Chinese Folding Wood Burning Stove 

The things you are calling handles fit into the top grate to keep the grate from sliding around before and during cooking. Thank you for sharing this.

I bought one of these last year, I found similar issues with exit headroom and base grate. I fabbed up a cross-stand by lap-jointing a couple of cut-down thrift store bread knives, which gave me an inch of exhaust headroom. Did well with a 10" cast iron pan, so stability and exhaust room is there now. I also wired in some hardware cloth to the base grate to hold coals better, and store a folded piece of oven liner foil inside to use underneath. With these mods and the ability to hold a Trangia in the right spot, I think this stove is very workable, especially for the price. If I'd already owned a Firebox or Bushbox I can't say that I would've bought this though, but at this point it works for me. FWIW, I don't think the latch on the door is meant for opening and closing during burns, it's there so you can open it and feed during a burn (if preferred), but keep it closed to the side for folding/storage. My name vote is for "Stovid-19"!

Got one, love it, especially for the price, outside of having an expensive bushbox, I would go as far as saying this is probably one of the most popular ones on the market atm

Wohoo! Quarantine and a new video from Mark! Day is saved! :) greetings from switzerland

Nice review of the stove. My conclusion, if you are a stove junkie, buy the stove to play with, if you want a good, functional stove out of the box, buy a Firebox.

It seems Americans and their half-brothers the Canadians love their Miles, Gallons, Pounds, ounces etc. and would defend them with their lives. Anyway very informative video. One question though. If we place a square plate of 6inches or more and of 1mm thickness, will it not save the pots from going black since the Stove, as efficiently as it is heats the pot blackens the pot with same efficiency or even more.

Guess I'm lucky, I have my iwn woods, 20 acres worth along with my off grid cabin. These little stoves are quite the bargain at $20 and with a few mods, even better and more sturdy and stable. Mine cane with a folding pot stand that locks the top in place. Also I use a Dollar store baking pan to set my stove in so I can pick it up and move it without getting burnt. I put a piece of expanded steel in the bottom to keep the smaller pieces of wood from falling through and help keep the stove more stable and cut down the ash pan to fit in the front slot as well as four notches in each of the top corners for the grate to sit in and help lock the stove in and add some stability. Another thing I did was drilled some holes in the sides toward the top to hold the steel mesh so I can use my Trangia with it. Oh, and I took th door ring off and added a piece of wire bent in an "L" to facilitate opening and closing the door easier. I have to note that these are made as cooking stoves, not portable firepits to keep.you warm. If you repeatedly build big fires in these, they will start to warp and the hinges will start to open and the stove will become very ricketty and suject to falling over.

I used this stove all winter. I find that door in the front the best feature of it. I use it as a feeding port. It comes in very handy for heat control. When cooking steak, chops, sausage, etc. I can pull the longer peaces of wood in and out to control flare ups.

Open the door it will vent propley

That's why its better to spend more money and buy a firebox gen 2. Well worth it 😊 Cheers from Poland Mark

I’ve considered this stove for sometime before finnally convincing myself it didn’t have a place in my line up. Your video just confirmed that. Thanks for the video... now time to go work on my next backcountry meal video.

Interesting design and as usual, a great review. Thumbs up.

A cheese grader makes a great stove too!

I bought 2 of these from 2 different sellers the opening for the ash pan too big for opening on both don't buy if you don't know how to use tools I had to use tools to make it fit also I had to sand down all rough edges.

I bought one on eBay and when it arrived, frustration of frustrations. The entire box stove-every piece-was covered in protective plastic membrane. The problem was that they covered all the pieces PRIOR to building the stove so the plastics was UNDER every fold and rivet. So I couldn’t get all of it out. Therefore, on the first burn melted and burnt plastic. Toxic smoke, you wouldn’t want to cook over it. Very unhappy about that. The stove does seem well made and it’s hefty. I bought this to stash in a backpack or a Get-Home-Bag but it’s nearly 2 lbs. Pretty heavy for a backpack stove in my opinion.

