Thermal Exchange Piping

I tried to do a search to answer my question, but to no avail. If the answer is already here in the forums, please excuse me.

My father and I are just about to start building a RMH in a early 70's home, and are currently in the sourcing materials stage.

Q 1: for the cob, is Lincoln 60 Fireclay acceptable? Or will it be too insulative/refractory?

Q 2: Clay slip recipe for connecting the bricks?

Q 3: Thermal exchange pipe - Is 6" galvanized ducting acceptable, or do we HAVE to use the slightly more expensive black steel pipe?

Thanks!

Von SommerFeldt : Q1) Yes fine, for general questions try _ " traditionalovens.com/articles/" - (here you want /articles/101/) keep digging!

Q2) Clay and water, like a good cake batter! It will cover a spoon, a gob dropped back in the pail will leave a noticable raised ring ! Dip the Bricks
in water, ~ 5 seconds ~, dip bricks in clay slip, stack bricks! ( you will have lots of practice doing this out doors 1st, stacking and re-stacking to get
each layer right !) Google ' bricks, running bond '!

Q3) Yes, Goto- richsoil.com, find and click on Rocket Mass Heaters (Like playing Whack a Mole ) it will send you to a new page, scroll down to
the series of videos, watch them all at your leisure! You want to see >rocket flames- rocket mass heater prep this shows you how to prepare
your barrel and the 1st 6 feet of the galvanized stove pipe in the Cob Thermal Bench, this changes the way the zinc is chemically bonded to the stove
pipe and turning from shinny to all grey signals that that part of the stove pipe is 'cured' Hope this helps and is timely, For the good of the Craft !

Think like fire, flow like a gas, Don't be a Marshmallow! As always, your comments and questions are solicited and Welcome! PYRO-Logically BIG AL !

Allen,

Your response was both timely and VERY helpful.

The only other question my father and I had rolling around, is what sort of negative effect, if any, would covering the barrel in a thin layer of cob have? The aesthetic of the blackened barrel just isn't there. Trying to think of ways to make it pretty, not trying to innovate as we were warned against doing with our first build

Thanks
Von

Von : I suppose you have something against painting on it a skull and two crossed bones so that when people walk into the room they are greeted by the ''Jolly Roger '' too !

Seriously, build it first, It is more important to make something you can look at as your best shot at sculpted art, a fine piece of built-in-furniture, some thing treasured to
pass down to your children's children. Some thing that you give Pride of Place to, and make it the new heart of your home, ( which is what hearth first meant, not just a
name for an architectural feature ) where every one wants to be, and tending it is like spending time with a loved relative, or like a well endowed bank account into which
you deposit small sticks of wood and receive Automatic Dividends in the form of heat !

The more time you spend with it and listen to the rather loud but still comforting throaty purr of YOUR Happy House Dragon, 1 each per RMH !!! the easier it will be to find the
true character and final appearance of your newest family member, Am I kidding or Just waxing nostalgic? guess what friends gather around for the Christmas Cards
they send me? For the Good of the Craft, Big AL !

Allen -

I wouldn't mind the Jolly Roger, but my wife might

So are there any drawbacks to covering the burn chamber barrel besides slightly less immediate radiant heat?

Thanks
Von

Von : In the permies toolbox above right between the permies banner and permies video of the day-ish find/click on search do a search for Erica Wisners 'Barrel painting contest'
there are several good ideas that i just do't care about !

You could use very thin light tiles, but the mastic would not smell good hot, and putting on cob thick enuf might even kill your RMH, I expect that you will find YOUR Way in this
department and can share with the world ! G'luck BIG AL!

Thanks for all your help Al!

I'll be sure to post photos and updates as our new build progresses

We had the same questions about the piping!! Thanks for asking and for your answer AL! We look forward to seeing your pics of the RMH!!