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Design Ideas Rocket Patio Heater

 
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Hi all, I am new to the forum, I am hoping with all your knowledge someone can help me. I live in Michigan, and I recently bought a propane patio heater to use when I smoke meat in the winter, they SUCK. Not enough heat, and the tank freezes up and now less heat. I have been trying to find, or come up with a design for a rocket heater to use as a patio heater, I have not had any luck.

I have looked at J,K and L designs, I want it portable so not a mass heater, and I don't plan on cooking on it. I figure the steel will radiate heat and maybe some sort of collector or radiant shield at the top of the exhaust stack. Steel and wood are not an issue, a work for a company the fabricates steel for buildings, and I have plenty of dead oak. Does anyone have any thoughts, or can you point me in the right direction. Thanks      
 
gardener
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Start here. I got hired by a company o look into designs they could manufacture but they ghosted me so here you go.
https://youtube.com/shorts/6iYDNMHAiMI
If that doesn't work because it is a Youtube Short not a regular video click here Uncle Mud Twinkle Star Heater
 
Garey Buck
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I was wanting to build mine out of steel tube so I could move in and out of my pavilion. That looks like it might be considered a a J' ish design?
 
Chris McClellan
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If you want to see flames coming up the Y or K tube works the best with the fire directly under the riser. If you just want lots of clean heat the J tube is always best. You could build it out of steel but I would line it with ceramic, firebrick on the bottom and ceramic wool in the riser for maximum durability and efficiency. For a patio heater you may not care so much.
 
Garey Buck
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I spent 5 hours outside in 26 deg. weather on Thanksgiving smoking meat, I just want as much heat as possible. Wood fired off-set smoker, so I get a little from it in the front, but I want some from the back. (getting to old to freeze my a-- off)

With a J do you think there would be enough heat coming out of the stack to warrant a heat deflector above? I was thinking about a deflector of some sort on the opposite side of where you would sit, to radiate more toward you?
 
Rocket Scientist
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For a patio heater I would just build a 6” j tube and fit a barrel over the riser, very simple and very effective.
I dont know where you live but if you access to vermiculite board you can build such a core in about one hour.
The core can be moved around and the barrel can be separated and moved or you could add wheels.
You will need a chimney that sticks up about 3-4’ but the heat this set up would deliver will amaze you!
 
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Garey Buck wrote:I spent 5 hours outside in 26 deg. weather on Thanksgiving smoking meat, I just want as much heat as possible. Wood fired off-set smoker, so I get a little from it in the front, but I want some from the back. (getting to old to freeze my a-- off)

With a J do you think there would be enough heat coming out of the stack to warrant a heat deflector above? I was thinking about a deflector of some sort on the opposite side of where you would sit, to radiate more toward you?



This is a smoker related comment, not about the heating aspect of any rocket stove.  I have smoked meats for over 45 years, My largest amount of time spent smoking anything, is putting it on, and taking it off.  ( so a few minutes)   Other than that, glancing at the temp gage once or twice every few hours, is all I do.  I have used many types of home built smokers over the years, but mostly the same for the last 20 years.

While they tend to work better for me, (less wood) when warmer, end results are always good , rain, snow or sunshine.

Am curious what your doing to spend so much time out with the meat? and in the cold to boot.
 
Garey Buck
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Scott, I am looking to build a patio heater to use while smoking meat. I use an off-set wood smoker it is not a set and forget, it requires constant attention to monitor temp. and add wood.
 
Fox James
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I am also a smoker! Primarily I cold smoke fish, normally for around 10 hours, in any case a jtube with barrel is a very good cooking machine and easliy adapted for hot or cold smoking.
I have dozen of rocket stoves on my channel but even this tiny 4” stove might work for you…
 
Scott Weinberg
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Garey Buck wrote:Scott, I am looking to build a patio heater to use while smoking meat. I use an off-set wood smoker it is not a set and forget, it requires constant attention to monitor temp. and add wood.



yes, I understood that your looking for a patio heater and your wood smoker needs constant attention for hours at a time.  I never had this much time, best of success to you.  

