How would YOU build a backyard wood cooking stove?

J

John H

Deceased
While I can cook on the wood stove in the late fall, winter and early spring and have 20 lb bottles of propane for a camp stove, that wouldn't last forever. However, I do have 25 acres of trees. :)

I've been thinking of ideas as to how I would come up with a backyard wood cook stove for the other months. Not talking about bbq, although it could be used for that too. I want to use it to boil water, heat frying pan, stew foods, etc. Maybe even bake on it with a camp oven. Should be easy on wood (efficient).

Has anyone burned wood in a charcoal bbq? I've thought about a square, fairly deep one and putting a bit of sand in the bottom. This year, there's also some interesting round stainless steel charcoal bbq's. Home hardware has a pedistal one, probably a China copy, for about CD$95. Not sure how that would do with wood.

I've also thought about stacking concrete blocks 24 x 24. After 2 rows put on a 24 x 24 patio slab, then another row or two of blocks. Fill with sand, then press in a large cheap stainless steel mixing bowl to hold the wood and lay a grill on top.

What does anyone think of these options? Any better ideas?

John H
 
N

Nuthatch

Membership Revoked
I cook outside at the fire pit. I have two simple grill tops. One is a large grid of rebar type material that I use either larger logs to hold up, or more commonly, concrete blocks. That raises it off the fire and to a more comfortable height. I have room in the fire pit to bury coals/dutch oven, and I do that sometimes. This rig cost nothing. I use it to create a large surface to hold pots/skillets or grill baskets. I do not cook directly on it.

I also bought a fancy black grill top from a store that has folding legs and a rectangle grill. This I also use standing on concrete blocks to raise it up if I need a bigger fire underneath. Works great. Cost less than $20 US.

With the addition of 2 different grill baskets with long handles (one is square with adjustable thickness and one is rectangle), I can easily cook diced veggies, kabobs, fish, burgers, etc. with little investment. I found the baskets at yard sale and on clearance. Oh, and I have a wok with holes through it that I use to stir fry and smoke.

I have used small wood pieces in the bottom of my cheapo metal round water smoker. I think it affects the integrity of the metal. Also, I find the weather takes a toll on these cheaper metal grills. The covers are poop and don't last a season in my climate without shredding. So I keep my smoker on a covered porch.

I do leave a healthy layer of ash in the pit, even with taking some off to put on the garden. That gives me a nice base for the fires.
 
P

pixmo

Bucktoothed feline member
Remove the washtub from a discarded washing machine, place a grill on top of it, and you have a portable wood grill. Many snobs consider it a poor man's approach, yet I find it very effective.

Air goes through the holes to fuel the fire and the fire itself is contained within the tub.
 
N

north runner

Membership Revoked
You could always make your own charcoal and store it or save it from your fireplace. A big dutch oven is the easiest way. I have a barrel stove for tent use from cabelas that seems like it would make a good oven. The thing I like about it is the stainless steel contour water tank that mounts on the side. Sort of an instant hot water unit.
 
tosca

tosca

Inactive
Got Bricks?

Building a multi use stove out of bricks and get a used or new grill and place that on oneside; next build up the chimney and have an open fire place; on the left have a pit with an open grill! Viola, you are set for whatever comes. I would recommend putting a nice roof over it. Just the roof on frames to allow for good ventilation. Certain times of year you will have your family sitting around the fireplace! I know. My dad built one and it is still standing 80 years hence!
 
idelphic

idelphic

Inactive
If you are not planning on departing your 25 acres,....

You can make your own charcoal. It's not really difficult. There are many resourses on the web that will explain and show you how to built one. Making your own charcoal could be useful during certain times of the year.

Well I am glad I did a quick search on this next part. I have seen it done, and thought I knew what the term was, but did not find it.

In years of old, and in some parts of England I think it is still being done. This is to protect 'clear cutting' your land. THere is suppose to be a method in which you cut down a tree so that is sends off other shoots, and thus giving you more timber to acre. I beleive it has to do with the time of year you cut. But you would be able to continue to produce useable timber to keep you going a while.

Look at also using a wood fired oven. They are generally easy to build, and if properly built and maintained, will last many years more then steel. And is easily built from material you prob already have plenty of: Clay and water.

I beleive in the TSHHTF situation, you'd want to use things that are replaceable onsite. Anything you manufacture and maintain yourself with resources you 'mine' and 'refine' yourself only extends your ability to continue going.

Another alternative is manure. Manure you say? Yes, that is right. Many areas of the world use sun baked cow manure to heat and cook with... Then there is corn cobs and other natural farm harvest materails... Including methane which you can create from any bio material breaking down (you will create kitchen scraps,...)

Hope that helps...
 
C

cooter

cantankerous old coot
well eversince I saw a stove from a civilwar reinactment group

it was so simple I never really considered something like that till I saw it being used,
Im going to make one out of Stainless, and a heavier guage, while thiers was not that heavy of sheetmetal aprox 16-18guage,

but all it was , was a sheet metal box, but the bottom was open, on a short side, it had a hinged access door to put your wood in, and on the other end you had a stack running straight out the top,

they dug out a pit, placed this stove assembly on the pit, , the smoke went out the stack, no smoke in your face, they had the skillets ect sitting on top just like cooking on the stove in the house, a rather neat simple ,,,portable set up, ;) but it looks like its only good for fair weather, rainy weather, would kinda dampen things,,,:p
 
I

Ice

Inactive
John

Here are some cheaply made wood cooking stoves they do not use much wood because of the way they are build which is good in a way they seem to cook fast since the small flame would be pretty much direct with such small wood being used.

The only thing I would suggest since you live in the cold country is that it would have to insulated it very well so that you don't loose the heat. You would also need a wind protector arround the pot

http://www.repp.org/discussiongroups/resources/stoves/Scott/mozambique/Moz Report904.pdf



ICE
 
W

Windy Ridge

Veteran Member
The forestry practices Idelphic referred to are known as coppicing and pollarding. They work better with some species of trees. My idea of an outdoor summer cooking area includes a counter and the fire box to be placed at a convenient height to avoid stooping. There should also be a chimney to remove the smoke. I have seen some very fancy brick outdoor barbecue grills at campsites that looked like just the thing. As long as it is all virtual (and free) I would like a roof, space for a picnic table and the whole thing screened to keep bugs out.

Windy Ridge
 
J

John H

Deceased
Great ideas and references.

I like the concept of the rocket stove, but if I did it, I would buy high-temperature or refractory cement and pour it, rather than kiln-firing clay.

Hmmmm, lots of ways to skin the cat. Gonna have to think about it some, especially since this is really a backup for the backup.

Thanks.

John H

PS - Spinner, just saw yours. Interesting too.
 
idelphic

idelphic

Inactive
Windy Ridge said:
The forestry practices Idelphic referred to are known as coppicing and pollarding. They work better with some species of trees.

Windy Ridge
Click to expand...


Thanks Windy Ridge... I was totally off in my thought. :rolleyes: But at least knew the principle.

Del
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top