Forum:

tinkering with this site

nominations for new product name (RMH 8-DVD set)

Aaron Neville

pollinator

Posts: 436

I like...

posted 10 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Who is the target audience? Does it include people who've never heard of RMH's before?

How about something like:
Rocket Mass Heaters: The absurdly efficient, ridiculously cheap, surprisingly comfortable way to heat your home

Check out my newest project at http://www.stadtfarm.com http://www.twitter.com/stadtfarms or https://www.facebook.com/StadtFarm/

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

I like...

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

More Heat, Less Money

Heat your home for 10% of the cost

Possibly the cleanest and cheapest way to heat a home

The Cheapest Home Heat: cheaper than electric, gas or conventional wood heat

The Cheapest Heat: cheaper than electric, gas or conventional wood heat

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

Trent Cahoon

Posts: 4

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Rocket Mass Heaters 2.0- We Will Bring Thee Fire

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

I like...

posted 10 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

REALLY saving energy: rocket mass heaters

On the box/description: more than half of home energy consumption is for heat. Whether you use electricity, gas or wood for heat, a rocket mass heater will nearly always pay for itself in the first month of use.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

bryce irwin

Posts: 29

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

OUR BEAUTIFUL FUTURE
STOVE MASS HEATERS

Sean Kibler

Posts: 36

Location: Ohio

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

RMH: more heat, less wood, sexy stove

Erik Weaver

Posts: 226

Location: S.W. Missouri, Zone 6B

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

paul wheaton wrote:

REALLY saving energy: rocket mass heaters

On the box/description: more than half of home energy consumption is for heat. Whether you use electricity, gas or wood for heat, a rocket mass heater will nearly always pay for itself in the first month of use.

I would be very cautious about making excessive or untrue claims. You'll only end up upsetting people in the long run if they feel they were mislead. Same observation applies to the use of the word "definitive" in the title; if you use it, it had better be, and that's an extremely high standard to meet.

My heat in the Ozarks is propane, on the order of $1,000 a year of late. If averaged over a 4-month heating period, that's $250 a month, or $333 if averaged over a three month heating season. Plus you have to deduct the cost of the wood (while it is a fair point to make, it is unfair to assume everyone will be able to make use of dead fall, so you have to factor in the cost of fuel). I just paid $50 for 1/3 of a cord, plus delivery. Better buys are available, buying more wood, but money was tight. The going rate seems to be around $20 or $25 for delivery costs (or you can pick it up yourself, and pay for the fuel and time). There are obviously variables.

Taking the lowest of the above, one would have had to spend less than $200 to build and install the RMH for it to pay for itself in one month. I have something over $800 in mine so far. I don't mind the costs as I read it as an investment, and I do not have the time nor inclination to be climbing in and out of dumpsters, or burning fuel hoping to find a free piece of pipe or something I can repurpose and hope it works.

Sure some people have been able to built a RMH for a few hundred dollars, but I'd not try to present that as normal. Plus, with inflation you have to triple prices when comparing to builds done before 2008 or so. (I'm not sure if out inflation is as bad as the 1970's or not, but I know we no longer have access to the data to calculate it - M3, was it? But that's a side bar.) From what I've read and the videos I've watched, and the forums I read, my guess would be $2,000 USD is a better estimate of the cost of a typical RMH install. No, it is not $200, but it is a very reasonable long-term investment in self-sufficient heating, using locally sourced fuel.

I would suggest focusing on the benefits. Not the features.

Features can -and should be- sorted out in the DVDs. But benefits are what sells. These should try to be incorporated into the title and subtitle.

Benefits are?

Thermal characteristics of masonry heaters (because it is a hybrid masonry heater).
Quick heat characteristics of a wood burning stove.
Safe burning of wood.
Efficient burning of wood (and the carbon neutral aspect most likely should observed; that's an increasingly popular notion).
Short burning times; long heat-return times.
Much greater efficiency over wood stoves.
Greatly reduced risk of chimney fire (extremely low creosote build-up; you might consider if you can have some existing RMHs inspected by VFD and chimney sweeps, to speak to this point).
Isolation of heat; low temperatures of exposed surfaces and pipes (exception being the top of the barrel/bell, unless a guard is also built).
Warm-morning comfort.
Cosy living space.
May be built by most home-owners (a benefit over most masonry heater designs).
Simple, easy to understand physics.

Etc.

Sean Kibler

Posts: 36

Location: Ohio

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

@Erik Weaver on one hand I feel like saying "Bah details, nitpicking!". Then on the other hand I agree. At the end of it though we are talking about a title, which means we need to condense all these wordy (but valid and accurate) ideas into a short hard hitting DVD title. To do that I imagine no matter what word-smithing we do the title in the end is going to have verbiage in it that is subjective and open to interpretation. Aside from using approximately 10 times less wood than traditional wood stoves everything I hear about RMH has been very much open to interpretation; virtually no smoke, safe, cheap. I doubt none of this but just pointing out that, yes some people are going to realize its not a magic wand and be upset.

