View Full Version : Hobo Stove Gallery (Probably picture heavy)
It's been a while since I first posted this up and since then I have seen some great threads with other peoples hobo stoves in them.
I couldn't help thinking that it would be great to have one thread with all these projects in one place to give people ideas for their own so i hope you'll forgive me for reposting this to start the ball rolling :
I have spent a lot of time tinkering to find the perfect stove kit over the years.
This is what I'm working with at the moment, It's pretty close to my ideal.
http://www.ravenlore.co.uk/assets/images/Wayland-Stove-1.jpg..... http://www.ravenlore.co.uk/assets/images/Wayland-Stove-2.jpg
The whole thing fits into the hide bag to keep it from sooting up the rest of my kit and the total weight including the bag is 820g.
http://www.ravenlore.co.uk/assets/images/Wayland-Stove.jpg
If I go round clockwise from the top, it's based around a 10cm Zebra billy. I didn't like the handle as it was always in the way when packing so I replaced it with a SS wire bail which is more compact.
The lid can be used as a bowl if needed but I usually eat direct from the billy anyway.
The hobo stove is made from a SS container from Morrisons (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/../community/showthread.php?t=19234&highlight=morrisons) that fits nicely round the billy, there are a couple of slots cut in the sides that you can't see clearly that let the bail fittings nest better.
To make a rest for the pot I used two SS skewers that fit through holes in the top of the hobo stove. They're bent at the ends to stop them workind themselves out while you are moving the pot about.
Next is the bag which I've already mentioned, which is made from a bit of birch tanned reindeer hide. Heavier than it could be but I just like natural materials for some jobs.
To the right is the windshield from a Clikstand (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/../community/showthread.php?t=11508&highlight=clikstand) . This rolls up and fits inside the billy taking vitually no space at all.
Inside the windshield is a Triad (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/../community/showthread.php?t=13235&highlight=triad+titanium) titanium stove which can be used either with meths or solid fuel tablets.
The foil packages are Esbit fuel tablets. I wrap them to keep them from breaking up and also from old habit, I used to just stand a pan on three stones and burn them directly on the foil.
The brown rectangles in front are BBQ fire lighters. They are light and odourless and can be cut up. A small peice makes lighting the hobo a lot easier.
A small light chain for hanging the pot over a proper fire. The ends are cut to form hooks that can be used for adjustment.
Pine cones are great stove fuel. You can tell if they are dry because they open up and if you give them a shake to free the seeds they have done thier job and are now surplus to requirements as far as the tree is concerned. I often have a pocket full just from picking them up as I go along.
Pot handle / grip. This one is a Trangia one that I cut down to fit into the billy, which also reduces the weight a bit too. Useful when you are stirring or eating from the billy.
A folding cup, most uses are obvious but I usually put some water in it while I'm cooking in case somethink starts burning that shouldn't. It's also good for dipping your fingers in if you burn yourself.... :eek:
A film container full of matches. I use an APS type because they are oval rather than round which fits better. Sometimes I just need a light and don't want to mess about. I prefer matches because you can poke them into the fuel better.
The bowl from the Zebra billy. I used to think it was useful for eating from but as I've said I use the lid or the billy itself now.
What I've done is drill holes round the edge of the bowl and it can be used as a steamer or a strainer.
The white bit at the back is something called a "Chef Aid" which is a mini pot scraper made of plastic. Much better than a scouring pad because you can dry it before packing. Usually I use ash (http://www.ravenlore.co.uk/html/cleaning_pots.html) to clean the pan if I've got a fire but if not this little thing is dead handy.
So depending on the outing I can carry some meths, food, water and I'm pretty well sorted for any situation.
I'd be interested to see other peoples perfect kits though.
Since this post I've added a folding titanium spoon but otherwise the kit hasn't changed.
I must admit I've been working on something new for a larger set up though...;)
Just getting my camera:D brb
This is my wayland inspired hobo.
this is the packed stove weighing in at 1.1kg including brew kit.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e274/bodgeb/bcuk/DSC02610.jpg
I made the pouch from what i cut off my flecktarn combat trouseres to turn them into shorts.:)
this is what is in the pouch.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e274/bodgeb/bcuk/DSC02611.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e274/bodgeb/bcuk/DSC02614.jpg
From left to right. Brew kit (which is not always in there), eco flame gel, metal scourer, spoon and fork,pot holder, 4 section blow poker.
here is the same photo with the assembled poker.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e274/bodgeb/bcuk/DSC02615.jpg
This hobo is a tad larger than waylands utilising my old faithful 13 (ish) cm bulldog billy with lid.