I have this stove and ran into the same issues. I have other stoves that are better. It a back up for a back. It’s not my goto stove.

How would you use this when it’s raining? What could be sued as a shelter that is both fire and water proof?

Maybe call it the Corona Cooker. Seriously really look forward to your videos. I always learn a lot and your reviews are always spot on. In today’s environment your videos help take our thoughts away from the pandemic for a little while.

I have basically this stove by REDCAMP from Amazon. I won't mention other features that you very well documented. But, mine has a fire grate that is not hinged inside. It uses pegs to go across to support it. That makes it adjustable for a Trangia stove or whatever, but does make it more unstable. The ash pan also is unstable. I had to modify using metal clips to hold pegs and the ash pan. It makes it very stable now. I think I like your version better in a way because the fire grate pivots down and makes the stove much more stable. I have mostly used mine as a barbecue with charcoal. Really like the pot stand mod. Learned much! Thanks for review, was glad to see a new review from you Mark!

I think the front door is supposed to be open while it's burning.

I had a few of these I gave them away and keep one big one and my wood gas stoves

They make another model with skewers so you can raise the grates. I took mine to a metal a fabrication shop and had the grate covered with smaller grates and added a longer henge to the door. He also made cross section pot stand which works great. So I took the model that does not have fold down grates and applied it to the fold down model. And can use spirit burners, fuel tabs, pellets, charcoal and wood. It works like a firebox. Not as cleverly but like one, but works like one. I having fix a boil top so a cup can fit. Gotta figure out the air flow. So I’m working on that now. Used your link plus others, so my Facebook family can learn about and how to make, plus make modifications to wood stoves. But there’s another version of that stove. That assembles as to quick setup. Semper Fi

You open the door for cooking bigger pots so it breathes better

Nope, I will stay with Steve's Firebox. The original. He put his sweat equity and creativeness into it only to have others try to copy him.

Stay safe and take care, Mark. Thanks for the video.

Thanks for continuing to make videos in these darkest of days. Intersting option but I will be trying my hardest to purchase all my future outdoor products made somewhere other than China and that's one reason I'm a fan of the firebox. Been using my FB stoves in the garden under lock down to keep myself sane. Stay safe, stay well from the UK. PS, I wonder if we might see a larger Firebox stove in the future I use two ATM to get round the size issue.

my comment s dat , ur realy dat smart yang kid , godbless!

I agree that it's not aesthetically pleasing due to the play in the hinges, BUT compared to the Firebox that isn't square (due to the fact that they reduce production costs by omitting two hinges) it's a dream. All the best.

Great video Mark ! Thanks for taking the time in preparing this review😉. I just received the revision 2 of this stove from AliExpress. It is similar to the one you reviewed but also has 3 sets of extra holes on the side of the stove for adjusting the bottom grill height. Two rods are also included. This can of use for using an alcohol stove. Will need to experiment with it first and see if I get that 1 inch sweet spot. Also the bottom grit grill seems to be improved compared to the stove reviewed. The grit pattern is closer together .With regards to the top grill I will make spacers using a steel saw blade as shown on your video. The stove handles are now placed higher and above the door handle. Thanks for sharing👍

Greetings from Germany! Stay safe and healthy!

The one on Aliexpress looks to have the holes drilled in the side already, I may add it to my wish list and pick up one later (blew my hobby allowance at Princes Auto online for the month).

I briefly owned this stove and I sent it back to Amazon. But when I had it I was playing around with it and I noticed that you could take the grill top with the handles facing towards where the other handles are and loop it over the grill top handles. Why do this? Sometimes food sticks to the grill surface and it will come off when you’re trying to takeoff whatever you’re cooking.

How did you remove the blue film when it came? I've peeled most of the flim off of mine would it be safe to burn off the rest?

