Masonry Heater

Right now I am using split a/c unit that  works for individual rooms but I want to build a masonary wood stove/ oven / heater at the center of the house. I am looking for the internal and external design of various types of masonary heaters? Something like this one in the picture below.

Sounds like a great goal, Adam -
You might want to look at Matt Walker's designs: https://walkerstoves.com/
I am building one of these designs now.... the plans have been really helpful, Matt has a lot of videos, and has been great about answering additional questions by email.
Also other options in the Rocket Mass Heaters forum: https://permies.com/f/260/rocket-mass-heaters

Let us know how it goes...

Hey Adam, Great Idea!  
Heating with brick is the best way to stay toasty warm!
Matt Walker's Stoves are beautiful and super efficient.
You might also be interested in Peter Berg's Batchbox design, with a brick stratification bell.
I have three, as well as a Walker Black and White oven.
Here are some photos

I really love the effect that Tony has acheived on his Matt Walker cookstove:



Tony's build thread

the pic you are showing is of a  ---Firespeaking --design and there are full plans available to buy from his site , the hardware for them are stocked by him as well

tony uljee wrote:the pic you are showing is of a  ---Firespeaking --design and there are full plans available to buy from his site , the hardware for them are stocked by him as well

I found the picture randomly while browsing the internet, I like the design and I would like to build something like that or the ones mentioned by other members above, unfortunately I am out of states and can not order stove supplies from him, I am going to have to buy everything locally or make my own. Thank you all for the suggestions.

The combination mass heat and cooking range is an idea well entrenched in Skandinavia by WWII.
Here is a link to a .pdf download of the book "Finnish Fireplaces" from one of the original U.S. builders. He brought the knowledge over in the 70's and is responsible for having this book translated from Finnish.
There are a lot of ideas for building as well as the derivations of the tech for all European type mass heaters over the centuries. He is also a builder for the last few decades and offers kits for heaters. The offered kits can be clad in just about any stone type finish, besides the pedestrian almost universal brick or mud. Similar manufacturers in Europe.
https://www.albiebarden.com/albie-bardens-blog
Good luck.

Tommy Bolin wrote:The combination mass heat and cooking range is an idea well entrenched in Skandinavia by WWII.
Here is a link to a .pdf download of the book "Finnish Fireplaces" from one of the original U.S. He brought the knowledge over in the 70's and is responsible for having this book translated from Finnish.
Good luck.

Thanks a lot, that is very helpful.

the plans would be a must buy, trying to build from just pics and hoping it will preform are very slim, the hardware can be homemade or done by local metal fabrication shops---as the sizes would be given or become obvious once built---or as others on the forum have done is to repurpose the cast iron bits  from old ranges and stoves---most of the better quality new cast iron items are made in poland ---if thats closer or easier for you

tony uljee wrote:the plans would be a must buy.
others on the forum have done is to repurpose the cast iron bits  from old ranges and stoves

I am planning to repurpose old cast iron stove, regarding the plans available for sell, do they need to have heating and thermodynamics engineering background?

hell no , its just building your own stove has the side effect of turning you into a self taught expert of sorts, it can be an addictive subject to read up on and the vast amount of information ,advise just on this site alone can take up weeks of reading. But even if you don t go that far into it,all you need is a willing attitude to give it a go and if plans are followed you get the working result

Thanks Tony for the reassuring encouragement - and your build of the continental cookstove looks fabulous.

Adam - After I got the tiny cookstove plans, I actually made a little model with legos as bricks so I could feel more sure about building it. Sourced recycled bricks for 50 cents each, bags of Lincoln fire clay and sand for mortar. Dug out an 8in deep base then packed with road aggregate. Assembled hoop house over it, and framed for work room in one end of it - in the pics you can see the big ol' pile of bricks.  Very unsuccessful at breaking bricks for half or 3/4 pieces with chisel scoring, so now working with angle grinder with a masonry disc to score for breaking.  Will be working on it again this weekend.

Let us know how your project plans unfold!

Heating with brick is the best way to stay toasty warm!
Matt Walker's Stoves are beautiful and super efficient.
You might also be interested in Peter Berg's Batchbox design, with a brick stratification bell.
I have three, as well as a Walker Black and White oven.
Here are some photos

Hey Thomas - your metal work on your RMHs is BEAUTIFUL!  Well done and thanks for sharing the pictures!
Love it that the pictures have kitty food bowls in them because near a warm RMH is just where a kitty would love to be!!

Kara Ann wrote:Adam - After I got the tiny cookstove plans, I actually made a little model with legos as bricks so I could feel more sure about building it.

Genius idea!

Thanks Nancy... the whole RMH thing was pretty intimidating, and taking it down to a lego project relieved that quite a bit.

One observation for you Adam, you mention being out of the US, after tony gave advice.  But try to follow up on his build, I believe he is Ireland based and ordered plans and doors from the folks at Firespeaking.  You can do this.  

i used the Matt Walker Stoves plans of the continental type stove to build mine , , with a slight variation ,and  the back brick section that rises up above the stoves top level ---are not part of the stove ---thats just a brick wall heat shield---spaced 40 mm away from the stove main body and spaced away by 50mm from the corrugated sheeting ---another heat shielding---behind it. The Firespeaking stove incorporates a chambered backwall of sorts onto the main stove body --- that houses the oven ---and provides mass as well ---2 different styles and layouts of  a wood burning stove build. I fabricated my own metal components ---as i too could not afford the bespoke cast iron  ones---let alone the import costs ----the products used by firespeak are made in poland for them ,i believe , which although closer and not having any extra import tax imposed on it ----as all usa goods imported into the eu now have---would still be out of my reach .

Thanks for the correction,  I forgot your doors were hand crafted at your home.  Respect!  

for the re purpose of cast iron stove pieces i think one of the most inspirational posts on here is Sarah Joubert s stove , and if you have any self doubts about starting out on a build just read her postings and how she managed to achieve a neat good looking stove