Peter Chauffeur

Hi Glenn, Thanks for your input. One of the reasons I built the, “ one Bagger hopper” is to extend my burn time for up to 16 hours.
My “Frankenstove Models” were designed to run for extended periods without fiddling with them.

A batch box may be a design it the future and is a challenge I really would like to pursue but currently split wood storage and guaranteed access to a reliable source remains questionable at best!
The most common firewood for sale here on Vancouver Island Canada is Fir. Not an ideal firewood as it is a softwood.  As mentioned above, the spider, mold and fungus issues would still remain.

You probably noticed that my “Frankenstove Designs” are next level builds that require advanced building techniques which require welding, fitting and a strict layout to get a desired level of reliable operation.

These designs take time to build, time to acquire all the necessary repurposed parts and experiments to fine tune for specific needs that the builder decides are important.

I was watching a recent live video hosted by Permies Guru, master Paul the other day where he was critiquing a video where AI was used. A lot of his work and presentations were “taken” (probably without permission)to describe how Rocket Mass HeatersI recall, in the course of the live video, Paul referred to a RMH where welding is involved is, “ Like a Level 7 RMH build “… I think Paul was exaggerating, as I was unaware that there actually are “levels of RMH builds”.I consider myself as a gizmologist with a penchant for power tools and welders! I have also  chosen to use a much heavier gauge bell ( repurposed propane tank) to avoid the risk of burn thru and “ oil canning that plagues basic RMH builds discussed earlier.

Advanced design and careful modifications during the build of each prototype Frankenstove has addressed a lot of issues along the way and after a decacade plus of successive iterations has yielded a proven design-for-purpose efficient Advanced design, all one one thread!  I would argue, without reservation, that anyone with a basic level of metal working acumen, that took the time to read this four page thread could build an even better version of the Frankenstoves that I have built. They may even build one that incorporates a batch box like you advocate.

If you have questions on how to build your own Frankenstove variant, you can always Purple Moosage me and I would gladly help as I see this as a better wood stove alternative.

Now here is the caveat. IF I had access to a reliable hardwood source, I would cut it up, split it, dry and age it and advertise it for sale to all those city people who view their fireplace / stove as a luxury appliance. I would sell and deliver this premium, value added commodity to the city dwellers for real profit that would fill my fuel tank and a skid of pellets for my return trip back to the homestead! Win - Win.
Finding the right customer in the affluent neighborhood that values quality product with delivery will command even more profit from referrals! You may even get paid to stack the wood for the customer! Another profitable option pain in cash!
Take your resource from the forest, add value and add all the options services for even more profit!

That is what I would do!

Peter Chauffeur

Be safe, Be warm, Be kind!

Hi! Here is how I handled heating a greenhouse using my design of a wood pellet gravity feed verticals RMH
It is a 4” ceramic riser with a 10” refractory pour inside a 100 lb propane tank. Welded construction encased in an old aluminum truck box that has rocks placed inside it to add thermal mass inside and concrete pavers on top with a channel way to circulate air at the top of the RMH.

Why use wood pellets? Too many critters living in / on the split wood, allergic to spider bites and equally scared of most of them and I have nowhere to store cords of wood.

You can see my rather exhausting thread (4pages) of I I built the six Frankenstoves over the years ( 3 still in operation)

Note, there is a lot of support for this design and a bit of banter that says 4” risers are too small and are hard to light….. I have included everything you need to know to build your own Frankenstove from everything repurposed ( except for the liner and you can source that easily!
I sincerely wish you the best in your build whatever you do!

Be Safe , Be Warm, Be Kind and Grow On!
Peter Chauffeur

Scott Weinberg wrote:At the risk of asking more than one question and providing more than just vague details, I ask for opinions on what may work best for my situation. The caveat here is, unless you have done, I will consider " I think and I believe" as just guesses.

What I have:
A rather large house, 50' x 52', two story plus high pitch roof, and complete basement.  Plus 16'  x 50' Porch/kitchen office
This don't have to be 100% of the heat as I have backup, but would like all I can get.
Central Chimney from Basement clear to the Top of roof plus 4'  this 7" square tile and nearly always has good draw/draft  36' or more depending how you measure.
I have a Pad for Rocket stove Mass that measures 41" x 51"  with lots of room around it, and about 5' from chimney listed
From this pad, I can build up with 5" walls, 40"-50" or 60"  or a bit more.
Listed in photo is sq ft of interior surface area for 60" sides and then the top as well.

I have a very good air handler unit in basement that I was was going to just pull warm air from basement (warmed by rocket stove) to send to balance of house.
I CAN NOT do as Peter has done with his beautiful stove in his house as I have no access to chimney flue except for basement.
I have almost unlimited supply of hardwood for stove, (I cut/trim trees and often get the tree itself)  All wood is cut/split and kept inside sheds for drying.

