3D Plans - Cottage Style for Your Sauna Rocket Heater

- .pdf
- Step by step 3D plans
- 27 pages

This looks a lot like the cottage rocket.  How does t differ?

I believe that it is a cottage rocket. Drawn up in spectacular fashion like the Bernal brothers always do.

Kyle Knight wrote:This looks a lot like the cottage rocket.  How does t differ?

This design takes the cottage rocket and adds some tweaks to optimize a faster release of heat made by the experts present during the Rocket Mass Heater Jamboree, including Uncle Mud, the creator of the Cottage Rocket. This set of plans will be updated to include even more optimizations as the tech moves forward :)

I want a sauna. Looked at the plans quickly. This is a great heater but what about the heated rocks to splash with water to increase the humidity?

As a first time builder I bought these plans hoping they were a comprehensive build guide I could follow with no prior knowledge. I don't feel they are though.

The biggest issue is there's not enough detail in how to build the brick core. I need step by step instructions on where to cut and place each split brick, with diagrams, and then at least some detail on how to secure the 5 minute riser to it.

There's also no guidance on how to join the exhaust duct to the manifold and how to then join the chimney to that. How is any of the metal jointing intended to be made air tight where there's no cob? (-including the recess around the feed tube).

I've been searching the forums for a couple of weeks now but I'm no closer to being able to start building. How do I find this information?

I believe the world really needs this technology but the bar for entry seems quite high. Thanks for your advice.

Ben

Ben Byfield wrote:As a first time builder I bought these plans hoping they were a comprehensive build guide I could follow with no prior knowledge. I don't feel they are though.

The biggest issue is there's not enough detail in how to build the brick core. I need step by step instructions on where to cut and place each split brick, with diagrams, and then at least some detail on how to secure the 5 minute riser to it.

There's also no guidance on how to join the exhaust duct to the manifold and how to then join the chimney to that. How is any of the metal jointing intended to be made air tight where there's no cob? (-including the recess around the feed tube).

I've been searching the forums for a couple of weeks now but I'm no closer to being able to start building. How do I find this information?

I believe the world really needs this technology but the bar for entry seems quite high. Thanks for your advice.

Ben

Hi Ben, thanks for your feedback. Im in the workds with Uncle mud to add more details to these plans and more. Ill update you once they are in. Ill be sure to include your suggestions.

Mary Haasch wrote:I want a sauna. Looked at the plans quickly. This is a great heater but what about the heated rocks to splash with water to increase the humidity?

There's a difference between steam sauna and hot sauna.

In its current iteration, I believe this is an example of a hot sauna.

That is not to say there could easily be a water-friendly barrel-top rock enclosure to accommodate steam - just that this is not currently incorporated into the sauna, or these corresponding plans.  

Hi Ben, thanks for your feedback. Im in the workds with Uncle mud to add more details to these plans and more. Ill update you once they are in. Ill be sure to include your suggestions.

Has this been completed? I’m very interested but don’t have any extra money to spend on incomplete plans.

What is the approximate cost of materials for the sauna stove and what are the dimensions?

Jim MacCracken

Hi Jim.
The dimensions are roughly 1 and a half barrels in height, and one barrel in diameter. Here the 55 gal equivalent is around 24" wide and 36" high.
So the whole thing ends up being 54" high. But you could do even higher, for more direct heat release.

I'm currently trying to build it (https://permies.com/t/265502/Cottage-Rocket-experience-building#2859774) in case you're interested in seeing some photos.

When it comes to cost, that very much depends on how much scrounging and foraging you can do or are willing to do. And depends on the local prices.

You need at least 2 55 gal barrels. I thought I needed the clamp type and paid 60€ (roughly 60$) for them. Not so sure if that was necessary.
Some firebrick, maybe 20. The plans go for insulated firebrick. I can't get that and went for dense firebrick. Cost around 20$.
Some Super Wool, around 10$.

Exhaust pipe, depends on the length. At least 20$
Maybe an elbow piece, another 20$.

A bag of clay 10$
4 bags of sand, maybe I'll need more 9$
That could have been sourced on site, if I didn't live in a weird area that seems to consist almost exclusively of silt.

Screws, rivets, discs for the angle grinder, etc 10$ at least

So that's around 160$. You could go cheaper, I'm sure you could go more expensive.

The biggest "cost" will probably be time. It's taking me much longer than anticipated. With cleaning the barrels and all, I'm sure it's been 20 h so far.