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Post by seanrua on Sept 2, 2013 21:32:59 GMT
As the weather begins to cool and that old dampness marking the approach of winter is upon us, I thought I'd better replace my old rocket stove which I use for cooking. The old thing was a right botch up and the tin had burnt though so that the insulation ( ash ) was leaking out. Something had to be done.
Anyway, the salient points are that I stepped away from original basic principles and went for heavier duty material and a far bigger diameter of pipe and tub. 'Tis early days, and I'll be a wiser man when winter is over, but at the moment, with everything being far bigger than the original, I have to say that results are pretty good.
There was less smoke and better combustion. Larger sticks could be loaded and these lasted longer than twigs and produced some terrific heat. Ok, that's probably a less efficient use of fuel, but as I pay nothing for timber, it did mean that my own energy was conserved! Instead of farting about with nothing thicker than a pencil ( original theoretical concept) I have now reverted to type and can use four by twos or even four by fours with lengths up to four or five feet! Saves a lot of labour.
So the old campfire routine, but in a burco boiler can. Some joke!
Anyway, once the really miserable wet and misty drizzle comes along, I may not be so cock a hoop. We'll see. I suppose if it it all goes pear-shaped, I could always catch a ferry to Brittany and then I would be able to see which side my bread was buttered.
More later, though I'm off to Limerick, and then Listowel, for the races soon, so I'll no longer be all over the forum like a rash.
sean rua.
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Post by robmac on Sept 2, 2013 21:40:34 GMT
What do you use the stove for Sean? I would have thought they are not that good for heating as the heat is directed upwards. Great for cooking though.
EDIT: SorryI just noticed you did say for cooking!
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Post by robmac on Sept 2, 2013 21:45:26 GMT
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Post by Firefox on Sept 2, 2013 22:43:52 GMT
Good pics! I'd always wondered about these, there are a lot of variations!
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Post by seanrua on Sept 4, 2013 7:15:32 GMT
Yes, excellent photo there. Thanks, Robmac. I experimented with bricks and, indeed, they would be very good for static use. On the trail, something lighter is required, imo. I used small sticks like that, right up until recently, but, now I'm glad I've upsized everything. Size matters, it seems! Anyway, I logged in to report that, today, being a misty starting one, was a very good test for the new furnace. It passed with flying colours! Well, probably not as good as AJAX and his two O levels, but, hey, we can't all be perfect, can we? Early indications show that length of chimney is an important factor. Sure, I must be losing a deal of valuable heat with this long stack, but the emissions output is so clean now that it is almost invisible. Actually, I contravened several H&S issues this morning: one, by not erecting scaffolding around the darned thing, and two, by peering over the top and down the stack. Result was a singed face, so that'll learn me! The crucial question now is how to concentrate and extract the heat whilst, at the same time, allowing the emissions to escape. Headache. Perhaps i need an airjack, but more likely is some kind of reverse condom. Dunno. Keep It Simple Stupid, I suppose. On efficiency, I regret to say that i am still lagging behind, imo. From a dead start, I still cannot better 8 minutes, as my fastest time to boil a pint of water. In this, I seem to be much slower than those with Kelly Stoves. I'm working on it. sean rua.
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Post by robmac on Sept 4, 2013 12:40:42 GMT
Have you considered a woodgas stove?
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Post by robmac on Sept 4, 2013 12:53:24 GMT
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Post by seanrua on Sept 4, 2013 13:09:54 GMT
Yes, Robmac, that idea looks good, but the technology seems a bit hi-tech to me. Obviously, that may mean 'tis much better, but my ways are pretty low budget.
In the house that I don't live in, I invested far too much money in putting in a Stanley ( the Irish equivalent of the Aga). Total heap, imo, and never again!
So the son-in-law ( heating engineer and plumber) says upgrade to a Worcester Valour Green or somesuch. Have ye seen the price? Then the cold winters returned and a lot of folk had a queer shock: heating broke down and they were in trouble. The son-in-law cleaned up and made a fortune. And which boilers were the worst ( ie prone to failure in the frost), why those expensive state of the art things!
