by 4seasons » Sat May 02, 2015 5:06 pm
I've been trying to wrap my head around this thing for a month now and I still don't think I understand how it is working. Must be just how far ahead of me Matt really is.
1. The thing that is throwing me the most is the tiny bell over the port opening. In the PvBb all the different size boxes still used a 2 inch deep port opening. (I always thought that was odd, but never got around to experimenting with different sizes to check it out) From what I can see the port is about 12 inches long with a 90 degree bend in the middle and a small 4x4x4 inch bell over the whole port. Is this really what makes the elimination of riser height possible or am I looking at it all wrong?
2. a. I have read several mentions of a bypass and damper but can not find any pictures and you said you eliminated them as they were not needed. Are you just controlling the burn at the wood loading door then? Speaking of the door I have only seen one small picture of the load door and it looks like two small doors stacked on top of each other. Did you build that door yourself, how does it work, or am I completely confused on the wood loading door?
b. On Donkey's site you mentioned smoking brisket, ribs, and pork. I have always found that beef smokes best at 220F but you said this oven runs about 350F. How are you creating smoke since rocket stoves run smokeless and are you smoking at a higher temp than I have found to work to get the thin blue smoke and a great flavor.
3. On the secondary air, from the pictures it looks like you used some type of 2 inch square tubing down the middle of the fire box. Is there a layer of brick over the tube, or is it exposed to the fire and ash directly? Also at the back of the fire box do you not get ashes falling into the secondary tube and blocking air flow or is there something more that I am missing?
I really love the look of this stove and with a little modification I think it would fit right in my living room where my old smoke dragon now resides. I have so much respect for you Matt and this newest build is the best looking rocket stove I have ever seen, as well as coming closest to fitting my wish list of a wood stove that can cook and heat the house all winter.
P.S. What did you use for mortar for the core? Did you use the same mix for the outer brick layer as well?