Student Comment from Jean-David Morneau

Dear Ernst and Maria,
 
Ernst, thank you for your evaluation, I will try to work on the weaknesses you pointed out and improve significantly for the next level. If some of my repeated questions or my attitude might have been a disturbance for you, I apologize. I'm very eager to learn and sometimes I must have a little patience... Thank you for your comprehension.

It has been two very rich weeks at the Kachelofen class and I'm very grateful for the knowledge and experience gained. I'm impressed with the scope of the training and the set of tools to wich we've been introduced. The class covers very practical matters of stove building as well as all the calculation and conception side of the trade. For anyone interested in masonry heaters, as I am, it opens a whole new continent of possibilities in regards to stove shapes and design. I my opinion, Ersnt presents stove building as a science as well as an art, by teaching us how to precisely calculate the size of a unit in regards to the specific needs of a client.       
The hands-on project was well chosen for the first level, since its relative simplicity allowed us to be introduced to the basic building techniques and tool handling that are a large part of the stove builder's trade.
The day's schedule was often varied, alterning on site work with discussions about more theorical matters. Except for a few occasions, little time was lost in the process, even if the Nova Scotia weather made the work difficult some days.
As for Maria's kitchen, heavenly is the only word fitting, since every day was a new culinary discovery, a very appreciated bonus to the class.
I would strongly recommand the class to anyone serious about making stovebuilding a carreer. It's value and richness outweights the investement made in time and money.
 
Thank you and keep us in touch for the next level!
 
David

Student Comment from Adrienne Duke - Level 1

Dear Ernst and Maria,

The building of a Kachelofen requires skill, creativity and knowledge.

Building a Kachelofen can be learned.  It is taught by people enthusiastic and passionate about their trade, and it is obvious Ernst and Maria love to teach as they showed a great deal of patience.

The course is laid out in such a way that you absorb what you are reading without realizing it.  The manual presents a history of Kachelofens.  The manual also acquaints you with materials and it reacquaints one with math.  That would be the same math you learned in school but never thought you would use.

The hands on workshop was straightforward and not above one to learn.  It employed common sense.  Throughout the entire process, Ernst and Maria welcomed all questions and answered them in terms easily understood and in great detail, which demonstrated the depth of their knowledge.  Their unique talents compliment each other very well.  Ernst is a master stove builder and Maria is a ceramist ahead of her time.

The building of the Kachelofen seemed so easy but I am sure I looked somewhat awkward learning to handle tools and mediums I am not used too.  Ernst never complained he just kept encouraging me.  From a female’s perspective I wondered about the physical aspects but quickly realized one does not need to be a muscular person to build a Kachelofen.

I was grateful for the teacher student ratio.  With the low student ratio it afforded learning at an accelerated level with access to the teacher and more hands on experience doing the work – always under the watchful eye of Ernst.

Until arriving at the school I was somewhat anxious that I had no masonry background – I had never laid a brick or wired a stove.  I can do it now.  I did have trouble with one of the tools used in bending the stovepipe wire.  I explained to Ernst the tool I felt I needed to successfully bend the wire.  The next day, after rummaging around his shop, he showed up with the perfect pliers.  I was then able to bend the stovepipe wire just as Ernst had demonstrated.  Not many instructors would be that accommodating.

As the Kachelofen grew in size so did our waists. Maria provided fabulous lunches.   During our lunches together we had the most interesting chats.  Ernst was current on the latest research regarding alternate sources of heating and energy and had a thing or two to say which always engaged us in the conversation.

Also impressive was Ernst’s knowledge of various heaters and their efficiency.  He was able to compare styles of masonry heaters and explain in great detail why they’re not as efficient as Kachelofens. 

One of the amazing things about the Kachelofens is the ability to transform brick into a work of art.  The Kachelofens can be as individual at the customers ordering them.  All the while the Kachelofens maintain their functionality and do not loose in efficiency.  These heaters are chosen by the smarter consumer.

In closing, I have no doubt that the Kiesling’s want me (and other students) to succeed just as much as I do.  I believe they will do what is necessary to ensure my success as a future designer and builder of Kachelofens.

Thank you again,

Adrienne

E-mail Exchange with Carl Sidl who is currently in Europe working with different Kachelofen Builders:

Dear Carl,
How the heck are you. Do we have lost you to European Stovebuilders Heaven? We don't here from you!
We in this cold Canadian spring are preparing for the third level hands-on. It should take place end of May.
The manual is available and can be send to you any time.
We are really curious how you are doing.

All the best,

Ernst and Family

All is going well. I was working in Innsbruck for three weeks and then at another ofenbau company in Vorarlberg for four weeks. Saw alot of cool stuff along the way. Currently I'm in Vienna for two weeks before heading to Sud Tyrol. Will be working for an ofenbau company in Sterzing for around four months. Im meeting so many interesting people along the way and usually do little trips on the weekends. The company I worked for in Ludesch has a 24% stake in Toby Systems so we did alot of stoves with absorber panels for whole house heating. Really interesting stuff.  They also build most of their stoves with pressed clay. Lehmo is the name of the product.

I would like to thank you for the quality education I learned from you, it most certainly propelled me into the position where I am now and able to jump right into the work I'm doing here.  What I learned in the matter of weeks from you would have taken me months of snooping to learn here. I'm looking forward to completing the third level with you at a later date.

Once again, thank you for everything.

Carl

Student Comment from Adrienne Duke - Level 2

RE:  Level 2 Hands On Workshop, Quebec, Oct 25^th to Nov 6^th 2010

Thank you for the wonderful work experience gained during Level Two Hands On Workshop.  It was indeed an eye opener in more ways than one.