I used a biscuit canister from Wilkinson for about £3. I changed the billy handle as suggested by Wayland and used the handle to make the pot supports.:)
I have quite a bit of room in this setup to add other stuff as I see fit. If out for a days walking I may just take the eco gel and the billycan and not bother with the hobo.
I sometimes travel with the brew kit inside and maybe a pack of cous cous or noodles if out for 1 night.There is usually a lighter of some kind inside aswell. the eco gel will light from a firesteel.
The eco gel can be used to boil stuff in the billy on its own or can be used as a fire lighter by dipping kindling in it to get things going a bit :)
Things keep changing though and as Waylands says it all adds to the fun of home made kit.
When car camping I take charcoal briquettes and load the hobo up for a really hot cook up.
Bodge
saddle_tramp
21-09-2008, 18:35
Splendid timing, im currently at the 'gathering of materials' stage so am lurking round this forum, pinching ideas. Thus far i have the perfect pot and the perfect base, but unfortunately, both are exactly the same diameter (humph) so perhaps ones gonna have to be more perfect than the other.
With mark 1 coke can stove and Camping Gaz billies...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd178/simonandbev/DSC00379.jpg
All packed up, with 12cm Zebra billy...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd178/simonandbev/DSC00433.jpg
All un packed with new Ti meths stove
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd178/simonandbev/DSC00436.jpg
In use at Middlewood...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd178/simonandbev/DSC00432.jpg
The only mods I've made since these photos is to replace the solid bail arm with cycle gear cable as suggested by ... Wayland and I now carry a small container of herbs and spices.
Simon
Can you check your link for the "cleaning your billy with ash" Gary
Spamel mentioned this to me once and I`d like to have a read
I don't have a regular kit as suck - it changes depending on what i'm doing - I'll try to take some pics one day.....
I must say I do like your colapsable blow poker Bodge! did you make it yourself?
I used a blow poker for the first time this weekend (idea once more from Wayland) and I will definatly be carrying it again - yours just looks way more convenient!;)
I don't have a regular kit as suck - it changes depending on what i'm doing - I'll try to take some pics one day.....
I must say I do like your colapsable blow poker Bodge! did you make it yourself?
I used a blow poker for the first time this weekend (idea once more from Wayland) and I will definatly be carrying it again - yours just looks way more convenient!;)
Yes I made it from some lightweight alloy tent poles from a scrap tent. I also made some net spreaders for my dd travel hammock too.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e274/bodgeb/bcuk/DSC02339.jpg
It does restrict the flow slightly when fixed together due to the narrowing of the tube where each piece joins up but it's handy to be able to stash it with the hobo.
Bodge:)
I must say I do like your colapsable blow poker Bodge! did you make it yourself?
I used a blow poker for the first time this weekend (idea once more from Wayland) and I will definatly be carrying it again - yours just looks way more convenient!;)
Depending on how much airflow you need, if you can get old of a broken telesopic radio aerial and lever out the section beyond the length you want it may warp the last section enough to stop it dissapearing back in when collapsed, alternatively flatten it a bit with some pliers a cm or 2 from the end, giving you adequate to grasp and pull out.
Doh what a numpty I am! :o - my first thought was cool!, old tent poles but then I thought "ah but i'd only be able to make a Looooooong one". Just had the lightbulb moment! - you cut the poles about 6" or so frome the end that has the 'insert' for want of a better work.
Don't I feel silly - think I was trying to meke ait harder than it was :rolleyes:
good idea mate! :You_Rock_;)
Doh what a numpty I am! :o - my first thought was cool!, old tent poles but then I thought "ah but i'd only be able to make a Looooooong one". Just had the lightbulb moment! - you cut the poles about 6" or so frome the end that has the 'insert' for want of a better work.
