Billy Irvin

Hey Max I would like to see a pic. of the one you are using completed. I am still contemplating a batch unit if I find that I have room later on. I was wondering would it still work if you moved it farther away from the heat source, but insulated the pipe. Just a thought......... Have you had a chance to take any temp reading yet or is it to soon? When you do could you post them? Thanks Billy

Glenn Herbert wrote:You mention 6" metal tubing for the burner - are you aware that that extreme heat area will corrode and destroy a metal liner within a couple of heating seasons more or less? The combustion zone of a RMH needs to be masonry (preferably firebrick) to avoid deterioration. Ask Max about this, he can tell you about how one of his early experiments died quickly.


You have probably seen lots of youtube videos of people welding up their rocket cores... what you don't see are videos where they show how well those cores held up to a winter's hard use. A few have done this, as a post-mortem showing how they failed.

Hi Glenn, I'm not going to build a RMH. What I am going to build is a stand alone vertical bell heater, I have thought about the short term life of the metal J-tube and that is acceptable with me due to the fact that this one is temporary until I get my new shop set up and arrange it to see if I can install a RMH. Thanks for bringing this up though. All advice is welcome and appreciated. Thanks Billy

Satamax Antone wrote:http://donkey32.proboards.com/thread/1359/bell-explanation

http://donkey32.proboards.com/board/6/reference-library

Thanks Max. That answered a lot of my questions. It was so interesting that I started following links from those forums and ended up reading for a couple of hours. I finally found vermiculite yesterday and picked it up, so that is out of the way. My plan is to start work on the 6" tubing this weekend and get the burner assy. welded up and maybe get it mounted so I can start insulating around it. I will post my progress as I can. You have been a huge help and I'm sure that I will be getting back with you. please lets keep in touch. Thanks Billy

Satamax Antone wrote:Hi Billy.

I'm in the middle of building a batch rocket workshop heater.

http://donkey32.proboards.com/thread/1817/starting-build-220mm-rocket-double

If that could give you ideas.

And it started last spring like this.

https://permies.com/t/44806/rocket-stoves/Cobbling-workshop-heater

Thanks Satamax, I checked out both of the links and I like the setup. I do have a couple of question: is the first part of your build what is called a bell style? and if so that is what I'm trying to build. How much of a difference will the box to the right make and how? I understand that it is a collector box. But for the room would it be worth it in a small shop? You guy's have the answers I just have the questions..... Thanks for the help Billy

Hi Glenn, I will be heating almost every day and the area that I'm heating will be 20 X 24 X 9. Insulated with R-13 with two windows and a bay door. The windows are thermal so I will have a good area to work with. I have tried to find perlite but so far no luck. I can get fireclay with no problem so that part is good.
I think maybe what I'm wanting to build is a bell setup, I'm not sure. But I will do some more checking to understand the difference. I hope I answered your question's and I know that you have helped me. Thanks Billy

Hello all I am Billy, I live in central Alabama. I am knew to the forum but I have been reading and researching the Rocket stove/ heater design for roughly a year. And I think that I may have more questions now than before I started. The best thing that I HAVE found is that this is the best place to get the correct answers to my questions.
I am wanting to build a heater for my new garage that I am in the process of building now. I want to build a free standing heater that will warm the shop up, but still not take up a lot of floor space. Any and all help will be Highly regarded as well as appreciated.
These are some of the things that I asking for help on:
1. What would be my best and most cost effective way of insulating the burn chamber?
2. Will adding an adjustment for air below the feed box really be necessary?
I am sure this is going to lead to a lot of other topics with some great answers . There is such a broad spectrum across the net about these. Thank you in advance for all help. Billy