal recycling) are used as fuel materials.
The parameters of a standard collapsible military stove will be as follows:
- Width – 37 centimeters.
- The depth of the oven is 37 centimeters.
- Height – 57 centimeters.
- The weight of the potbelly stove is 60 kilograms.
- The efficiency of the stove is 80-85%.
POV-57 can be used to heat rooms that allow for a smoke exhaust system and create conditions that meet fire safety. More often, an army potbelly stove is installed in garages, country houses, sheds, multi-person camping tents, construction sheds, dugouts, and carriages. If necessary, remove the top cover of the cylinder and attach the hob and cauldron. This will allow you to cook on the stove; the structure can be installed in a summer kitchen.
Small but effective stove
Advantages of the POV-57 military stove
Among the main advantages of the unit, the following qualities should be noted:
- compactness, mobility and ease of transportation;
- ease of installation;
- efficiency, determined by low fuel consumption;
- efficiency of heating - after 15 minutes of burning wood, heat already spreads into the room;
- You can use both firewood and modern briquettes, construction waste, etc. as fuel;
- slow cooling;
- durability and maintainability;
- fire safety is ensured by a cast iron body coated with heat-resistant enamel;
- good level of efficiency (80%), the stability of which is ensured by special air supply regulators;
- The operation of the unit from one load lasts for 6 hours;
- the surface of the oven is suitable for cooking;
- You can buy a heating stove without any problems in the online store. They will deliver to your door.
Advantages and disadvantages
POV-57 stoves have the following advantages:
- Compact dimensions, allowing you to equip a small room.
- Strong, durable oven material. The army cast iron stove POV-57 has been operating for over half a century (subject to the operating rules).
- Used for 2 purposes: warming up rooms, cooking food using the cooking method.
- Cools down slowly, retains heat longer after turning off the oven (4-5 hours).
- When installing dampers and screens, the efficiency of the furnace increases (+5-10%).
POV-57 has disadvantages that should be taken into account:
- Warming up a room larger than 40 sq. meters with a potbelly stove POV will not work.
- Lack of possibility of installing automation on the stove.
- Fire safety is low compared to other types of stoves; constant monitoring of the operation of the potbelly stove is required.
- The stove body gets very hot, you need to be careful not to get burned.
Important: the POV cast iron potbelly stove does not tolerate sudden temperature changes. Do not extinguish the fire by pouring cold water - this will lead to cracks in the stove body.
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Advantages and disadvantages
If we talk about the disadvantages of POV-57 stoves, then they mainly consist of an unsightly appearance, which, however, in the corresponding interior will be mistaken for a retro style or loft. Also a disadvantage will be the large weight of the structure and the general fragility of cast iron, which is afraid of sudden temperature changes. Maintainability is also not at a high level - the crack can be soldered, but this is ineffective. You should also handle the product carefully, as its surfaces become very hot, which can lead to serious burns.
And now about the advantages:
- The high heat capacity of cast iron allows the stove to accumulate heat and release it even after the firewood has completely died out for at least an hour;
- Fast heating and moderate wood consumption when used correctly;
- Possibility of transportation and use in field conditions, unlike stationary furnaces;
- Ease of installation and use, unpretentiousness regarding the types of fuel used - you can burn anything;
- Durability - high-quality Soviet cast iron is not afraid of corrosion, which determines the duration of operation.
Old potbelly stoves POV-57 are in high demand today along with their steel counterparts, and in some cases their installation is completely justified. Affordable price and ease of maintenance, complete autonomy, versatility and original appearance - all this speaks in favor of potbelly stoves.
This is interesting: Butakov furnaces: design review
Installation Requirements
The POV-57 stove is placed indoors on a fire-resistant surface (especially important if the potbelly stove does not have long legs). Experts recommend installing a cast iron system on tiles or sheet iron.
It is convenient to place the oven in the corner of a house, garage, or shed. It is better not to place it in the center of the room, so as not to accidentally touch the walls and get burned. There should be at least 1 meter from the wall to the body (if there are wooden walls around). It is strictly prohibited to keep flammable materials within 1.5 m of the device.
Installation example
This is the wrong way to install the oven! There are flammable materials around and the oven is not on a stand.
Installation of an army stove
- The installation can only be operated in a specially designated place, taking into account all fire safety measures. It is usually placed in a corner/next to a wall for maximum heat output. When installing, the distance to the wall must be at least one meter. It is also necessary to remove flammable items and materials from the heater.
- The floor under the stove should be equipped with a layer of fireproof material, which will protect it from high temperatures. An ordinary concrete screed is not suitable, since even concrete is destroyed by constant heat exposure.
- Thermal insulation must be provided where the chimney exits to the outside. The steel chimney pipe does not need to be insulated.
How to use?
The potbelly stove POV 57 is easy to use. The algorithm for lighting the stove is as follows:
- Place crumpled newspaper at the bottom of the oven reserve.
- Place brushwood, wood chips, and a small amount of basic fuel material on top.
- Make sure that the POV oven vent is half open.
- Set the paper on fire. If it burns too intensely, gradually cover the vent until the flame reaches the optimal size.
