Well... where to start. If you have Ernie and Erica booked for a workshop. You my friends are in for a friggin treat. I'm reporting in from our Rocket Mass Workshop up at my cabin in Ely, MN.
Ernie, Erica, Tom(my friend), and I drove up to my cabin packed to the hilt. Ernie is a giant PNW fellow, so it was "comfy" in my Element. The conversations were of epic proportions, and the views not too shabby. I took Erica and Ernie to a smoked fish stop, and for a lunch on Lake Superior. We managed to get up to my cabin with plenty of time to spare for more outstanding conversations(this time fueled by tasty libations). Early morning came early, and I somehow caught a nasty head cold. Matter not... a workshop is about to take place, and I had participants waiting.
I'm posting some pictures from my new friend Dan Gathier. One of the many outstanding people I had the pleasure of meeting.
The Gurus Erica and Ernie...Class is in session..Ernie looking for note passers
Tom and Don Splitter leveling off the platform
Tom and I starting to level and build....Note:The elevated base is specific to my floor which has no insulation
"I Ernie the great RMH wizard shall tell you great information, whilst these 2 jackasses figure out proper leveling"
Really listening intently, and surviving the heat...holy crap...it was hot!
The base of the burn tunnel, and the bridge...notice no continuous seams
Don Splitter, and Anders thinking.."holy sh!t these guys know alot about RMH's"
Proper dampening technique with 3 good sized logs in combustion chamber
Saaaaaay...is that your heat riser, or are you just happy to see me? RMH getting ready for take off
Erica busts out great drawings in the flick of an eye
Lunch time, and some shelter from the sun...did I mention it was hot!
The view from my deck!
Cob Time
Cobby Feet!
Anders, and his little man getting it done..."dad, get the hell out of the way... I got some numbers to gather"
RMH burning...that smoke is from paint. You want to see something cool.. watch the circular motion of the smoke!
The core of "my" RMH, and materials to be used...Masonry!
Mixing Perlite, and Powder Clay
insulated heat riser
Hey there you hot combustion chamber you.. I'm falling in love with your hotness!
Ernie coming to inspect the smoke leaking....troubleshooting in action
more troubleshooting...too tall of a gap at top of manifold.
Added elbow, and additional ducting to create more draft. Notice smoke is gone from around "mass"
Pre-Steam and CO2 exhaust....now you see smoke, and Ernie smoking his pipe.
And now you don't....steam and CO2..it's a beautiful thing, and so is that smirk on Ernies face.
The End
It was a pleasure meeting all the participants, and really a pleasure to meet my 2 new friends Ernie, and Erica. I would need hours to write up all the fun we had over this long weekend, and even more time to try to summarize the great conversations. These two really are wonderful people. Do yourself a favor. Buy them a drink sometime, and start talking. You'll never be the same.
Big Hugs to both Erica and Ernie. It was a grand time!
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