I made a donut ring to take the place of the thin aluminum one that covers the space between the outer and inner wall. I used the top of a #10 can. I cut a hole in the middle of it and it fits nice. I filled the stove with 4" lengths of dry maple. Almost boiled 1 gallon with the load. . Stove is drafting nicely.
Now that I have observed the stove in action I'll be able to make another one to incorporate the noted areas of needed improvement.

Not many days left to this month to get your entries ready.

Some photos of how the stove looks loaded with fuel and one showing the coarse fiberglass cloth that I'll use to wrap the final improved stove.
Another photo shows the donut ring made from the can cover/lid.



