Spent the last few rainy days working in the shop making a large rocket stove out 6"x 3/16" box tube. I got the idea from the internet and my stove is admittedly similar to a successful one there. Has an ash drawer and coal grate, covered feed chute, and a control damper. It can take larger fuel. The top will accept a collar for a pot or fry pan support (on mine) or a grill grate. I have a 14" Camp Chef dutch oven with a top that can be turned over for use as a griddle so I sized the pot supports to fit both pot and top. Obviously not a quickly portable stove. Made to be used in an established camp or for backyard cooking. I have always been fascinated by rocket stoves and wood stoves of any kind and have made quite a few variations. This bigger one with more control features has been quite interesting to make. Just a few welds to complete then a test run.
I don't know the first thing about rocket stoves, but I do know a thing or two about fabrication. That looks like art to me Russ!
Very nice! Does it throttle down with that damper and keep it's "rocket" type burn? I've been wanting build one myself, that a beauty.
I only ever tried my hand at “batch box” rocket stoves, but “J’s” and “L’s” are certainly just as or more efficient! Excellent work metalcuttr Russ!!!
Thanks for the positive comments. I have always enjoyed fabrication! I used to be a hotshot welder but arthritic hands and declining eyesight take their toll. I can still lay a passable (barely) weld and enjoy creating metal works. I took the RS out by the wood shed and loaded and fired her up. Gets to ripping and roaring pretty fast. You can damp down to a point to control the flames and keep them from blasting your pot. To keep a lower cooking heat you damp to a low fire then keep the fire going with judicious additions of fuel. I'm sure it will take some time and use to develop heat control techniques. It is interesting that it also throws a lot of radiant heat like a patio warmer when it is ripping. I am pretty happy with it except for the weight which is considerable. Now I need to machine brush all outside surfaces and paint with some of that 1600 degree rattle can paint.
Hey Eric, I had to lookup "batch box" rocket stoves. Seems they are larger and more appropriate for permanent installations. Have you been involved with any such? My experience is all with smaller models but fun none the less! This one seems to burn quite efficiently with little ash or smoke except when starting or if over damped.
I didn't know what a rocket stove was so I looked it up. it sounds a lot like the Jetstream wood boiler we previous had but on a smaller scale.
Yes, I built molds and obtained several types of refractory cement and constructed a test bed model. I’ll look for some pics or vids.
metalcuttr - navigate to this site… Another guy new to rocket stoves | Rocket Stoves.. Experimenters corner.. Answers questioned!
