Making A Rocket Stove

What's A Rocket Stove

A rocket stove is, basically, a stove that has a combustion chamber that contains an insulated vertical chimney so that there's almost total combustion before the flames reach the cooking surface. The fuel is kindling size wood that's burned in the combustion chamber. It's more efficient because more of the energy from the wood burning is turned into heat energy and less wood is needed to cook with.

Wood Log Rocket Stove

There are a ton of different ways to build a rocket stove but one of the simplest ways is to use a well-dried, short log that is relatively flat on both the top and bottom and a Scotch-Eyed Drill. The best log would be one that's a lighter, softer wood, which will burn quickly and easily without extinguishing itself. You'll use the kindling style wood in the combustion chamber and then, the log will also provide fuel for the fire. Here are the steps:

1. Use the Scotch-eyed auger to drill a hole in the middle of the top of the log about three-quarters of the way down into it. Drill the hole about 2" in diameter.
2. At the same level that the downward hole ends, drill a hole in the side of the log so that the two holes are connected, making a sort of L-shape tunnel inside the log. Drill the side hole's diameter a little larger.
3. Place your tinder in the side hole and start your fire, then, add small kindling to feed the flames, making sure that you leave room for air flow. You can also just let the log itself be the fuel source for your fire.
4. Now, just sit your frying pan or pot on the top of the log over the hole and you're ready to cook or boil.
5. When you're done cooking, you can extinguish the fire with water and re-light the wooden rocket stove the next time you need to fry or boil something.