I made a "working" rocket stove just by stacking loose bricks, packing sand in the joints, and setting some twigs from some scrub brush in it. It was amazing! Most of the smoke that came off it was water vapor, not unburned fuel (it was winter). I was especially surprised at how long the fuel burned. One tip: if you slant the fuel/air tube, the fuel will self-feed as it burns. No more having to keep poking the fuel sticks!
@mrshammerhankus Thanks for asking. I placed the smaller can on the side of the bigger can, drew around the can with a Sharpie marker, drilled a hole with a drill bit on the inside edge of the circle, used tin snips to cut the hole.
I built my own two cans high rather than just one. It's awesome. I got water to boil in under 5 minutes using just 6 sticks of wood. I also punched holes in the top on each side and put a wire bucket handle on it so that I can carry it better. Love this thing.
@pmaughmer Thanks for asking. It works great! It works great because it causes its own "suction" due to the design. When the wood is lit it pulls air through the hole on the side which helps burn the wood. It is the easiest wood stove to light and keep lit I know of.
I like the sand idea as well, free and it weights the stove down making it a little more substantial and safe. Thanks for sharing. looks like a fun project.
Vermiculite has refractory properties and it expands with heat thus insulating the combustion chamber of your rocket stove. Metal is a great conductor of heat so your use of cans is spot on. Sands also traps heat and it seems that it works great for your design. Great job. Thank you for posting.
@outdoorsman310 Works great with normal sticks. After you get it started, as with any fire, you can add some wet sticks and the heat will dry them then use the sticks as fuel.
@2909francois I built the stove then put some newspaper in the inside can so no sand would fall into it as I poured the sand between the inside and outside cans. Then I took out the newspaper and put the top on.
@SteveB357 Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Sorry you had so much rain. I've been in that situation. Not a lot of fun. But that is why I always bring small games to play in the tent.
I just finished making this rocket stove and tested it out. Works like a charm! I did not wear gloves and ended up having to get a tetanus shot but that's my own fault. Beyond that it was fairly easy to make. I used kitty litter as insulation and it works really well. Thanks for the instructions! :)
@19GN03 Great suggestion. Thanks for sharing. I wanted to show the sand solution to show it can be built absolutely free. I'm sure there are better insulators than sand.
I thought that the vermiculite would not work because of the particle size. The voids made it function more like there was only an air space between the metals. Curious, was the sand wet or dry?
Thanks for the vid...excited to try this. Getting my cans together. I love camping with my kids and this can come in handy for us. I will be using sand as well...weigh it down a bit to avoid accidental tipping.
I have a surplus three piece Swiss Army unit that works very similarly. I use a small piece of Trioxane to excite the wood, and in five minutes I can cook. It brings the water to a boil EVERY time!
Used a rocket stove for all cooking for a week long campout, using pencil sized sticks that we just picked up around the campsite. It rained for four of the days, and there was no problem with the stove. Burned the wood to a white ash.
@scodurh It is kind of a mix between cooking on a stove top and an open camp fire. You regulate the temp by how much fuel you use. In this case how many twigs you put in.
It has been over 1-1/2 years since I made mine and it still looks brand new and is working great. I am sure if you used heavier duty components it would last longer. But my goal was to show people how to make a cheap or even free highly productive stove.
hi there, there is no need of any insulator if you just open some holes in the back for more oxigen to come in of the main can ,and also you can have gasification by open small holes around the center can on the top,just above the seal cap .
regarding the comments at the end of the video regarding insulation. Insulation is rated in R values and the larger the value the better it is at insulating. Here are the R values for various items: Vermiculite - R rating of 2.13 - 2.40 Perlite - R rating of 2.7 Sand - R rating of 0.15 - 0.25 The reason the can felt hotter with Vermiculite added was simply because as its a better insulator the chimney can got a lot hotter, this then transferred the heat up the chimney can, into the flat metal top and then out on to the outside of the metal can. To test it yourself yourself you can't have a heat conductive bridge between chimney and the outside container. Hope that helps someone. Perlite is similar to Vermiculite by the way and is available in the UK in most DIY stores.
@Smokie1969 I got my cans out of the garbage. I didn't have to eat any beans. :) I don't know about having to remake the stove. I haven't and have not heard of anyone else needing to, at this point.
@koconcept Also great for preppers who live in Oregon where there are more cloudy days then sunny days. Not everyone can use a solar oven like I can in TX.
Great little stove! I find the vermiculite a MUCH better insulator than sand. However, you have a lot of leaks around the unsealed can joints that allow heat to escape into the large can. With your configuration, sand is the better insulator because it works as a sealer. I used stove pipe in my 5 gallon bucket rocket stove and vermiculite is much better for retaining the heat inside the burn chamber. Also, with the greater height on my stove (and chimney), it creates more draft (rocket effect).