Lots of options out there, to cut down the time spent smoking,  A lot of them non electric.  No need to spend 100's of $'s either.  Anyway, back to the patio heater.  I sure like a lot of the things Fox James has been promoting.
 
Chris McClellan
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Here's my latest portable rocket heater. If you're just moving it around the patio it works even better with an extra half or full barrel on top. Sorry for the link, Youtube Shorts don't work on Permies because tech stuff. https://youtube.com/shorts/MeE6UOHEhBM?feature=share
--Mud
 
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I think I've figured the shorts out...

 
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Burra Maluca wrote:I think I've figured the shorts out...



Burra -

Is the secret to simply trim off the "?feature=share" portion of the URL?

Kevin

P.S. Thank you for not one but two slices of pie!  I can't (yet) figure out how to Purple Mooseage you...
 
Burra Maluca
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Kevin Olson wrote:Is the secret to simply trim off the "?feature=share" portion of the URL?



Starting from this - https://youtube.com/shorts/MeE6UOHEhBM
or this https://youtube.com/shorts/MeE6UOHEhBM?feature=share

Take this bit - MeE6UOHEhBM

and add it to the first bit of a normal (not short) youtube video - https://youtu.be/MeE6UOHEhBM

and then stick it in youtube tabs, which will hopefull embed it
 
Garey Buck
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Fox James wrote:For a patio heater I would just build a 6” j tube and fit a barrel over the riser, very simple and very effective.
I dont know where you live but if you access to vermiculite board you can build such a core in about one hour.
The core can be moved around and the barrel can be separated and moved or you could add wheels.
You will need a chimney that sticks up about 3-4’ but the heat this set up would deliver will amaze you!



Fox James, I think I will try what you suggest first. I will build a 6" J tube 9"x18"x36", I have a steel bolt barrel that I think might be the perfect size to go over the riser.

Thanks everyone for the input.
 
Garey Buck
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Okay so I started building my rocket J tube patio heater, can someone answer a couple questions before I weld it all together?  I am using 5" square tube 1/4" thick, (because it was free) I have cut it 9"-18"-36". I plan to put a pull out ash drawer in the  in the bottom horizontal tube, I also plan on a barrel of some sort over the stack, and then a vent pipe out of the barrel. I have watched a lot of videos with many different ideas, and upgrades.

1. I have seen a few people putting an additional air inlet going under the horizontal tube going into the stack to add hot air. Is the beneficial, or a waste of time? If this is used should it just be a hole of extend up in the stack?

2. Will the square tube allow the air to swirl to create a vortex flame, or should a devise something to make it vortex?

3. Is it necessary to insulate the stack inside the barrel?

Any additional input would be appreciated.
 
Scott Weinberg
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Garey Buck wrote:Okay so I started building my rocket J tube patio heater, can someone answer a couple questions before I weld it all together?  I am using 5" square tube 1/4" thick, (because it was free) I have cut it 9"-18"-36". I plan to put a pull out ash drawer in the  in the bottom horizontal tube, I also plan on a barrel of some sort over the stack, and then a vent pipe out of the barrel. I have watched a lot of videos with many different ideas, and upgrades.


Assuming your barrel is sitting on the floor or shelf in common to the bottom of your METAL J Tube,  how tall is your barrel?

You say a barrel of some sort?  Other than a 55 gal barrel, what other options do you have for a buck or two?

your 9-18-36 dimensions was based on a proven formula?   Presuming  18" would be your exterior feed tube, 9" would be your cross tube? and 36" your riser?  if different you can post a drawing.   so 18-9-36

Being your planning on this as a patio heater? your vent tube is just going up a ways   Are you planning on insulating this at all?  By watching the video's did you see one that was working really well?  Seems like one to copy then. with NO changes.

 

Garey Buck wrote:
2. Will the square tube allow the air to swirl to create a vortex flame, or should a devise something to make it vortex?


There has been 100's of square  exit risers,  maybe not so many of metal, but that looks to be your intended direction.

Garey Buck wrote:
3. Is it necessary to insulate the stack inside the barrel?