I say lets just be subjective. Leave the concrete stuff for the back of the DVD and for the contents of the video (maybe some subtitley stuff).

I re-present my last contribution because I just like it so much.

Rocket Mass Heaters v[n.n]: more heat, less wood, sexy stove

Erik Weaver

Posts: 226

Location: S.W. Missouri, Zone 6B

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Sean Kibler wrote:@Erik Weaver on one hand I feel like saying "Bah details, nitpicking!". Then on the other hand I agree. At the end of it though we are talking about a title, which means we need to condense all these wordy (but valid and accurate) ideas into a short hard hitting DVD title. To do that I imagine no matter what word-smithing we do the title in the end is going to have verbiage in it that is subjective and open to interpretation. Aside from using approximately 10 times less wood than traditional wood stoves everything I hear about RMH has been very much open to interpretation; virtually no smoke, safe, cheap. I doubt none of this but just pointing out that, yes some people are going to realize its not a magic wand and be upset.

I say lets just be subjective. Leave the concrete stuff for the back of the DVD and for the contents of the video (maybe some subtitley stuff).

I re-present my last contribution because I just like it so much.

Rocket Mass Heaters v[n.n]: more heat, less wood, sexy stove

You are quite right about titles. Think like a good bill board. Seven words MAX. Two or three is even better! ( Then add a tag line / subtitle )

And if one uses Rocket Mass Heaters -RMH misses the new market- that's three words!

A good title is a challenge, to be sure. It is wise to spend time working with it.

Kristopher Sparks

Posts: 3

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

If the new set were to include demonstrations of cob being used I like! The idea of 'Earthen Made' being included in the title rings nicely! I'm on board either way!

Mike Feddersen

Posts: 577

posted 10 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

"Road Map to Heat"
Clear consice directions to building the most economical to operate, easiest to build, most heat generated, pretty to look at...

Seth Peterson

Posts: 95

Location: Berkeley, CA

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I like a catchy title and then some facts. Something along the lines of A combo of already mentioned gems...
So I want a title and some catch phrases. Something like...

World Domination Rocket Heater Science 2.0:

Burns clean,

Uses a fraction of the wood,

And heats 100s of times more efficiently.

jump at the sun,

seth peterson
permaculture chef

Chris Knipstein

Posts: 47

Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana

posted 10 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

If trying to attract people completely new to rocket mass heaters I'm not sure I would mention "rocket mass heater" in the name.

My first thought upon hearing the word rocket is the classic Apollo mission rockets or Space Shuttles. A huge fuel source creating a massive fireball and even larger smoke trail sending up a capsule or shuttle that was ignited as everyone hoped it didn't just explode on the launch pad. The first time I heard the term "Rocket Mass Heater" I had no clue what it referred to.

My first thought was, why would you ever put anything rocket like in your house?! I then envisioned some burner that was probably getting forced air pumped to it to function like an oxidizer in a rocket engine to create a super hot burn to heat a mass, and thinking of course if you create a massively hot burn you will heat a mass, but I bet it's not the safest thing around compared to a regular furnace or wood burner. At first thought "rocket" also brought thoughts of a gas fuel of some sort. I like to see new ideas and figure out how things work so I checked into the RMH anyway going in with the thought of "Oh I have to see what a terrible idea this is, I wonder if one has ever got out of control or blown up."

Now that I know what one is, and if I had one in front of me and had to think of a name for it, "Rocket Mass Heater" is a great name for it. But by name alone the name doesn't bring visions of safe, efficient, or make you think "that sounds like something I would like in my home."

I would make it clear from the title that it is a wood burner. Wood stoves however, if your familiar with them bring visions of lots of wood stored for winter, a good bit of mess from bark and such around the storage spot in the house, ash dust around it from opening the door and the ash pan, and the usual temperature gauge on the stove pipe you keep a vigilant watch over giving you an idea if you need to adjust the damper for more heat and to assure you that you're not about to burn the house down by having it way to hot.

Therefore I think a good name would clearly say that it's a wood burning stove, it's cleaner, uses less wood, less attention, and all the heat isn't going out the chimney. I'm terrible at coming up with names but maybe this will inspire someone else. Something along the lines of "Do it yourself safe wood heat, with less fuel, less mess, and no loss out the chimney." But that is a rather long and not so catchy name. Ron Popeil and his rotisseries catch phrase "set it and forget it" is something most everyone remembers. Maybe something like "The new wood heat, light it and forget it! With less fuel, less mess, and no loss out the chimney"

matt hogan

Posts: 74

Location: Tennesse, an hour west of Nashville, zone 7

I like...

posted 10 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Smaug without Smog: Wood Burning Stoves 2.0

Wood Burning Stoves 3.14... (Given Paul's affinity for a certain dessert.)

Cj Sloane

pollinator

Posts: 3738

Location: Vermont, off grid for 24 years!

123

I like...

