Masonary heaters

This is interesting
https://www.brunner.com/en/tiled-stoves-fireplaces/masonry-heaters

They have a small version of a masonary heater
https://www.brunner.de/produktdownloads/kacheloefen-kamine/systemoefen/kleinspeicheroefen/200003_aufbauanleitung_kso-33_de.pdf
Thomas, could you make a similar one with your parts?

Hi John;
That is a fine looking masonry heater.
Masonry heaters have been in use for hundreds of years in Europe, they have kept folks warm through brutal winter temps.
Once a large masonry mass has been heated it shares that heat for 12-24 hours.
There is no comparison compared to an open fireplace or even a steel box stove, mass heaters were/ are the absolute best to stay warm.

In modern times, the Rocket mass heater has become the preeminent wood burner due to its ability to mimic the heat holding of a traditional masonry stove, and it also has the extra benefit of burning super clean with almost zero harmful emissions.  No billowing clouds of smoke fill the air around your home, and you use hardly any wood products to produce that heat.
The construction of a European Masonry heater is complex, a professional highly experienced builder is needed to construct one, and the costs can run over $30,000!
To build an RMH you need a bit of knowledge that is readily available here at Permies,  from Peter van den Berg, Matt Walker, and many more including myself.
The costs average below $1000 and with scrounging can be significantly lower.
You and your mates can build one while laughing, consuming beer, and tossing clay mud at each other... A grand time can be had with many fond memories and when it is all  done you will never feel cold again!
Could I build one like the smaller version?  Yes, I sure could and with guidance, you or anyone else can as well.

John C Daley wrote:They have a small version of a masonary heater
https://www.brunner.de/produktdownloads/kacheloefen-kamine/systemoefen/kleinspeicheroefen/200003_aufbauanleitung_kso-33_de.pdf
Thomas, could you make a similar one with your parts?

Hello John,  
   Tom did a good job, talking about the complexities and almost always cost that is associated with this type. And almost everyone knows it is a fact that goes hand in hand.

  And there are many that have gone completely the other way with "mud" mass, but a greatly reduced cost.

   I experimented greatly when I built my 7" batch box, and while I would never show case it as a house center stove, I did prove to my self that I could make the exterior as "finished" as I would like.

  Meaning, once I had the working part of the rocket mass stove done (most never see this ever again) And then the brick bell, I can/could then add what ever you fancy, as a cladding but also as additional mass. ( a double win)  Depending where you live, the choices of tile can be tremendous, including all of the shiny glazed tiles often seen in the above mentioned "kacheloefen" masonry stoves.

  I experimented in several ways,  Using granite pieces large and small bonded to the brick bell, some marble also bonded, The entire back side simply dry stacked from bottom to top 4" thick to actually double the mass,  and then lastly one side of the bell I experimented with glazed tile. Also bonded to the bell.  The last one was by far the easiest  but the least amount of mass (added to the bell)  

Long story short, almost anything works, once the inner burn chamber and brick bell are complete.

Best of success.

On a side note:  I have been asked privately a few times, of how I bonded any or all of the material onto the brick bell, all the while handling expansion and contraction.

The answer, to me so far has been simple, in that, I simply used silicon calk.  From the very best to the cheapest  (based on cost) These ranged from $12.99 to $4.59 a tube. While the "the time it last test" simply takes years...and you would have to preserve a application sheet, of what you used and where, it could be kept track of.

But:  What I have found---

   Knowing that the external temp of the inner bell would never exceed 275 degrees (and this would really be hot)  And rarely do I touch 200 degrees with my large mass built in-  Thus with the silicon limit for heat far above this, I have felt comfortable using it.  Note: other bonding materials often have far less temp range, sometimes as low as 150 degrees. (and are not as flexible at all)

    I did "just for an experiment", use it very close to some metal door structure that has got near 400-500 degrees, and it discolored a bit, but nothing more.

    As for expansion/contractions, the bonded small pieces can wiggle a bit, but you would have to exert great effort to pull off.  I generally only bonded the edge touching the bell, not the edges of one piece to the next, thus everything can move a bit, without any domino effect.  Note: I am not creating a SEAL, but rather adding a exterior facade, and mass.   I suppose one could preach that the tiny gaps created between bell and facade has a insulating effect... And I won't argue, but I also won't deliberate it either.   Mine has worked well, and that is what is important to me.

    Lastly, I don't know of any material used for mass that silicone won't stick to.  But very porous material will certainly  
use more. But we want to add as heavy and nice looking material as we can..  So the porosity issue really doesn't come to play.