Don't I feel silly - think I was trying to meke ait harder than it was :rolleyes:
good idea mate! :You_Rock_;)
Or I had a very small tent with thick poles>>>>>:D
Bodge
Can you check your link for the "cleaning your billy with ash" Gary
Spamel mentioned this to me once and I`d like to have a read
Seems to have disapeared like the pictures in the gallery. :confused:
Here is a reprint.
Washing up.
If you have a fire add some ash and water to your pan.
Ash + water = alkali + gritty silica
alkali + fat = soap
soap + gritty silica + slight scrub = clean pan.
when you have washed the pan pour the water into the fireplace, this area has already been affected by the alkali.
Rinse with water and again pour it into the fireplace.
On the next rinse you can pour the water away elsewhere but not into the water source.
All too often I have seen people washing pans directly in streams or lakes only to pour the dirty water back into the clean source.
Always throw the water well back onto the land, this way the ground can filter out the organic materials, reducing contamination of your source water.
For a final rinse use clean drinking water or boil the water in the pan.
Heres my fella.
http://pix.myphotoalbum.com/a/ad/add/addo/addos/addos/albums/album11/hobo_003.sized.jpg (http://addos.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=a lbum11&id=hobo_003)
http://pix.myphotoalbum.com/a/ad/add/addo/addos/addos/albums/album11/hobo_004.sized.jpg (http://addos.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=a lbum11&id=hobo_004)
http://pix.myphotoalbum.com/a/ad/add/addo/addos/addos/albums/album11/hobo_005.sized.jpg (http://addos.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=a lbum11&id=hobo_005)
http://pix.myphotoalbum.com/a/ad/add/addo/addos/addos/albums/album11/new_stuff_024.sized.jpg (http://addos.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=a lbum11&id=new_stuff_024)
Currently working on replacing the billy on the bottom for the stainless container
Keeping the little pan/lid on top, and putting the metal cup under a sigg bottle elsewhere.
The stainless container can fit 4 small bottles in coffee, milk, suger and Hot chock, with a handle, spork, tea/coffee strainer and tbags.
Still using the 3 hooped nails for a pot raiser for a fry pan and other bigger dia pots, and the raising pegs underneath the stove, although i want to improve on that for more stability and air flow with wood.
Trangia sits under the cup inside the sweety tin which is turned over for raising closer to cooking item and raising charcoal.
:)
saddle_tramp
22-09-2008, 18:13
Well, ive completed prototype number 001
simple affair
homebase stainless cutlery thing.
7cm x 7cm hole cut in front.
couple of tent pegs to support pot.
large stainless mug for pot, pie dish lid (that can be improved upon when i find a snug fitting billy.
plce waterbottle pouch, to house it all.
Tested it earlier on, and was pleasantly suprised how little stick was needed to get a pint of water rollin. albeit kinda fiddly in the size of fuel, and not burning my fingers, adding it
I think there might be too many holes in my drainer thing, but have no wish to drill a normal stainless container, especially not with a borrowed drill, so i think maybe a sliding internal windbreak? the holes at bottom add good draught but holes all the way up add draught where it aint wanted. letting heat n flames swirl out the side instead of up to the pot, and in little more than a gentle breeze.
Reckon i pretty much laughed at these hobo stoves when i first saw them. I always saw it that you either cook over a fire, or weigh yourself down with cookers and fuel for the convenience they offered. So saw these things as nothing more than a way to over-complicate what was already so simple. Think i might have been a tad hasty with my criticism so apologies all round :)
good kit
Paul
huntersforge
22-09-2008, 19:33
Heres mine .
Can honestly say I more or less copied the Wayland design so any credit should go to the man himself .
The storage pouch is a handmade suede job . Works a treat . http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh283/huntersforge/P9220473.jpg
Ogri the trog
22-09-2008, 21:10
The kit seems to be perpetual flux but this is the most recent....
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r164/ogrithetrog/IMG_2738.jpg
Billie is a Morrisons storage can modified a while ago with a bail arm (might go the wire loop soon) and lid loop.
Billie contents are a tin of tuna in mayo, a spicy peperami, a Xmas pudding (the sell-by dates are close to 18 months on some of them) and a few Oxo cubes etc.
