Ace Stone

Glenn Herbert wrote:A quick sketch...

I forgot to mention, thank you for the diagram, we'll refer to this when we go for the brick method.

Thank you Matt, I had a feeling that what you're saying was the case. I read people talk about fiberglass insulation and the fluffy stuff is what I have in mind. I've seen mention of rockwool but no idea what it is and certainly don't have any.

Even some some wood stoves and ovens use preheated fresh air channels to achieve secondary combustion.

Thank you Glenn. Sorry for the delay response.

So I think the pipe I have already welded to a base plate is 37" long. You're suggesting to have it long instead of cutting shorter to 24-30? There are bunches of pre-made portable rockets for sale online that are typically around 24" tall so that and portability are why I said 24-30.

Can fiberglass insulation meant for an attic be used? The fluffy yellow stuff that makes skin itch after contact? Can the fluffy yellow be wrapped directly against the metal pipe or will it melt and/or ignite? I have some of that I can wrap the pipes with and some wires to tie it in place. Then hopefully some aluminum foil tape to wrap the fluffy, or will the heat defeat the adhesive? Not sure what else I could use to seal up the fluffy. I suppose household kitchen grade heavy duty aluminum foil with more wire tied but that wouldn't be durable with transportation.

On the inner sleeve thing: I've heard the possibility of it not working in other words, and I understand the reasoning theory. My opposition to saying it won't work is that it's how the Solo Stove Bonfire works and many similarly designed units including DIY as big as a 55 gal drum. The Bonfire is only 14" overall height, albeit much wider than a rocket. Solo makes smaller versions now too. I attached a diagram with this post just in case you're not familiar with them. I believe there should also be a venturi effect with the inner sleeve. During the initial testing of the sleeve insert it will still be removable so if it does not work all I'll have to do is cover up the drilled holes of outer pipe. If it does work I can weld it in place. I drew the bottom of the sleeve directly above the L vertex bcuz it would only add complexity to start the sleeve near the bottom from having to cut to match the profile of feed tube and that could cause irregular flow at the top of sleeve. I really wasn't sure what measurement to use on the top side. Inner sleeve pipe outlets of Solo Stoves are just below the very top. If this were to work similar, then in theory more flame should be produced at this outlet, which would scorch a cooking pan that would be atop the heat riser; which I why I thought 6-12" below. But again this could be tested with a longer pipe first.

I guess "structural" brick was not the right term. I have an assorted pile of mostly red and some tan bricks that would typically be used for building a brick house. I guess the original owner of my house was a brick layer, and it's a brick house. Some have 3 bigger holes through them, some have 12 small holes, some are solid, very few have any branding imprints. They've just been sitting in a pile behind the shed for decades so we will have a go at building a rocket anyway.

For the burn grate, I haven't quite decided what to use yet. I have some old gas range oven racks that I could cut to fit, but spacing is big so would probably have to double layer. How well does bug screen hold up to heat? I have a square yard of stainless steel screen that I could trim then fab a frame for to fit burn tube (another salvaged semi part). If it's not high heat tolerant, would that be bcuz of how thin the wire is? That in mind, how thick should the grate media be? Wire coat hanger diameter plus? Also would screen hold onto coals too long? If I recall correctly the mesh squares are either 1/16" or 1/32", I could snug fit a drill bit that size into a square. I have a few other odd possibilities in mind. Trying to use what I have already.

Here we call it Central. Peoria, tazewell, Woodford county area. I've seen areas outside of but bordering the counties also say they're central IL.

Thank you Thomas, I do appreciate the suggestion.

I'm ok with and planned to do cutting and welding. The vortex is more for cool effect to spark interest better. My plan is to make about half of the feed tube shelf ventilated, like mesh, and the burn grate the rest of shelf length. So hopefully there will be some tolerance for tending frequency.

I chose the exhaust pipe bcuz that's what I have readily available and I'm more experienced working with metal. I do not have clay brick or clay to make mud. I have structural brick but it is my understanding that they're not very heat tolerant. Plus I want this to be at least somewhat portable without throwing out my back. I do realize that the suggestion you've made would produce a superior rocket, but that plan won't work for me at this time.

I've been reading a lot all over the web, even that donkey32.proboard site. I considered a j-tube or even k-tube, unfortunately i cannot remember at the moment why I decided L-tube. It may have been for simplicity with measuring/cutting all the angles on round tubing; square tube would be a bit easier to do a J or K set up.

Hello everyone, my first post here.

Can I get some opinions on this drawing plan I made please? The purpose of this would be produce heat like a camp fire and to be able to cook on it camping style, and a bit of entertainment factor. My son is in Scouts and this will double as science project for daughter. This rocket is not meant to last ages. I'm using scrap pieces of 5" exhaust stack pipes from a semi, so the thickness of the metal isn't much and why I know it isn't expected to live long. One of the pipes I have has the angled top end of a stack so I thought I would use that angle to try making a vortex in the heat riser.

About the part I drew in red: I'm essentially attempting to replicate the process of how a Solo Stove Bonfire pit works, which I believe is considered gasification, I've seen it referred to as afterburn too. I don't know how it would turn out in this application though, nor do I know where best to build the dimensions of it.

Thank you in advance.

Just a dude in Illinois. Researching rocket stoves brought me here, so thank you all who contributed info. Planning on building one soon for my son and daughter, had some questions which I'll post next. Not sure what else to say.