Rocket Mass Heater Stove Wood Refractory Masonry Hermon Heater

[peckiledorf]

you can by the book by Ianto Evans the guy who invented the rocket stove for 18.00 on Amazon screw this guy

[LarsMith217]

Peck, for the record, the best way to "screw this guy" is to follow my instructions below ... download / install SketchUp from Google and, after watching my video, draw up a set of 3D plans and use those. When I was short of cash, necessity was the mother of invention.  I could only afford to use a free program and 2nd hand brick in order to be able to build my heater ... and yes, I did purchase Ianto's book and it is INVALUABLE !! Save $35 and design your own heater like I did :)

[boxerfencer]

I've given it some thought & the only issue with a brick design is that, although I like the idea of a brick "barrel" (that functions as a thermal battery), an oil barrel (of the barrel/cob design) gives immediate heat & uses a thermal battery in the way of a cob bench further downline. The brick design only works as a single battery. So, the brick design would seem less efficient than the ugly? design of the oil barrel/cob bench design illustrated in Rocket Mass Heaters by Evans & Jackson.

[boxerfencer]

@boxerfencer

But I suppose one could simply add a cob or even a brick bench to the brick design in lieu. I imagine the barrel design facilitates cooking, bringing the surface to usable temperature faster than brick would, too.

[LarsMith217]

For the record, anyone with a computer, SketchUp from SketchUp.Google.Com, a general knowledge of how to build things with LEGO's and some time on their hands can design a heater like the one I present here. I know this because that's what I did before building this heater. The USD$35 charge for a copy of the heater plans is for those who don't have the time to come up with their own design. It took 6 different designs b4 I settled on this one. How many hours ???

[cornishman1987]

how often do you have to attend to the heater?

[LarsMith217]

@cornishman1987 As you can see, it takes only a small amount of wood to "fill" the feed tube ( the opening at the start of the heater ). It takes only a minute or so to fill the heater and, using 16" pieces we do this about once every 45 minutes or so ... so this year, we've changed strategies and will be using 30" pieces of wood so we only have to attend to it every hour and a half or so.  Once we get into this coming heating season, we'll be able to report back to you about this change.

[Rhinoch8]

Why haven't you done it with a updown barrel?

[KNOWLEDGEandLIFE]

$35!! Dang that's a little pricey... I mean, rocket stoves are not rocket science. Pretty darn easy... $15 I can see.

[LarsMith217]

@KNOWLEDGEandLIFE Send me the15 and I'll send you 15 dollars worth of the plans. How's that :) I learned long ago that when you put a reasonable price on an item and someone feels compelled to mock your price, it's only fair to raise the price. For you, since a 20 dollar difference in price seems fair, I'll sell you a copy of the plans for 55 dollars. Dicker again and I'll raise the price again :)

[KNOWLEDGEandLIFE]

@LarsMith217 Umm see that was my problem, the plans wouldn't be worth more than $15 to me. Anyone with a little time on their hands, and access to the internet can figure out how a rocket stove works. Would you pay $100 for someone to change the battery in your vehicle? of course not. because its easy, as are rocket mass heaters. once you figure out the principle to a R.M.H. ALL the rest is really cosmetic. Some people are still on unemployment and could use this info, and cant afford $20 extra.

[LarsMith217]

@KNOWLEDGEandLIFE You're right. Without professional experience with SketchUp and with zero experience as a brick layer, I designed and built the heater that's rec'd international attention. If I can do it, you can to, in which case, you can do it for 'free' ... depending on what you're worth per hour ...

[LarsMith217]

@LarsMith217 My plans are proven. How many hours will it take you to design a heater as effective and efficient as my hours of work and testing ? Multiply your estimated hours by your hourly rate.  Divide $35 by your hourly rate. If you conclude, after doing this, that the plans aren't worth $35, no harm, no foul :)

[boxerfencer]

@LarsMith217

Here's another plan that's proven

There is a PDF file name Bricks_Mass_Heater_Plan.pdf hosted at projectblog.bluesquash dot co dot uk that explains how to do everything except the secondary combustion chamber, which is pretty easy to figure out by looking at the video above (16 bricks high, 10 bricks per layer in the heater).

[boxerfencer]

@boxerfencer

There's also a article in French detailing another firebrick construction at blog.tricofolk.info entitled rocket-stove-et-chauffage-ecol­ogique. and there's a very, very basic one on youtube called Adventures in eco living #01 ... Brick rocket stove version 1.

[boxerfencer]

@boxerfencer

I'm no mason but I would assume that the inside bricks, should be refractory (especially in the secondary combustion "barrel" and upward flue) so that they don't melt (don't mess with insulating bricks) and some or all areas of the outer layer can be something nicer, like a thick brick with empty space inside to create thermal mass (extruded bricks). If I recall, these spaces take 1 of 2 forms, 3 holes (losing a 1/4 lighter) or a square space (losing a 1/3 of the weight).

