The Dark Art of Pocket Rockets?

Pocket Rockets seem to be an add-on to RMH and rocket stove builds and discussions every where I look- hinted at without specific details. I lack the bandwidth to search through Paul's videos and see the real deal on video. I don't see a practical alternative to preparing the barrels for my RMH build, so I've been attempting one this last week. All I've managed to do is burn a few inches of paint off of the top and bottom of the first barrel. I was hoping all the red pine branches from brush piles I have would be enough to provide fuel. They seem to go from green to punky pretty fast, but even putting in drier stuff and kindling doesn't seem able to sustain a hot burn, so I'm questioning my design.

I got a general idea from Ianto and the Wisners' books, but they don't provide precise details on this. What size ducts would work on a regular 55 gallon barrel? I tried a 6" tube that went a couple of inches from the bottom for intake along with a similarly sized 6" exhaust flue slightly longer up based on the Wisners' description. This shot out jet flames while burning the residual engine oil out of the barrel, but didn't do much with wood after that.

Ianto suggests a smaller diameter and taller exhaust flue, so I made a second lid with a taller 3" exhaust. I also tabbed the lid as he describes vs. tabbing and riveting the ducts like my previous attempt, which allowed me to slide the feed tube up and down to experiment with it. This got a bit hotter and made a more consistent, rockety fire, but still didn't get hot enough to affect the paint on the middle of the barrel.

I tried the Wisners' suggestion of insulating the outside with wet newspaper on the second attempt, but don't have clay slip lying around so just used water. The paper fell off as soon as the barrell started to heat up. Will tying it on with twine be enough or is there something magical about clay that will allow it to adhere better as it heats? How thick should the paper layers be, will this make the difference to allow it to heat up and melt off the paint?

Should I track down some 4" duct and make a lid with a 4" exhaust and 8" feed? Should I focus on finding long pieces of wood that are just the right level of dryness? I'm not sure how much more good weather I have to work all these factors out before I just cut up the barrels and plan to burn off the paint on my first few RMH runs with the roof hatch open...

My practical knowledge is limited, but I have made a playlist of all the decent pocket rocket videos I could find.
I suggest spraying an oil/water mixture on the outside of the barrel, to help the paper stick.
The oil might ignite or polymerize.
Strapping wood to the outside of the barrel with wire might allow you to build a fire that would burn off the paint.
Digging a hole big enough for the barrel and then some should definitely allow you to build such a fire.

here is a link to the playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUQMDg9HfMjgpbn0ZuwlupYOZzOA_BNL_&si=kvFvp0fDQIEBWDaY

Uncle Mud probably has the best rig for the job, with a pocket rocket big enough to put a 55 gallon drum inside.
His is the first on the list.

These are ideal for the country,s who are in war, special cold areas.

I have build now one as a step between the who system next winter,

What is the best setup? I go also do a pipe from the bottom to top for secondary heated air.

4 cm acros, how far from bottom and how far into barrel for the out is best?.

ragrds

Coydon;
I get the impression that you simply want to remove paint from a barrel.
As you live away from people this could not be easier.
Forget pocket rockets unless you want a pocket rocket, even then you will still need the paint removed.
Think open-top barrel, now think of a wood burn barrel.
Fill it up and torch it off. I guarantee it will remove 3/4 of the paint from the top down, use a handheld wire brush to help as the paint starts flaking.
To remove the bottom 1/4 of the paint, lay your barrel on its side with a brick or rock holding the open end up just a bit.
Build a smaller fire, slowly rolling the barrel and wire brushing the flaking paint