I have built a few rocket stoves,  from J to batch, but they keep evolving, thus my question as to what might work best.  I do not need to cook on it, strictly heating, I also don't need a bench as I can get enough surface area for a 6" system  with the above dimensions.
I understand from the top of the heat riser to top of mass, I should/will need firebrick.  I am fortunate to have granite for all the balance of mass.

So the question is basically, into this MASS I can build most any type/style of rocket stove, with really only, two requirements, fairly easy to light when one knows what works best. and it would be nice to see the burn but not absolutely necessary.  Some consideration might be in order to close it up when not burning (lost heat from continuing draft)

Thoughts and suggestions.  ON the coldest of days, I have no problem lighting twice per day  (morning/evening)

Hey Scott!
I thank you for your advice on my posts and would like to offer my suggestions.
I have sent you two photos of my 4” riser “Frankenstove derivatives of my decade plus RMH building.
Since you don’t need a bench, my designs are strictly low footprint vertical Rocket stoves that run on pellets using gravity feed.  
I also noticed that you have batchbox experience so it would be easy to connect to my design.
Also, since it’s in the basement you could wrap copper coils around it and circulate hot water to where you wish. We save over $200 monthly using the heat from the F5 in our home with no real noticeable difference in the warmth of the home.
I would also recommend you use something heavier gauge than an oil drum. The 100 lb propane tanks I use for bells are designed to take heat while pressurized with propane. Just find a way to find a safe way to ensure the tank is empty!  Safety first warmth later!
Peter Chauffeur
Be Safe , Be Warm, Be Kind!

Hello Scott!

Thank you for correcting my research info. It’s ironic that there are so many different units for measuring energy output!  

The ultimate goal for me is to gradually and responsibly, over time to utilize the energy from the waste engine oil that I get from my 4 vehicles (5 quarts /5 liters each) and my lawnmower repair (1 liter each). I’m not trying to turn my Rocket heaters into smudge pots.

Since RMH consistently run at very high temps it would be able to thermal break down the (small quantities of absorbed oil into the wood pellets.

Currently I am testing mixes of oil to wood pellets as ( in freedom units) as 1 liquid ounce oil to I pound of hardwood pellets.

Like I said, I want to use the waste oil as a low concentration supplement!  

I hope this helps explain what I’m try to do.
Thanks for your input and clarification.

On another note, I have been experimenting with my open air RMH powered dehydrator which utilizes the heat from the exhaust outlet before it exits the building. Within 2 days of placing the orange peals on this perforated stainless steel mesh they become brittle and grinds up into a coarse powder that is mixed with wood pellets in the hopper. Works great! Smell like you have citrus natural oil while they are drying out!

By the way the open air dehydrator also doubles as a boot dryer which is much needed out here on the Canadian Pacific Northwest!

Stay tuned, Be Safe, Be warm, Be Kind!

Peter Chauffeur

Hello Fellow Permies and Rocket Mass Heater enthusiasts!

Well, the first of a series of Atmospheric Rivers has hit the Canadian Pacific Northwest’s Vancouver Island with heavy rain and winds! Perfect time to test newly designed pellet baskets and minor tinkering……

The large pellet hopper is complete, but it has been removed for picture purposes in the documentation of two other developments I wish to investigate: atmospheric steam to aid in secondary air addition and slow oil droplet addition to the pellet feed.

Yes, you read that right, I want to have my wood pellets to work a little bit harder for me!  You see, wood pellets give me a consistent feed rate and finely divided cellulose held together by the lignin that already exists in the wood. Interesting enough, one of the many uses for wood pellets is to aid in soaking up oil spills!  Hello!!! Once this little informational nugget got my industrial process mind into gear…..well, let’s just say that what I am considering is going way outside of what a standard RMH was designed to do no to mention the purists here are going to lose their minds that I attempting to soak a minimal measured amount of oil to the pellet stream while the stove is running.  
Here is the reasoning and it all comes down to energy and complete combustion. Hardwood pellets advertise around 7,000 BTUh/lb and waste auto oil is 140,000 BTUh/lb. That’s a 20 fold difference in energy. So to get a little more heat out of our wood pellets we only need to let a half quart or 500 ml of oil to soak into a 40 lb bag pound of wood pellets! I’ll keep you all posted on that.

Here is a side note on other developments I have going on with the Frankenstove Mk. 5 that I rebuilt for the home. I included a pick because I have found that some people do not understand the many uses and type of heat that is generated by a RMH that uses a 100lb repurposed propane cylinder for a bell.
So in the photo, you should see the following:
1) a hat dryer
2) a towel dryer
3) an orange peel dehydrator ( another fuel)
4) hours heater) water heater for hot tub
5)Ash/ bio hat generator
6) junk mail burner (where pellet embers fall)

A double use for the orange peel dehydrator is a boot fryer that uses the exhaust heat to gently dry your boots!  


