Custom Small Masonry Heater Workshop

May 2 - 6, 2001

Berea, Kentucky

By Norbert Senf

First stop on the way to Wildacres was an MHA heater building workshop at Jay Hensley's new house in Kentucky. The workshop instructor was Jerry Frisch.

The project was a custom compact heater with a side bake oven. There was an unusual connection to an existing masonry chimney several feet behind the heater in another room. Also, ceiling height was restricted and the heater sat on a raised base.

Custom stainless sliding damper.

Stainless 2x4 sliding bypass damper

View from inside the firebox

View from top just before ceiling slab installation

Combination white/black oven.

Applying plaster finish coat. Premixed white thinset was used.

Installing the Heat-Kit door. Ceramic blanket is stuffed into the 1/4" expansion joint between door frame and brickwork.

Installing UPO bakeoven door.

Question and answer session.

David Moore lays down the base for the tile raised hearth.

The existing chimney was raised by 24"

Jerry demonstrates his tile cleaning technique. A wet towel is pulled over the fresh grout job to prevent most of the normal scum deposit that accounts for most of the usual cleanup work.

Test fire.

Jay gets the bill.