Rocket stove -- oh my!

[Belfrybat]

I've been hanging out some on the preparedness and survival forum and realised I hadn't changed anything in that regard since moving to town since I no longer have propane as I did in the country. So... I've increased rain water storage capabilities, but the main change was to buy a rocket stove from Stove Tec. We can't have open fires here in town. The stove arrived this past week and all I can say is "wow"! I was a bit disappointed at first with the size, but I fired it up with a double handful of kindling, put a half-filled 3 quart pot of water on top and the water boiled in less than a minute. I couldn't believe it--about 3 tmes as fast as using the inside stove. I was curious on how long that small amount of kindling would keep a pot boiling, so I closed up the door, and the water was still simmering 30 minutes later. That's long enough to cook most of what I eat. I am truly impressed.

I tried beans yesterday. A bit more tricky to keep the fire low, but managed to cook a medium pot of beans with a couple of boilovers (need to work on my technique), but still impressive. I might not use the inside stove again this summer. Now need to build a modified hay box oven for longer cooking items. But that rocket stove is truly impressive.

[NEMarvin]

Had never heard of these before! Looks incredible. Keep us posted with updates!

[AngieM2]

Belfrybat - sounds really good, hang around in Survival & Emergency Prep and see what else we can help you with.

You might consider telling the friends down there about your success, we're always trying to help others ease into being prepared for various eventualities.

Angie

[suitcase_sally]

If you're handy, you can build your own:

http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Rocket_Stove

[tamilee]

Originally Posted by Belfrybat

I've been hanging out some on the preparedness and survival forum and realised I hadn't changed anything in that regard since moving to town since I no longer have propane as I did in the country. So... I've increased rain water storage capabilities, but the main change was to buy a rocket stove from Stove Tec. We can't have open fires here in town. The stove arrived this past week and all I can say is "wow"! I was a bit disappointed at first with the size, but I fired it up with a double handful of kindling, put a half-filled 3 quart pot of water on top and the water boiled in less than a minute. I couldn't believe it--about 3 tmes as fast as using the inside stove. I was curious on how long that small amount of kindling would keep a pot boiling, so I closed up the door, and the water was still simmering 30 minutes later. That's long enough to cook most of what I eat. I am truly impressed.

I tried beans yesterday. A bit more tricky to keep the fire low, but managed to cook a medium pot of beans with a couple of boilovers (need to work on my technique), but still impressive. I might not use the inside stove again this summer. Now need to build a modified hay box oven for longer cooking items. But that rocket stove is truly impressive.

Love the Rocket Stove! I bought 2 this year from Stove Tech, too. I used then while we staying in the camper this past spring.

I was surprised by the quality of the product. It was far heavier and sturdier than I expected. The price was great too.

Here's the link:

http://www.stovetec.net/shop/index.p...&products_id=1

[Belfrybat]

There's plenty of plans on the internet for rocket stoves, but I liked the fact that Stove Tec provides them to 3rd world countries for a very low price (perhaps even free). I purchased the combination charcoal/wood one for myself which has two doors to control the fire better, and one for them to send to Haiti. I would think with two of them, a person could just about cook their whole meal with no problem. I had a bit of problem today changing between two different sized pots as adjusting the pot skirt while hot wasn't much fun. Although I imagine I could have dispensed with it for the second smaller pot. At any rate, I'm having fun playing with my new toy and tomorrow will use it to waterbath some salsa I'll be putting up. No sense in heating up the house in this 100+F weather. And it will be a real test to see how it works on the large 12 qt. pot I used as a waterbath.

