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  1. #1
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    Dec 2012
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    Default Rocket Mass Heater

    Hi guys, This is probably not the right forum for this, but has anyone had any first hand experience with these? I'm thinking of building one to heat our new home. I know compliance is an issue with insurance, but I'm happy to take the responsibility.
    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
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    adelaide
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    Default Memories

    If memory serves, rocket heaters was discussed on this forum not too long ago, try the search function you may get lucky.

  3. #3
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    Default

    Yes there was a thread about these. I was sceptical at first as they just seemed like a gimic without any practical explanation as to how they worked better than other types. I finally found a YouTube video that explained the alleged science behind the design. I am still sceptical but I am willing to try them. Haven't done it yet tho. I found many pages on the net showing built-in systems.

    Dean

  4. #4
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    Aug 2011
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    Melbourne
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    Default

    Hi there,

    Yes I remember the thread on these a year or so ago. It's on my to do list to make a compact one for camping. I'm hoping to make a slight alteration and include an oven for cooking pizza when camping. Strictly speaking, the alteration means it's probably no longer a rocket stove but I plan on using insulation to achieve high burn temperatures, similar to the rocket stove.

    You could make one for the shed first, as a test bed and see how that goes with efficiency etc. Good luck with your design.

    Simon
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  5. #5
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    Jan 2004
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    Mackay North Qld
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    Default

    I believe the working principal is the same as the camping billy can with the internal cone.

    It only takes a handful of kindling which uses most of the the BTU's available in heating a large surface area presented to the flame, making efficient use of the heating. The jet heaters are built on the same principle.

    It is not rocket science, just physics. I can see why you would like one as the temps are around 0° out there just lately.


    Grahame

  6. #6
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    Jan 2004
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    Mackay North Qld
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    Gestalt,

    I too have been researching rocket stoves lately and found this .

    Rocket Mass Heater Manufacturer | Alternative Heating |Zaug Stoves | Rocket Mass Heater Stove Manufacturer

    Being a manufacturer the insurance mobs should n't have any major objections to it.That is of course other than that of the obvious increased fire hazard thing.

    I suppose the thing to do is contact them and and find out from the horses mouth what the policies are regarding wood fired heating stoves.

    Hope the link helps

    Grahame

  7. #7
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    Athelstone, SA 5076
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    Default

    I believe that to make them work efficiently, you need to have a heat sink.

    Yes you may get more heat output from your fuel but unless you can trap it (the heat) for future use they dont make sense...the fuel just burns to ash too quickly

  8. #8
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    Default

    Eskimo,
    if you explore the link ,the makers go into the hows and whys, pretty well and describe a thermal mass of some sort, probably masonry or tiles which will hold the heat.
    If i can locate some 150 x 150 SHS scrap cut offs, they might make a pretty good rocket heater for my BBQ area. The flat sides lending themselves to a tile cladding.
    Grahame

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Grahame Collins View Post
    Gestalt,

    I too have been researching rocket stoves lately and found this .

    Rocket Mass Heater Manufacturer | Alternative Heating |Zaug Stoves | Rocket Mass Heater Stove Manufacturer

    Being a manufacturer the insurance mobs should n't have any major objections to it.That is of course other than that of the obvious increased fire hazard thing.

    I suppose the thing to do is contact them and and find out from the horses mouth what the policies are regarding wood fired heating stoves.

    Hope the link helps

    Grahame
    Definitely do as Grahame suggests. Unless your heater has AS approval and is installed by a licenced person you are on your own as far as insurance goes.
    Putting my firefighter hat on here, we have attended three recent incidents where the homes had wood heaters fitted. On all three occasions the investigator and insurance companies focused greatly on the wood heaters, including their manufacturer and installer. If an insurance company can find a reason not to pay out, they will use it.
    In the case of an explosion within the heater, usually the heater is not covered by your home insurance, (being the vessel in which the explosion occurred), although damage resulting is, so you would be reliant upon the insurance of the manufacturer.
    Those heaters are certainly an interesting device and could be quite promising.

  10. #10
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by th62 View Post
    If memory serves, rocket heaters was discussed on this forum not too long ago, try the search function you may get lucky.
    Thanks th62, I tried that but there isn't much info in the old postings.

  11. #11
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Grahame Collins View Post
    Gestalt,

    I too have been researching rocket stoves lately and found this .

    Rocket Mass Heater Manufacturer | Alternative Heating |Zaug Stoves | Rocket Mass Heater Stove Manufacturer

    Being a manufacturer the insurance mobs should n't have any major objections to it.That is of course other than that of the obvious increased fire hazard thing.

    I suppose the thing to do is contact them and and find out from the horses mouth what the policies are regarding wood fired heating stoves.

    Hope the link helps

    Grahame

    Thanks for that link Grahame. I'll spend some time on that page later tonight. Three hard copy books just arrived from Amazon this afternoon. "Rocket Mass Heaters" by Evans and Jackson, "Burn Chambers for Rocket Mass Heaters" by Ray & Randi Dudley and "Lessons From Our rocket Mass Heater" by the same authors.

    As I mentioned in my earlier post, I'm quite happy to take the responsibility with such an installation. Whether it be home made or off the shelf. I've got the attitude that if I'm that incompetent at building / installing ( and using) a wood heater that burns down my house, I just don't deserve to make a claim.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Karl Robbers View Post
    Definitely do as Grahame suggests. Unless your heater has AS approval and is installed by a licenced person you are on your own as far as insurance goes.
    Putting my firefighter hat on here, we have attended three recent incidents where the homes had wood heaters fitted. On all three occasions the investigator and insurance companies focused greatly on the wood heaters, including their manufacturer and installer. If an insurance company can find a reason not to pay out, they will use it.
    In the case of an explosion within the heater, usually the heater is not covered by your home insurance, (being the vessel in which the explosion occurred), although damage resulting is, so you would be reliant upon the insurance of the manufacturer.
    Those heaters are certainly an interesting device and could be quite promising.

    Hi Karl, I was hoping to avoid the lectures on compliance by inserting the disclaimer in my original post ( and also the reply to Grahame), but thanks for your insights. I know too well about the reluctance of insurance companies paying out. I have never made any insurance claim in my life up until a couple of months ago. I took out a policy on our dog, yes pet insurance, earlier this year. We noticed a large lump on his jaw and took him to the vet. The vet said it was probably a spider bits that got infected. Cost $200.00 so put a claim in (Woolworths Pet Insurance) only to have it knocked backed. They claimed it was a pre existing condition. I couldn't even ring their claims department to discuss the issue, so I just gave up and cancelled the policy. I could have taken it further, but really just had better thing to do.

  13. #13
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    The original thread was called "Shed heating options". The rocket heater was first raised in post 5 - here http://www.woodworkforums.com/173566...ml#post1671637 but then you need to go forward a bit before the discussion continues.

    Piers037 was thinking of making one, was was Matthew G I think

    Michael

  14. #14
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    Default

    I googled the topic after read this thread when it was created.
    I found this alternative lifestyle site which includes discussions of space heating and hot water supply systems, with videos etc. May be worth checking out.
    Thanks also GC for the link to the commercial unit.
    I used to be an engineer, I'm not an engineer any more, but on the really good days I can remember when I was.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Michael G View Post
    The original thread was called "Shed heating options". The rocket heater was first raised in post 5 - here http://www.woodworkforums.com/173566...ml#post1671637 but then you need to go forward a bit before the discussion continues.

    Piers037 was thinking of making one, was was Matthew G I think

    Michael

    Thanks for that link Michael. A fair bit of info there. I wonder if any have been completed?

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