Start and Operate a J-Tube Rocket Mass Heater - PEP BB rocket.sand.rmhjtube1

This is a badge bit (BB) that is part of the PEP curriculum. Completing this BB is part of getting the sand badge in Rocket.

This BB requires you to start and operate a j-tube rocket mass heater for one hour. You are not required to build your own rocket mass heater but you will need access to one.

The following video will help you with the task of starting a j-tube rocket mass heater and operating it.



From the video description:

Ernie Wisner is going to show you the proper way of starting a rocket mass heater.  He explains what the process entails as he goes about the task.  First he explains that the heat riser and chimney need to be warmed up by lighting some paper balls and some small dry kindling wood.  He adds kindling to the wood feed and once it's well lit, he explains that these stoves work best when they are well fed and full of dry wood.

It takes about a minute and thirty seconds to get the stove lit, then Ernie talks for a bit about the bypass system that this particular stove has, which allows it to be exhausted out of the roof or through a chimney exiting through the wall.  He then goes on to explain the signs of a good burn and what kinds of temperatures you can expect from a system like this one.  Ernie is tinkering with the stove as it's still new and he makes some minor adjustments and explains how there's a breaking-in process for a new rocket mass heater.  

Once the heater is all warmed up, Ernie takes a look outside at the chimney where there is no evidence of smoke, telling him that the rocket mass heater is performing the way it should be.  It's burning clean!

How to Certify That Your BB is Completed
  - Post a reply to this thread with the following 4 pictures
       o pic of starting materials before fire
       o pic of fire started
       o pic of additional wood added
       o pic of more additional wood added