@TheMrpiggyboy No rocket stove specific recipes because you can cook anything you would cook on a conventional stove. Thanks for viewing and commenting.
@viss3n This is great for camping. My son cooked marshmallows on his patio on his. This is my backup when I don't have any other cooking stove available.
It's possible that the sand is not a better insulator, but simply absorbs more heat. I'm not sure what the specific heat ratings are of vermiculite and whatever kind of sand you used, but it's possible that since the mass of the sand is so much greater, that it is able to absorb more of the heat and release it more slowly, which makes it feel cooler.
Please let us know how this design works for you. The air flow comes in under the wood "shelf". The four "pot holders" on the top allow the air to flow out freely. This is not a gasifier. But it works like crazy.
@Victor Orantes - So your suggesting leaving the cavity empty with air holes in the main can and the internal base can? What advantage do you get from holes in the top can? I would think the fuel has already been thoroughly burned by the time it is exiting the top can.
Most insulation materials builds on trapped air. It's one of the best insulators you can get. Vacuum would be better though, as u know is used in Vacuum flask's. With that I don't say fine sand would be better or not, it all depends on how well it traps the air. Air that can move around will not be a good insulator as it can move the heat from one place to the other. This is why different form of foams usually are used as insulators.
I just build one! Totally works! One question. Instead of the two cans inside, dont you think its better to have just one tall one? That way all the sand doesnt go into the burn chamber if you move the stove
Have you tried building a full size rocket mass stove? I was thinking about building one for my greenhouse. I know we don't get that cold down here, but my greenhouse is not very well sealed, so I'd like to have a cheap yet effective way to heat it if needed. I was looking to build a compact design, and I think you're on the right track. I was thinking several sizes of stove pipe, or steel pipe from a scrapyard should do it. Thoughts
I think you need to shorten the horizontal pipe a bit and put a horizontal plate in it so oxigen can get under the fire. The reason why it smokes a lot is probably because the fire suffocates itself.
I made a "working" rocket stove just by stacking loose bricks, packing sand in the joints, and setting some twigs from some scrub brush in it. It was amazing! Most of the smoke that came off it was water vapor, not unburned fuel (it was winter). I was especially surprised at how long the fuel burned.
One tip: if you slant the fuel/air tube, the fuel will self-feed as it burns. No more having to keep poking the fuel sticks!
@mrshammerhankus Thanks for asking. I placed the smaller can on the side of the bigger can, drew around the can with a Sharpie marker, drilled a hole with a drill bit on the inside edge of the circle, used tin snips to cut the hole.
I built my own two cans high rather than just one. It's awesome. I got water to boil in under 5 minutes using just 6 sticks of wood. I also punched holes in the top on each side and put a wire bucket handle on it so that I can carry it better. Love this thing.
@pmaughmer Thanks for asking. It works great! It works great because it causes its own "suction" due to the design. When the wood is lit it pulls air through the hole on the side which helps burn the wood. It is the easiest wood stove to light and keep lit I know of.
Thank you for commenting. Great practical experience recommendations.
@viss3n I like that I don't have to stock pile wood for cooking. This works great with just twigs.
If you are going to buy a rocket stove I think the Stove Tec is a great one to go with. Thanks for the feedback.
I like the sand idea as well, free and it weights the stove down making it a little more substantial and safe. Thanks for sharing. looks like a fun project.
You could use it with no "insulation" or add dirt when you get to your camp to help keep the heat in and give the stove some weight for stability.
Vermiculite has refractory properties and it expands with heat thus insulating the combustion chamber of your rocket stove. Metal is a great conductor of heat so your use of cans is spot on. Sands also traps heat and it seems that it works great for your design. Great job. Thank you for posting.
@davidsdiego It was mortar's sand. They were bricking a house and had left over sand. I used it because it was there and free.
@outdoorsman310 Works great with normal sticks. After you get it started, as with any fire, you can add some wet sticks and the heat will dry them then use the sticks as fuel.
A great idea for camping/backpacking or bugging out. Thanks for sharing.
@2909francois I built the stove then put some newspaper in the inside can so no sand would fall into it as I poured the sand between the inside and outside cans. Then I took out the newspaper and put the top on.
@jrapanut0 Yes you can. And have fun doing it. Thanks for commenting.
@1971mgb Good to know. Thank you for commenting.
Awesome feed back. Thank you.
@SteveB357 Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Sorry you had so much rain. I've been in that situation. Not a lot of fun. But that is why I always bring small games to play in the tent.
