RMH vs Masonry Heaters

Whats the difference between these two types of heaters?

I am not that knowledgeable about RMH's but as far as I can tell they both operate on similar principles of short hot fires that heat up a mass that releases it overtime. Both can have warming benches, Masonary heaters can have an oven and can heat your water, but you cant cook in it like a stove, can you have an oven on your RMH?. I bet you could cook on the top of the RMH's steel drum)l. To my esthetics massonary heaters look nicer (sorry not into staring at a steel drum).

If costs were not an issue, to me a Massonary Heater is better but I am open to being convinced as they do cost alot. I figure about $20K to have a mason come to my house and build me a handcrafted stove. Until I have that kinda cash in my bank account, I will heat with my old first generation wood stove.

Jeff Marchand wrote:If costs were not an issue, to me a Massonary Heater is better but I am open to being convinced as they do cost alot. I figure about $20K to have a mason come to my house and build me a handcrafted stove. Until I have that kinda cash in my bank account, I will heat with my old first generation wood stove.

even an expensive rocket mass heater should be under a grand.

If I recall correctly, every MH design I've looked at has provision for a secondary air intake to assist with a secondary burn of the exhaust gasses, although I won't promise that this is the norm, 'cause I haven't been able to look at all of the designs.

And yes, they are much more expensive.

I think the main difference is that a masonry heater does burn the fuel uncontrolled. Meaning all the fuel burns at once. This is not the case with a rocket stove, the geometry will define how much of the fuel will burn in a given time.
Also, a masonry heater needs to be sucked by a chimney for good effect, while a RMH has internal draft.

One can make a masonry heater looking RMH without much trouble. (But some cash will be involved as expected)