Big Buddy vs Sunflower

[BoxMN]

FWIW, I have a Buddy I use with 1#ers, and Big Buddy with the black hose and filter using a 20#. Both work great. I actually like the ignitor on the reg Buddy better, it seems to start better than the Big Buddy. But the heat and fan of the Big Buddy work great.

I also have sunflower and it works great for rapid heating, but I like the buddy's for what other say - you can push them right up against the portable sides without worry of melting, and you don't have to worry about a kids stepping into one, or knocking it over, or melting their line on it (as much). We also have had the "sunflower headaches" many times, and you don't get that with the buddy's.

Only complaint is sometimes the Big Buddy takes some/several tries to get it lit, and the wind blowing out the pilots as others have said. I will try the "shield" this year I think. We have also used tin foil for temporary "shield" with decent results.

[leech~~]

[Jeremy airjer W]

Essentially they put a piece of tinfoil across the lower part of the wire shield. I have the luxury of owning one that will take a little breeze without going out (I have many people that have seen this at different get together!).

[gatorhunter]

Really...sunflowers have almost become obsolete with respect to ice fishing. They're dangerous (tippy, melt everything that comes into contact with them and spew horrendous levels of carbon monoxide), noisy (sounds like a windstorm) and don't throw off anymore heat than a Big Buddy.

BBs take up a lot less room in a house because you can back them right up to the wall.

I've tried them all...sunflower, cooker and now BB. My sunflower broke thermocouplers, my cooker tried to burn my tent down and my BB warms me up everytime, all the time.

[leech~~]

No body with a Pic, of their Pilot wind blocker on the Big buddy?

[Rivernut]

....don't throw off anymore heat than a Big Buddy.

I got rid of my Buddy 2 years ago, it does'nt even come close to the amount of heat my sunflower put's out.

[Bullwinkled]

I used a small sunflower in my Clam Pro in two years burned a hole in door and a hole in my artic armor, had to patch both. Now use upright 3800 btu buddy, not as warm, but not as dangerous.

[croixflats]

No body with a Pic, of their Pilot wind blocker on the Big buddy?

Hear you go leech I just made this up tonight I will post a step by step with pictures in a new thread with dimensions

[leech~~]

croixflats, thanks that looks like the ticket! Unfortunately the factory reconditioned Big Buddy I bought from a well know "Outfitter". Started leaking gas out of one of the values and I had to return it!

So, I'm back to my Sun heater unless I can find a new Big Buddy on sale some where.

[croixflats]

Return it! Talk about insant warmth, if you are awake, what more can you ask for.

[desert_bulls]

I have both, I use my sunflower for a back-up on the real windy days. My buddy seems to go out with the slightest wind in the house. I like the idea of people making wind guards for the buddy heaters. I don't like using my sunflower as much, if I don't open the windows as much as I should, I get headaches and very tired. I love the buddy heater because I feel much safer with the kids in the house.

[quackersmacker]

I would like to thank everyine for thier opinions. After looking at all sitiations, and opinions, I am going with another sunflower. The Big Buddy is nice, but the sunflower is better for my needs. I fish in Canada and the Apostle Islands a lot, and it seems the Big Buddy doesn't keep up in the wind and extreme cold as well. I just carry a couple spare thermo couples and the sunflower will get me by, after all it has worked this far.

[Craigums]

Just picked up a Big Buddy for $94.99 at Norther Tool & Supply, This is the best price I've seen on the best heater I've used. This is the 2nd Big Buddy I've owned, the first one got stolen from my garage.

[Big Dave2]

Really...sunflowers have almost become obsolete with respect to ice fishing. They're dangerous (tippy, melt everything that comes into contact with them and spew horrendous levels of carbon monoxide), noisy (sounds like a windstorm) and don't throw off anymore heat than a Big Buddy.

BBs take up a lot less room in a house because you can back them right up to the wall.

I've tried them all...sunflower, cooker and now BB. My sunflower broke thermocouplers, my cooker tried to burn my tent down and my BB warms me up everytime, all the time.

I sure hope sunflowers dont become obsolete. Personally I'll never have anything different, I love my heater/cooker.

[Esox_Magnum]

Been using the same heater/cooker for over 20 years now.replaced the screens about 5 years ago and a new thermocouple about the same time. I know a BB has a bigger footprint than a heater/cooker, and I modified mine to get a few thousand more BTU's out of.

[hamms-scooter]

20 years on the Mr. Heater Cooker?That is reliability...glad i bought one a couple years ago. Do you like the sunflower that connects direct to top of a cyl? thought about getting one to eliminate the 5 ft hose and just have it all in the shack or is that not a good idea having the cyl in with you?