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Post by michel on Dec 22, 2016 1:27:48 GMT -8
Hi all,
As i want to construct a wooden bench over a heated mass bell bench, i would like to keep my bell as low as possible. I want to have some room between the mass and the wood for airflow and to protect the wood from the heat.
So here is my question: How low can you go?
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Post by satamax on Dec 22, 2016 1:39:13 GMT -8
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Post by michel on Dec 26, 2016 8:38:29 GMT -8
That looks really nice!
Unfortunately i can't go down anymore, a concrete floor is in the way;-)
I was hoping an inside height of, say 20 to 25 cm would work.
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Ralf
New Member
Posts: 42
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Post by Ralf on Dec 27, 2016 4:44:49 GMT -8
Hi Michel,
I did a bell bench made of concrete pavers that is 50 cms wide and 35 cms high on the inside and it works now (after shortening it form an initial 4.2 m down to 2 m length ). It is supplied with a 15 cm /6 inch j-tube that has considerably less btu output than a similar-sized Batch Box. It gets up to 40 °C at the hottest spot after a few hours of firing. I suspect that 30 cms inner height will also work fine if you build a "flat funnel" for the cooled gases towards the chimney close to the floor, which I did.
After a double layer of pavers & cob mortar I arrive at 46 cms outer height, which will be too high for sitting comfort if there´s a vented wooden bench on top. You could build a raised step around the bench to compensate for that. My bench will get a final coat of tiles that add another 2 cms to the height. I will install a wooden floor around it that will bring the actual sitting height down to comfortably low.
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Post by michel on Dec 27, 2016 5:27:33 GMT -8
Thanks, that's a nice project Ralf! Luckily, the surface that i will build my bench on will be 8 cm lower then the floor, but i am afraid i will not have enough room for a vented wooden bench Maybe its time to start thinking about a cushion that can take the heat from the bench...
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Post by drooster on Dec 27, 2016 6:54:17 GMT -8
Hi all, As i want to construct a wooden bench over a heated mass bell bench, i would like to keep my bell as low as possible. I want to have some room between the mass and the wood for airflow and to protect the wood from the heat. So here is my question: How low can you go? Surely a Bell is the wrong choice for a low mass : as bells work by stratifying layers of hot air and tall is good. Just make a bog-standard flued mass bench that is low : a bit taller than the flue tubes themselves is obviously doable.
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Ralf
New Member
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Post by Ralf on Dec 28, 2016 1:12:44 GMT -8
.... Maybe its time to start thinking about a cushion that can take the heat from the bench... Hi, I´m also thinking about what to put on my bench as a cushion, I will try cherry pit cushions or grape seed cushions since they are used to store and release heat when you put them in an oven.
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Post by michel on Dec 28, 2016 6:54:40 GMT -8
Hi all, As i want to construct a wooden bench over a heated mass bell bench, i would like to keep my bell as low as possible. I want to have some room between the mass and the wood for airflow and to protect the wood from the heat. So here is my question: How low can you go? Surely a Bell is the wrong choice for a low mass : as bells work by stratifying layers of hot air and tall is good. Just make a bog-standard flued mass bench that is low : a bit taller than the flue tubes themselves is obviously doable. Aha, sounds plausible indeed. I am just attracted to the idea of a bell;-)
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Post by michel on Dec 28, 2016 6:57:00 GMT -8
.... Maybe its time to start thinking about a cushion that can take the heat from the bench... Hi, I´m also thinking about what to put on my bench as a cushion, I will try cherry pit cushions or grape seed cushions since they are used to store and release heat when you put them in an oven. Yeah, i was thinking along those lines too. Will you make those cushions yourself? i think you can buy grape seeds and cherry pits in bulk. Grape will be more comfortable i guess.
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Post by peterberg on Dec 28, 2016 7:04:48 GMT -8
A bell bench would work with a minimum (internal) height of 25 to 30 cm, provided the exhaust opening is low and wide. Funneling the gases to the chimney as it were. Height of the exhaust opening should be half or less than the bench height, internal again.
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Post by michel on Dec 28, 2016 10:21:06 GMT -8
Good to read Peter, thanks!
I was planning to build the exit ten cm in height and 70 cm wide, so that should be fine. Ill just build a low testbench first and if needed i can always build it higher.
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