Woodgaz UL wood burning stove.

[zelph]

"Terry_Dodson"

Stovemandan any more work on the MK1 or maybe a folding version yet?

That's a quote from last weeks visit to Hammock Forums.net that inspired me to do the folding version.

I liked his idea of a folding version so I put one together over the weekend and tried it out today. It was a bit windy but all turned out well. Even with all the heat loss due to wind and insufficient windscreen I was able to acheive a boil using one batch of maple wood. The wood was in the form of 1" diameter branch that I had cut into 2" length and then quartered the pieces into little split logs. I horizontal layered the pieces to the top of the 2" deep fire box. Places slivers of the wood on top and then used paper on top of that and then more slivers and then lit. The paper has a significant effect on the ignition of the fuel. 1. It protects the small initial fire. 2. It radiates heat downward toward the fuel to enhance it's burn-ability.

The stove weighs 3.9 ounces. Is 3.5 inches square and 5" tall. One inch taller than the round version.

I'll make some of these available in Nov. - Dec.

Big campout this week for a Halloween family get together. I'll be setting up my Grizz Bridge and Warbonnet to give them a try again. Lots of cooking to be done in a dutch oven and lots of water to boil in the Kelly Kettle:D We have to make the best of this terrific weather were having in the Midwest.

[redoleary]

Very nice. I like the way that folds up.

[Tamerlin]

Looks like a clever design!

[zelph]

I'm back from camping and ready to get back in the grove here. Lot's to catch up on Had to fill all the back orders on stoves.

"LoveRise" had a good idea on the design of the Woodgaz stove and "glassymountain" had a comment over at HammockForums that was interesting.

[QUOTE=glassymountain;336588]The folding stove looks great!

How does it compare in burn to the Vargo woodstove? Seems like a similar weight (without using titanium). Is it necessary to precisely cut the wood pieces or can you just break them and stack in a criss-cross pattern in the firebox?

Your videos show wood that looks precisely sawn to length. Just wondering if that is necessary, or just to best way to pack more wood in.

I would definitely be interested in a stove like this. I like the foldable nature so you can easily pack it for a long day-hike in a small pack.[/QUOTE]

Hello glassymountain........It is not necessary to cut your fuel precisely. I did to show how easily it is to top light a large mass of wood using paper as part of the tinder. This past weekend I used slender pine cones curled up just as I curl the paper around the circumference of the stove. I always leave a central core open for air to enter the center of the stove. The fire box is only 2" in depth(stainless steel sheet metal area) The bushbuddy firebox is less in depth. A double wall of 2" is not going to pre heat the air to aid in combustion. Double wall stoves are packed to overflowing and block the so called secondary air holes.

LoveRise made a comment to one of my videos on the compact Woodgaz UL, here is what she said:

("LoveRise"
Great stove! Is there a way to alter is so it can fold up in the width of just one panel maybe by making it connect and disconnect so it would be a more compact package almost pocketable becaue I would be very interested in having access to a wood or alcohol stove that would fold flat and fit in my back pocket of my jeans.

Celebrate Life!

Laurie)





I liked what she said and went ahead and modified the stove as you can see in this video made today:



I'll be posting more videos that were made this past week. I used various species of wood. I vertical stacked the twigs and top lit. I'll also show the progression of wood burning stoves that I have made over the past 2-3 years and how they relate to the culmination of design features found in this stove.

This stove design will perform as well as all ultra light stoves on the market. Burning twigs in it to boil 2 cups of water will never come near the temperatures required to melt it. Why use Titanium? I'm not going to use the stove as a step stool or throw it down the trail to see how tough the stainless steel is. It's tough!!!!

[sudden]

I've got a mod in mind already.

I think it will still hold a pot full of water if you cut out some of the squares (maybe two rows below the top, one row in from each side, and down to the windscreen on one panel). Now I don't have to lift the pot to feed the fire

p.s. I like the first design better. You might have to make two versions. Call the first one the switchblade. Just looked too cool when you flipped it open with one hand.

[zelph]

You might have to make two versions. Call the first one the switchblade. Just looked too cool when you flipped it open with one hand.

The first version is more stable and is really cool because of the one handed flip open. I liked that part also

The video is from this last Halloween campout. Needed fuel of different species for tests. The white bark tree is a Poplar and burns very clean, I like it!

The scooter seat post comes out and the handlebar folds flat for storage. I weigh 250 and the unit had no problem pulling me over the back trails that were sandy in some places where the wheels were in 1.5" of sand. Nice toy for this big boy

[JBRanger]

So, what happened to the flame concentrator? I would like to see a comparison of burn/boil times with the concentrator and the new "switchblade" design.

Or you could offer both, One called the afterburner (flame concentrator makes it look like a jet engine) and the "switchblade". LOL!

[ConnieD]

I like both.

It seems to me, however, 5 "squares" above the flame is a little high above the fire.

Why so?

[zelph]

I like both.

It seems to me, however, 5 "squares" above the flame is a little high above the fire.

Why so?

With the round one I experienced diminishing flame when the pot was put on. So the folding one I raised it up 2 squares. Now it works fine. Now I can put the pot on after 30 seconds or so after lighting.

Because I raised the height of the stove the flame pattern is such that a concentrator is not needed. Air flow coming in from all around the stove has a squeezing affect on the flame, kinda like an hour glass shape. You've probably seen that on alcohol stoves when the pot is high above the burner. There has been a good learning curve as many tests have been made. I'll see if I can get a video of the concentrating effect.

[zelph]

This video was taken this past weeks campout: