I was wondering if anyone had a plan to make a simple wood burning stove out of simple items like cans and maybe something akin to a leather punch. Something just real simple and easy that anyone anywhere could make with stuff in their homes. Thanks.

http://www.ravenlore.co.uk/html/hobo_stove.html

Brett,

I made this one from three cans using a felt tip marker, "Sharp" utility knife, 3/8" drill, Ice Pick and a hole punch from Harbor Freight Tools (Punch costs less than $25.00). You could get by drilling all the holes for the inner can, outer can and Tuna Fish can, and save yourself the hole punch cost. But, if you do many sheet metal MYOG projects the punch will come in handy, especially putting holes in titanium.

Took about an hour. Works great. Weighs 4.16 ounces.

Large can (outer wall) is a pie filling can (blueberry).
Inner can is Campbell's Tomato Soup can.
Pot stand is Tuna Fish can.


Wood Stove with pot stand in place.

Inside view of fire box. (I have since punched twice as many holes, using an ice pick)

Wood Stove with BPL SUL1100 pot.

Wood Stove with MSR 2 Liter Titanium Pot

Edited by redleader on 10/20/2008 11:53:46 MDT.

Okay, I do not know of any hobos who have power tools laying around to make hobo stoves out of. Let us say they have a nail and a rock to punch holes, a pair of scissors to cut the metal with and a can(s) that are commonly found, what then?

The most you'd really need is a utility knife, or a Buck Folding Hunter, a nail and a rock; given you could open the cans in the first place. Ingenuity Brett. Use your imagination.

Edited by redleader on 10/20/2008 15:39:06 MDT.

Brett, have you seen a hobo stove before? It is literally a can with some holes. No plans are required.

If you make this stove, with whatever "tools" you can find, you'll be the envy of all the 'Bos in camp. A "downdraft" (let's not get technical here) wood gas HoBo stove. All the 'Bos 'll be wanting to buy you a bottle of Thunderbird.

Check out this stove link from zenstoves.net . I've made (and depended on for a 2 1/2 week hike) a variation on this stove with a church key and tin can. Do not use galvanized hardware cloth as is emitts toxic fumes. Also check out the main site's wood stove info that includes a huge list of types of wood and their suitability as fuel.. Zen Backpacking Stoves

ps the pot stand wires on this particular stove leave alot of room for improvement--they are fiddly.

Edited by lollygag on 10/20/2008 16:50:29 MDT.

I can make a simple one myself but was wondering if there were any good designs out there rather than the easy few that I know of. If is just hard to make yourself a new one if you need a drill or such and you are at least 17.3 miles away from the nearest electric drill.

Brett, I made this one a few years ago and it worked very well for my needs. It weighed ~1.5 oz and was dead simple. The top "crown" was cut with scissors. I did use a church key for the bottom holes, but you could just punch them with a nail - there wasn't any science to it. It fit nicely in my MSR Ti Kettle and held up very well. I'm not even sure why I don't make another one!

I'm not sure what you mean by 'good design'. What is not good about what you already know how to make?

Hey Denis, I like your stove. Nice, clean, simple and evidences a steady hand, especially for a brother “bo” suggesting his affection for Thunderbird. By the way, tell me how you made that square cut in the tuna can. Thanks and best regards, John

John,
After punching the holes in the tuna can, I used tin snips to cut between holes. If you're going to try one of these, be sure to use a Campbell's Soup can that does not have a "ridge" around the side, just above the bottom. The widest part of the inner can must be the rim left around the top. I opened the pie filling can with a utility knife, by scoring around and around and around and around, with the knife. Then I took a stick of wood and set it in the middle of the scored top and whacked it with a hammer. Cut the hole a little smaller than the diameter of the soup can and drive the soup can into the hole using a block of wood and a hammer. It should be a tight fit. After a few firings the joint will gunk up with soot and will be "glued" in place.

Be sure to wipe all the metal shavings off the top before whacking. That way you minimize getting filings in the pie filling. When you finish making the stove, spoon the filling over yogurt and have a snack while you wait for the water to boil.

Edited by redleader on 10/21/2008 13:18:54 MDT.