ALWAYS WORKS BETTER
 
Fox James
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Well if you want a really good heater that gets very hot but does not produce any smoke, then you need to insulate the fire box and heat riser.
You can just make a basic J tube with no secondary air or any complicated accessories, if it is made to know specification then you will have a very effective patio heater and cook stove.
The problem with using steel is … as soon as you use insulation, the metal will start degrading and not last very long at all.
If you are only going to use it on an occasional basis the is might be fine for you but if you want to use it regularly , then you need to consider using a more long lasting material that steel.
My own J tube in a barrel, built with insulating vermiculite board, will heat a large area radiating heat from the sides  at around 300c.
You could have a circle of 20 friend sitting around it and cook food for them all very easily.
 
Garey Buck
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Assuming your barrel is sitting on the floor or shelf in common to the bottom of your METAL J Tube,  how tall is your barrel?

You say a barrel of some sort?  Other than a 55 gal barrel, what other options do you have for a buck or two?

your 9-18-36 dimensions was based on a proven formula?   Presuming  18" would be your exterior feed tube, 9" would be your cross tube? and 36" your riser?  if different you can post a drawing.   so 18-9-36

Being your planning on this as a patio heater? your vent tube is just going up a ways   Are you planning on insulating this at all?  By watching the video's did you see one that was working really well?  Seems like one to copy then. with NO changes.



Scott, the plan is for this to have wheels on one end so it can be moved out of the way, it will get used when I smoke meat, or the occasional cigar in the frigid Michigan weather. I have not settled on a barrel yet, we have steel bolt barrels that are approx.. 14" diameter, I also have a couple different size air compressor tanks. The intended use is for a portable radiant wood burning heater.

I assumed from what I have read the 9-18-36 was 9" burn tube 18" cross tube and 36" stack, am I incorrect??

For the occasional 4-5 hour run time should I insulate the stack in the barrel?

There are not many videos for what I am trying to do, Little Aussie Rocket Stoves pot belly heater is close in theory, and I am using some of his ideas.
Nothing is welded yet so it can still be changed, that's why I am asking for input to save cutting it apart later.


 
Garey Buck
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Fox James I saw your videos of your heater and the mods. you have done with, it is quite impressive. If I were to make a stationary mass heater yours would be perfect.  The plan for me is to have wheels on one end so it can be moved around, it will get used when I smoke meat, or the occasional cigar in the frigid Michigan weather. I tried a propane patio heater is was worthless, that started me down this road.

For short occasional burns is it worth insulating the stack in the barrel?
Does adding the secondary heated air in the bottom make a difference?
I assumed the formula was 9" burn tube, 18" cross tube, 36" stack, if I use a barrel how shorter could it be?  
 
Scott Weinberg
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Garey Buck wrote:



Scott, the plan is for this to have wheels on one end so it can be moved out of the way, it will get used when I smoke meat, or the occasional cigar in the frigid Michigan weather. I have not settled on a barrel yet, we have steel bolt barrels that are approx.. 14" diameter, I also have a couple different size air compressor tanks. The intended use is for a portable radiant wood burning heater.



Garey, I see this is out of my range of operations, so my advice would not be so accurate.  I didn't know you were shooting for as small as a meat smoker and all the way up for a group radiant heater.  I have not been involved with one with such a range.  But I can ponder with a fair degree of certainty that it will be hard to do both ( low enough heat for meat smoking and high enough for a effective radiant wood burning heater.

Garey Buck wrote:
I assumed from what I have read the 9-18-36 was 9" burn tube 18" cross tube and 36" stack, am I incorrect??


 I will defer this as well as I have not been around enough beyond my full blown J tubes, well beyond a single large barrel, and vastly beyond 14" barrels.

Garey Buck wrote:For the occasional 4-5 hour run time should I insulate the stack in the barrel?


Most J tubes run pretty full bore for there size, ( and about the same amount of time for each burn of approx. 60 minutes all out)   As it has been pointed out, insulating your riser will get you the most efficient burn, but hardest on your steel.

Best of success.

 
I agree. Here's the link: http://stoves2.com
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