[boxerfencer]

@boxerfencer

Now cleaning these mass heaters has to be a pain in the butt. I don't know why they don't just leave the feed section loose without mortar so that you can just take it apart allowing simple and direct cleaning of the burner. See, there's my contribution to the Rocket mass heater. I wonder if I can patent that idea.

[17hmr243]

@boxerfencer Now cleaning these mass heaters has to be a pain in the butt

could you not just stick a house hold vacuum down there??? off course it be a dedicated 1 just for that use :P

[boxerfencer]

@17hmr243

I suppose you can't because of the 90 degree angle of the feed section to that of the burner. I imagine you can stick a straight hose with my idea, though, which gives you 180 access. Bty, you should NOT vacuum a fireplace. That's a fire hazard.

[ozzirt]

@KNOWLEDGEandLIFE You got that right. Bricks and fire cement, and an hour or two of your time, If you need plans, you shouldn't be let loose to build a stove at all.

There is nothing at all remarkable about these stoves or their design.

[penguinistas]

@KNOWLEDGEandLIFE I thought this was a bit pricey too.

You can buy "Masonry Heaters: Designing, Building, and Living with a Piece of the Sun" on Amazon for about $21. It's 352 pages and has really good reviews.

[novokarpati]

one improvement ...a heater 'bench'..., if you take and re-route the exhaust...instead of the insulating 'cob'...! Put a double pass bench, that 32-36" I see the back, run directly to the right for 5-7' (cleanout in the end..), and still keep your chimney. That'd be cool..ah, warmed bench. (our Baba in the old country 'slept on the stove..IE..the heated bench/bed approx 1.5m x 2+m...), thanks for sharing..., Mikhail

[nobunaga86]

What room/facility is this heating? Sorry if you've been asked before.

[LarsMith217]

@nobunaga86 We have 2 heaters in our home; one is a ToyoStove direct-vent Laser 73 kerosene burning heater and the other is my rocket heater. The home is approximately 2000 sqft. We only passively heat the upstairs and keep the downstairs around 65-70 degrees during the day and between 60 and 70 at night. Last heating season, we used 3/4th tank of kerosene, this year just over 1/2 a tank (250 gallon tank). It's generally believed Rocket Heaters could heat 1000sqft comfortably.

[latasha66]

Nice job,mister!

[obaidCarkey]

its like a tokomak

[jmg1957]

nice works.

[nealc99]

Should have built a little brick oven on top - you could use it like a slow cooker (roast, carrots, potatoes) :)

[mycomama]

Very nice. A great alternative to all the cob ones you see.

[johnlvs2run]

Great idea. I love the all brick design.

Why not use brick for the exhaust and storage too, or was cob just easier, and less expensive.

[LarsMith217]

@johnlvs2run ... cobb easier / less expensive / more readily available. Makes for a very practical "heat battery".

[oldtimeway1]

don't you have trouble getting it to draw when first you start the cold stove with a chimney outside?  A cold chimney draws poorly and I would think it further complicates it when using a masonry stove with those baffles in there.

[LarsMith217]

@oldtimeway1 ... at times like this, I wish I could "beam u up" so that you can see this heater when I start it up in the a.m. There's an old saying that if it sounds too good to be true, then it isn't. Well, tho it sounds too good to be true, this heater is easy to start up every morning. I place kindling wood deep into the burn tube and use a propane torch to light it. That's all there is to it. Watch easy-to-start video on my channel.

[kenfo0]

@LarsMith217 I don't understand...you have a video recorder...you don't need to "beam" anyone up. You can show it. Also, the old saying is "if it sounds too good to be true, it IS.". These seem like a good idea if you can put it where the heat will naturally circulate to the most used rooms. Relying on fans won't work if power's out. Maybe you don't get power outages. I am going to make one of these in my garage next week as a test. We'll see if the claims are true.

[calionstallion]

@kenfo0 Have you heard of the eco fan? It uses the heat somehow uses the heat from the heater to create it's own electricity.

[kenfo0]

@calion the eco fan is merely a fan, driven by convective heat....there is no "power" powering the fan, but the heat of the stove. I am talking about a wood stove/mass heater hybrid. My smoky old stove is set up in such a way that I need no electricity....convection moves the heat from the basement throughout the house. The issue is very cold nights and truly "overnight" burns. Stoves have nonsensical ratings in which they claim "8hr burn times". They simply mean "there are coals left".

[sok8888]

@oldtimeway1 The rocket design has a tall column which naturally draws the flame sideway up the column. Usually people start the stove by simply burning a piece of newspaper (stuffed under the column).

[guitarpotto]

It's a tandor with a heat distributor nice!... too bad it's a singular-tasker....

