pics of "new" rocket

10F outside and 65F inside running easy. heating 750sf, old farmhouse. oh and 20mph winds. chilly for us in lawrence, ks area. i always appreciated pics from builders when i was thinking of building. here are two if it will work for me.

Congrats mike, really clean looking build . This winter you will see your wood use go down but.... next year is when you will be amazed how far your wood goes . Yes you have to split it smaller (thats what grandchildren are for) but its well worth it. Welcome to the world of Rocket Scientists ... Corner your friends / neighbors / complete strangers and start talking rmh's see how many you can convince ! Many will listen politely and go away thinking you're losing it BUT ... that one in ten that hears you will make your heart sing , and they will have been exposed to the irresistible urge to build a rmh of their very own.

thomas, thanks much for your response!! very appreciated !! i didn't say it that post that we are still planning the plaster layer(s) when much more drying takes place. seems like it's drying pretty fast, but i'll find out. thanks again michael c.

nice looking rmh! thank you for sharing the photos.

Nice looking rig. How are you planning to finish the bench?

wyatt, planning on "earth plaster" of some kind. hawthorne clay in bags, mortar sand, horse dung, wheat flour. the formula for this concoction i'm still working on finding or figuring out. would then seal it with sunflower oil, maybe. we'll wait till it drys out pretty well before adding this "plaster" layer or layers. we're anxious to get this done. it seems to be working well the second full day with temps in single digits and high winds. michael c.

I see that you built above a wooden floor. What / how did you insulate the bottom of the burn chamber?

looks really good. I love the heat colours on the barrel.

good question erik, we used "structured" perlite. as per video instructions. one inch plus a little plus aluminum foil which we think is pretty much zero insulation. all over the inch and a half concrete pavers sixteen inch square and the concrete "bricks" for elevation off of floor. added big beam and jack posts in basement too. MICHAEL C.

sorry i read that question incorrectly. we put a full 2 inches of the "structured" perlite under BURN chamber and about one inch under bench. michael c.

Hi Michael,

I think you have a beautiful build on your hands......Great Job!!

Why sunflower oil (which is not a 'drying oil' instead of another of the natural drying oils...i.e. flax, walnut, tung, etc?)

Have you considered one of the Lime plaster finishes like Tadelakt which does use non drying oils like olive?

How think do you believe the final coat layer(s) will be on completion?

Is this your first build and can you share some of you interest in this form of masonry heater for others that may have interest in giving it a try?

Regards, and compliments again for a fine job,

j

"plus aluminum foil which we think is pretty much zero insulation."

In the context you have, you are right. The entire insulation value of aluminum foil is with one or both sides facing air. The shiny aluminum does not radiate so well, thus adding an insulation factor. When it touches solids on both faces, it is an excellent conductor and the opposite of insulating. (But it won't hurt the insulation in this situation.)

mr. j. c. the only reason i said sunflower oil is that the man who sold us the bags of clay suggested it cause it didn't smell like linseed woild, he said. i am definetly open to anything at this point. will study the tadelakt links. oh yes the sunflower sounded ok cause we burn it in our car and truck for fuel. really don't know how it will turn out. hope it's as good as some we've seen on this site and others. yes, this is our first rocket mass heater. wish we'd had one in the big tipi we lived in for two years. over 30 years ago. time does fly, as they say. of course i'd recommend anyone build one. we hesitated for over a year because of wood floor and basement. but then i started thinking of sawing, hauling and splitting much firewood for our small house, and we decided to do it. my wife has helped a lot and it was hard work for the cob part of it, but much worth it already. it has been intimidating, but the alternative is not fun any more. too much wood hauling, etc. it seems to be drying out pretty quickly. i will be researching the finish layer(s) until it's dry. thanks for your words mr j c michael c.