Cob: Re: bench heater

[Elke Cole]

Kaj,
I have built a small fireplace out of cob in the past. It stood up to the
fire ok, but was damaged seriously by bumping into the walls with the
firewood. The surface of the wall just wasn't hard enough. Now we use
firebrick in areas that easily get damaged.
Also I have a cob wall that stood through a house fire with only surface
damage.
When you build yours make sure you use a fine clay/sand mix on the inner
surface, like for an oven.  If there's straw it'll burn out and your surface
is broken. Let us know how it works!
Best wishes
Elke Cole

presenting
Natural Builders Colloquium on Vancouver Island, BC
April 26- May 2, 2001
Check http//: www.cobworks.com for details
----- Original Message -----
From: "kajchr" <kajchr at post10.tele.dk>
To: <coblist at deatech.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2000 7:57 AM
Subject: Cob: bench heater


> Hi, I am new to this list but I have been on the SB-list for a couple of
> years.
> I want to build a rocket/bench heater. I have no problem in the principles
> or the work itself. My question here is: I would like to try building the
> combustion chamber itself in cob - if it can take the heat it´s very
> low-cost, and I like that. I wonder if anyone else has tried that? How
much
> heat can cob take before it goes to pieces? I would like to hear about
> other people´s experiences but I am going to test my idea no matter what.
I
> already made a small model that I´m going to put in the hottest part of my
> Finnish Mass Oven to see what happens.
> (I am aware of other heaters and ovens being built of cob, but they don´t
> reach quite the same high temp.s)
>
> Regards and lots of Merry Christmass´es
>
> Kaj Lauritzen
> Denmark
>
>