Mr. Heater Buddy vs. Dyna-Glo

[neusbaum]

Menards sells a portable propane heater made by Dyna-Glo, that to my untrained eye looks like the Mr. Heater Buddy. Does anyone know if there is a difference between the two? Anyone have a Dyna-Glo they can comment on?
Thanks

[Seaduck]

I have the heater by Dyna-Glo. The description is the same as the buddy heater right down to the oxygen sensitive shutoff. I used mine today and it kept my Glacier 3 nice and cozy.

Seaduck

[Lowe]

I thought the Dyna-Glo had a lower BTU on "high", like maybe 6500. My Buddy-Heater goes up to 9000 BTU on high, 4000 on low.

[This message has been edited by Lowe (edited 01-16-2003).]

[neusbaum]

The Dyna-Glo is 4500 BTU on low and 8000 BTU on high. I'm wondering if it's the same unit being sold under two different names. They seem to be about the same price. Anyone know for sure?

[canvasback kid]

Make sure before you buy either one you have a house that is air tight cause that ****** pilot light always gets blown out from a little draft, I own the dyno-glo and know many other people that have both models and they all have the same problems

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FISH-ON!!!

[fishingguy]

I have the mr. buddy heater. I have to agree with canvasback. The pilot does blow out in any draft in my fish trap guide. At first I thought it was the low oxygen senor, but after some experimenting, I found it to be the pilot lite. I also found it to be a bit small, heat wise, for my likeing. At the high setting (9000) it was barely able to keep up when it was below 10 degrees. Anyone figure out and solve the pilot problem? I like the unit a lot, but it really is a pain to have to relight it 6 to 10 time every time I go out.

[irvingdog]

Cover the lowest inch or two of the grill on the front of the Buddy with foil. Just enough to create a bit of a wind-break. Problem solved.

[Bushwacker]

I am a not-always-proud owner of a Buddy heater. It is a nice heater the way it is set up, the starting button, and the compact size. I just don't think it puts out enough heat at 9000 btu's, so I don't think the 8000 would be even close to enough. I have to try the foil method because mine blows out a couple of times an hour in my clam. The old style heater/cooker is looking better all the time.

[Guest]

I have a frabil triplex that I set the buddy heater in the sled facing my back and it does'nt get any wind on it at all and nobody has to step over it getting in and out and I can warm up a cold hand easy.

[canvasback kid]

Great idea with the foil I will definately have to try it, it is anoying having to relight the thing every two minutes.I also agree that it doesn't really put out enough heat either, it gets the house a little warm but not quite enough.

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FISH-ON!!!

[Steve Foss]

Good idea on the foil.

I spent the weekend in a big portable/sleeper on the Gunflint trail looking at one guy's Buddy and one guy's Dyna-glow.

Both went out if you knocked them. Both went out in a breeze. Both take up about the same space. Don't know about the Buddy, but the Dyna-glo has a cover to snap on after you've screwed in the propane cylinder. And the Dyna-glo comes with a carrying case that also holds two 1 lb propane cylinders.

The Dyna-glo costs $65 new at Menard's, regular price. Regular price on the Buddies is usually about $80. Sales, of course, will drive both these prices down. Dyna-glo maxes at 8,000 btus, Buddy at 9,000.

I have a Fish Trap II, and have used a 4,000 btu Coleman black cat heater for the last few years, which keeps the two-man comfortable down to about 10 degrees to, say, zero. Below that, and I fire up the Coleman lantern, which adds another 5,000 or so, and that combination has kept me warm to 20 below. Colder than that and I'm sitting at home.

All that being said, I went out earlier today and bought the Dyna-glo. I'll be leaving the cat at home now.

[This message has been edited by stfcatfish (edited 01-20-2003).]