This is a visual overview of the masonry heater / Russian-style stove I built for my cabin. It isn’t a set of plans, and it’s not meant to be a step-by-step instruction manual. It’s simply a record of how the structure came together and how it’s used in daily life.
A lot of people have asked how this was built, so I wanted to share the progression in a clear, grounded way without getting into codes, dimensions, or specific instructions.
Build Sequence (Visual Overview)
Below is a photo sequence showing the general progression of the build from early structure to finished heater. This is meant to show relationships between parts, not exact methods.
Using the Oven
One of the benefits of this style of heater is how evenly it stores and releases heat. The oven space is used after the main firing, once temperatures have stabilized.
Why I Built It This Way
This heater wasn’t built to match a specific historical design or to optimize numbers on paper. It was built to fit this space, this cabin, and how I actually live.
There are many ways to approach masonry heaters. This is simply one example of how the principles can be adapted to real needs and constraints.
I’ll be adding a full video walkthrough here in the future that explains the layout, the basic concepts behind it, and what I learned along the way.
5 comments
Billy, thanks for the question. I added 50’ of 1/2" copper tubing coiled to the smoke box. The smoke box should only get up to 500°F and therfore will not melt the copper. The rubber hoses are heat resistant and both ends can be placed into a cold bucket of water with a small pump. This will create a open system water heater. Of course you need to be careful and if you ever close the system it should have a safety pressure release. You can ask a plumber for help with it.
Great work, sir. Tell me, please, what are you using the hoses connected to the copper tubing?
David,
Thanks for taking the time to look it over and for sharing your thoughts.
This build was very intentional around how I actually use the space.
I appreciate you reading along and engaging with the project.
Thanks for sharing! Thoughtfully designed throughout AND it looks great.
I particularly like the inclusion of your hot water heating system.
For myself, I would move the temperature gauge closer to the oven area and provide a shovel sized exit from the firebox to the outside of your home to allow ash removal from but these are minor changes. Good job and thanks for sharing your journey.
I built this heater to fit my actual needs, not to copy a perfect design.
I wanted a cooktop, a slow oven, and a front fire view that feels like a cabin fireplace, while still behaving like a masonry heater.
If you’ve looked at masonry heaters or Russian stoves before, what feature matters most to you: cooktop, oven, stored heat, or the fire view?