Small Fire, Warm Bench

A small, hot fire. A bench that stays warm. A heating system you need to understand before you build it.

Small Fire, Warm Bench explains rocket mass heaters from combustion and draft to materials, layout, construction, and daily use. Written for practical homeowners and owner-builders, it connects the science to the choices that determine whether a heater will suit your house.

Explore firebrick and refractory insulation, clay and cob, barrels and manifolds, duct runs, thermal mass, foundations, chimneys, first fires, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Compare heater types, work through sizing and layout decisions, and use the materials checklist and pre-firing inspection to organize your project.

The book also addresses the questions that come before construction: building codes, insurance, floor loads, carbon monoxide, clearances, and whether your home is a suitable candidate. It distinguishes practitioner rules from tested appliance specifications and explains where professional advice and local approval are essential.

From fire chemistry to the first cautious burn, this is a clear guide to understanding the whole system and the responsibilities that come with living beside it.