Batch Rocket Weight

Just wondering if folks could chime in with some batch rocket weight estimates...

As you may have seen in another thread, my ~idea~ is to build a fairly substantial heater, an 8 or 10 inch batch rocket, sitting on a wood framed floor. The trusses below the floor are all engineered but will certainly need to be reinforced and supported. Estimates of the weight of this beast will be helpful when I speak to the relevant parties to determine the viability of such a project.

I acknowledge there are LOTS of variables at play here. An actual design and materials list would get me a lot closer to a true number, but I am just looking for a starting point, which is why i am simply asking for estimates from those who are familiar with these kinds of builds.

To give you more context, the stove will be your standard 8 or 10 inch batchrocket core, built from the floor up with insulated firebrick, on top of some kind of insulated slab. The core will be surrounded by a masonry bell high enough to get the desired internal clearance. Connected to the main bell will be a secondary masonry bench bell approximately 8 feet long, 2 feet high, 2 feet wide. Maybe another bell too to wrap around the corner! Who knows?!

So, I guess my main query is whats the approximate weight of the core w/ vertical bell combo, and then whats the approximate weight of a hollow bench bell per cubic foot/meter, however ya wanna do it?

Any and all input appreciated!

Hi Miguel;
Really, not that much with a batch box/bell.  
Certainly much less than building a traditional piped mass with a solid rock and cob filling.
To start, Your core is built of all insulating brick, plus your metalwork, I doubt you would have #100 total.
The rest is all standard clay bricks.
Weigh a single brick and figure out how many you will need.
Add extra for mortar.
With a bell and a bench, your weight will be spread over a large area, easy to support.

thomas rubino wrote:Hi Miguel;
Really, not that much with a batch box/bell.  
Certainly much less than building a traditional piped mass with a solid rock and cob filling.
To start, Your core is built of all insulating brick, plus your metalwork, I doubt you would have #100 total.
The rest is all standard clay bricks.
Weigh a single brick and figure out how many you will need.
Add extra for mortar.
With a bell and a bench, your weight will be spread over a large area, easy to support.

This is helpful and reassuring, Thomas. Thank you.

I am in the process of sourcing materials and refining designs. I have the option of getting both 1.25 x 4.5 x 9 and 2.5 x 4.5 x 9 firebrick.

Which thickness brick would you recommend for the core/riser? From what I can tell it looks like most folks are using the thicker brick for the core. Risers seem to be done a lot of different ways. Thick bricks, thin bricks, 5 minute risers, etc.  I had always envisioned building a straight brick riser, but I'm open to other options so long as they are effective and long lasting.  If you or anyone else has suggestions or ideas, please feel free to throw them my way.

Good Morning Miguel;
As you have access to insulated firebricks, 2600F minimum, or 3000F are even better.  1426C-1650C
I recommend using full-size bricks rather than splits, with less chance of them cracking later.
For risers, I prefer Morgan superwool, but insulating brick rated to a minimum of 2600F will work great as well.

This sounded like a fun question to calculate for my 8" batch. Everything is approximate, I didn't take the time to weigh anything but looked online.

60 full bricks = 240#
60 half bricks = 120#

1 tub high temp mortar = 8#

Fireblanket  = 20#

firebox cap ceramic = 20#

secondary air channel = 25#

2 Barrels = 64#

metal door = 10#

So we have approximately 507lbs for an 8" batch without mass. Add in barrels for the bell.

My stove then has about 3 yards of cob at about 1 ton per yard makes my stove 6500 lbs.

Daniel Ray wrote:This sounded like a fun question to calculate for my 8" batch. Everything is approximate, I didn't take the time to weigh anything but looked online.

60 full bricks = 240#
60 half bricks = 120#

1 tub high temp mortar = 8#

Fireblanket  = 20#

firebox cap ceramic = 20#

secondary air channel = 25#

2 Barrels = 64#

metal door = 10#

So we have approximately 507lbs for an 8" batch without mass. Add in barrels for the bell.

My stove then has about 3 yards of cob at about 1 ton per yard makes my stove 6500 lbs.

Great contribution, Dan!

It's cool to see it all layed out like this.

This really highlights how heavy a system with a cob bench is compared to a hollow brick bell bench.