Tank Heater.... Day 2.

Despite being a monumental hoarder, there is an occasional situation where I don't have all the "stuff" I need, causing much consternation to my Lovely Wife, who immediately envisions masses of more "stuff" being acquired, half of which will not be needed, therefore requiring more "stuff" storage space which she (very mistakenly) claims we don't have.
As a dear friend (whom I'll mention below) and a welcomed helper on this very project often comments, "Every hoarder can always make room for more stuff " or something to that effect.

That old blue water pressure tank has been bouncing around here for years, awaiting the planetary alignment necessary for tank heater creation and yet now I am at a loss for the intimates necessary.
Oh!! Woe is I....
An afternoon in the Great Metropolis yielded the necessary "stuff" and creation resumed.
With top holes cut, access to the rubber bladder could be gained and said item removed. The old water inlet line was plugged with an expanding plug and being submerged in icy water, I have little fear of the rubber being at thermal risk.
The 4" inlet tube was inserted with a butterfly damper to control draft. It's nothing more than a tin heating duct but this tube will slide in and out of the heater to allow cleaning and also permitting the air supply to be placed adjacent to the fire even as the ash level rises in the heater.  The 6' long flu pipe installs easily onto the heater and a small cowl sits atop the 5" pipe to help deflect any down drafts.
This little project only took about 4 hours of actual work in the shop.
We did a brief test run, placing the heater in 8" of icy water and lighting up. It went well but very buoyant and clearly showing the need for securing it to the water tank itself. Ballast would be an option if  the heater did not need to be removed for cleaning but initially we assume it will, therefore providing heater supports that can be attached to the water tank is likely the best plan.
My Lovely Wife suggests building something akin to a giant soup ladle to pull the ashes out through the flu opening, an idea that may have some validity but I am suspicious her only motive is to discharge herself from any physical exertion associated with lifting the heater out of the tank for ash removal.
Small she is.... but cunning she are.

It was all welded together last night with much assistance from my very dear friend and "stuff" adviser, Howl'n Smokey Joe Jr, whom you might well envisage as a weathered old blues harmonica player but who is in fact, a stray grey Tom cat. And indeed, a most agreeable fellow he is.
Today we emptied the water tank, put some insulation beneath it and secured the heater in the center before filling with water and igniting. It's very easy to get the fire started, with such a tall flu the updraft is considerable and soon the fire was roaring.
We dropped about 8 small nuggets of coal down the tube and closed the damper. Within 20 mins the water was steaming as seen here. We'll see how it copes with severe cold but at this point we're calling it a qualified success.
In fact that horse trough is starting to look very like a hot tub.....