Couple of simple questions re Rocket heater

I built a prototype small stove with well insulated burn chamber, that burnt very efficiently, and used it for heating water quite effectively. I have never seen one with a riser.

In practice, what sort of temperatire can you expect on the surface of the Oildrum (riser)?

When I built a prototype, it burned at a very high temperature, but it went through wood pretty quick I thnk a bigger one would eat wood pretty quick. Is the idea you don't keep them burning all the time or is there a way to slow burn??

With a rocket mass heater, the idea is that you run pipes through a 'mass' which extracts all the heat and acts as a thermal battery, which gives off heat into the room for many hours. You never slow burn a rocket mass heater, you burn as fast as thoroughly as possible, but only for a short time. I think most people only burn them for an hour a day, but the mass keeps giving heat off for 24 hours.

Any body anidea what temperature the riser (oildrum) gets to?

From one of Ernie and Erica's plans:

Working temperatures:
Flame path: 1200­-2800 F
Barrel surface: 200-­800F
Masonry surfaces: 60­-90 F

Thanks I didn't realise the barrel surface got so hot, I'd think thats hotter than a wood stove.

Need to re-think my ideas (in a positive way).

Bill Kerans wrote:From one of Ernie and Erica's plans:

Working temperatures:
Flame path: 1200­-2800 F
Barrel surface: 200-­800F
Masonry surfaces: 60­-90 F

Yeah, I think I remember a post by Ernie saying he sometimes runs it even hotter than that to experiment. All the pyros around here make me happy.