April Greer

Good Morning In an effort to fix the floor as much as possible I am removing the center tiles from the floor then I will put some iron wire spaced out horizontally over the tiles and middle gap then slide in a piece of hardiboard over all of that. perhaps that will fix my tile on the floor issue
On the blanket .. I do not think it will be long enough to do any more than the pipe through the wall. I think it is 12x24.  I can always order more because i am very interested in the 5-minute riser. Is there a link to it?

I am so glad the matt walker style riser and core have held up for you. It is a more affordable option for me at this time. The ceramic fiber board is sooo expensive but I know it is worth the money. Hopefully, I can rebuild this next season and use it then. As for firebrick. I do have some that I could split to line the bottom and sides of the firebox side. I have read some issues with the brick taking a long time to heat up and causing a backdraft? Is this an issue or can I do that with success and cast that fireclay and perlite core with the split fb in place? or maybe just line the bottom of the core with the brick?  
I am so excited to see your rebuild and get an update on how well that works.. Your excellent advice has made my project so much more fun to do. Now if only I could recruit some help from my kiddos it would be complete

Thank you Glenn,
that is very helpful. Those are steel 2x2s they were part of the metal racks I got from the junkyard.
I have a futon type mattress that is 6" thick to put over the flagstone. Since Thomas said 4" of cob would not be enough and rock holds more heat than cob I thought maybe that would be sufficient with the mattress. Then I am going to build up with cob and rock over that pipe to make a kind of backrest and little table area. I think lol .. That is what I have in my brain at least I hope it looks good when it is done. There are so many pretty ones out there.
I can slide out the center rows of tile and replace with hardiboard without completely rebuilding I think I will do that. I the issue with the tile that it will get too hot? I just used it because I had a bunch of it.. I am glad you guys have pointed it out thank you

ok the blanket and book are on their way.  I scored some super thick flagstone free for the bench top and and I gathered a bunch of rock to use with my cob for the mass around that pipe. Now just to widen out that hole a bit and wait for the blanket to get here. I will post more pics as it comes along.. Thank you for all the good advice. I am so thankful for this site.

Are you saying that i don't need the 10" also or that a 10" then 8" then blanket then 6"  That sounds super safe to me I like that idea. I don't think I can overkill this particular issue.

Yes I do have one of those guns. I am looking at purchasing that book before I begin building the actual rocket heater part. I am using Matt Walkers J tube core and riser with fireclay and perlite method. I do understand that there should be a transition where the barrel and outlet pipe meet with a clean out. I have figured that into my design also because i read every little thing you wrote in another post here on this site. I am probably doing this backward lol but I need to get my living room back to normal for the kids. I can take more time with the rocket build. You are great thank you so much. I will adjust my thinking on that barrel. I got a stainless steel barrel because I thought it would look better than the painted or black ones. honestly I want it to look awesome like some I have seen on here but at the same time, it really doesn't matter If it looks good. just if it works right.

thank you so much. I am definitely building up and insulating the core and barrel. I was going to cob around the barrel in the back and sides near the walls and over the top. I have small children, that is why I wanted it in the studio and not near the bench in the living room. I think i will purchase an insulating blanket going thru that wall. Man it is hard to get through. took me two solid days to get that much cut out. You have been very helpful.
I did not mortar those tiles .. I just put them down because I had them on hand and thought it would help protect the floor. I can always rebuild it .. it is not too late yet lol. I am so excited to get this right. I know we will love it and I will love the savings in wood. I am tired of freezing all winter with my franklin wood stove. And my kids get sick with sinus stuff every year because I am sure it leaks out smoke.. If this is successful i will sell franklin and gain some space in the studio.  I will post pictures as I progress. I am so happy you have helped me.

Thank you for the great answers.. looks like i am making this hole bigger for sure. It is hard work. so when i put the 10" in then are you saying i should put an 8 and 6 inch inside that? could I make like a little riser core with fireclay and perlite with the 10" and 6 inch?? Also I can see the pictures I posted when I open my thread.. can you see them? Will the 4 inches of cob be enough on top of the bell bench to hold the heat? I will surround the pipe with cob and rock like you suggested. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. I am hoping the cob will be enough to seal that bench .. It was my only concern going with the bell over the ususal pipe.. What are your thoughts on that.

pictures of what I have so far..

Hello everyone. I have been reading all the threads on this vein and have not found the answers to my particular build. I am building the rocket stove part in my studio right off the kitchen, piping it through a very thick wall with a lot of layers into the living room off the other side of the kitchen. The layers are sheetrock 2x4 studs exterior brick, aluminum siding, clapboard siding, 1" thick barn board, tongue and groove, plywood, sheetrock. It is because the studio was built on to the existing house much later at some point before I bought the house. Anyway, my first question is... how hot is that pipe going through the wall from the barrel and transition going to get?? will it get hot enough to catch the old wood on fire?? my 8" pipe just fits in the hole so I am wondering if i can put in a 6" pipe so that I can cob or perlite or what? around the pipe where it goes thru the wall? Suggestions will be much appreciated.. please be kind I have never done this before. I am just only me and my boys. I want to be warm this winter. That brings me to my next question.. this pipe that comes out on the living room side will travel about three feet to the bell bench. I will cob all around the pipe for mass up to the bench. I used cinderblock and brick then I cobbed the face and added stone at the bottom. I used heavy duty steal racks on top and cobbed the entire top of the bench so far 2" will add another 2" when I figure out the pipe thingy.. I have read about people taping all joints and stuff so gasses do not leak out.. but Matt Walker has a bell and no gases leak out? I am confused about that. the exit flue is over a little bit from the entry pipe. It will travel up right over the pipe coming through the wall to the roof. I put it there so it can warm up a bit where it will be over the inlet pipe hopefully creating a draw. Can you please give me some feedback on my design for this and what you think about 4" of cob. Will this be enough mass to hold the heat through the night? Thank you for your help. I will post pictures if I can to help better explain my thinking..