Stove Tec rocket stove

Aside from the previous post about my Stove Tec rocket stove that I wrote up in the off-grid living forum on rocket stove mass heaters, I decided to post this one about using them.

Using an enamelled cast iron pot, I made some survival stew (2 cups white rice and a large can of beef stew) and was supprised how fast and effecient the stove is. I had 6 cups of water boiling in less than 4 minutes.

After I added the rice, I had to add some more water because I had no idea how to get it to a "simmer". This thing is flat out, and the ring around the base of the pot keeps you from sliding it on and off to regulate heat. I guess I'll have to work on that.

I started the fire normally, using some old paper and 1-2" dry sticks, but after it caught, I used a small extruded biomass brick. I had to cut it in half lengthwise do I could fit it in the stove opening. I burned less than half the brick to make the stew- I had to pull the brick back out and toss it in our chimnea to finish burning. The stew was long cooked by then.

My only problem is cleaning the pot. The carbon on the side can be easy to get off in one spot, and right beside it impossible. I didn't use a brillo pad because I didn't want to ruin the enamel. Any helpful hints out there?

Pic 1- The water was boiling before I could even get the biomass brick into it's belly. I was very supprised by this.
Pic 2- A small biomass brick. I cut it in half lengthwise with an old handsaw. It is rather hard to cut- the brick is very dense.
Pic 3- Stew's 'a cooking. The green turtle sandbox beside the rocketstove didn't even feel warm to the touch. Most of the heat is sent to the pot!
Pic 4- I got the little one's involved. She actually ate and liked the stew. (I didn't think she would.)

 

Stove-Tec is the same brand that I have and I think it is an excellent product.

If you Survival Monkey folks have been wondering about how to get your primary cooking taken care of for a SHTF event, this is a great solution.

Since my area has plenty of trees and shrubs, I am not looking for any other source of fuel, at this time. I do, however, keep a couple of crates full of cut up twigs and branches in case there is a sudden need to fire it up.

Great pictures, thanks for your post!

 

soap the outside of your pot prior to use and the carbon will just wash off....

 

I tried that, but due to the nature of the enameled cast iron, it wasn't perfectly flat or smooth. There were a lot of voids on the surface and rubbing the bar of soap (even digging the corner in) over them didn't cover 100%.

I was able to get most of the carbon off easily, but the lid was another problem altogether. I didn't soap the lid, just the bottom of the pot.

I don't think that using soap would be a viable solution for everyday use, anyway. I would choose to live with the carbon on the outside of the pot.

I think the next test will be cooking up some eggs on a frying pan.

 

try liquid soap...

 

What I did was to go to one of the goodwill type stores and buy a couple of cheap pots and pans. I didn't care about the black on the then...

 

I use liquid dish soap smeared onto the pot and let it dry. When you next cook, the soot just washes off with warm water. Finish cleaning the inside of the pot and, unless you will be packing it to move, soap it and set it out to dry.

 

BINGO!

I use an SOS pad to clean my stuff (all stainless) but use the soap suds from the pad to cover the bottom of the pot, set upside down to dry.


Where in the world does one purchase the Bio brick? I assume it is compressed sawdust mixed with a binder - like wax. Thx!
Looks like a cool product, and maybe cheaper than charcoal?

 

Only place I found with a price ===
Biobrick Biobricks Fire Logs NH | Bedford Biomass Wood Pellets & Bio Bricks NH

 

Here's what I have on the Biobricks: Home

Biobricks may be an east coiast thing, you would have to go to your local stove dealer and find out if they can get them. The heating stove industry is very middleman heavy- it's hard to get a deal on anything unless you sell stoves or such. It really sucks, as it's the middlemen that are actually responceable for high prices of pellets back in the hayday when everybody were busy buying pelletstoves. I can remember getting yelled at by a dealer saying that "That skidder isn't going to pay for itself" when I told him his prices were ridiculous.

As per the biobrick makeup, they are just large pellets. There is no binder added. During the pelletization process, the dried wood fibers are under such great heat and pressure that they produce thier own binder AKA resin. The molds for the pellets and biobricks may be coated with vegetable oil as a release agent.

When I used the biobrick to make rice and stew, I only used part of the half that I cut. There is a lot of fuel packed into that little brick. If you do use a brick, I would suggest lining up a three course meal! Maybe cut the half brick into halves or thirds?

I only tried the biobrick because I had one close by. Normally, I would use the myriad of down tree branches around us.

 

I control heat in the Stove Tec by pulling some sticks out of the stove. Once boiling it takes a lot less to simmer, add more in if not hot enough, pull out if too hot.
We used this type stove with Boy Scouts years ago. I second the liquid soap on the pots.

 

Spray oven cleaner on it,and put it in the oven.Set the self cleaning feature.
When the cycle is done,let cool in the oven.
The black should wipe right off After that,if it's not already gone.
Matt