Rocket stoves in the rough?

[Tricky Widget]

I'm fascinated by the design of the rocket stove and its simple-yet-amazing ability to dramatically increase the yield of heat from wood while conversely decreasing pollution. But the stoves I've seen require at least some amount of manufactured materials, which makes them difficult or impossible to create in the wild. So I'm wondering if there's some way to make a crude but effective rocket stove using only materials you'd be likely to find most places on earth, such as mud, stone, wood, and plant fiber. This clearly wouldn't be a long-term item, but something that could be made in a couple of hours that would last for a couple of weeks would be well worth the effort (especially if wood was scarce). But I'm a bit fuzzy on the specifics of how a rocket stove works, so I'm not sure how to approach the design. Does anyone have any thoughts? Thanks!

[mluthi69]

Hi Tricky Widget, I found some info for you : https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bw5N...EQQ/edit?pli=1

Enjoy,
Matt

[Terra]

Search "fox stove" simple holes in the ground with connecting tunnel , pic on this page http://www.primitiveways.com/ scroll down a bit . Another pic on bottom of this page made from a few brick pieces mud ect have fun http://twobirdstone.blogspot.com.au/

[Pakanohida]

But the stoves I've seen require at least some amount of manufactured materials

Mine is made from cob; A mixture of sand, straw and clay, 3 things readily available in the wild. It's very long term, and currently being carved up for a small smoker. ((zone 1 moving things around kinda thing))

Please review : http://forums.permaculture.org.au/sh...-Kitchen-Plans

[Pakanohida]

I got some more stuff....

http://youtu.be/4FWzkkwagsA

http://youtu.be/fghFwl6NWWU

[Isaac Hill]

http://donkey32.proboards.com/index.cgi#test

Donkey, the dude who runs that board, uses mostly just clay from his place. You don't even need straw for the main combustion chamber (it's just gonna burn out anyway.)

[Pakanohida]

Mine needs straw because it is more then a cob rocket stove... mine is a smoker made of cob with a heated seat for sitting. Not some place to chill in this rainforest when food is smoking.

[9anda1f]

Another online resource to rocket stove/rocket mass heater information: http://www.permies.com/forums/f-55/stoves
There are two experts on the subject who actively engage and answer questions posted within the forum there, Ernie and Erica Wisner.

[Pakanohida]

Hey Gandalf, if you ever come down here to Coos Bay area Oregon... you need to visit Cob Cottage across town from me. They specialize in cob homes and rocket mass heaters. In fact Ianto Evans who lives there wrote the book in the subject.

Cob Cottage shares property with a Permaculture group residence called Mountain Homestead. Beautiful place, amazing people.

[9anda1f]

Thanks for the invite Pakanohida. Having met both Ernie and Erica, I would be honored to also meet Ianto (I've got his book).

It appears we also have another common friend ... Kyle Chamberlin. We will be doing a consult with him to document edible plants of the local prairie end of April. He comes by my place from time to time for updates to the farm and idea exchanges.