I just acquired one of these and, having watched this review, also got a stainless steel ruler and cut and notched it to give the pot or pan that 1/2" clearance. Much appreciated.

周围应该钻更多孔，可以减少很多重量而且通风。还算是一个不错的火箱子，我也有一个

A good review, as always, Mark. You could make an auxiliary piece out of 1/4" or even 1/8" hardware cloth, to rest on the existing bottom grate. That would control the drop-through somewhat. That would also allow you to use pellets. If you liked the idea of lifting handles, you could make a pair of 6" long U-shaped handles (coat hangers would work) with 1/2" legs bent outward at the two tips. Keep them with the kit, but not attached while the stove is burning. If you needed to move the stove, you squeeze the handles in a bit so that the legs pop into the 'loops' provided. Move the stove, then squeeze to release.

Good morning Mark, very reasonably priced stove, not perfect but for the price probably acceptable. Nice job👍 Stay safe during this crisis my friend👊

I gave mine to my grand-daughter. She loves to grill hotdogs with charcoal.

Have a look at the Englishman woods man he altered his like you wanted

Stainless steel ruler cross bars is brilliant! I got one of these and with three or four brickets of charcoal it works very well.

The handles go under the grill handles to lock it up but not very well, you probably no this by now , great video 👍

Fantastic review!

Hey, I want to thank you for your thorough revew of this product. I almost bought one of these but I will not, because after a little bit of experimenting I have found that I can probably get similar performance from a very lightweight in comparison miltary surplus folding stove I already own (it's a slightly larger version of the Esbit folding one you have shown before in your cheap firelighters vs Esbit tabs video)... it was originally issued with large hexamine tablets, but for some perhaps accidental reason the air flows such that it burns twigs very well.

Hi Mark...good review of this stove The handles on each side... are to hold the grate so there are 2 notches On the grill...and when they are up (the handles) You can sit your big pot on top of it and it will hold very very well... I know I have one (Chinese)... and for info its a copy of the Redcamp Foldingstove

Mark great video as always... Thanks I have yet to do a burn on the one I bought last year... Long story won't bore ya. TY @16:30 I like that cross bar idea as much like your other modifications. Is it unstable to just flip the grate so that it is upside down? Looked like maybe that would get your air gap for cooking. :)

Nice❤

Good, thorough review. Sadly, that's a very shoddy and lazy design - a fast knockoff. It really illustrates the amount of thought and testing that went into stoves such as the Bushbox, Firebox, Silverfire Scout, and Solo Stove. The ill-fitting components will become more aggravating as the walls of the stove will surely warp over time. Burnt fingers and fire hazards are in the future of anyone who uses it.

If it's from China, involves electricity or has moving parts, the quality control will be hit and miss. On the stoves, I have a small folding stove ...no name, and the hinge pins constantly fall out. Also from China, my Dave Canterbury canteen cup also had the hinge pin fall out. To their credit they did replace the item.....great customer service! But now I carry wire to fix in an emergency. Won't trust it. My Firebox Nano is designed so the hinge pins can not fall out. Really nice design. I have also found that you need one inch of free space all around the top of perimeter of the stove to eliminate the smoking as mentioned at 1320. The 5 in. Firebox solved that with the folding wind break. I did as you showed at 1600 on my 5 in. Emberlit but had the height at 1 inch instead. Really made a difference!! Even the scalloped top of the 5 in. Emberlit was not enough to eliminate smoking. I then drilled holes in the scalloped sections on the top of the 4 sides of the Emberlit and now it is a perfect stove. I would remove the stock handles, bend my own larger ones and just store them inside the folded stove. Nice vid Mark. Thanks!

