Rocket Stove 3.1 and 3.2

I'm on my third rocket stove mock up. It's getting pretty close to the final model. In my last run, the top feed design just wasn't working. I couldn't get a solid fire going, and the draw wasn't working either; even though i used paper to heat up the heat riser and started with lots of small, dry wood. Things are pretty moist up here right now, so i could try using dryer wood again. BUT, i decided to nock out the front, cover the top and feed the fire from the front. When i did this, BINGO. Strong fire, great draw with only a few wisps coming out that went away when loosely covered with a metal plate.

Any input on this kind of front feeding design?

I have a double wall, aluminum pipe packed with vermiculite and clay as my heat riser. I was going to replace it with a steel pipe wrapped with aluminum sheeting and vermiculite/clay packed in between them. Good idea?

With the top feeding version, i really wanted a way to clean out easily under the fire, so i literally built in a clean out that i bought from the store attached to a coupler. I liked this. I made it pretty air tight when it was closed, and planned on really setting it up with a solid clay mixture, or high temp. mortar in the final version. Now, i'm all about the front feed...

Looking forward to learning more...