September 6, 2024

Masonry Heater: Progress on the Thermal Mass

Continued from Masonry Heater Project

One decision that had to be made was, how should the top of the stove be finished off? Flat one-piece? Flat bricked? Arched? Corbelled? How did we want it to look? Which would be more practical? Which would be easier to build? Each idea had to be analyzed in terms of time, skill, and resources. 

Dan continually asked for my input and preferences, but I was honestly okay with any of the above. I told him to choose the option that he felt most comfortable with. The following photos will pretty much speak for the process.

Form for a brick arch. There isn't anything you can't learn on YouTube.

If you recall, the woodstove alcove walls above the bricks are cement board.


Dan cut the bricks to make the circular shape







One question that might come to mind is, how did we know how big to make it? There's a formula for that! Ours is a 6-inch system (based on the size of the chimney pipe), so we aimed for an internal surface area (ISA) of approximately 57 square feet. 

14 comments:

Goatldi said...

WOW!!! Can't wait for the next installment!

Leigh said...

:)

Michael said...

What plans for the J tube are you using? That seems to be the critical aspect of making a 6 inch RMH work well and draft.

Leigh said...

Michael, we're using Peter van den Berg's double shoebox batch box (DSR2) design. He has all the critical measurements at his website for the core and other components.

Barbara said...

So much talent and impressive work. Love all your content and shame on me for not commenting more. Of everyone I watch, you inspire me the most to think about being prepared and organizing my home. Thank you.

Ed said...

What kind of temperatures do you think you will achieve on the outside of the brick? If they only get warm, I would have gone with the arch too. If it got warm enough to maybe simmer a pot of beans on top, I might have opted for a flat surface. I love smelling a pot of beans simmering on top of a woodstove.

Leigh said...

Barbara, good to hear from you! And thank you for the comment. These days we're just puttering along. :)

Leigh said...

Ed, that was something we discussed quite a bit, i.e. being able to cook on it. I'm not sure that the thermal mass would reach simmering temp, but sometimes people put a cookplate over the firebox for cooking. We initially looked at a design like that, but it was more complicated than we were willing to work with. However (spoiler!) we're going to make a pizza oven in the arched part and I'm hoping I can use it for baking and roasting.

daisy g said...

I agree with Goatldi! Wowzers! It looks incredible. Good on ya!

Ed said...

That is an excellent idea! I can't wait to see it all come together.

Leigh said...

Daisy, as always, we're hoping it turns out as planned!

Leigh said...

Ed, I'm pretty excited about that part. :)

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

Very impressive!

Leigh said...

Thanks!