Barrel Bottom question

[hippiebuilder]

Im building a base model 8" system as described in the book... My first stove was a small mock up outside that wasnt mortared or cobbed at all(worked pretty good).. But I havent seen much to help with what seems to be one of the toughest parts... The junction from barrel bottom to pipe... I love to see a thread with some picture and solutions....maybe a debate on the size and shape of the ideal cob connection....

[Donkey]

I'm not sure I'd say that there IS an ideal cob connection. Though I have noticed that cob and the barrel separate from each other and often the barrel will crack the cob around it.
Seems like some kind of expansion joint that won't allow gasses to leak through (and that won't burn out) would be good.

The MAIN consideration is that the proper amount of flow is maintained. IT's REALLY easy to accidentally make too small of a space down there.
There's recently been some discussion as to the volume of that space at the Helpful Hint thread.

I personally like to create that space with brick (or adobe) and cob over it. I set the bricks longest end vertically (with the wide face of the brick facing out..), all the way around the barrel, usually three of these bricks are used to hold up the barrel and so I tend to "cheat" them in a little, but gotta be careful here so as not to pinch the flow. I don't typically cut into the barrel for exhaust, preferring to get it as low as possible, I tend to do it with the brick and cob arrangement entirely.

[hippiebuilder]

Thank you for the reply Donkey... I am gonna try the beehive method and use fireplace mortar for the barrel connection... I feel like for air flow I should continue the cylinder shape of the heat riser insulation container down to the bottom of the space and cob over the bricks to make a smooth funnel to the 8" pipe... but Im still unsure as to how big to make this space.... Im gonna avoid cutting into the barrel unless it becomes a solution attempt if Im less then successful.

So far I have the core mortared in, Im still cleaning the barrel and will be mortaring in a beehive this week.

I will attach pictures of my progress soon..