Dave Bennett wrote:
hepaestus wrote:
The real issue is not that zinc will deposit on other metals it is that zinc fumes are poisonous.
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Metal_fume_fever
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002570.htm
In severe cases, far worse than what you would have in this case, deaths have occurred.
http://www.anvilfire.com/iForge/tutor.php?lesson=safety3/demo
I agree. Every wood stove I ever built out an old water heater was cut open and heavily fired outdoors until there was no trace of zinc left anywhere.
I have enjoyed reading your site and the information and ideas you present, but it bothers me to see this forum allows postings and images that can get people injured or killed. Many of the chimney pipe I have seen used with the rocket stove installations appear to be galvanized (HVAC) and can vaporize the zinc coating at the temperatures it is subjected to by the fire. When zinc is vaporized from hot stove pipe, the pipe takes on a frosted appearance. This is just one reason NOT to use HVAC duct as a chimney for a stove. Zinc can vaporize from brass and brazing rod when it gets too hot. It can vaporize from galvanized pipe or other galvanized metals when they are heated or welded. Zinc is very useful as a coating to prevent rust, but can be extremely dangerous when mishandled.
Your first two references are good basie information but the reference #3 to anvilfire bothers me as it was written by a person that is dead. Since the first posting it has been added to several times, presumably by the same dead person. Another reference to Mr. Wilson's death and several references to zinc fumes can be found at
http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/23962-zinc-questions-read-this-first/page__hl__galvanized__fromsearch__1 .
Check the inside of the chimney and is it as clean as the day it was installed or is there a coating of something on the inside? Creosote is a byproduct of incomplete combustion that occurs in a rocket stove at the start of each new fire. With thin wall pipe that I see being used on many of the rocket stove images and videos, what provisions are made to replace the pipe once it starts to rust and or collapses?
With any wood fire there will be ash as a byproduct. Ash is hygroscopic, tending to absorb moisture from the air, and can cause rusting. What provisions are made for a clean out to remove that build up of ash that will build up over time?
We heat with wood and I am very interested in building a rocket stove, but only if it can be used safely without the fear of injuring my family and if it can be maintained with out being rebuilt when something needs replaced.
