Anyone here built their own "rocket stove"? Tips?

[Tallbald]

For a long time I've thought about building a simple rocket stove as an emergency cooking tool. I see a few articles on the net, but thought I'd ask here if other members have done it and how did it turn out? The idea of using just about any wood waste (twigs, leaves, short wood sections) to cook during an outage instead of my expensive-now-to-feed Coleman liquid fuel stove ($11 a gallon) seems nice. As an aside, I have had for years a Weber brand charcoal starter chimney that seems to use the same principles, and it's amazing.
Thanks. Don

 

[mishtub]

My brother has a Kelly Kettle and loves it.

 

[Fox Mike]

Instead of the high priced Coleman fluid try using naptha. It works fine and is much less expensive.
http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Fuel/dp/B004LZE3F8

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=vm%26p+naphtha&tag=hydusmmsn-20&index=aps&hvadid=22350031&hvqmt=b&hvbmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_8lhvzuijw9_b&gemini=1&hvnetw=y

 

[Jimbo357mag]

We cooked on the BBQ outside and a small 2 burner propane camp stove inside. Using wood not really an option for us.

 

[Robes]

There are cheaper alternatives, like this Stove Tec for $69...

LINK

That is just for the pot. Here is the link to the stove...
http://www.amazon.com/Stovetec-Two-Door-Deluxe-charcoal-Stove/dp/B00F8NNBQE/ref=pd_bxgy_79_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1RX94S7WXS9AZC29GQD3

 

[Robes]

Very true Titan,... but I bought one to take on our camping trips with the horses. Where we camp there is no well water, no latrine, no amenities. We get to places that not many can get to on foot. There are a few hard-core hikers that can and do. Just raw nature. I love putting together my "rock soup" (remember the fable) in this.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Some folks don't make those sorts of preparations and just sit back till the government pulls up with aid trucks. It can take a while though, and at some point they won't be coming at all.

Sounds like false doomsday predictions to me. I was talking about what we did when we had to go without power for a week. I figure with two propane tanks we could still be cooking after maybe two months. I would hate to have to cut down the big Pine tree in the backyard for fuel. :wink:

 

[DA_TriggR4Ruger]

I learned to grill many years ago on a charcoal grill. More recently, within the last 3 years, I've been using propane.

Now I have a VERY nice stainless propane unit that grills marvelously... As well as a wonderful smoker that can utilize wood, twigs, kindling, charcoal, and bricks of all varieties.

Not familiar with rocket stoves yet, but I'm researching them now.

EDIT - to add: I just ordered one of these...
http://www.amazon.com/Stovetec-Two-Door-Deluxe-charcoal-Stove/dp/B00F8NNBQE/ref=pd_bxgy_79_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1RX94S7WXS9AZC29GQD3

I hope it works well...

 

[Tallbald]

This winter is according to some computer modeling supposed to be rough. Something about "Godzilla El Nino" dropping larger amounts of snow on North America than usual. Look it up yourself and make your own decisions, but I have plenty of scrap wood and not so much Coleman fuel. Yes I'm an old school Boy Scout and prefer to be prepared rather than hungry and cold. I will buy or build a rocket stove, set it in my masonry fireplace and have my coffee, soup and stew while others wish for their Starbucks latte they can't reach because the door is blocked by snow and ice. Don.

 

[blume357]

They are supposed to be neat and I know a number of fellow sweeps that have built them or like the idea... to be honest I'm suspect when they start claiming you can heat your house with one.... there is a limited amount of energy in yard scraps.... only so many btu's per pound in wood no matter what it is.... but it might work well for cooking. Back in the day folks that used real wood cook stoves actually used very small cuts of wood... something like a hand full of 6" x 1" slices of pine to actually cook with... so the principle might work with a rocket stove too.

 

[skeeter]

just tonight we tried a stove made from two car rims welded together with a small door cut into the side. it burns sticks well.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Interesting option http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/10577078/B-29_Alcohol_Camp_stove_SECOND#Post10577078