I have the same stove.. mine didn’t warp over 1 year with about 24 uses… I didn’t notch for a pot rack, instead I drilled 4 holes to use 2 metal cabob stick that ran parallel to each other… and I drilled 4 holes each 1/2 inch in diameter about 1/4 inch below the top of the box….. it works great with no smoke….. I also just have a small pan I place on top of the bottom rack with several holes to limit the airflow and doesn’t allow much ash to fall through hot…

Another great review. I have the one similar to that, maybe just slightly bigger, but with the open side, no door. Been a great compact folding stove and fire box. You provide so much helpful and useful content. Thank you for making these videos. Your reviews are also very informative, aside from review the item. You're awesome.

I bought two, one is 8 inches square. It said it was an upgraded version. The bottom and top grills are better and the bottom grill snaps into two side hooks so it keeps the whole thing solid. I bought the larger one thinking it could be a good little heat source in case of emergencies I can just drop wood in there without it flying all over the place to make a little heater. These are the same except it's a different company I can't remember who. Plus they were on special someone had sent one of them back. I went from high school to HMCS Cornwallis in 68, good times.

Very nifty little stove I like it! Always a sucker for woodstoves I can't cant get enough. Great review Mark your thorough and to the point😁🤙

Nice. I got one of these at a market for 2 euro but missing the bottom grate. No big deal. These things are great whilst camping, but slightly heavier than the German one. Cheers mate.

1 lb 13 oz = 29 oz. 2 lb 2oz = 34 oz. That makes the firebox stove 17% heavier than the Chinese firebox, not 1/2 to 2/3 heavier. Otherwise a good review.

This is the one I have. Bought it to see if this type of stove would be useful to me. Only had the initial burn so far to make coffee in my back yard to learn how it works. I feel like the firebox stove is a bit small. This one seems like you could actually cook dinner on it. Experience may change my mind. I’d imagine firebox had specific reasons for the size.

I bought this and used it a few times, had to insert a thin grate on top of that bottom grate... It's actually a small barbeque grate topper for small veggies, from the dollar store a few years ago. They don't sell them anymore. It works good, just need to cut one of the flaps off so I can use the feed door. Right now the opening is blocked. Still gotta make a pot stand for it... But it grills pretty good! Gets really hot tho... U have to be careful not to burn your food.

Kinda nitpicky for a twenty dollar stove.Mine may be an older model because ash plate is ajustable for wood, charcoal and alcohol burner. Air holes drilled around top helps with larger pots. Look for older Lixada model if think of ordering. Thanks, good review.

Bonjour. Amazing video

I have a couple of lengths of 10mm box section on top of the top grill. Little smoke and good clearance.

And let’s put Covid patients in retirement homes, just like Coumo in New York. How can that go wrong? 😂

As always, just an excellently informative video. Thank you so much for sharing!

Goood fair review Mark. The handles are useful for keeping the grill sat on the top I have found. Your friends mod for the sticks on top I'm going to have to try. Thanks to you and your friend Wayne! ;-)

You did not use it in the right way. Is filled over the clap and cause you overfilled it you got such effects. right use would be, to fill it up over the clap with 1/4 of the wood and then fire the stove. Anyway is a good product and you can use it as a oven if you also place stones in it. It got the design and effect of a german made bunker oven from WW2. Anyway if you use it right in a shelter or with a tarp is a good cooking place and also could be Used as a oven to keep you warm. Small pins in the clap will make it to a long burning thing and the ash box also allow a long use

Just got mine. If you turn the grill over and put the side handles threw the grill handles it hold the grill a half inch above the stove.👍

Very nice stove Mark. You and your family stay safe and healthy. Yes good hand washing, physical distancing and one more thing when you're outside of your property " Treat every surface as it's contaminated"

Hello Mark, I would suggest a cross bar like you have used on the Ikea hobo stove. This could get you nearly an inch above the sides of the stove for air to move. I believe you used 1 inch aluminum bar stock for them.

