HOBO STOVE

The hardest part of this project might be finding a metal coffee can. They seem to be getting increasingly rare as more and more companies are converting to plastic containers. Other metal cans are suitable, such as #10 food cans or new, unused paint cans. I recommend you not use paint cans that have ever actually held paint or stain as the fumes given off when the stove is burning may be toxic. You can find brand new paint cans at many hardware stores.

The Hobo Stove has been around for 100 years or so. It works very well for boiling water or heating a quick meal, using a minimal amount of fuel to do so.

MATERIALS

Metal can

Drill and drill bits

Can opener

Tin snips

Wire hanger (optional, see instructions)

Safety goggles

Work gloves

#1It should go without saying, but your metal can should be empty and clean. It doesn’t need to be spotless, but it should be washed out reasonably well. With your safety goggles and work gloves on, start by drilling some air holes in the can. This doesn’t require Pythagorean precision, but the holes should be roughly equidistant from each other. Make two rows of holes, one about 2 inches from the bottom and another about 2 inches from the top. You only need about six holes in each row.

#2Next, remove the bottom of the can with the can opener. Do this after you’ve drilled the holes, as the bottom will provide some stability when you’re drilling.

#3Use the tin snips to cut out a section of the can at the bottom. This is where you’ll be adding fuel once the stove is in use. Make it roughly 4 inches across and 2 inches high. Some folks like to cut this as a door, leaving it connected along one side so it can be bent open or closed. I don’t like doing that, as the metal is fairly sharp and I wouldn’t want anyone to cut their hand as they’re adding fuel to the fire. You can always use a rock or something to close off part of that opening if you want to slow the fire down a bit.

#4You can see here where I crimped over the jagged edge left from the long cut. This is done by cutting approximately ¼ inch deeper on each side of the door. Start at one end of this thin flap and bend the metal over to the inside of the can.

#5The Hobo Stove uses biomass for fuel. Biomass is just a fancy term for natural materials like twigs and bark. To use the stove, simply pile a bit of fuel at the bottom and light it up. Once the fire is burning, you’ll add fuel through the open space on the side of the stove as needed. Your pot can rest right on top of the can as the holes you drilled should provide plenty of air flow for the fire.

#6One modification I’ve seen some people do is to use a metal hanger to provide for a place to rest your cook pot. Simply cut two pieces of wire hanger long enough to stretch across the stove, with a little extra on each side. Drill four small holes, two on each side, each 1 inch from the top of the stove and about 3 inches apart. For these holes, you may indeed want to measure for the placement to ensure the holes are level. Feed the wire pieces through the holes and you’ll have created something like a shelf upon which you can rest your cook pot.

ALTOIDS TIN ALCOHOL STOVE

Alcohol stoves are great for off-grid food prep because just a little fuel goes a long way. Plus, there is little to no smoke from the flame. I’ve carried this stove, along with a plastic bottle of fuel, in my own bug out bag for a couple of years now. Just be sure the bottle you use for the fuel storage seals tightly. I recommend placing the sealed bottle inside a zip-top plastic bag, just in case it leaks.

MATERIALS

Empty and clean Altoids tin

Perlite or vermiculite*

Window screen**

Marker

Scissors

Denatured alcohol

Matches

Small bricks or rocks

* Perlite and vermiculite can both be found in most garden stores. It is a relatively inert soil additive that looks like small white rocks. This substance soaks up the fuel and releases it slowly, just as it would with water in a garden. Look for products that don’t have chemicals, such as plant food, added. If you can’t find “plain” vermiculite or perlite, it is okay to use the ones with additives; just don’t sit with your face within inches of the flame.

** Be sure the window screen is metal, not plastic. If you don’t have any screen scraps sitting in the garage, you can purchase a window screen repair kit, which only costs a few dollars. In such kits are a few patches which will work just fine for this project.

#1Fill the tin with the vermiculite or perlite to just below the rim. Some people recommend sifting through the perlite and picking out the larger chunks to use in this project. I’ve never had a problem just pouring it directly from the bag into the tin.

#2Next, lay out the window screen over the tin and use a marker to trace around the rim of the tin. Cut out the traced shape with your scissors, being sure to round the corners a bit to follow the contour of the tin.

#3Gently shake the tin back and forth to allow the perlite to settle and level out. Place the cut piece of window screen over the perlite and tuck the edges down into the tin. You might need to trim a little here and there to make it fit nicely. I’ve found using a Popsicle stick works great for pushing down the corners.

#4Carefully pour the alcohol directly onto the screen. You don’t need a lot; just 3 tablespoons will suffice in most cases. After closing your fuel bottle and placing it well away from the tin, light a match and place it directly onto the screen. The alcohol fumes should light instantly. Be advised, alcohol burns very hot and the flame can be difficult to see. If you aren’t sure whether the stove lit or not, slowly move your palm near the stove to feel for heat.

#5When cooking over this stove, you can’t place your pan directly on the tin as that will smother the flame. Instead, use small bricks or rocks placed on either side of the tin to support your pan. Three tablespoons of alcohol should be enough to bring a liter of water to a boil without any trouble. If you find you need to add more alcohol, extinguish the flame first! Let the stove cool for a few seconds, then add the alcohol. To do otherwise is to invite disaster.

#6I prefer to let the stove run out of fuel before storing it, simply because I don’t like the idea of my stove possibly leaking drops of fuel into my pack. If you need to extinguish the flame for any reason, though, simply flip the lid closed.

FIRE

The ability to get a fire going in all manner of weather is a crucial survival skill. You can increase your odds of success quite a bit by always having at least a few fire starters and some tinder with you. Commercial fire starters come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and effectiveness. I’ve used many of them myself and most of them work fairly well. But with just a little bit of work, you can recycle and reuse some of the stuff you have in your home right now and make your own fire starters that work just as well, if not better, than the store-bought varieties.