So there you have it folks, the Frankenstove franchise of advanced Rocket Mass Heaters enter the next phase of finding solutions to becoming better at staying warm

Peter Chauffeur
Be Safe, Be Warm and Be Kind

Hello Fellow Permies!

Today has marked completion of the “one Bag Hopper” and building a steampunk wood pellet gravity transfer system along with a knife slice supply shutoff!  Also seen in photos is the atmospheric steam supply that scavenges the heat from the high burn tunnel temperatures.

Oh, and by the way the “huge aluminum vat” that I was hoping to be the elusive one bag vessel so you don’t get the eco equivalent of stepping barefoot on Lego!  ….. turns out, it’s a 3/4 bagger at best!
To Quote the Iconic Rolling Stones,”You can’t always get what you want!”

Be Safe, Be Warm, Be Kind!

Peter Chauffeur

Hello Fellow Permies!

As the build for the Pellet Hopper continues I tried to make an espresso with a little red machine I found at a thrift store.  It tasted terrible but allowed me to revisit one of my original ideas; atmospheric steam addition.
My premise is that by adding a small consistent amount of steam as secondary combustion air. As it enters the burn zone, steam would get superheated and turned to free radicals yielding a cleaner burn. Looking forward to finishing the hopper!
Be Safe, Be Warm, Be Kind.

Peter Chauffeur

Well Hello Fellow Permies!

As most of you know, I have been toiling away in my greenhouse fine tuning my latest set of stainless steel burner baskets for my “Frankenstove Series” of Rocket Mass Heaters.
I am happy to announce that I have achieved new performance numbers to my latest Vertical Gravity Fed Pellet RMH.
Recent numbers indicate 750*F internal temps near the top of the bell  and exit temperature on the exit stack Round 250*F!  
This means that the thermal mass is comfortably and safely dumping a difference of 500*F worth of energy into my greenhouse for my Aquaponics!  
This is HUGE!  I think the overall design has come together and now I can finish working on the pellet delivery system by attempting to mag it a, One Bagger. That is, it will have the main pellet hopper that will easily take a full bag of wood pellets which will prevent wayward pellets from hitting the floor!  
Here are the picks of my temperature array!
Stay tuned, my wife has granted me some R&D time to complete this build and be able to put a “Ground Up” build. OR maybe a “Batch Box” version for all those pining for “real wood” instead of the convenience of wood pellets.
Anyways, thank you for your interest! your thumbs up! And your views!  It has been my inspiration to keep pushing the boundaries of what these RMHs can actually do if you use your creativity and imagination along with basic available materials.

I acknowledge that this build is radically different than most other Rocket Mass Heaters out there and there are those out here on this site that argue that this is “too far out there” of exceeding the “horses for courses “ statements!  
I gleefully accept the fact that this isn’t grandpa’s RMH and I encourage all those interested in radical design to glean all I have posted on this site!
Thanks again for the positive vibes and encouragement!
Be Safe, Be Warm, Be Kind!
Peter Chauffeur,
Self proclaimed gizmoguy and renaissance man!

Hello Fellow Permies!

Well, after 10 years of building Gravity Pelled Rocket Mass Heaters and documenting them here on Permies, I would like to introduce you to a Portable Smokeless Fire Pit that is made from a repurposed 20 LB Propane tank!
Now, PSA - do not go cutting into a propane tank unless it has been devalved and filled with water and drained to rid the tank of propane gas!!! Unless you want to win a Darwin Award!
Chech out YouTube to educate yourself on how to do it! Or else….
Here is a pic of what I built in an afternoon! Inspired by my bypass heater for my “Aloha RMH”.
Go to Peter Chauffer in the Rocket stove forum on this site
Be warm, Be Safe, Be Kind

Has anyone, besides myself, just visited a foundry or a foundry supply store and asked to purchase ceramic sleeves? They are specifically manufactured to take the heat of molten metal!  I have used them in my last four RMH builds an they are still rocking. I think I paid $100 Beaver Bucks for a box of 9 x 4” ID x 12” long pieces ( minimum order on site) in Y’all tariff territory, it should be easy to get. See picks below.

To see moreof my Vertical RMH builds and how I used unconventional methods to most ideas on these forums, check out “Petter Chauffeur “ on Rocket stoves where you will experience over a decade of builds using materials I had at hand with propane tanks used as heat bells instead of flimsy oil barrels. Also you will find these RMHs run on wood pellets for ease of use, lack of spiders and other critters and lack of storage of split wood where I live.

Be Safe, Be Warm, Be Kind!