Introduction: Cook (rocket) Stove

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About: Hi, my name is John. My hobby is to solve problems from other people and creating nice and functional stuff out of trash. I'm living in Germany so excuse my not so fluent English (some technical terms are hard…

Some years ago I've created a foldable rocket stove. I've used it rather often in my garden but it was not perfect at all.

The idea is really old the fist pictures date back to 2016. (It started with a leftover from my gravel lamp)

basic requirements are:

- Need to be a rocket stove (because I can)

- Stainless steel cooktop

Supplies

Quite a lot of steel

some stones

Step 1: Cut Open the Pipes

I've needed a more oval chimney for a better heat distribution and to create more heat at all. Therefore I had to cut open the pipes.

Step 2: Weld It Together the Pipes Again

Weld it together to create the wanted shape and add the feeding pipe.

The feeding pipe has a special degree, this way it is possible to create a self feeding fireplace.

Step 3: Add a Ash Screen

To allow also to use wood coal or other burnable material I've added a screen also this allows even more air to be sucked in. The screen itself is made out of old nails and a metal mesh.

Step 4: Burn in Test

Due to the lack of modeling software I've created everything right out of my head. I've planed that the air is sucked in over the feeding tube, hit the back wall and get redirected to a circular pattern. But this was not tested till this point. Furthermore the temperature range was not clear.

I got over 500°C (932°F) when half loaded which is OK

I also got my circular air movement, which result in a nearly smokeless combustion.

Step 5: Frame

There is nothing to say about the frame... You'll see later what all the bars are about.

Step 6: Ash Box

I've found a really old tool-box which I've now used as a ash box. therefore I've removed the handle and other stuff now it is a neat fit for my BBQ

Step 7: More Inner Structure

To support the gravel which we'll add later we need to add a thick peace of steel and cut a hole into it to allow airflow to the fire and ash to be filtered down.

Step 8: Adding the Outer Layer

To protect the environment aka kids from my BBQ-grill and vice versa I've added a layer of thin sheet metal.

Step 9: Leveling the BBQ

it is a step but it is not worth mentioning it... I've leveled the BBQ...

Step 10: Add the Isolation

To boost up the efficiency I've added an isolation layer of rockwoll, gravel and stones.

This helps to concentrate the heat to the inner Tubes and the outside stays cool.

Step 11: Second Test Run

The second test run was really successful and delicious. I do not have any smoke coming out of the BBQ the temperature is stable and also controllable.

Step 12: Final Pics

The BBQ is really cool. For one meal I only need 2 bricks (like on the 3rd picture)

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