[tamilee]

Originally Posted by Belfrybat

There's plenty of plans on the internet for rocket stoves, but I liked the fact that Stove Tec provides them to 3rd world countries for a very low price (perhaps even free). I purchased the combination charcoal/wood one for myself which has two doors to control the fire better, and one for them to send to Haiti. I would think with two of them, a person could just about cook their whole meal with no problem. I had a bit of problem today changing between two different sized pots as adjusting the pot skirt while hot wasn't much fun. Although I imagine I could have dispensed with it for the second smaller pot. At any rate, I'm having fun playing with my new toy and tomorrow will use it to waterbath some salsa I'll be putting up. No sense in heating up the house in this 100+F weather. And it will be a real test to see how it works on the large 12 qt. pot I used as a waterbath.

I have the same one. Let me know how the trial run for waterbath canning goes.

[suitcase_sally]

Originally Posted by Belfrybat

I liked the fact that Stove Tec provides them to 3rd world countries for a very low price (perhaps even free).

Gee, aren't we a 3rd world country yet?

[FarmboyBill]

SS, I looked at the plans. The one where there was 2 tubes, one upright, and one laid at the side.Im wondering, if you put a canner over the top, wouldnt that choke the air exhust and stifle the flame? Also, it said the wood was burned only on one end. Now, If you get some kindling burning, and you get your canning, say, done, and your sticks are only 1/2 burnt say. What do u do with them, as they wont stop burning just cause your finished cooking/canning? I guess if you were outside, you could stick them in a barrell of water and put them out, and used other wood till they was dry enough to start burning again. Wouldnt work so good inside. I like the ready made RS, and am waiting till somebody tells me of their canning ability with a BIG canner

[Mulish]

I'll have to agree with the recommendations. This stove really puts out some heat. Cooked up some steaks on it last night, very yummy!!! It will take some time to learn the ins and outs, you just wouldn't think such a small amount of yard debris branches and twigs could burn so hot. Baked the potatoes in the solar oven, kept the kitchen that much cooler. I think I might try to fry up some french fries tonight!!

I will be waiting to read about your canning experiment Belfrybat, hope it goes well for you.

[crunchy_mama]

Wow, that is amazingly fast for boiled water! I will have to show dh the plans for that I am sure he could whip something together. I am interested to hear how it does for canning as well.

[Belfrybat]

Originally Posted by suitcase_sally

Gee, aren't we a 3rd world country yet?

Not even close! Just the fact you are on the internet belies that fact. Have you ever been to a third world country (or fourth world for that matter)? I have -- and it's grim indeed. Living conditions for half to three-fourths the people in cardboard boxes or tin shacks with no utilities/ running water. Average income below $2.00 day. You have no idea what living conditions in a third or fourth world country is with a statement like that. The USA may not be perfect, but our standard of living, even for the very poor, way exceeds that of the third world. Yes, we need to work for better life for all, but please folks, wake up and be grateful for what we have.

[Belfrybat]

Originally Posted by FarmBoyBill

SS, I looked at the plans. The one where there was 2 tubes, one upright, and one laid at the side.Im wondering, if you put a canner over the top, wouldnt that choke the air exhust and stifle the flame? Also, it said the wood was burned only on one end. Now, If you get some kindling burning, and you get your canning, say, done, and your sticks are only 1/2 burnt say. What do u do with them, as they wont stop burning just cause your finished cooking/canning? I guess if you were outside, you could stick them in a barrell of water and put them out, and used other wood till they was dry enough to start burning again. Wouldnt work so good inside. I like the ready made RS, and am waiting till somebody tells me of their canning ability with a BIG canner

A rocket stove used for cooking is not supposed to be used inside. The tubes go inside an outer container that is insulated and has a space on top --either tin bent up or molded clay to hold the pot and allow air movement. The Stove Tec has a cast iron top with bumps to hold the pan. For $69.00 I figured the one I purchased is a great deal for me. This same company (Stove Tec)makes a larger one that holds a 60 liter pot which is used for commercial cooking -- it would also make a great canner.

The one I have is easy to remove the partialy burned sticks -- I just plunge the ends in water and keep for the next time. And no, the kind I have would probably not be suitable for a large canner. I purchased it as a backup emergency stove, not to replace the stove in the house. Most of the time, though, I only can 4 or 5 jars at a time and an 8 or 12 qt. stew pot with a rack in the bottom works great for me.

