How to Make a Toilet Paper Wick Heater

Making a toilet paper wick heater is easy and can be a lifesaver. Use toilet paper wick heaters in emergencies like being stranded on the side of the road during a cold winter night. Follow these steps to make your own toilet paper wick heater and emergency heat source.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Toilet paper roll
• 1 pt. of rubbing alcohol or more
• Lidded 3 lb. coffee can
• Matches or lighter

1. Gather a new roll of toilet paper, at least 1 pt. of rubbing alcohol, a clean, lidded 3 lb. coffee can and some matches. Substitute a bit of ethylene glycol antifreeze for the rubbing alcohol if you don't have any rubbing alcohol.
2. Separate the cardboard roll from the roll of tissue.
3. Pour 1 pt. of rubbing alcohol into the coffee can.
4. Place the roll of tissue into the can. Make sure that the tissue absorbs the rubbing alcohol and that the top of the roll is safely below the coffee can's rim. This will help control the flame.
5. Light the toilet paper with a match.
6. Add more rubbing alcohol to the toilet paper and relight it only after the fire has gone out and completely cooled down.
7. Put out the flame by using a large, flat object to cove the can. You may also try to seal the coffee can with its lid.

Tips & Warnings

• If the flame has extinguished and the can has cooled but alcohol remains, cover the coffee can with its lid until you can find another roll of toilet paper or more material to burn. Covering the can prevents the alcohol from evaporating before you can use it.
• Keep the supplies for a toilet paper wick heater in your car at all times. If you live in very a cold climate, the supplies may come in handy if you become stranded on the side of the road.
• The flames produced by alcohol are likely to be invisible. Be careful when checking if the fire has gone out.
• Always properly ventilate the area in which you are using the toilet paper wick heater. The fumes from the heater may affect your breathing ability and using the antifreeze instead of the rubbing alcohol produces poisonous carbon monoxide. If you are sitting in a car while using a toilet paper wick heater for warmth, crack the windows open on both sides of the car before starting the fire.
• Do not fall asleep while the toilet paper wick heater using antifreeze is burning, as you may inhale potentially fatal carbon monoxide.