Directions to Make a Hobo Stove

The hobo stove began as a child of necessity during the Depression in the 1930s. Homeless people discovered that the relatively new No. 10 can could be turned into an ideal cooking surface for small meals. The stove requires only pencil-size sticks to produce enough heat to boil water or fry eggs. Use a large coffee can for your hobo stove or ask at a local restaurant for a larger one to make the deluxe model.

Things You'll Need

• Can opener
• Large can
• Water
• Triangular can opener or church key can opener
• Work gloves
• Metal snips
• Screwdriver
• 2 screws
• 2 nuts
• Wire
• Pliers

Instructions

1. Remove the top from a large can with a can opener and empty out the contents. Rinse out the can until no trace of food remains.

2. Place the loose top into the bottom of the can. Hold the can right-side up and punch holes in the side near the bottom with a triangular can opener or church key. Make eight of these holes evenly spaced around the outside of the can. The punched-down triangles will hold the loose top in place, creating a second layer at the top of the stove.

3. Turn the can upside down, which is right-side up for the stove. Use metal snips to cut a 4-inch square from one edge to use as a door.

4. Punch a hole with a screwdriver or hole punch slightly above and outside each upper corner of the square door hole. Slip a screw into each hole and secure them in place with a nut.

5. Wrap a piece of wire around one screw and string it across to the other screw. This makes a sort of curtain rod above the door.

6. Use pliers to fold the top of the cut-out square over the wire curtain rod. This forms a door flap that opens and shuts, allowing more or less air to the fire inside and regulating the flames and heat while you're cooking.

Tips & Warnings

• Try folding in the cut can edges on the doorway to help prevent cuts from sharp metal.

References

• Mother Earth News: How to Make a Hobo Stove