Thank you for posting that!
I believe that you have explained the construction of New England homes to me! We called them “salt boxes” or “match boxes” or some such but they were vertical box houses centered around one or more brick chimneys that opened to fireplaces on multiple floors.
All of that heated brick looks just like what you built.
Thank you, I was starting to wonder if anyone noticed.
They really work. I want to dismantle it and build an actual Russian Stove, with a mass of about 2-3 tons. My wife keeps blocking the idea as she is afraid it would make that room (our “TV” room) too crowded.
Since our home is relatively small, about 1300 sq ft I guess I will keep it as is.
There is one improvement I need to make. Notice the curved pipe? It deleted the old pipe that went straight to the chimney and instead forces the exhaust to go through the heat sink. It has one serious flaw. When you open the door it creates an easier path for the smoke which leaks into the room.
I need to re-do that somehow. I’m thinking of getting the curved pipe and cutting holes to run a straight smaller piece from the curved pipe up to the piece going into the chimney. Inside the straight pipe I would have a valve. It would be opened when I want to load the firewood or clean out ash etc and closed when in operation.
Otherwise I have to keep using speedy hands when loading the firebox (or when its down to just coals). It also causes me to have to clean it a little more often as it burns slower until it heats up and high temps Crete a vacuum pulling fresh air in faster. Slow moving lingering smoke deposits creosote faster.