How to build a Rocket Stove

The rocket stove was invented about 10 years ago by Dr. Larry Winiarski at the Aprovecho Research Center in Oregon. It consists of an elbow-shaped combustion chamber (usually made from metal cans) surrounded by insulating material (often a large can filled with sand).

Here is how to build a Rocket Stove.

Starting Materials II.

For a hot oven, you need a good heat source.

And I just happen to have lying around:


Now this is the business!

Less than $40!
150,000 BTU - this will most definitely help in my quest for a 1000F oven.

Putting it on full blast is, well, a blast. Like a small jet engine. Adjusting the air intake to get the perfect blue flame is fun.

I just want it to blast out heat energy. For water, 3 gallons from 60 degrees to a roiling boil in 10 mins. Nice.

Be careful, as you would naturally expect to be with something that smacks out up to 150,000 BTU.

Keep away from small ponies, children and cuddly toys.

Starting Materials I.

To begin with, I have an old smoker donated by a neighbor. He was sick of the sight of it. Me? I'm happy to take anything that's free!





Yes it's the classic Smoke'n Pit Smoke King Outdoor Barbecue and Grill weighing in at a handy 238lbs - perfect for the beach!


Handy manual with full exploded view here!

(Why, I often ask myself, is the "and" abbreviated with just one apostrophe at the beginning, but none at the end?)



Look at that! It has (from the top) three chrome cooking grills (now rusted), one Porcelain coated water pan (chipped), one Porcelain coated charcoal pan (charcoaled to death), and even a grate for the bottom of the charcoal pan. Apparently it is an absolute bastard to operate, needing constant tending of the charcoal to maintain the temperature, which is not fun if you want to smoke at 200F for 8 hours.

I used a cheap electric burner in the bottom pan, with an old metal cup of wet chips, but then I was cold-smoking cheese and stuff in the middle of winter, and just wanted smoke at a temp of less than 80F.

Here is a side view, and you can just make out one hole at the top and one hole at the bottom. I can't tell you what they are for, but I think they will come in useful, because I am starting to have an idea.
A cunning plan you might say.

In search of the perfect oven.

This is about my wish to create a tandoori oven.

I noted that these ovens, which are for cooking naan bread and chicken or lamb tikka, need to get up to 1000F.

Which is hot. And is also the ideal temperature for cooking pizza.

So I want both. A combination pizza and tandoori.

This is my journey.