New guy, basic questions.

Hi!
I've been planning to replace my indoor woodstove with a cob woodstove. In researching it I came across this site and signed up, it seems perfect for learning what I'm researching. The whole goal behind me wanting to build a cob stove is so that I can put in a lot more wood and have the cob hold the heat. That way I get up in the morning to a stove that is still warm and has some coals left, instead of a cold dead stove like what I have now. Then I came across the idea of a rocket stove mass heater. I like the idea of using less wood, but I don't like the idea of having to feed it all the time since it has to run full blast. So I'm wondering if there is already a solution somebody can point me to instead of me taking a week to come to the same conclusion.
Great site btw.

Thanks!

Welcome to permies Frank! I think you might want to check out some of these videos by Paul of rocket mass heaters along with his article and Ernie and Erica's website:



I think the main solution to not having to feed it all the time is to have a high thermal mass for the insulating material- like cob or stone. Regarding thermal mass, I think these two articles here and here do a good job explaining how thermal mass works.

Frank G. : "The Book !'', Frank as a one time investment get '' The Book ! " Rocket Mass Heaters 3rd Ed. At rocketstoves.com Big AL !

The thing about a rocket mass heater is that you do *not* have to feed it all the time.

Most people just run it for an hour or so, once or maybe twice a day, and the bulk of heat that usually goes up the chimney is captured by the mass, which sits there giving it out for the rest of the time.