Wrapping the burn barrel with decorative tile

Hello everybody!
I'm a long time rocket stove fan, I used to have the book but loaned it out years ago and haven't re-bought it yet. I'm planning on building my own stove, and I've always wondered if it would be a bad idea to wrap the outside of the barrel with chicken wire, then tiled over that with decorative tile (I'm a potter and make tile) so as both to hide the plain barrel and maybe add some mass insulation, but I'm not sure whether this is a desirable quality in the outside barrel... I've always admired European tile oven heaters and thought it might be nice to combine that with rocket stove design...?
any input greatly appreciated!

Jon

Take a look at this thread, start at post #10. Might give you some ideas.

http://donkey32.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=discuss&action=display&thread=745

Thank you, Joe! Excellent! Very nice! do you know anything more about " Erica's " hide the ugly barrel contest" "?

I see that the decorative tiles on this example form a sleeve around the burn barrel, leaving an air gap in between the tile and the barrel...not the same kind of thing I was thinking of. Is it not good to insulate the outer barrel?

Jon, I'm not the builder, so I may not have the best answers for you. I'm sure any questions or comments would be very welcome at Kirk's (donkey) site. I believe idea was to provide a better looking surface and to protect from little ones getting to the hot barrel. The air gap is open on the bottom and top and should provide a convection current of hot air.
If I understand your question, insulating the outer barrel will not provide the heat extraction necessary for these things to function.
As for Erica's contest, I haven't seen anything new lately.

THANK YOU, JOE!
I had a feeling about that...

Jon Terry : I believe Erica is about to revive the 'Hiding the Barrel thread'. I texted her on a related manner about a week ago! You can always go to the
good folks at Rocketstoves.com and pick up a PDF copy, $15.oo of Evan's and Jackson's book 'Rocket Mass Heaters' and this will give you an unlimited
number of future copies.

For the good of the Craft! Good Luck ! Pyro Allen