I just finished making this rocket stove and tested it out. Works like a charm! I did not wear gloves and ended up having to get a tetanus shot but that's my own fault. Beyond that it was fairly easy to make. I used kitty litter as insulation and it works really well. Thanks for the instructions! :)
Wow. That is one hot fire. I'm glad you tried it and are willing to try a different insulation material. Let us know how it goes.
@hankyknot That could be. I haven't tried it. A stove this size is mainly for cooking not heating.
@19GN03 Great suggestion. Thanks for sharing. I wanted to show the sand solution to show it can be built absolutely free. I'm sure there are better insulators than sand.
I thought that the vermiculite would not work because of the particle size. The voids made it function more like there was only an air space between the metals. Curious, was the sand wet or dry?
@rhwavon I used a standard wood drill bit to make a hole then I used a straight pair of tin snips to cut.
nice elegant solution that solves many problems, I like it!
@Lanesteepee Glad to hear you enjoyed the stove so much. I love Jambaliya!
@samohtzoo Thank you. I hope you enjoy using it too.
Thanks for the vid...excited to try this. Getting my cans together. I love camping with my kids and this can come in handy for us. I will be using sand as well...weigh it down a bit to avoid accidental tipping.
I agree. This is for those, like me, who want to make their own light weight, portable and free stove.
Thank god! Someone else who understands what an insulator is. I've got fools telling me sand is a better insulator. Takes all kinds.
This is brilliant - I'm clearing a lot of land and can drink a limited amount with flask. Will be making one this weekend. Thanks for sharing :)
@Myrrdin23 Absolutely. If you can find a can tall enough use it.
I have a surplus three piece Swiss Army unit that works very similarly. I use a small piece of Trioxane to excite the wood, and in five minutes I can cook. It brings the water to a boil EVERY time!
the sand is between the smaller can and the big can. I fill it all the way up to the bottom of the lid.
That is the best invention that I ever seen !
Used a rocket stove for all cooking for a week long campout, using pencil sized sticks that we just picked up around the campsite. It rained for four of the days, and there was no problem with the stove. Burned the wood to a white ash.
Absolutely.
@scodurh It is kind of a mix between cooking on a stove top and an open camp fire. You regulate the temp by how much fuel you use. In this case how many twigs you put in.
@bucketrobbert Absolutely. you can go as big as you want. Some are big enough to heat houses.
It has been over 1-1/2 years since I made mine and it still looks brand new and is working great. I am sure if you used heavier duty components it would last longer. But my goal was to show people how to make a cheap or even free highly productive stove.
all I can say is thanks sooo much for a great video and how simple I can build my old rocket stove at the cost of what's in the recycle bin :-)
i be building one of your stoves in the next couple od days. thank you so much for your design .
Nice job. Cool little stove. I've heard of this and it appears to work pretty good. Looks like I have another project to add to my to-do list !
I haven't had to change the insulation and the tabs are 100% good.
hi there, there is no need of any insulator if you just open some holes in the back for more oxigen to come in of the main can ,and also you can have gasification by open small holes around the center can on the top,just above the seal cap .
regarding the comments at the end of the video regarding insulation. Insulation is rated in R values and the larger the value the better it is at insulating. Here are the R values for various items:
Vermiculite - R rating of 2.13 - 2.40
Perlite - R rating of 2.7
Sand - R rating of 0.15 - 0.25
The reason the can felt hotter with Vermiculite added was simply because as its a better insulator the chimney can got a lot hotter, this then transferred the heat up the chimney can, into the flat metal top and then out on to the outside of the metal can.
To test it yourself yourself you can't have a heat conductive bridge between chimney and the outside container.
Hope that helps someone. Perlite is similar to Vermiculite by the way and is available in the UK in most DIY stores.
I believe that would work too. Thanks for the recommendation.
@Smokie1969 I got my cans out of the garbage. I didn't have to eat any beans. :) I don't know about having to remake the stove. I haven't and have not heard of anyone else needing to, at this point.
@koconcept Also great for preppers who live in Oregon where there are more cloudy days then sunny days. Not everyone can use a solar oven like I can in TX.
I just grabbed some scrap wood. It happened to be treated. I agree with you. I would never cook food with it.
@LittlePetieWheat What a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Yes
Great job and thanks for sharing. My boys and I now have another project to do together. This should be fun!
Sweet! I'd love to see a video on it. Sounds great.
Well a grate idea to get more air to the center is to get 1/2 inch pipe to the side right to the center. Make the four or three inch around the can.
@HumbleWillis Excellent. I love the handle idea. Thanks for sharing.
