Rocket stove and mass Questions -

1) Outdoor mass heater (rocket style)
Has anyone successfully created a durable outdoor mass heater?
Good for entertaining or eating outdoors, rather than wasting fuel off a 'camp fire' / fire pit, that creates atmosphere but using so much fuel and your back is left cold etc''

What materials if any are okay for all weather e.g. cool in summer under the shade, but durable if wet by rain.


2) Cooking stove and rocket style model.

What are the risks?
I have been cooking on a 21xfire brick rocket stove off and on for months.
I need to raise it higher and modify it, now that I have practiced my technique with this rudimentary model.

I do want a permanent outdoor kitchen stove. So this will be dismantled (no mortor/etc has been used only stacked bricks) to create a permanent one.

I need to know the risks? I really need to HEAR what I need to include in the design.
In Australia we dont sell kits (that I know of) like you do in the US or maybe other nations.
So I am making it myself with fire bricks.

Any help would be appreciated

Hi Joyce;    
Welcome to Permies!

Most outdoor mass heaters have a roof of some kind to protect them from the rain.
A  mass could be covered by a skin of sheet metal to deflect the rain.
Your rocket core however really needs a roof for long term use.
A good burning rocket requires dry bricks, or all your heat will be used drying bricks before heating your mass.

I recently built an outdoor kitchen here in Montana.
It uses a Matt Walker design "riserless core"  as its heart.
The oven can be used as a Black (smoky) or White (heat only) .
The entire build absorbs and radiates a tremendous amount of heat, it is very pleasant to sit by.
I have a 2 burner propane stove  as well as a half barrel  burner to round out the kitchen.
I use 12 vt string lighting with solar charging .
I do not have running water.
Here is a link to that build    permies.com/t/164923/rocket-ovens/Build-Black-White-Rocket-Oven.

thomas rubino wrote:Hi Joyce;    
Welcome to Permies!

Most outdoor mass heaters have a roof of some kind to protect them from the rain.
A  mass could be covered by a skin of sheet metal to deflect the rain.
Your rocket core however really needs a roof for long term use.
A good burning rocket requires dry bricks, or all your heat will be used drying bricks before heating your mass.

I recently built an outdoor kitchen here in Montana.
It uses a Matt Walker design "riserless core"  as its heart.
The oven can be used as a Black (smoky) or White (heat only) .
The entire build absorbs and radiates a tremendous amount of heat, it is very pleasant to sit by.
I have a 2 burner propane stove  as well as a half barrel  burner to round out the kitchen.
I use 12 vt string lighting with solar charging .
I do not have running water.
Here is a link to that build    permies.com/t/164923/rocket-ovens/Build-Black-White-Rocket-Oven.

Thanks Thomas.
Food for thought.

appreciate that.