Hi Mark, Thank You for sharing this stove demonstration with us. I live in New Jersey, in a community where we are inside the epicenter of the US virus hotspot. This was a great video and a welcome distraction from the pandemic. Also, can you please add to the show notes the same links you put into the video, such as when you point to a spot on the screen? And the reason for this request is that many devices (such as a Kindle Fire tablet) run the web site version of RU-vid videos and they don't have any on screen channel link cards. Thank You and please stay safe!

I think I'll buy the bush box from Germany it looks a lot sturdier..thanks for the video 👍

I have zebra bush pots , pathfinder, pots and skillets, works with these stove great . Here In my area , we realize the pandemic is a political power grab from the liberals

Great video! I just got the larger version and haven't tried it out yet. It has a top cover with a hole and pot stands that fit over the hole. I also found that you can use the pot stands without the cover by turning them upside down. Looking forward to using this as my "fire pit" on my next camping trip. I cut some 1/2" expanded metal to put over the fire grate and I think that will work well for pellets but I also found that a metal steamer will fit inside could be used for pellets.

Hello Steve, greetings from Ireland! I have decided finally on getting this model. I think that a stove needs to be that size if you are going to grill or fry meat rather than just boiling/stewing food. You need a certain distance from the food to the fire to avoid burning from flames/flareups and using charcoal, like you said, would help in getting a controlled, distant heat. I have watched many videos of people grilling meat on the firebox/bushbox and their idea of flame grilling is different to mine! I`d rather not eat burgers red on the inside and black on the outside especially if I am far from a doctor. I also struggled with the price of the firebox/bushbox even though I knew they were better quality than the Chinese stove so the size issue makes my choice easy. I have a Lixada double walled cylindrical stove which you also reviewed I think and it is great, but again it is most suitable for boiling only. Thanks for your time and effort!

I'm new to this ,but maybe if you put the pot on sooner it wouldn't create as much smoke because of the smaller flame .I just bought one of these ,but haven't tried it yet .

Gotta video regardless of the fact that's its in your back garden Mark. Stay positive!

From the other ( and better lol ) side of the country in Victoria, thank you for the great review.

First, thanks for another video. I enjoy your videos. I noticed there are two versions of these stoves. One with the hinged fire grate and the other version with basically tent pegs like Gary and Kevin have mentioned they have. I made sure to buy one with the pegs. Gives you 3 positions, more if you also use the bottom air holes for the pegs. It lets me raise the fire grate for using less charcoal while grilling or drop it down for full load of wood. Also the peg version has the handles higher and out of the way of the front door. The two cons I have are like yours. An 11" skillet smothers it some and the door latch is sketchy. Been thinking it needed trivets and now I see that'll be a have to mod. Thanks again for the video!

What about drilling holes near the top edge to allow for oxygenation when placing a large pan on top?

How about “The Covid cook stove”. Ontario has a full fire ban on. Part of the government Covid strategy. A forest fire 🔥 brings to many people together. Going to be an interesting summer. Mark can you use the cheap lifting handle above the fuel door to lock the fuel door. As in will the wire reach under the ring to lock the door.

Sorry to tell you my friend but you put the wood wrong it goes horizontal not standing up with the door open ok

Thank U! Honest reeport even for all its shortcomings!! My best to U and your loved ones durin this mess! Stay safe please

I got one of those about the same time you made this video. If you take some time, you can make a bunch of improvements. Kind of like the Firebox stove. Made Fire sticks out of barbecue skewers. Punch some holes with a punch or small flat screwdrivers. Then you can put in an alcohol burner in and adjust the height. Also I made a second burner plate with smaller holes so I could burn wood pellets. A still not a firebox but, $ compared to $$$ for the Firebox.

Mine was in the post yesterday and it was covered from both sides, inside and out, under folds and rivets and in crevices with a blue plastic foil. After finding new names for the genius that thought of that, besides sending him with a one-way ticket to Mars, while trying to remove the foil I cut up my fingers on very sharp edges, yes it bled. Today I went back to it and used tweezers, but some of the foil is impossible to be removed and have to burn into the steel. So after about an hour and 10 I have finally ended up with the product I had ordered about 2 months ago from China.

