Using my Firebox Freestyle with Wood Pellets

[@benthere8051]

Thanks for sharing your technique for using wood pellets in the Firebox. There's a perforated plate that has 0.100" holes on 0.200" centers that would be worth testing. The Firebox Freestyle stoves are amazing little devices. The inventor is pretty neat also.

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Steve has done a great job with this design. Lots of room for experimenting as well. Thanks for commenting

[@jimf1964]

Morning Mark! I’m not a wood pellets fan, but sitting here watching this, getting ready to spend the day out in nature with the family, I have to admit, they would be a great thing to have in a park setting. Same as charcoal using it as a mini bbq. I suppose if it’s been pouring rain they’d be useful on a day hike too, but I just got so hooked on these mini stoves as something that can cook with little scraps laying around that I’d be a little hesitant in the forest. But hey, versatility is a big bonus.

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Its all about the versatility. Thanks for commenting Jim

[@AquaTech225]

Like mine for bbq always used the 5” for the same thing. It’s just the two of us an the lil ones. They don’t really eat bbq so it’s other things for them. So it’s not a huge amount of grilling a ton of meat

[@dansklrvids7303]

Outstanding video

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting

[@AquaTech225]

What I did was take the grate. But got some thin stainless wire. An weaved it in between the wires in both directions that make up the grate. So basically I still have a grate. Just have a grate with smaller holes

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Interesting solution. I can see a couple of ideas from that. Thanks for commenting

[@AquaTech225]

@@MarkYoungBushcraft well I thought up a few things like you did. That was the only way to keep the max airflow that I like more so over the other stoves. And I said thin stainless wire. Basically though I found what I was able to cross on eBay that was roughly the same thickness as the wire of the grate itself. By doing that Ofcourse I needed to weave it through with pliers. But it made the added wires very snug being about the same gauge so they would slide or fall out or just be loose in general. All I did was cut them to size. Than grind the ends of them on a bench grinder an rounded an smoothed the ends. An thought about hitting the ends with a welder an trying to if not add material. Melt them into the original grate. But opted not to. They fit so snug and smoothed out. They don’t move around or snag on anything to be an issue. And so far has worked amazing. And since it’s kinda built into it. It’s not like carrying or packing in an extra piece of equipment even if it’s a small thing to go with the stove. It’s just built in an is there regardless of what fuel is being burned at the time. Definitely should check it out though and see what you think being it’s a really cheap thing to give a shout. I wish I were a KZbin person and had a video to stick up. But if you do give it a shout. Definitely would be interested in what you think an if it works as well for you as it has me. The only other thing I thought was finding some stainless sticks/wire about the same gauge as the legs are, and adding a couple bends in it. An maybe just maybe with a dremmel or something just barely make a small grind mark one one of them if need be. But to be able to stick 4 pins on the top of one of them stoves. To connect into the leg position holes in the bottom of the other. In order to use the freestyle in the overkill mode like he made for the nano to go into stacking them. Chance Is slim to need that option. But just to have that option

[@Pedenzo]

I'm kind of a pyronut....and where I live in rural Idaho we have very frequent power outages. I have found that with the right size gassifier I can boil 2 cups of water with as little as 1oz (weight) of pellets. On the opposite end of stove size I made a gassifier out of a 5 gallon bucket which will burn for 3 hours fully loaded with pellets. I've cooked many a family meal....in the dark....on these stoves. Great video, thank you!

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

You make a great case for having an easy to use stove that can burn wood pellets. Thanks for commenting

[@ssos4540]

This is a very timely video for me. I received my Freestyle Thursday and was thinking about cutting a steel grilling mesh for using wood pellets for my next test.

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Right on. I am sure you will have fun playing wit the stove. Thanks for commenting

[@terryw.milburn8565]

Great Alternative Fuel Source, Thanks Mark, Great Day There ! ATB T God Bless

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Works great. Thanks for commenting Terry

[@jasonjohnson6344]

I wanted to experiment to find what type of accelerant might be best for pellets in these types of stoves, wood gasifiers, hobo stoves and campfires too. I used several different small, glass jars and put a few tablespoons of pellets into each one. I then put alcohol, acetone, turpentine, mineral spirits and even water in the jars. I tightened the lids tightly to try to eliminate evaporation and have a fair comparison for my experiment. After about 90 days, I remembered I’d done it all and I took time to play. I had been expecting that being in liquid would break the pellets down into sawdust again but I was surprised that it was only the pellets I’d soaked in water that broke down to sawdust, mushy sawdust. I stood a pellet on end and lit it, an alcohol soaked one. It burned a very long time as sort of a candle. I did the same for each method of my experiment. I’m going long here so I’ll just say that, putting some pellets into a plastic jar and covering the pellets with alcohol will give LONG burning, flame extension of either a fire-lay or any of these kind of stoves. Acetone burns dirtier, turpentine too but if you just need a long burning flame extender to get a fire lit, they all worked well. Just 5 or 6 alcohol soaked pellets in the middle of the rest of what you are trying to light, and you’re gonna have a fire. Same for each of the other methods I tried.

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

This is most interesting and not something I would have thought to do. I will give this a try. Thanks for commenting

[@jasonjohnson6344]

@@MarkYoungBushcraft I would have never thought to use pellets but you showed how well they work and now I have a big stash of em for emergency situations like grid down and no electricity. I’m very pleased with the alcohol soaked pellets as a flame extender.

