Introduction: How to Build a Mud Stove
When rustic camping, overlanding or on an extended expedition a great way to cook efficiently using less fuel and reducing smoke in a free and sustainable, low-impact way is to build a mud stove.
Step 1: Mix Up Some Mud
We're doing this in the desert southwest so we have plenty of clay soil that makes a good stove. We first set to mixing some soil with water. You can do this by hand or have someone trample the mud with their feet. In locations that have termite mounds the clay that the termites build is especially good for mud stove construction. Some places may require mining of clay to add to the mix.
Step 2: Gather Some Sticks
We used some sustainably and legally harvested saguaro ribs this time but any sticks will work. Using green sticks is best as they don't burn off as easily the first time you cook.
Step 3: Start Forming the Mud
Into a horseshoe shape. The free arms will eventually be a pot or griddle support
Step 4: Griddle
We're using a found piece of steel as a griddle. Mud it in to place.
Step 5: Start Poking Sticks In
These will be the structure around which we'll build a chimney
Step 6: Make a TeePee With the Sticks
Step 7: Pack Mud Around the Sticks
It's not 100%vital that you protect all the sticks from fire but you do want them to hold the structure long enough so it has time to dry.
Step 8: Keep Building Up!
Step 9: Make Sure to Leave a Gap at the Top for Exhaust
At this point you can start smoothing the outside of the stove. After the sticks burn off the top of the stove can be molded to hold a pot for higher heat. Upon completion the stove can immediately be cooked over
Step 10: Build a Fire and Start Cooking!
Cleaner burning. Contained fire at 0 material cost?! Brilliant. This works best in primitive and survival living conditions. A modified version of this can be made on a raised platform to make it easier on the cook.
Step 11:
12 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
JUST NEED SOME MUD. THANK'S [ VLAD ]
9 years ago on Introduction
great ible, i have made something very similar when i did a lot camping and was a very effective cooker, only i used sand and old cans and just that had been littered to form the chimney, and packed the sand around, one night i had even used it as a forge and made a knife out a peice of reo i had found
10 years ago on Step 10
Nice design and use of indigenous materials.
You have a nice rocket stove there, but 90 % of the heat is going up the chimney. If you can narrow the intake a little and stabilize the pot over the chimney exhaust it would boil in 1/3 the time.
The reason it is cleaner burning due to the gas given off by the wood continuing to burn up in the chimney. That's why there is more heat.
10 years ago on Introduction
brilliant
and if the griddle was Pierced ...make more effect
10 years ago on Step 11
ive read about something called a rocker stove a lot like these (mud stove) do you have a way to read the temp comeing out the to?
10 years ago on Introduction
Looks like the same side-feed principle as a "rocket stove." I will guess that rocket stove design came from this simple original design. Looks like a great concept to keep in mind for any campers.
10 years ago on Introduction
Nicely done.
10 years ago on Introduction
This goes to my Survival skills!
10 years ago
Love it
10 years ago on Introduction
Nice oven!
10 years ago on Introduction
Nice oven!
10 years ago on Introduction
Nice oven!