Fabricating a Heavy Duty Rocket Stove

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fabricating-a-Heavy-Duty-Rocket-Stove/

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Fabricating a Heavy-Duty Rocket Stoveby eaahnen on April 9, 2012

Table of Contents

Fabricating a Heavy-Duty Rocket Stove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: Fabricating a Heavy-Duty Rocket Stove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2: Methods of Fabrication and Tools Needed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3: Cutting the Stove Tank to Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 4: The Burning Chamber Weldment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 5: Making Legs and Carrying Handles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 6: Positioning the Burning Chamber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 7: Positioning the Stove Pipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 8: Fitting and Welding the Baseplate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 9: Installing the Baseplate Burner-Risers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 10: Drilling Depressurizing Holes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Step 11: Grinding, Deburring, and Applying Stove Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10


Intro: Fabricating a Heavy-Duty Rocket StoveRocket stoves are small efficient stoves that can produce a hot flame with only a few small pieces of wood. The reason it is called a rocket stove is because when woodis added to the fire the flames create an internal draft. As the draft is created, the fire begins to produce a jet of fire coming through the stove pipe. The stove flameeventually becomes so hot that it produces very little smoke. The stove should be able to produce a hot continuous flame that will lick the bottom surface of a pot or panplaced on top of the stove.

These stoves were created out of necessity in third world countries to cook small meals and have recently become more popular as a do-it-yourself camping stove. Arocket stove is usually made from readily available materials that can be recycled for reuse. To make a large stove, it is not unusual for the outside shell of the stove tobe made from an old propane tank, Freon tank, or air compressor tank. To complete the following instructions for making a rocket stove, experience in welding andmetalworking is needed as this project requires a great deal of it.

Step 1: MaterialsChanges may be made to the materials in the schematic according to personal preference or based on availability of materials. Materials for fabricating stove legs are notpresent because many different configurations may be acceptable. Any design may be accepted for personal preference, as long as it is able to support at least 100lbsand withstand high temperatures for this model.


Step 2: Methods of Fabrication and Tools NeededThere are many different methods and materials that could be used to make a rocket stove. The methods detailed in this instruction set have been selected to make aheavy-duty model. This model may also be used as a small forge to melt soft materials such as lead and bronze. In order to make a simpler model, materials like tincontainers and tin cans can be cut with simple tin snips and fitted together. Brazing or soldering is a good alternative to welding when working with light tin materials tomake a smaller stove.

Common tools used for fabrication of this project are: Grinding/Cutoff Wheel Horizontal Bandsaw Pneumatic Cutoff Tool MIG Welder

Step 3: Cutting the Stove Tank to SizeWhen selecting an old steel tank, precautions must be made to be sure that the tank is no longer under pressure and that the contents have been completely removed. Amultitude of different tanks may be used for this project depending on the desired size of the stove. This rocket stove was made from an old propane tank purchased froma scrap metal yard. Before cutting into the tank, have it completely emptied of all contents and remove the valve from the top to expose the tank to atmospheric pressure.Fill the tank with water and empty it several times to remove any leftover propane fumes and gas. This will ensure that the denser-than-air propane is flushed from thetank. Next, the top of the tank must be cut off just below the top curve in the tank, and a hole must be cut in the lower bottom side of the tank for the feed tube to comethrough.


Step 4: The Burning Chamber WeldmentThe burning chamber of the rocket stove is where hot coals, heat, and flames are contained when the stove is in use. Before welding the plates into place, the hole for thefeed tube must be cut because warping may occur after welding. Next, the bottom plate is centered and welded into place at the seam of the burning chamber tube. Thetop plate is also centered and welded, and has a hole where the stove pipe will be welded later. These plates are cut 0.5in larger than the tube to apply welds. The feedtube must be inserted into the hole in the burning chamber 0.5in and welded into place, but be careful to not cut the feeding tube too long, because later it will have to befitted through the hole on the side of the stove tank.


Step 5: Making Legs and Carrying HandlesThe legs of the stove are usually meant to be short, as to be able to easily look into a pot or pan on top of the stove from a standing position. Any design may beaccepted for personal preference, as long as it is able to support at least 100lbs and withstand high temperatures. For this stove, small lengths of C-channel were used tomake a sturdy base. Weld the legs to the tank before going any further; when the tank is full it is very heavy. Another feature that may be added and/or altered on thestove are the carrying handles.

Step 6: Positioning the Burning ChamberThe burning chamber weldment must be positioned a few inches off of the bottom of the tank. In order to seat the burning chamber in the proper place, use some of thesand to pack a level surface 2-3in high to place the burning chamber on. After fitting the feed tube through the side of the tank and centering the burning chamber in thetank, the feed tube can be welded into place.


Step 7: Positioning the Stove PipeUse a square to position the stove pipe at a 90 degree angle, and tack weld it on one side. To check the positioning of the stove pipe, place the baseplate on top of thetank and see if the stove pipe clears the baseplate hole. The stove pipe will be easier to weld to the top of the baseplate if it sticks 0.125-0.25in above the baseplate. If itis not close enough to finish welding into place, use the square and a hammer to tap the stove pipe into proper alignment. After matching the stove pipe alignment withthe baseplate, finish welding the base of the stove pipe. Next the burning chamber and the stove pipe must be covered and packed with sand all the way to the top of thetank to insulate the burning chamber and stove pipe. The sand should be packed tightly to eliminate air pockets.


Step 8: Fitting and Welding the BaseplateAfter filling the entire inside of the tank with sand, put the baseplate into position and weld all the way around the top of the stovepipe. The baseplate must be cut 0.5inlarger than the diameter of the tank to get a good weld all the way around the bottom edge of where the baseplate meets the tank wall. Next, weld the area between thehole in the baseplate and the stovepipe.

Step 9: Installing the Baseplate Burner-RisersIn order for the stove to be able to push hot air and smoke from the stove pipe, risers must be welded to the baseplate to elevate the cooking surface from the stove pipe.A few simple spot welds on each end will firmly hold them in place.


Step 10: Drilling Depressurizing HolesDuring the first fire that will be burned in the new rocket stove, moisture trapped in the sand may become pressurized and possibly hazardous. Drill a few small holes ahalf inch below the weld seam of the baseplate so that the pressure inside of the tank can always adjust to the outside atmosphere.

Step 11: Grinding, Deburring, and Applying Stove PaintTo complete the fabrication on the rocket stove, remove all sharp exposed edges, deburr all surfaces, and surface grind all weld beads. To protect the exposed steelsurfaces and weld beads, apply two evenly spread coats of black stove paint. Do not use regular spray paint for this step, or it will bubble and burn during use. Hightemperature stove paint is required to adequately protect all outer surfaces. Allow 2-3 days of drying time before firing up the stove for the first time.


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