I just put up 5 pints of peach salsa. Fired up the Stove Tec, put on an 8 qt. pot, let the water get to boiling (6 minutes), put in the jars, pulled out the partially burned sticks and closed the fire doors. I removed the jars after 5 mins. The water was still simmering 30 minutes later. If I'd had enough jars, I could have waterbathed a second batch with the same fuel. What I didn't think to do is to remove the pan of water and cook lunch, which will be a one skillet dish. I need to organize myself better with this new "toy". I used a few pieces of bark to get the fire going and about 3" of 5-6 sticks a bit larger than pencil size. Very frugal fuel use. Mine will also take charcoal. I'll post some pics later.

[Patt]

So these are strictly to cook with not for heat? And they have no stove pipe? Never heard of them before!

[HermitJohn]

Originally Posted by Belfrybat

Not even close! Just the fact you are on the internet belies that fact. Have you ever been to a third world country (or fourth world for that matter)? I have -- and it's grim indeed. Living conditions for half to three-fourths the people in cardboard boxes or tin shacks with no utilities/ running water. Average income below $2.00 day. You have no idea what living conditions in a third or fourth world country is with a statement like that. The USA may not be perfect, but our standard of living, even for the very poor, way exceeds that of the third world. Yes, we need to work for better life for all, but please folks, wake up and be grateful for what we have.

Hmm, dont know. A country that imports good percentage of its food and consumer goods seems primed to be called a third world country. We are just a rather wealthy third world country or more precisely one with a good line of credit. A first world country provides much of its own food and manufactured goods and a growing middle class, not a shrinking one. Now maybe a second world country??? How about a 2 1/2 world country?

[Belfrybat]

Originally Posted by Patt

So these are strictly to cook with not for heat? And they have no stove pipe? Never heard of them before!

I hadn't heard of them either until I found someone in this forum who mentioned having one. A big of internet surfing and I have one too!

There are two forms of rocket stoves -- those just for cooking (the larger ones often have a stove pipe, but not the smaller one like I have). Then there are rocket heaters -- look at this link. http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp If I didn't live in a doublewide, I'd be very interested. I would be lovely to make a bed on top of one for the winter.

[pancho]

Originally Posted by Belfrybat

I hadn't heard of them either until I found someone in this forum who mentioned having one. A big of internet surfing and I have one too!

There are two forms of rocket stoves -- those just for cooking (the larger ones often have a stove pipe, but not the smaller one like I have). Then there are rocket heaters -- look at this link. http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp If I didn't live in a doublewide, I'd be very interested. I would be lovely to make a bed on top of one for the winter.

I would love to have one of those rocket heaters. Have been thinking about building one all year, just haven't had the time yet.

[TNHermit]

Has anybody ever tried to burn rolled newspaper or magazine (nonoglossy) in one of these things

[Belfrybat]

Originally Posted by TNHermit

Has anybody ever tried to burn rolled newspaper or magazine (nonoglossy) in one of these things

Not in a rocket stove, but did in a regular woodburning stove. It was a disaster. The black charred paper clogged up the damper and I had to take the stovepipe apart to clean it out -- what a mess! Decided I'd use newspaper under the lasagna garden beds and as mulch rather than try to burn them.

[TNHermit]

Originally Posted by Belfrybat

Not in a rocket stove, but did in a regular woodburning stove. It was a disaster. The black charred paper clogged up the damper and I had to take the stovepipe apart to clean it out -- what a mess! Decided I'd use newspaper under the lasagna garden beds and as mulch rather than try to burn them.

I've burnt it in a stove with wood on top and a hardware cloth on top. keeps the ash in the fire accordingly this stove burns from the end. it seems it might work since it burns so hot. but again it may need something to catch the ash. Bee nice if ti would to get rid of the mail while you fix lunch LOL