Installing an airtight door in the horizontal chamber

I have seen quite a number of webpages with rocket stoves on them - designs, drawings, etc and the all pile "sticks" into the chamber leading to the horizontal burn chamber. I am wondering if it would be useful to install an airtight door on the horizontal chamber so that I could put a 5" log in the burn chamber and then use the sticks to get the log burning. My goal is to have a very long burning heat source that requires minimal intervention.

Tom, look into batch rockets instead.



Your idea is sensible in a way. But, once the sticks are burned, you are left with a smoldering log on it's own, of which the flames are blown off by the strong draft.

I did away with the J tube altogether and just have horizontal batch burner that will except 24 inch long logs. Any one who has cut fire wood to 16 inches long will appreciate that. My opening is 12 H x 14 wide and I am trying to find a used wood stove door with glass in it. I will make a door mounting frame around the opening with angle iron.