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Smaug might be a little too esoteric (I had to look it up), but 3.14 is brilliant.

My project thread
Agriculture collects solar energy two-dimensionally; but silviculture collects it three dimensionally.

Chris Kay

pioneer

Posts: 137

Location: West Yorkshire, England, UK

I like...

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

J Hampshire wrote:What's in a name? Everything. Absolutely everything. The name has to be all encompassing. Something big and bold, with a super-specific sub title. For instance;

"New World Wood Stoves: The definitive guide to designing, building and installing a rocket mass heater." You save the extra stuff about frugality and efficiency for the blurb on the back/product description.

Not sure if Paul wants to be linked with New World Order Illuminati Conspiracy theories, although World Domination does seem to suggest that. :

:

Actually the "World Domination: Heating" has a resonance and continuity that I like if it is qualified with a tag line such as: Heating homes without toasting the world.

Keeping Paul's salty down to earth style is important. He is taking on very Real real-world problems on a human level which is a polar opposite to the coolness corporate bodies tend to project.
If his stuff gets too slick there is a danger of the polish putting off truth seekers.

Cj Sloane

pollinator

Posts: 3738

Location: Vermont, off grid for 24 years!

123

I like...

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Chris Kay wrote:Not sure if Paul wants to be linked with New World Order Illuminati Conspiracy theories, although World Domination does seem to suggest that. ::

That's the point. I think Paul is trying to compete and dominate the NWO. Not sure it'll happen without better submarine access to the Paulcano.

Chris Kay

pioneer

Posts: 137

Location: West Yorkshire, England, UK

I like...

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Cj Verde wrote:

Chris Kay wrote:Not sure if Paul wants to be linked with New World Order Illuminati Conspiracy theories, although World Domination does seem to suggest that. ::

That's the point. I think Paul is trying to compete and dominate the NWO. Not sure it'll happen without better submarine access to the Paulcano.

Gee, I wondered what the Those podcast references were alluding to. Fighting the good fight without Tracy Island dose not seem fair against those odds.

If he is not careful he might find his spot declared as the "mountains of Pella" and have Christians the world over descend on his land like a whole load of locusts. Not sure if he'd like that, but they should (in theory) work for their food.

Do you think Paul knows just how many people are willing him success?

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

I like...

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

This is a lot of great feedback.

I made about six passes through this thread, and wrote down my favorites, and I came up with a couple more. So I want to share this list and see if anybody thinks of anything else, or one that appeared in this thread that should be added to this list:

World Domination Heating
Earth, Wind and Fire: a new type of home heat
Better Heat
Sustainable Heat
Freaky Cheap Wood Heat
Freaky Cheap Heat
Solve the world's problems with how you heat your home
Heat your home and save the world: build a rocket mass heater
Heat: the next generation
Off-Grid Heat 2.0: Rocket Mass Heaters
Heat: Cleaner than Electric and Cheaper than Gas
Heat: Cleaner and Cheaper than ever before
Freaky efficient heat
Heat your house, save the world (and money)
REALLY saving energy: rocket mass heaters

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

Tyler Young

Posts: 14

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Just to combine the two at the top:

World Domination Heating: Earth, Wind and Fire

Dale Hodgins

Posts: 9002

Location: Victoria British Columbia-Canada

707

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

...Rocket Mass Heaters...

Clean,safe,and efficient wood heating. ...that's the heading. ..

Burn a small quantity of wood in a very hot, clean fire while you are awake. Enjoy safe, comfortable stored heat at night. ... that's the smaller print...

Mike Feddersen

Posts: 577

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Just listened to a rmh podcast, it seems getting away from the need for the rmh to make so much noise might be an idea for a better name.
Wood fuel squeezer.
More heat, less wood, less chopping, safer...
Wood heat salvation, delivering the masses from an eternity of hauling, chopping, splitting cord after cord, only to watch that chimney pipe get so red hot. Is your heat going out the chimney? What if you could change that? Safely. Interested...

Get the Wood Massiah (MASS Infused Awesome Heat)

Also could be Ignition, Ignited, Infernal. I like that, the Wood Mass Infernal

Mike Feddersen

Posts: 577

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Wood Infernal

The Infernal Optomist

Infernal Optomizer

M
A
S
S
Infernal
Volume
Energy

Wood Enigma
WE 2.25

Valerie Dawnstar

pollinator

Posts: 306

Location: North Central New York

I like...

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I was struck by this one - Earth, Wind and Fire: a new type of home heat -- and thought, why not include ALL of the elements in it since cob uses water, too.

Earth, Wind, Water and Fire: a new type of home heat.

Furthering Permaculture next to Lake Ontario.
www.oswego.edu/permaculture

Posts: 238

Location: AR ~ozark mountain range~zone7a

posted 9 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Small wood RMH

Uh oh, we're definitely being carded. Here, show him this tiny ad:

12 DVDs bundle

https://permies.com/wiki/269050/DVDs-bundle