For the masonry heater we are currently working on, we took a new approach to the design and construction of the core by casting the most complex parts. The goal of this is to simplify both the design and construction process so that we can streamline the process for our own projects as well as produce a viable strategy and parts for other masonry heater builders.
We believe that bypass dampers are an important part of masonry heater function. They provide an easy way to heat the main chimney in order to then pull heated gases through a much longer heat exchange pathway.
I was invited to examine a masonry heater that was built by another mason in a town one hour north of us. One of the wooden studs immediately behind the heater, in the wall adjoining their bedroom, had been heated to the point that it had at least reached a smoldering point inside the wall….
Designing a masonry heater into a home can be complex. Here is a design chronicle of incorporating a Tulikivi into a floor plan while navigating other important architectural elements such as a staircase, an important structural beam and circulation space on the second floor.
These are the kinds of drawings that I wish I had had more exposure/access to when I was starting out in masonry heater building. It still takes a somewhat trained eye to understand the overall flow of gases through these sections. Further refinement and artistry would render them more understandable still. Basically, wood is burned
Here are two heaters that we completed in 2018 which are now getting fired up (with early client feedback)!
This is an initial photo report of a recently completed masonry heater with inline wood-fired oven built in Grants Pass, OR. The heater uses Balmoral brick and tile details that the client provided, along with polished concrete details made in our shop. The core: The craftsman: Max Edleson of Firespeaking and Jeremiah Church of Boreal
North America Stone House Kachelofen – Hand Made Warmth L’Esprit Du Lieu Europe Firetube Matthias Jacob Lehmofenbau Ofenbau Kummer We are building a list of masonry heater builders worldwide who inspire us to serve as a design resource. Suggest a link for us to add!
Your choice of brick for a project will have a big impact on the final feel. There are two principle suppliers of brick in the Willamette Valley. Willamette Graystone supplies brick from the following manufacturers: McNear H. C. Muddox Pacific Clay Belden Mutual Materials makes their own brick in the Pacific North West.
Here are some section drawings for the core of an upcoming custom masonry heater we are building. Firebox facing the living room and oven facing the kitchen/dining.
Here is an exciting innovation combining the advantages of a rocket-fired combustion box with the practicality and efficiency of a wood-fired barrel oven. This idea was developed by Flemming Abrahamsson of Fornyet Energi in Denmark. See also his brilliant Rocket-Fired Griddle Oven Design, which further combines a cooktop griddle to the configuration. Download Plans as
