I'm trying to get as much done in my off season this year as I can. The last two years, I've spent my time 'off' doing payed project for other people, and accumulating a large pile of junk for use in future projects. This year, it's time to put that junk to use!
I could patch the rocket stove like that... the whole reason I have this problem in the front is because I built that part when the weather was much like this. I have the money this year to keep the kerosene going and to run extra electric heaters as needed, so I will probably just wait on the rocket stove for now. I purchased some castable refractory cement that I wanted to try on this patch, but I've since seen a bunch of good info on DIY refractory mixes, so I'll probably do some small experiments with those before deciding on a final plan for the rocket stove.
Yeah, it sounds like you are making good use of your time and the 'junk' you have collected.
As for the rocket stove. If you can get by without it that sounds like the thing to do. I thought that maybe you needed it which is why I asked about patching it with clay as a temporary solution but it sounds like you have the heating covered without it.
I am going to have to stay tuned to see how you eventually patch it and also probably check out those DIY refractory mixes that you mention.
Fortunately, the rocket stove at this point is much like my firearms, something I want to have just in case I need it. I have a lot of heating options, but they are mostly grid-connected, which is unreliable here in the best of times. I like that I have time to experiment with it before I actually NEED it. Of course, I'll also like it when it's a 'finished' product that saves me about $1000 a winter on heating costs!
I hear ya there!
Yeah, it is best to have some options with the heating that do not require the grid! I have yet to even touch my winter propane supply but whoa is it a relief just knowing that the option is there if I need it.
That is quite a nice amount of savings for the cost of some repairs that are a fraction of that expense.
The dollar amount doesn't reflect the full cost... I would spend a lot more time processing wood for the stove. Not an out of pocket expense, but still, it's time.
One of the reasons I opted for the rocket stove instead of a conventional woodstove is that lumber scraps are the perfect fuel for it. Now that I have the sawmill, I'm going to have a lot more lumber scraps laying around. Hopefully by next winter I'll have this all sorted out, and be heating my house with by-products!
Yeah I was not going to mention the labor trade-off because I figured that you were already well aware of it! 🤠
Everything seems to always boil down to 'time and calories' for me when it comes to that stuff and a lot of the time... those seem fairly easier to come by than actual money.
The sawmill is a game changer on many fronts and ha they sure do produce a lot of scrap material that is perfect for burning!