[WoodBClayMaster]

Great concept! I have a couple of questions. First, if you have to clean out the soot that forms on the sides of the exiting firebox, how do you do that & secondly, what types of wood are you burning? Because in the Midwest we have "lots" of Osage Orange/Hedge & it makes a really hot fire. I'm just curious, because I am going to build a home & would like to incorporate something like this in it!

[LarsMith217]

This fire burns so hot ( somewhere at or above 1000 degrees ) that there's no soot at all in the fire box and, as far as I know, no soot anywhere in the heater nor in the 55 gallon heat exchanger which I added last fall. I'm burning hardwood slab wood from a local Amish saw mill ... oak, maple, ash, etc. I've burned a small amount of softwood as well, including scrap box elder.

[keesijp49]

Thanks I will think about that.

I have a book of the mass heater, but that one is with oildrums, stone afcourse is a lot better, now that sometimes here it is freezing -10 or more, and my house is a littel drafty no double glass windows.

my extra idee is to put a brick wall tot the ceiling with in the middle the flu pipe, for extra warmth.

I have now a 14 kw woodstove and this canb not heat with little of wood.

thanks

[keesijp49]

Hi

The room is include kitchen 1770,75 kubieke feet. and without high measurement 226 square feet,

thanks.

[LarsMith217]

Yes, i am sure this heater could heat that space very well and you would only have to use a very little bit of wood. Use enough to get the temperature of the brick up and then not need more wood for some time.

[keesijp49]

hi

Is these rocket stove capable to heat a room of 50 m3 in winterntime.

thanks

[LarsMith217]

i'm not sure how the metric converts to inches / feet so not able to answer the question.

Help me out with the conversion and I'll do my best to answer the question.

[the1969info]

Hi nice video, well done on your explanations. I like your heater. I wonder, is it for heating just that room or your home? You said you add more wood after 25min, I have never heard if anyone has tried using charcoal, have you? For some reason I have it in my head charcoal would take longer to burn, do you know if that is wrong or right? Again, nice video.

[LarsMith217]

Correction : We now reload the heater every hour to hour and a half. We've also started using a cinder landscaping block to control the amount of fresh air which gets inside the heater. We found that allowing lots of air through the heater, more heat was exiting the heater and there-by cooling the heater. By reducing the air intake, we saw the temp of the shell of the heater go up and less exiting the heater. I've not yet tried charcoal tho expect it would work So does corn & wood pellets.

[otowise]

i have only just seen these type of stoves

how do you empty out the ash out?

[LarsMith217]

I simply use a paint stir stick from a local paint shop to pull the ash from the "burn tube" into the ember bed area. I then use an 8oz can, with its opening "squished" some-what to form a triangle instead of a circle, to scoop the ashes out of the ember bed area.

[bradmacaboy]

Hi, cool design. Does the combustion air come from the room or is there a separate tube for it? thanks

[LarsMith217]

I've got both. In the video, you can see white PVC pipe coming up from under the wall to the left of the area where I feed the firewood. Because my house is so drafty, there's no problem with plenty of "fresh" air for the heater.

Different from the video, we now close off the air intake, leaving an area of approx 1/2" by 9" of air intake, reducing the CFM to "negligible".

[rico522]

So when it needs cleaning, do you just vacuum it out from the top?  How difficult is it to get out everything that is under the ledge?

[LarsMith217]

Please watch the video which shows how I clean the ash out of the heater.

[sspence65]

The efficiency of this stove makes it one of the best wood conserving, extreme low emissions DIY stoves ever.

[Douglas11265]

Please help me to understand why this is a better setup that a regular wood burning stove? Is it more efficient? Is it easier to use? How often must your add wood?

[LarsMith217]

Better ? I'm neither experienced enough with rocket heaters nor vain enough to say my rocket heater is any better than any other.  I've heard, more than once, that some Rocket heaters are difficult to get started. My design has been easy to start so far, tho not because of any "intelligent design", for I designed this for ease of build, not for ease of starting. More efficient ? There's not much smoke/heat coming out of chimney so I'm speculating it's doing OK. Feed it every 25 mins.

[kidfromstatenisland]

I'm going to put this link on my blog.

[LarsMith217]

What's the link to your blog ?

AND TY, as I'm looking for others to post links to my heater design as well.

[FloodLaurie]

This is great. I was wondering how you could heat your interior with a rocket stove without adding a bunch of weight to your floor. How large of an area are you heating with this? Does it actually heat the air enough to keep a living room and kitchen in a modest house warm? Also, how often do you have to add wood? In other words, do you have to keep getting up during the night to add wood?

[LarsMith217]

I'm looking forward to all the comments / questions I can get re: this version of Rocket Mass Heater. If the video leads you to success with your own heater, please let us all know !!

[rich991980]

Great work!! It's beautiful to see what start out as ideas turn into real things.