Colin Skelly

Hello,  I didn't increase my rewards level correctly I think.  I'd like to fix this.  Thanks for all the hard work on this project.  Its Awesome!

I thought this was cool.  I got this nectarine tree at a discount store for almost nothing.  It had a couple leaves still and barefoot in August.  I planted it in this pot and sowed a bunch of snow peas in the pot.  I enjoyed many stir fries and a couple of months later as the rest of the leaves started falling off the other prune and peach seedlings next to it the nectarine started growing like crazy.  The prune and peach didn't get and peas.  This picture was taken on December 25th near Seattle.  It's not been freaky cold.  But it's gotten well below freezing many times and there's snow on the leaves now.  None of the other fruit trees I have still have any leaves left on the branches.  Maybe the nitrogen fixer has some anti freeze magic in it as well.  Ordering alot more peas and beans next year.  I didn't save enough too replant under all my trees.

Hello,  any chance you still have any starts?  Thank you

We are North of Seattle.  I think these critters hitched a ride on some fabric that was donated to a nonprofit quilting group.  Any help in identifying the little guys would be greatly appreciated.   Thank you.

It wasn't clear to me on the podcast. Are there any pictured of the Pocket locket rocket thingy?

I just listened to the podcasts with the innovators. I deeply regret no being able to stay for the innovators event. I just wanted to send my thanks to everyone involved. I had a blast during the RMH builders workshop. I'm really excited about Tim's idea about providing heat for a tiny house. I am planning to heat a building that will have a hydronic radiant floor heating system. The primary heat source (to make the county inspectors happy) is an electric 40 gallon hot water tank. Originally I was going to build a standard RMH with bench like the one we built during the workshop. I love the idea that storing the heat outside the building in an insulated water tank to preheat the water before it enter the radiant system. This eliminates 2 problems that I was having difficulties finding acceptable solutions; 1. How to make a big barrel not look like a big dirty barrel in the middle of the room, and 2. The mass or bench takes up a lot of space. It also allows me to better heat the 3 separate rooms. Each has a separate heating zone that can be controlled by independent thermostats.

I will post pics of the progress. Cheers to all! And thanks for the inspiration!

Burra Maluca wrote:I've embedded that video for you.

Thanks Burra, I am still trying to figure this video thing out

[youtube] http://youtu.be/R3ulirhiDVM

Here is some video of the first lighting of the RMH. We had a little difficulty getting good airflow thru the system because of the the hot air temperature outside the building and the cool and wet cob and bricks. These conditions won't be present on a day when you would normally light the heater. You want to light the heater while it is still wet to expand the pipe a little before it sets to reduce any cracking.

allen lumley wrote:Colon S. If past experience AND the 2nd edition of Ianto Evans 2nd eddition of Rocket mass heaters is to be believed, with the minimum spacing of 1.5''
between the top of the Heat Riser and The Inside top of the barrel for a 6''RMH system, And 2.0'' for the minimum spacing of the gap between the top of
the Heat Riser and the inside top of the Barrel -If the barrel is off set the narrowed side is always cooler and the wide side is always hotter !

I have some experience with 3 RMHs built to that pattern, and they do often appear to follow this rule! this is common to all 3 RMHs constructed with
minimum gaps between the H.R.s and the barrel !

I have zero experience with a larger H.R. to Barrel gap, but there is still a frequent referral to anecdotal evidence of a reversal in the heat patterns when a
Larger H.R. to Barrel gap AND an off-set barrel to H.R. placement are both used, your explanation of the greater area given to gas flow through the
transitional area is a fair description of what we are seeing, it does NOT address the basic issue, whether or not off-setting of the barrel continues to affect
the hot gases flow, and how it does so ! for the Good of the Crafts! Big AL.

Hi Allen,

If I remember correctly, Ernie and Erica were going for a 2 inch gap between the top of the heat riser and the top of the inside of the barrel. I believe that if the barrel was hotter in back then that would give more heat to the chimney and therefore increasing the vertical push of exhaust up thru the chimney. I'm still learning, so that is only a guess.

Colin

Here's a view that shows why the heat riser is off center of the lower barrel or manifold. You'll notice that the pipe joining the riser is slightly behind the riser. The reason that the manifold is moved back is so it connects with that pipe better. This shouldn't affect the secondary burn or flow of gasses. That's what I gathered from participating in the class. If I missed any other reasons I'd love to hear.
I had a great time and only regret not being able to stay for the innovators event. So many brilliant ideas. I can't wait to see what new goodies come from it.
Thanks for the great time and new friends.
Colin