Andres Maslowski

Hi Thomas,

What I meant is to wrap around the fire brick feedinf chamber and burning tunnel with fire blanket up to the barrel edge, then to built with rock over it, using the fire blanket either Ceramic fiber or Morgan superwool to separate the rock work around the feeding chamber and burn tunnel as insulator and expansion material. In terms of the barrel, I was planning to seal it with refractory cement. What do you think?

Hi Gerry,

I dont know yet what kind if fire blanket insulation I'm using, I'm searching places to see what I can find, still haven't found the material, very difficult times to order stuff here in Canada.

Hi Gerry,

Thank you for the warm welcoming.

I've done some research in the area with some excavating companies and aggregate suppliers and so far they have assured me that there is not clay in the surrounding areas. But also they have pointed out that the  closest place to get it is one hour away, which does not appeal to me having on site one of the best source of thermomass (rock).

I also practiced soil types identification with water in a jar and the closest I've gotten to clay is silt, that once dried it crumbles apart with finger's pressure.  

My questions are; Is it possible to use ordinary cement mortar in the rock bench? Taking in consideration that this part of the RMH does not take the direct heat of the burning tunnel and the reburn of gasses in the drum cascade. And can the burn tunnel and drum be separated with a fire felt blanket before covering with rock work? I read in the 6" annex RMH document from Erika and Ernie that a 1/4" corrugated cardboard layer can be use as expantion barrier in some cases.

Again, my burning tunnel/chamber is being built with fire brick and refractory cement

Are Erika And Ernie linked to this forum? Can they suggest anything with their expertise?

Thanks again,

Hi all,

I'm venturing in the construction of my first RMH, but I have a big obstacle, in the area where I live in Canada, there isn't much clay. Not in my property, impossible to find with the landscaping suppliers and very costly to ship or pick up from far. In the other hand we have a incredible supply of rocks, this is the Canadian shield, a vast area of the world composed of mainly rock, and a thin layer of sandy top soil, mostly acidic due to the boreal forest vegetation (conifers/evergreens).

What type of mortar can I use to build the thermal bench for heat exchange, I'm talking about the perimeter masonry work to join the stones, and to fill the space in between the fill of rocks around the tube?

The burning chamber and heat riser I'm building with fire brick and stove cement, and will insulate the riser with fire felt, but my concern really is the "mortar" for the rock work.

Thanks in advance for your comments and ideas. Have a great day!