DIY Energy-Saving Rocket Mass Heaters Video Course
Better Wood Heat: DIY Rocket Mass Heaters from paul wheaton
DVD 1: Cob Style
If a person was going to get just one DVD, this would be the one. A cob style rocket mass heater is “the old reliable”. We have two projects to demonstrate this wood heating technique. One in a log home and one in a tipi. We put one in a tipi as part of an experiment to test how warm a person can be with a rocket mass heater and zero insulation. We interview the couple that stayed in the tipi for the first winter, with a strong focus on how comfortable they were when it was 26 degrees below zero.
This DVD will also be available as a standalone DVD. We tried to make this DVD a dual purpose. Something that could fit within the new 4-DVD set, and something that could fit for people that want just one DVD.
DVD 2: Pebble Style
We will show the construction of three pebble style rocket mass heaters. The difference with these is that the mass is usually a wood bench filled with pebbles and rocks. A different wood heating aesthetic. These designs are (relative to cob style) easy to move and modify. They also tend to be lighter, thus, better for installing in places that have a wood floor.
DVD 3: Shippable Core
The Kickstarter from two years ago showed an early prototype. We were certain that by the time the video came out, people could buy a shippable core and plug it in. In the time that has passed, that didn’t happen. We ended up releasing a variety of information on how to make your own – and now, in this video, we supply the “how-to” video for a variety of techniques.
DVD 4: Innovators Event
Last fall we put on an event where Ernie and Erica invited several rocket mass heater innovators that they thought were the best in the world. Each innovator was provided with the materials to create whatever wood heating contraption they wanted. The results were: “the ring of fire” – a rocket mass heater shaped in a circle with glass to show the burn; an outdoor rocket mass heater/cooker/smoker; A “batch box style” rocket mass heater with measured output cleaner than anything we have ever encountered; An indoor rocket stove, griddle and water heater.
Multiple Content Options
DVD Sets
- The new 4-DVD set “Better Wood Heat: DIY Rocket Mass Heaters” (BWH)
- The old 4-DVD set “Wood Burning Stoves 2.0” (WBS2)
- Both – a total of 8 DVDs
- The new single DVD “Building a Cob Style Rocket Mass Heater” (DVD 1 of the new 4) (cob)
- Physical DVDs are Gift wrappable!
HD Sets
- HD Instant View Streaming (no physical DVDs)
- Fancy like Netflix!
- You can start watching in seconds!
- Tiny Download (no physical DVDs)
- Put a copy on your phone!
- 640×360 px
- You can start watching in minutes!
Sign up to get your copy today!
 |
COB 1 DVD |
BWH 4-DVD set |
WBS2 4-DVD set |
BWH+WBS2 8-DVD set |
| HD Instant View | $15 | $28 | $28 | $40 |
| Tiny download | $20 | $45 | $45 | $65 |
| DVDs – US shipping | $30 | $75 | $75 | $110 |
| DVDs – non-US shipping | $50 | $95 | $95 | $130 |
Julia Winter –
I’ve started to watch the cob video, and it looks great! On vimeo pale areas get some of that psychedelic compression sparkle, but it doesn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the content at all. OK, there’s that one time when Paul has a bit of sparkle on his nose, that’s a little distracting, but it’s only for a second or two.
Everything looks and sounds great. The little arrows pointing out Willy Smits crack me up!
klemen urbanija –
Just watched the Cob part…
I think that many details of RMH cob style building are nicely shown… Nice work! And Ernie and Erica’s new book is really a nice companion reading !
Thank you for this really nicely done DVD!
Can’t wait to see other videos!
Larry –
This is a VERY WELL DONE Video Series. Kudos to all that was/is involved! I enjoyed the clarity of the video’s as well as the incredible knowledge that is given.
Scott Werner –
Great Job Permies team! I have been enjoying viewing and reviewing the videos. I have learned a lot and want more!
steve quinn –
I just finished my first pass of the DVD’s. They are just amazing, wow.
You and the team have successfully mixed an immense amount of technical knowledge with humor, really great music and such appropriate lyrics.
The graphics and drawings were perfect as well. I most appreciate the level of openness and honesty in the staggering amount of experimentation you all do.
You guys/girls should all be congratulated as you are making the world a much better place through your efforts. Namaste.
Donal –
I just wanted to give a big shout out for these DVDs. Just finished watching and feel like I’ve learned a ton! What great work everyone is doing and what a window into that work!!
Thank you and congratulations on a great project!
Deb Rebel –
Out of 10 points, I give this set 12. I purchased the download form, not the streaming or the DVD’s. I also downloaded the free plans for the 6″ RMH. Between that, and watching all the videos, #1 is worth the price paid for the whole set. THEN you get to #2, 3, and 4. Plus getting the first four as well…
I had gotten the plans, firebrick and waited for these to come out. The next weekend after watching #1, my hubby and I built a ‘proof of concept’ open firebox and fired it. We are currently modifying the house and shop to install (shop on cement slab, house is trickier because of building below and bringing a pier up through the joists-we live in a ‘modular’ (aka ‘doublewide’) so it takes a little more work). I so wished I could have been at the 2015 workshop, time and health and finances prevented…. but it was almost like being there with the video. I wish I could have cut my first firebrick with someone more expert looking on, and played with cob that was ‘just right’ so I knew, but. Truly, these are very worth it.
Paul is a natural in front of the camera, very likeable, listenable, and not at all bad on the eyes, either. The shooting is carefully done, not haphazard. There are a few lighting issues in a few shots but are well done despite the constraints. Someone CARED about this content and how it was put together.
If you are at all interested in RMH and being warm and more eco as well, this is a sound and very wise investment before you build. As others have noted, the SD version is best played back on a 10″ or 12″ tablet, though my 17.3″ laptop shows it in a window of about 15″ and they look fine there too. If you get a set of plans, look at those, then watch, you will see more than enough that you need to see. I am taking sewing machine repair via correspondence and there I need HD because of the small and intricate things to be conveyed. This is not watch or sewing machine repair. The SD will look fine on your more portable device, and you will get all that you need visually. I have played these on my 42″ set, the SD, and there they do mud out. IN THE FORMAT INTENDED for them to be viewed (aka the tablet or netbook) they play very well.
The quality and quantity of information made me +1 the rating, then of course, I gave a +1 for Paul. I have watched a lot of instructional videos over the years, and trust me, he rates right up there for personable, listenable, and likeable. If you don’t know of what I speak, go look up Stained Glass Instructionals from Nancy. (content great, can NOT stand to listen to her). If you can not get to where you get to help someone that knows what they’re doing (like the Wisner’s) then get this set and watch them before you start on your own.