Interesting review, I bought one myself and I think it's good enough to get the job done only thing I dislike is the large holes in the grate in the bottom

Mark, after watching your video I immediately purchased this stove. There is a grate I made with smaller diameter holes for use with pellets and two pot standoffclearance. Both your recommendations.

turn the carrying handles up and lock grill on top. No need for ruler then as it gives enough space.

Thank you Mark and all theRU-vid channels to which I subscribe for distracting us from the pandemic and helping me concentrate on better times ahead in the outdoors. I too have been cooking lunches, suppers and afternoon snacks and coffee in the backyard and nearby woods. You all are providing a much appreciated service. Please keep them coming. You all are THE BEST. Stay safe.

Mark, that is the first stove I bought. After watching the Fire box stove channel I made a bunch of improvements to mine. Must admit I got the Ideas from Steve. First I took a flat punch and made holes about a half inch apart two rows of then on both of the folding sides. Like Steve's fire box I can now add the trangia alcohol burner. With the different higth holes I can slide my cheap skewers through the holes the find the (sweet spot). Next I got a piece od boiler plate S S. and cut it to fit over that over sized screen in the bottom you didn't like. I didnt like that either. My boiler plate does slow down the fire and sometimes it gets plugged up with ash. Does work great with charcoal. I made two bars to go across the top but mine cross to make an X. Same idea to get some air space between the pot and the top of the stove. Made a bigger piece of boiler plate SS. To grill on the top. One more piece of SS no holes in this one. Trying this for use as a small frying pan. Long story short by the time I got done I had $21.00 stove 8.55 boiler plates 4.75 flat SS plate 8.50 for the -8 skewers I had more invested to make it the way I wanted it than the stove cost me. However that being said. Now the thing is heavier than all get-out! Took alot of time messing with it but don't care. I had fun doing it and now seems to work. Must admit I wouldn't want to take it backpacking. Need a few goats and dogs like the Fire box guy! I enjoy your videos and your channel. Thanks for all your reviews. Rod

Hi Mark, I wish we lived closer in distance....I got a few stoves myself & you do such a GREAT job at these reviews, I'd give you mine to test out & see what your opinions would be. Keep em coming & stay safe during this Pandemic. 👌👍

Great to see all these stoves in action.. I still think the ikea hobo stove is probably one of the best; simple, light, cheap and a good capacity.. As long as it's filled with other equipment whilst in transit it doesn't take up much space.

Have you used charcoal and wood pellets with this stove yet?

This is a small Kamado. It's not meant to be used in the same way as a firebox or bushbox. The door on the small Kamad has a meaning. In countries that use chopsticks, firebox and bushbox are not preferred because of their unsatisfactory performance and also because they are expensive. In countries that do not use chopsticks, the small Kamado is viewed in the same light as a firebox or bushbox. The opinions you speak from have been very helpful. Thank you.

Very good and practical video

Nice pro and con comments. Thanks!

missed you mark yang , d canadian boy.

Hi guys, Ive got the latest version and adapted it now a awesome stove.I can use any wood products charcoal pellets ect and the trangia can be used at different levels.The trangia 27 kettle fits inside for a very fast boil.. Awesome honest review as always Mark.

Them handles hold the grate in place

Beautiful review; better video; best close, my friend!!!!! Me and mine wish you and yours all things great and good!!! Take care, be safe, all my best and God bless!!! Chuck Knight from Buffalo, Texas, USA. 🤠🐩🖖✝️👍

I am not liking it why why why

Probably work great with a wok!

It's about 20% larger than the Bushbox XL from Germany, and the latest version has fixed the wobbly-fit issues this model had... I've cooked bacon, sausages and eggs for 3 people on this thing using a 24cm non-stick Tefal pan...

Great vid!