Chris, any interest in building a rocket stove(s)?

[Weetabix]

Also the REI people hate using wood because they actually have to get their hands dirty, and for some reason they think that using wood is "exploiting" the environment etc... etc...

Actually for most wood fired stoves, it IS bad for the environment, because the incomplete burning of wood is very environmentally messy (tar, carbon etc..); which is why rocket stoves are great.

The advantage of the rocket stove is fast and fuel efficient cooking. They'll burn just about any that can burn, and they burn far more completely than other types of small wood stove. Rocket stoves burn so hot that they partially gassify the wood in the combustion chamber, and achieve a far more complete burn with a much higher heat output per fuel unit.

That's why the enviros should like rockets - they were developed to use less fuel in over harvested areas.

[Evyl Robot]

What is the point of there being an inner and outer wall? If it is no more than an insulation issue and possibly upright support, it would be super cheap and easy to set up one of these things as a non-portable at a persistent/repeated campsite. I'm thinking a used 55-gallon drum with a salvaged steel pipe in the 8-12" range with a 90-degree elbow. Cut a round hole in the side of the drum at the base for one end of the pipe to protrude and fill the whole thing with sand or gravel (in the drum and around the pipe). If you're lucky enough to get a lid with your drum, cut a hole in the middle for the pipe to pass through and install it on the drum. A stove burner grill over the top of the pipe would make for a place to set your pot or skillet and you're done! Of course, that may be massively oversized for the task at hand. But, if that would work, I may think about gathering this stuff up and putting one at the family farm where I like to camp and hunt. I bet that would boil a 5-gallon pot in quick order!

[Weetabix]

Mr. Evyl,

It's been a while since I've read up on the theory of these, but the point of the double wall and the insulation is to produce high heat in the right areas of the stove to gassify the wood and then to burn the gasses completely.

The proportions of the ID to vertical length are somewhat important.

Also, the area of the inner pipe should ideally be the same as the perimeter exhaust area between the bottom of the pan and the top edge of the burner. That's what the tabs are for - to hold the pot up, but also to establish that open area.

The insulation between the two pipes should have very low thermal mass, so gravel isn't ideal, but refractory brick or vermiculite(?) are. You don't want the "insulation" to absorb heat, or you don't get the right heat effects for complete combustion.

[HTRN]

They're interesting pieces of tech - I think they'd be great for boiling down Maple sap to make syrup, because of the volumes involved, and the efficiencies obtained.

[Windy Wilson]

Is "Rocket Stove" their name for this design of stove? Is there a generic name for the thing? I noticed that Youtube has a video how-to for building something similar out of 16 firebricks.

[Weetabix]

A rocket stove is a generic name for a specific (but maybe generic) design. Larry Winarski (sp?) with Aprovecho, an non-profit renewable energy type outfit, developed it in the early 80's. I think they were looking to find ways for third world refugees to cook with limited fuel. Specifically, the were shooting to use the small stuff that's usually just kindling size material.

The stove has a tall, insulated, vertical chamber (chimney, I guess) that combines with the horizontal leg to get air drafting really well. The insulation keeps the heat in the vertical so all the products of wood combustion are completely burned. The lower part is divided into two halves. The upper feeds the fuel; the lower is where the air drafts. Basically, they use all of the wood and leave fine white ash. You get all the heat out to the bottom of the pot or whatever.

You can find DIY instructions for refugee stoves that, IIRC, are made out of clay and old cans. The brick stove is pretty cool, too. Basically, though, the design is a tall, insulated pipe for combustion with fuel and air fed from the side.

[Windy Wilson]

So, is the one on Amazon any good? I had been thinking about a Volcano, but this looks like it might be more versatile since it isn't limited to charcoal as (afaIk) the Volcano is.

[rightisright]

http://www.amazon.com/Stock-Storage-GRS ... 842&sr=8-5

Those seem to get good reviews around the web. I haven't pulled the trigger yet... I was hoping more people would be interested in having Chris do a run of them.

[Weetabix]

So, is the one on Amazon any good? I had been thinking about a Volcano, but this looks like it might be more versatile since it isn't limited to charcoal as (afaIk) the Volcano is.

I think the Volcanoes use both wood and charcoal, and you can get a fitting to make it run with propane as well. You can also buy an oven that fits over the top.

I also want a Grover.

Sadly, spare cash is... non-existent... at this time.