Hardi board?

[shahborn]

My last idea fell flat on its face, so I wanna run this by you guys before I get too far into it.

So far what I have done is to build, a large hollow L shaped box to put my rocket in. I have seen rocket? bell stoves with brick on the outside, but what would be the downside of using hardiboard instead. I used 3/8 threaded rods through the box to act as rebar, and to hold the form together from the inside(front to back,side to side, and top to bottom). I plan to pour or pack in all the insulation, and thermal mass.

The reason for the hardibord is to reduce weight as I have a moble home.

[Donkey]

Depends on how much heat the Hardi gets.. The stuff will turn to dust as a heat riser.. But would probably do pretty well down in the bench.
I imagine you wouldn't want it right above the heat riser, too hot.
The stuff is made of Portland cement (I think) so it should have similar heat resistance.
The only way to be sure is build a mock-up outside (or somewhere safe) and try it BEFORE building it inside.

I gotta say though.. It seems that you have been MOST discouraged by talk of efficiency, your design idea may not have been the MOST efficient.. And there's alot to be said FOR high efficiency, it's one of the beauties of rocket stoves, after all...
BUT!!
There's ANOTHER feature of rocket stoves that is rarely talked about and to me is one of their most attractive attributes. They can be cobbled together with bits of trash and mud! Yes, they can be made from high tech ceramics and welded metal, tweeked with molded shapes to absolute numbers and perfect characteristics in a lab somewhere.. They can ALSO be made in a cave with stone and mud, hands and head the only tools needed.

Ask yourself what is more important to you, what do you NEED the most? Is it the PERFECT stove with Nth degree of efficiency, or a "good enough" solution that works well, that you can comfortably live with and that you can fix yourself?