Hi all, first post to your forum. I have been trolling it for the past few days absorbing as much info as i possibly can. I think i am ready to make my first rocket heater. But there is some information on the path i am taking that i am unable to find. I am hoping the nice folks at permies could give me a hand
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My main question is in reference to my heater core i am going to be casting tomorrow. My first build will be a temporary set up until i can get the resources to do a good build. But i would like the core to be as solid as possible if i can, with what i have. First mention i would like to make is that nowhere in my area could i find fire clay, so making my own refractory was out of the question. And unfortunately the only product i could find in any bulk was a 25lb tub of dry mix refractory cement (for almost $70 CAD). And i am unsure on a few specifics. I also have a 110 L bag of perlite to add to it as well as insulate the box. First i am curious to know if anyone could guide me as to how much perlite i should be adding to this stuff (or if i should scoop some vermiculite out of my poorly insulated -asbestos filled- attic, with extreme caution of course) something is telling my i will get a better product with the vermiculite, and if i should follow the mix ratios that are labelled on the bucket. Second is i live in an area where -20c is a all to common reality and if i should go with a 6" or a 8" core to heat up my just under 800 sq' living space ( again my walls have an insulation R-value of less than 10, if any at all). Third is how thick should the walls of my j tube be, i am going to design it based on the dragon core that keeps popping up on my searches. Cast it in halves to allow expansion and joint it with a gasket. I also have seen a few different dimension specs for the feed, burn, riser. Anywhere from 1,2,3 to 1,2,4. But the plans i have gotten for signing up for your news letter are 15, 21, 47. There is also a part where it says the feed tube is 5 x 5.5 is this an error?
Will thank anyone in advance, and most likely afterwards. You have a nice forum here, and i am happy to now be a part of it!
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