[@enriquediaz7547]

Just took advantage of the holiday/thanksgiving sale on a freestyle !

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Congrats. I know you will enjoy it. Thanks for commenting

[@manfredneumann938]

Great Job Mark, thanks for sharing

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Most welcome. Thanks for commenting

[@alf3553]

Great info Mark. I’ve had my stove for a couple days & so far I’ve used it with an alcohol burner for some coffee. Looking forward to playing with this stove & the different configurations it can make.

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

That is part of the fun for sure. I find I use the single stove most of the time but like knowing I can also expand it when I want to. Thanks for commenting

[@tray-b6955]

As you know from previous vids comments, I love pellets! 😊 but I would also be interested to see how (lump) charcoal performs. Thanks also, Mark, for the burn time frames 👍🏽

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

I may be using charcoal soon. It is the only fuel (other than gas or alcohol) allowed during a fire ban, which we now have. Thanks for commenting

[@glenncharles6622]

I use lump charcoal all the time when I am on overnighters with the Motorocycle. Works great for cooking up steaks or burgers then I augment with sticks if i need to heat up water. I tend to carry a small zip lock qt bag and that is more than enough. However, I love the idea of the pellets as I think they would pack better and ounce for ounce look like they might burn longer.

[@r.l.royalljr.3905]

If you have a welder (or know someone who does), you might be able to tack weld your mesh grate to the bottom of your grill grate to get the best of both worlds - you won't snag things with the ends of the mesh but you won't have pellets fall through the grate holes.

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Interesting idea. I will consider. Thanks for commenting

[@davidtiner4094]

Hello Mark, I use wood pellets more than charcoal or twigs. It’s just easier for me. However, Once the pellets have burned down a good bit , I find that adding more is a challenge. The new pellets tend to smoother rather than burn. Just my thoughts. Good video!

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Yes, good point. Pellets seem to prefer a top down burn. They struggle when more are added. Adding charcoal on top should work. Thanks for commenting

[@NorthcoastPatty]

I like the plate you made for using with pellets. The screen would worry me. One little stray strand getting into food could destroy a person's digestive track. The little strands coming off the edges could easily find their way anywhere. A cup of pellets seem perfect.

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Good point. Thanks for commenting

[@jamesabond9332]

I have just done bushcraft 6 using wood pellets it lasted an hour use 2mm hole metal was soft after use with bushcraft 6 supported underneath but it work just now find something stronger

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

I have found a number of items at the thrift store that would work. Thanks for commenting

[@tonyrs15]

Definitely will try this!

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Right on. Thanks for commenting

[@chrisvanderburg5568]

Hi Mark. Instead of using metal mesh to support the wood pellets, why dont you use a crosshatch of very small twigs? . They are abundant in the forest and are also a fuel source. How about dry moss ? Air will pass through both. Just my thoughts.

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Interesting idea and it could work. Of course, part of the reason for using pellets is an option for when wood is not available. I would think the pellets would burn through the sticks or moss quickly resulting in the pellets falling through. Still, I will give this a try. Thanks for commenting

[@frankieramirez4791]

Would a small tuna can work out with a bunch of small or medium holes?

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

It should. Worth a try. Thanks for commenting

[@davidwalker2942]

Interesting! Do you think this stove is preferable for pellet burning as compared to the various similar stoves you have reviewed in the past?

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

The best pellet burning stoves I have used are wood gas stoves. Pellets in this stove is a real option but it works better with wood or charcoal. Thanks for commenting

[@northwind9505]

Wow. That was perfect! Could you make charcoal out of wood pellets?

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Interesting idea. I may try it. All I would need to do is "cook" them in a sealed container with a small vent hole. Like making char cloth. Thanks for commenting

[@margueritemitchell1829]

Hello from British Columbia Canada 🇨🇦👍👋♥️🌲🚵‍♀️🌲🧘‍♀️🎨🖌

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Thanks for commenting

[@andymytys]

Sound is fine on my end

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Thank you. Getting everything right can be a challenge sometimes. Thanks for commenting

[@larshernell4880]

Coal v pellets is true. At the moment I can’t get two firestix let alone two freestyles. I have two kids with mecfs wife with crones and S3 breast cancer. And I have emphysema. We need have 90 days to. Vacate. Any philanthropic types around. We need to stay here awhile. God bless you all and enjoy the outdoors

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

I am so sorry to hear about your situation

[@josephtremblay6562]

older stainless potato masher

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Yes, good choice as long as the holes are small enough. Thanks for commenting

[@redsorgum]

Mark, it was only one cup of pellets…….😉😘🤣🤣🤣🤣 What I’ve seen from other KZbin channels, one cup seems to be the right amount for general purpose cooking.

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Yes, one cup is ideal for most uses. It is good to know what the max is as well. Thanks for commenting

[@joepalermo3836]

Stainless steel screen will work

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Yes it would. Thanks for commenting

[@sirdee9607]

Nice stove, but I prefer my Bestargot Stove

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

I may be testing the Bestargot stove at some point. Thanks for commenting

[@Chris66able]

Buying fuel for a twig stove defeats the whole point of having a twig stove.

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Thanks for commenting