Things are moving along nicely!
I'm not sure exactly why I haven't been posting, laziness I guess, but, here are a few photos of our progress:
Cobbing is slowwww work as you all know. We're trying to cob in layers, then heating it to help speed the drying.
But, we've been getting off and on rain here and that's stunting our progress.
We're hoping, REALLY hoping, to finish the whole thing this weekend.
My burns have been great. Although I seem to need to place a brick covering half of the feed tube as things really heat up. I get some fire creep and a little smoke back if I don't do it.
The other day the barrel was just over 600˚ and the vent pipe was around 100˚. I'm very happy with that combination.
Under the whole system has been EXTREMELY cool. I was really concerned, but, I think that now with the cob, the refractory pour, and the design for the air flow that things are just gosh darn great. I'm really kinda shocked. I guess I was anticipating more danger.
I still need to enlarge the exit through the wall and insulate around the exit vent, just for added precaution.
I'll add more photos, inside and out, hopefully this weekend.
Guys, once more, thank you. This sight, more than any other, has helped walk me through this build and given me the courage to do something I never thought possible. It's not a work of art, but, I love being one of the only people in the whole state that has one.
Ray
PS
If anyone has some good tips on how to make small sticks let me know
It's amazing how much effort goes into making kindling size fuel.