How to Build A Camping Stove

With the following information you will learn how to make a lightweight, portable, and easy to light camping stove for pennies.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 coke cans, 1 full, 1 empty.
• a razor blade
• cotton balls /or/ fiberglass insulation
• a bottle of Heet (removes water from gas lines)
• thumb tack
• 1 inch thick book

1. Insert 1/2 of razor blade (1 inch high)between cover of book and pages facing the fold of the book. This will help hold your razor blade in place for an even cut. Proceed to cut the bottom off of the empty can.

2. Use full soda can to stretch the cut bottom slightly. Empty and cut second soda can in the same manner as the first. Cut off a small shim from a discarded can top.

3. Place a small golf ball sized wad of the insulation/cotton balls inside the bottom of a can. Spread the batting evenly. Fit the remaining bottom of can inside the other can to be your new top. Use the shim to help the cans fit together easily.

4. Poke 24 holes evenly spaced along the outer ring of the can using the tack. These holes will be the jet holes for your stove. Evenly spacing them ensures even pressure when using the stove. Poke 5 filler holes in the center top of the stove.

5. Pour 2 tablespoons full of Heet into the center of the stove. Using a lighter carefully heat up the bottom of your stove. Caution should be used, the can need only be preheated a slight bit 3 to 4 seconds is sufficient. Light the filler holes and your jets will begin.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that the stove must be pre-heated to sustain jet pressure.
• Everclear can be used instead of Heet.
• Using rocks around this stove can hold up your cooking pots.
• A metal clothes hanger can also be bent to use as a pot stand.
• Heet is very flammable and should be used with caution.
• Never light the stove if you have spilled flammable liquid on your hands or clothing.
• Use caution so that you don't over fill the stove. 2 tablespoons of fuel will burn out with one use making your stove easy to store.

[eliptica]

on 2/21/2009 Ok I will give this a try and see if I can make this work. Thanks.

[shoopgirl]

on 1/19/2009 I like this idea, but I'm wondering what the toxin level of the fuel is. Do you know?

[Buckeye207]

on 12/19/2008 I used to make these in my Camp Fire days. We used tuna cans. They really are easy to make and a wonderful project to do with the family when camping.

[yourmamasaidwha]

on 12/18/2008 wow! this seems really simple! i'll have to pass this on to my brother, (he's all about survival and cool ways to build things for survival...) i bet he'll enjoy this! thanks for the great idea!

[TerriR]

on 12/16/2008 We have used something similiar to this many times. Thanks for expanding our ideas even further.