@TheBeeperman I have no idea. As soon as you hit that point let us know.
Great little stove!
I find the vermiculite a MUCH better insulator than sand. However, you have a lot of leaks around the unsealed can joints that allow heat to escape into the large can. With your configuration, sand is the better insulator because it works as a sealer. I used stove pipe in my 5 gallon bucket rocket stove and vermiculite is much better for retaining the heat inside the burn chamber. Also, with the greater height on my stove (and chimney), it creates more draft (rocket effect).
I have not. Please give it a try and let us know how it goes.
Awesome!
I'm going to try this with a gallon paint canor will save my metal coffee tins. thanks for giving me another idea for another stove.... Love the vid
Good comment. Find what is available to you and works for you.
This is great. Thanks. Putting you as a reference in my book.
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
@mogges1 I'm not sure. I don't drink coffee so I don't know if it is or not.
@laztek1 Sounds great but I have no idea what you are talking about. Would you care to explain or leave links to more info?
Increase the height of the pot supports to get a better flow of outgoing air.
Best instruction for diy. Made 2 using this video.
@mogges1 I think it's a juice can, slightly taller and narrower, but should still work fine
I agree.
you should try making 4 cuts in the chimney so small pot or pans can be put on stove as well as bigger pots.
I don't know. I haven't tried it. If you do please let us know how it went.
Great idea ! I just have to try this!
@scrambled82 I'm not familiar with the closed flame system.
great video! Thanks! This type of stove reminds me of the Dakota hole fire, seems to be working on the same principle.
@rockabillykelly I don't know. I know it wasn't very effective as an insulator. I prefer sand.
@TheMrpiggyboy No rocket stove specific recipes because you can cook anything you would cook on a conventional stove. Thanks for viewing and commenting.
OK I see the update/improvement - thanks!
@samohtzoo yes, but the sand was there and free.
wow thank you for posting this! Im making one tomorrow!!!
thx for posting this video i am curently makeing one out of sheet metal for the chamber
@viss3n This is great for camping. My son cooked marshmallows on his patio on his. This is my backup when I don't have any other cooking stove available.
Thanks for posting. GREAT JOB, very detailed vid!
Great vid... and great idea. Have to build a few of these just to have around. Thanks.
@Coaxis1 but this is gardening vermiculite, so almost certainly produced after 1990 so there would be much lower levels of asbestos
@TheRisingforce2000 Nope. Completely different material. Both work.
Great job. I will try to make one myself.
It's possible that the sand is not a better insulator, but simply absorbs more heat. I'm not sure what the specific heat ratings are of vermiculite and whatever kind of sand you used, but it's possible that since the mass of the sand is so much greater, that it is able to absorb more of the heat and release it more slowly, which makes it feel cooler.
Please let us know how this design works for you. The air flow comes in under the wood "shelf". The four "pot holders" on the top allow the air to flow out freely. This is not a gasifier. But it works like crazy.
@Victor Orantes - So your suggesting leaving the cavity empty with air holes in the main can and the internal base can? What advantage do you get from holes in the top can? I would think the fuel has already been thoroughly burned by the time it is exiting the top can.
Very interesting design. Any idea how many fires can be built before it starts to wear out? I assume the heat would eventually weaken the tin.
@hankyknot Let me know how much wood it takes when you do it.
Thank you for a great video.
good video...id take the empty cans with me and fill with soil or sand depending on location ...saves you carrying extra weight and its free
@Mrinfoone LOL, is this a trick question? I have a step-by-step video on this channel. Enjoy.
Most insulation materials builds on trapped air. It's one of the best insulators you can get. Vacuum would be better though, as u know is used in Vacuum flask's.
With that I don't say fine sand would be better or not, it all depends on how well it traps the air. Air that can move around will not be a good insulator as it can move the heat from one place to the other. This is why different form of foams usually are used as insulators.
You did a great job buddy! I like it!
I just build one! Totally works!
One question. Instead of the two cans inside, dont you think its better to have just one tall one?
That way all the sand doesnt go into the burn chamber if you move the stove
Have you tried building a full size rocket mass stove? I was thinking about building one for my greenhouse. I know we don't get that cold down here, but my greenhouse is not very well sealed, so I'd like to have a cheap yet effective way to heat it if needed. I was looking to build a compact design, and I think you're on the right track. I was thinking several sizes of stove pipe, or steel pipe from a scrapyard should do it. Thoughts
I think you need to shorten the horizontal pipe a bit and put a horizontal plate in it so oxigen can get under the fire. The reason why it smokes a lot is probably because the fire suffocates itself.
nice....thanks for the test vid....