Rocket Stove

A few months ago I dragged dad to an optional lecture-type meeting about a food storage method - by a Sister Wendy DeWitt (any relation here Becky?). Anyway, we forged ahead with making the primary cooking appliance mentioned - a Rocket Stove. We emptied an old - and I mean old - metal square can of wheat. These cans of wheat were written into the contract when we bought the house on 36th Drive. Then we bought the other necessary hardware to complete the project. This is a metal piece used when putting in a furnace or fireplace or something like that.


Dad is trying to remove the entire top of the now emptied can of wheat. That might have been the hardest part.

Now the top has been removed and he is filing down the sharp edges. He also has cut a circle out of the side of the wheat can.


This is the magic filler that allows you to have fire and heat in the can - Vermiculite. Or in other words as printed on the bag Therm - o - rock. It is the isulator. The Rocket Stove is coming together nicely.

The metal tubing is in place and the metal shelf that will hold the fuel is also formed and secured.

The vermiculite has been poured into the can and now stabilizes and insulates the tubing. The top has been trimmed and has a hole in it where the metal tubing protrudes. We think we are ready for a trial run. So he has loaded newspaper down into the tubing - as instructed.

Inserting the sticks for fuel. Then a match is lit and applied to the newspaper.

The newspaper is flaming and the inside tips of the fuel are beginning to catch fire as well. Dad is all smiles. Success!

A nice flame is beginning to take shape.

Very quickly the flame begins coming up through the top of the metal tubing. Yes! It really works. In order to cook on it you place a grill on top of the wheat can - now AKA Rocket Stove - and place your pan on that and cook your meal.

Sheesh! The flame was really powerful and shot up quite a ways. The design makes it a very efficient stove. Because of the design you get a lot of heating power while using very little fuel. We are happy with it and may make one or two more - we might want to be cooking more than one item at a time.

Ahh!! The sweet sweet smell of success! Dad basks in the warmth and power of our new Rocket Stove. Now we have the power to cook if/when needed in an emergency situation. Now we just need to get all the food components stored up and ready to go as well.

Scott arrives and asks, "Where are the smores?" His timing is impeccable!