- Add fuel and close the oven door.
Try to use dry firewood
If you are about to use a new stove for the first time, first check the draft: a lit match is brought to the chimney, the flame and smoke should be directed strictly towards the chimney. If the draft is impaired, using the POV-57 potbelly stove is strictly prohibited.
Does the stove stand idle for a long time (for example, when the owners leave the dacha, the warehouse is closed, the summer kitchen is not used in winter)? Experts advise preserving the product: covering the outer walls of the potbelly stove with a thick layer of chalk. This will protect the cast iron from corrosion.
How to properly light a cast iron stove
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- Through the upper door we place lighter paper or something flammable on the grate.
- The next step is to place a thinly chopped splinter and thin firewood on the paper. The paper must be ignited while the bottom door of the oven is open.
- When the paper and the torch light up, place large pieces of wood on top of them.
- After loading the firewood, close the top door and leave the bottom door ajar. This contributes to the formation of draft, which ensures a constant flow of air for combustion.
- Such a stove cannot be left unattended - almost constant human presence is required. Also, do not forget about fire safety rules when working with flammable materials!
Potbelly stove made of steel
Despite the emergence of more spectacular and safer stoves, potbelly stoves are still popular today, due to the optimal combination of functionality, ease of maintenance and reasonable price. Moreover, now the range of military stoves has grown significantly, so the consumer always has plenty to choose from.
In particular, lighter and more mobile models made of steel, which are lighter in weight, have gained popularity - they are repairable, and the technological properties of the metal make it possible to create units with an attractive design.
Prices
A cast iron army stove-stove POV-57 from a domestic manufacturer (for example, TEMZ, Balezimsky LMZ, Rubtsovo LLC) costs 3800-4900 rubles. The indicated price is typical for a product of standard sizes and made of SCh 10-25 cast iron. If a high-strength alloy (SC 30-35) was used during creation, the price rises to 9,000-10,000 rubles.
For a built-in burner, which allows you to use the oven as a stove, you will have to pay 1200-1500 rubles on top of the base price. If the package includes a chimney pipe, the cost of the potbelly stove will increase by 2000-3000 rubles.
Where can I buy?
Today, hundreds of specialized stores offer POV-57 military stoves. You can order a stove online from another city - the goods will be delivered within a few days (depending on the remoteness of the client’s locality).
If you want to save money, you should buy a used army stove, not a new one. On advertising sites like Avito, potbelly stoves with different service life are sold. If the stove has been used for less than 5 years, the price is reduced by 20-30%. If the stove is more than 10 years old, it is sold at a discount of 60-70% of the cost of a new product.
Attention: the service life of a potbelly stove is half a century; it is not recommended to buy a stove older than 50 years.
How to distinguish a fake from the original?
Sometimes sellers, out of ignorance or in order to deceive the buyer, pass off other stoves as potbelly stoves. It is worth knowing that this is not a POV-57 potbelly stove if the description states:
- The stove is not made of gray cast iron.
- There are not two doors on the case, but one.
- The stove is too massive - it deviates significantly from the standard dimensions of 53x39x39.
- The stove is too small, weighing less than 30 kg (a product made of high-quality gray cast iron is never lightweight).
- The instructions indicate that it is heated with 1 type of fuel.
To avoid falling for scammers, it is better to buy stoves for houses or garages in trusted stores. First read the reviews of the seller, check the product certificates (a conscientious seller will always show product documents at the client’s request).
Conclusion
An army potbelly stove is an easy way to warm up a small room that is not connected to a central heating system. A simple design and easy-to-follow instructions simplify installation of the product (no complex manipulations required). You can learn the instructions on how to use the stove in a couple of minutes.
But it is important to remember: the product is not automated, gets very hot, has a low degree of fire safety - during operation of the POV-37 potbelly stove, monitor the operation, do not leave it unattended, keep children and pets away from the stove. If you follow the rules, the stove will last more than half a century without failures or the need for repairs.
Grid with stones
Modernizing a potbelly stove with a mesh with stones is quite one of the most common improvements. Almost everyone had a bath and steamed in the steam room. There you saw a set of stones that warm the air in the steam room.
The principle of this modernization method is similar. It is necessary to line the potbelly stove with stones, which continue to retain heat for a long time. It is worth remembering that you should not use galvanized material for manufacturing, since when heated, toxic fumes are released into the air.
Materials and tools
For this event we will need:
- a set of good stones (you can use high-quality clay bricks), preferably of medium size, similar to those you came across in the steam room.
- dense metal net, you can use a chain-link net.
- if you plan to do it like an adult, then you will need fittings and a welding machine.
Instructions
Making this improvement is simple:
- It is necessary to make a frame of metal mesh (or reinforcement) near the stove, which will not block access to the technological openings of the potbelly stove.
Precautionary measures
It is strictly forbidden to use flammable materials and metals with low melting points to create this improvement. Also, this structure should ensure free maintenance of the potbelly stove, not block access to the firebox, to the ash pan, and not interfere with the removal and replacement of outlet pipes.