On another note, i think I mentioned on another forum how successful Tralee Council has been with using wood chip for heating and hot water. I expect this is a wood-gas design, so it must be fine for major projects.
sean rua.
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Post by robmac on Sept 4, 2013 13:37:27 GMT
It's only a couple of paint tins with holes drilled in strategic places. The wood burns and expells gases which come out in the jets (holes around the top rim) and reignite. There are loads of examples of them on you tube - often called hobo stoves.
I'll dabble with one when I get time and let you know how I get on. (unless I die of CO poisoning).
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Post by seanrua on Sept 4, 2013 16:23:53 GMT
Oh , yes, I'm playing about with those things for years, Robmac. I hadn't realised they were wood gas things. As AJAX says, we all have to die of something. In my case I'm more likely to die of exposure than CO poisoning, imo, but, judging by my racing results today, I could easily be wrong about that!
sean rua
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Post by n brown on Sept 4, 2013 18:13:26 GMT
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Post by seanrua on Sept 4, 2013 19:13:12 GMT
I used to mess around with those bucket things, n.brown, but I don't really think they're as good for cooking as the rocket.
At the moment I'm into this idea of using bigger sticks again. I'm sure the day will come when i spot something different and move on.
sean rua.
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Post by robmac on Sept 4, 2013 19:39:21 GMT
Interesting that you use Ash as an insulator Sean. Is that a well known one? (I presume by Ash you mean burnt wood rather than Ash - the timber!). I looked at building or buying a rocket stove along with a large Kirtley Kettle (10 litre) which would solve my hot water needs for a day when camping. I may still go this way although I now have the frontier stove. The following ad shows a Kirtley Kettle in conjunction with a rocket stove. Bit expensive for the kettle though, might look around for a second hand cauldron! wildstoves.co.uk/campfire-kettles/kirtley-campfire-kettle-10-litre/
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Post by seanrua on Sept 5, 2013 7:47:18 GMT
Thanks, Robmac: that's a decent sized kettle!
I think when you're going to be around for the day, it might be even better to get the old trad fire going with a big skillet hanging above. A lid makes it more efficient, but this is for several people and possibly more like on "wash day".
Undoubtedly, for speed and efficiency with smaller quantities, those horrible little electric elements that ye put in the mug to heat the water are best - especially if ye can use somebody else's power! ( Ha, ha, - that'll get 'em going). Surely they can be plugged into these here xxxxxx vans?
I'm just waiting for the day when ye solar boys crack it and we can use little appliances like this in the bush. It will come, but there will be massive opposition from current big players ( leccy board) unless they can monopolise the market.
sean rua.
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Post by seanrua on Sept 5, 2013 7:57:25 GMT
'kit, I forgot to say about the ash:
Yep, it's the fire ash.
In California they reckoned it was the beesknees:
a) it was free and to hand ( after the first few fires)
b) it was the best insulator - they said
c) it is sterile and as harmless as most things in nature.
In my usage, I found it is crap when it gets wet. Even with nice dry stuff as on the new set-up, I cannot touch the outside of the drum as it is far too hot. "They" reckoned the outer can wouldn't heat up as the design was so efficient. ?? Who knows?
Mind, you, I've moved away from the spec by about a thousand times, so not a bit of wonder that things are different! By now, i guess most of those guys are retired out to Orange County or someplace and probably live in luxury, but originally, they reckoned use bamboo no bigger than the thickness of a pencil.
More efficient and quickly renewable.
Me? I'm horsing on 4x4 timbers, and pallets, and Goodness knows what! I'm more smokey than green, I think.
sean rua.
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Post by robmac on Sept 6, 2013 14:09:14 GMT
Can't beat cooking over an open fire, or in it using a Dutch Oven. I'm a bit obsessed with outdoor cooking and already have far too much gear for that purpose, but as soon as I see something new I decide that I 'need' it. Much to the wife's dismay.
There is something very satisfying about being in the middle of nowhere and cooking up a good hot meal, especially if you have caught it yourself. Trout smoked on the banks of a loch is a prime example. Or Pigeon Breast seared on a skillet.
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