When you announced the dates and place for Level 2 I was very excited.  To think the group would be gathering in Quebec’s beautiful Laurentian Mountains to build a two storey heater in a newly constructed house.

 Our first day on site was full of surprises.  The site was at least six weeks away from being ready for us to build our heater.  The big decision was do we all just go home or make the best of a challenging situation.  I deemed it an opportunity to greater learning.

Ernst gathered his students together after our site assessment and we quickly determined what had to be purchased and Ernst’s equipment was unloaded from the van and our humble yet determined little group of heater builders quickly organized and prepared the site to begin work the next morning.

During the thirteen days we spent on site we managed to build a two storey heater.  It was two systems in one containing two fireboxes.  Ernst’s clever design saw a special damper which was custom made to prevent both fire boxes from being used at the same time.  We also built in multiple gas slots as additional safety features.  In addition we also learned how to install the kachelstones – specially made ceramic tiles.  Ernst showed us a few necessary tricks to assure a clean smooth cut in the ceramic tiles which also resulted in no product waste/loss.

As a team we had to work efficiently to finish this massive heater in the assigned time.  We had lost several valuable days tending to things that were to have been ready prior to our arrival.  It helped that we again had the pleasure of Maria’s delicious food prepared for us twice daily.  The hot food certainly helped warm us up at the job site and again at our accommodations to sooth our souls after a long day.

Several evenings and weekends (after some hours working at the site) were spent studying theory and performing design calculations.  All of our time was put to use in furthering our education and growing our knowledge of these truly amazing heaters that will last several lifetimes.  Today’s heater design has been perfected over the ages.  Now we are using what’s best for the environment.

I am so grateful for the learning experience afforded by Ernst and Maria.  These are people dedicated to teaching those who truly want to learn about these humble heaters in time honoured ways.  No questions go unanswered.  These people are passionate about what they do.  It shows.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Adrienne "Ade" Duke

Student Comment from Adrienne Duke - Level 3

RE:  Level 3 Hands On Workshop, Nova Scotia, Sept 18^th to Oct 8^th 2011

I know I’ve said it before but thanks again for . . . . . . everything.  Really.  If I only had instructors like you in grade and high school I can say with assurance my life would be very different from what it is today.  Having said that I now have the joy and task of designing and building heaters that not only are well built but ones that will make you proud of your unselfish efforts as teachers.

Level three was another gratifying work experience.  This time back in Nova Scotia our adventure was a cook stove and bake/pizza oven in a summer kitchen.

Utilizing skills learned in level one and honed in level two we designed and constructed the entire project.  In level one and two Ernst had talked about different materials and their thermal properties.  What you had been telling us based on your experience that soap stone is not as good for use on heaters as brick and/or ceramic was never more evident than in this level.

The cook stove surface was a combination of 40 mm thick soapstone and a steel plate.  The bake oven was made of firebricks.  When both were heated the soapstone heated faster than the fire brick.  However the soapstone cooled much quicker while the fire brick held the heat longer.  I can see why your material of choice to give your clients a high quality and efficient heater does not include soapstone.  Soapstone definitely has its purpose but should be limited to surface and decorative features on cook stoves.

For this project we spent some time (just as in level one) casting custom refractory items.  In each level we discussed chimneys and stove pipes and code clearances as they pertained to our current project.  It seems there was still something new to be learned.  The soapstone required the use of water glass, one of the stove pipes we used was made of ceramic and there were many interesting angles and cuts to be made just to connect to the chimney, and the different techniques to shape the pizza oven including materials not normally found in North America, were some of the new wonders to be learned.

Maria is also an accomplished ceramic artist.  She custom makes all the kachelstones and the special ceramic tiles based on the client’s design demands.  I can’t fail to mention the cooking lessons.  Maria is an amazing cook.  She has a unique way of blending flavours and spices.  Equally at home in the ceramic studio and kitchen Maria was always willing to share recipes whether for a food item or a ceramic glaze.  This little paragraph to Maria does not do justice to her gifts but all the same I want her to know how much they were appreciated.  I think back to one of my Sundays off and the mushroom picking adventure I volunteered for.  I now know why I was quizzed beforehand about my navigational abilities.  Thanks Maria for a fun memory that day.   Can we go again when I return?

The final week was spent on theory, calculations, designs and drawings.  Practice, practice, practice.  We did take time to conduct a site inspection at the request of a home purchaser.  After an inspection of the two heaters it was determined general maintenance and a few repairs were needed.  This experience was invaluable.

Part of the maintenance process involved removing the clean out plugs.  I was shown the inside of the channels and what they should look like with small amounts of fly ash.  (In level one I had seen the damage caused by creosote left behind by an old cast iron stove which was replaced with a Kachelofen.)  First hand I saw what can happen if:

* a client uses the wrong size wood and jams the logs into the firebox,

* a client rarely (if ever) cleaned what little ash results,

* the client uses the heater as an incinerator (they are not),

* the client fires the heater incorrectly.  This really reinforced the reason why so many safety features are built into the heaters.

I also saw how easy it was to make the heaters look like new with a fresh coat of plaster.  Even Ernst’s “tricks of the trade” on how to easily clean the glass on the fire door was helpful.

In closing I want you folks and those who read this to know that people can live a lifetime searching and yet never have the good fortune to meet people like you and your family.

Thank you thank you thank you.

Kindest regards,

Adrienne “Ade” Duke

Certified Kachelofen - Masonryheater Builder