posted 13 years ago
Thanks Erica, I appreciate your input and the kind words.
Regarding the smoke, and the burn, I have been playing with balancing a lot of factors, and am concluding that the system can be tuned to favor different features. In the second and third videos, the burn tunnel is completely blocked and the only flame path is through those tight gaps at either side. That does make the stove a little finicky, especially if trying to get much heat to the bench. But for sitting around it while cooking, it's wonderful. Bright and warm down low, and plenty of heat to cook on up top. When I restrict the hole in the barrel top though, it kinda chokes and slows way down. With the center of the burn tunnel open, lots of heat to the bench, and good powerful draw even with the top closed, but not as much heat down low and more soot/less flame visibility.
Currently I'm running in between, I removed the outside bricks in the burn tunnel obstruction, widening the two gaps at the windows. It's running very smoothly right now, and gets some good heat to the bench with the top hole closed. Due to the windows though, it will never run like a well insulated stove, I don't think. They bleed so much heat it's amazing, and can't be helping the burn any. It is worth it to me though, it's not just nice to look at, it's really a pleasure to sit around. I'm spending much more time outside in the evenings than I would be otherwise, and I'm toasty warm. That warmth down low is amazingly pleasant.
I do think that protection for this cob bench may be different than other non-heated cob structures. I understand the stone caps typically don't work because of the moisture underneath them, and the wet cob core, but in this case those factors may not apply due to the heat inside the bench and the hollow nature of it. I dunno. I'm ok with a few failures on the way to figuring out what works for this, and like you said, I'm really enjoying the process. Good info on the drip edge, I've built many boat parts that had them, and they make good sense here as well.
The glass I found on ebay. I mounted it in some steel I had here.