A rocket stove burns best on dry sticks 1 to 3 cm thick, broken to 20 to 30 cm lengths. Start with tinder at the base of the riser, feed a few thin sticks, wait 30 to 60 seconds for the draft and never pack the magazine full. If the stove smokes, stop and fix the cause, because smoke means unburned fuel and carbon monoxide.
Part of Rocket Stove Design
A rocket stove rewards small, dry fuel and steady attention. Running it well means choosing the fuel, starting it correctly and reading the smoke.
Fuel, Start And Smoke Are One Skill
- Fuel. See Ideal Fuel Sizes.
- Starting and feeding. See Starting & Feeding.
- Troubleshooting smoke. See Smoke Troubleshooting.
The stove burns dry sticks 1 to 3 cm thick, broken to 20 to 30 cm lengths. Start with a ball of tinder at the base of the riser and wait 30 to 60 seconds for the draft before judging the burn; the overview puts the saving at 60 to 70 percent against an open fire. You need only a bundle of sticks to cook a meal, and small dead branches are far easier to gather than felling and splitting trees. A sustainable supply is covered in Coppicing & Fuel Management.
Common Mistakes
- Wet or green wood. It smoulders and clogs the system.
- Overfilling. It chokes the air.
- Leaving it unattended. A stove burning with no one present can flare or smoulder unnoticed.
Safety
Never burn treated wood or use liquid starters
Painted, pressure-treated or glued salvaged lumber gives off toxic fumes and, in the case of treated wood, can carry arsenic into smoke and ash. Never pour gasoline or other liquids on a fire. Smoke from any stove carries carbon monoxide, which has no smell; cook outdoors or exhaust to the outside. See Carbon Monoxide Risks.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Ideal Fuel Sizes — the fuel itself
- Combine with: Wood Selection — which woods to burn