NOOB - planning an outdoor kitchen

[samwiseca]

I am new to all this fun, stumbled across these cool cooking stoves while researching my Cob Oven that I want to build.

I am doing a built in (cement block structure) that will have a Cob Oven on it.  I was thinking a Rocket Stove on either side of the oven would be cool.  In essence it would give me 2 burners to work with while I have other things cooking in the Oven.  I want to build these in a simple "L" shape with the opening rising just above my counter top where I can have pots sitting.  

Questions I have... 
Seems like 4" 1/4 or 3/16 steel square tube would work good (maybe a 1/2" Square tube running on the bottom of the burn chamber to feed air).  But I started to read that Steel is not a good idea?  I am not building something that will be used to heat a house, will I be ok for a simple cooking stove with Steel?  I plan on insulating the entire "L" with something light like an insulating blanket and vermiculite.  

Since the stove will be built into a Block structure, taking it out to maintain it, while not impossible, will be difficult.  IF not made of steel, what is a good material?

Is there any ideal ratio to the length of the burn/feed chamber to height of exhaust where pots will sit, and the 4" diameter of the tube?

Just a side note, I will also have a fire pit that will have a primitive Stone Cooking area on it ( fire built under a slate stone, cook on top of stone).

I am hoping that this will be a nice modern looking outdoor kitchen that will be focusing on several more primitive cooking techniques ... Cob Oven, Rocket stove,  Stone slab cooking.  Could be a fun place to hang out for several hours enjoy beer and cook with friends.


 

[matthewwalker]

Welcome Sam! Firebricks are an easily available suitable material for building burners like you describe. You are going to want something that will last, since they will be integrated into your counters. As for metal, if the stove is burning correctly the metal won't last long, if the metal lasts then the stove isn't as good as it could be.

A bit more involved, but worth it in my opinion, is to put a barrel over the burner and cut a hole in the top, then route the exhaust out the bottom. In this manner you can get incredible control over the cooker, and benefit from the extra heat radiated from the barrel when cooking on cool nights. My outdoor cooking set up is posted in the Finishing/Finished forum on this board. It will give you an idea of what's possible. I've found that I'm cooking 90% of my evening meals outside using this set up, it's just that versatile. Good luck man, keep us posted on your build.

[larrymosby]

Earlier, I had also built a cob oven but inside my kitchen which laid negative impact on my laminate flooring, but now built a beautiful oven for my outdoor kitchen.