Rocket Fire 2!

    

 

 

As promised, here is a more detailed description/tutorial for how to

 put together a rocket stove.

 

Begin by creating a base for the stove to sit on. The base can be as

simple as just the level ground, but I found that having the gap

comes in handy later on for allowing good airflow to the fire.

 

 

Arrange the base layer like so.

This is the second layer. You need to have a gap in front to allow for feeding the fire.
I like to leave the brick sticking out the back of the chimney for two reasons.
1- I don't want to break my brick since I will dismantle the
rocket stove and reuse the bricks for other purposes.
As we say in permaculture, we stack functions.
 Or bricks as it were.
2- It leaves a good place to set a beer.

 

Set a brick on top of the extra brick in back to hold it in place.

 

 

View from the back.

 

 

Continue to stack bricks in an interlocking pattern.

 

Be sure to fit them snug, to create as much of a seal as possible.

A tight seal will make for a hotter burn.

 

I played around with the height. I found Five levels to be just right to get the

hottest burn and keep the pot closest to the fire for cooking.

 

 

In the absence of a trivet, bricks make for a much

sturdier cooking surface than rocks.

 

 

To get the fire started load first from the top with small twigs,

then with slightly thicker sticks. 

 

 

This is my colorful assistant.

 

 

To start the fire I stuffed the front with dry pine needles

 and lit it, then sticks to feed the fire. I blocked the gap in the base

with a brick to keep embers from falling out of the front. Not completely

necessary, but helpful.

 

 

It was really windy so I built up a collar around the top of the

chimney to keep it from blowing the fire out of the front burn chamber.

Because of the wind, it took about 23 minuets to boil water.

 The day before when there was no wind, it took four minuets to get water boiling for coffee.

It shows how important it is to get a good seal between the bricks.

 

 

For dinner we made BBQ chili.

3 cans of baked beans

2 lbs. of ground beef

1 green bell pepper

1 red bell pepper

1 medium onion

3 garlic cloves

Chili powder, salt, pepper to taste  

 

 

Brown the beef with the peppers, onion and garlic and drain.

Add the beans, chili powder, salt and pepper and cook till heated through.

Eat.

 

 

 Enjoy!