Stove is two lengths of SS ducting, one has two bent returns which hold the edges of the other, making either a figure "8" shape or circular - pot support bars hold it all rigid and it had air inlet/exhaust holes or fuel feed holes.
Travel sweet tin holds either fire kit or brew makings - there's possibly room for a large shoe-polish tin for a fire kit in the pouch as well but it hasn't made the kit just yet.
Other bits should be self explanitory, spork, chain and so on. It all fits into the DPM pouch but my actual brew kit sits in my water bottle pouch as a separate item...
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r164/ogrithetrog/IMG_2739-1.jpg
ATB and my thanks to Wayland once more for inspiring this kit.
Ogri the trog
I like the christmas pudding addition. Got an old one in the pantry somewhere, have to bring it to the next meet for a little luxury!
stevesteve
22-09-2008, 22:03
I'm a big fan of these little stoves.
In biology there is the idea of convergent evolution; even eyes have evolved more than once!
I Dec 2006 I was trying to do a bit better than a rusty coffee tin when I came across a drainer in Woolies. I think I prompted a bit of a run on them at the time!
http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=2610
It is pretty much identical to the 'Weyland' stove.
I have now added the fuel feeding hole and have moved to using billies (OK a Wilko tea tin for the small one and biscuit tin for the bigger one). The bails are coat-hanger wire with bamboo. The whole kit packs up as follows: small billy in stove, stove in large billy, bails and lids inside then large lid on.
I also use an ikea steamer to act as a base and spark-guard.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n71/stevestevephoto/Bushcraft/brewup.jpg
Cheers,
Steve
That's like my original Ikea stove....:D
http://www.ravenlore.co.uk/assets/images/Small-Camp.jpg
This is the one that got me started.
saddle_tramp
24-09-2008, 15:46
yawl probably seen this clip before, but its kinda interesting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfY269_Zcpg&feature=related
Hadn't seen that but the design looks familiar....:D
Does anyone know who it is?
I think its Peter Gawleta from Birch Tree productions.
Here's mine; The fire bowl and hinges all fit in the pot along with enough space for about 6 main meals depending on what you pack! (The cup and bottle are for scale purposes only!)
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/CIMG0909.JPG
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/CIMG0910.JPG
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/CIMG0912.JPG
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/CIMG0911.JPG
Chris
korvin karbon
24-09-2008, 22:31
Here's mine; The fire bowl and hinges all fit in the pot along with enough space for about 6 main meals depending on what you pack! (The cup and bottle are for scale purposes only!)
Chris
chris, i am taking that idea, totally and utterly LOL
nice idea, looks light also
It is. If you're only going out for a while then the fire bowl and a tin cup are all that you need which you could easily lose in a pocket. The fire bowl is about 13cm across and about 3cm tall when folded in. I'm yet to try it this way but I recon that hexi blocks would be perfect if you just wanted a brew/noodle lunch.
Next thing to make is a metal lid for the Dutch patern cup.
Chris
saddle_tramp
25-09-2008, 01:11
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/CIMG0912.JPG
That door hinge trivet is inspired!
Yup, but I can't take the credit for it. Someone else on here (sorry don't remember who) bought a reprint of a 1930's book and then posted details of it and many of us have copied it since.
Chris
More or less the same as the one you first showed us Gary. Strainer from Ikea and billy from Morrisons with a brake cable bail arm
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00687.jpg
Only thing I`ve changed is instead of using scewers for the pan supports I`ve used a fan cover from an old pc. I`ve put a handle on the billy lid which I can screw off when I pack it, once the grill goes on it keeps it all secure and doesn`t rattle anymore.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00688.jpg
Steel cup and brew kit inside, nothing flash just nescafe sachets from hotel rooms and a mini nalgene with sugar and milk powder in.
nearly there ...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00690.jpg
lovely.....
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00691.jpg
I use the fan covers for my little trangia pot support that is part of my two pot hobo stove, when the missus hasn't hidden half the bits for it! It allows me to cook with the hobo and put a quick brew on with the trangia burner. Of course, the hobo is multi fuel as it can also use the trangia burner.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94/Spamel/0803300011.jpg
Latest tinkering just in!
Pot raisers and smaller dia pot supports in one. This idea was sugested in my origonal thread by mace242, so I thought id make some, there great duel function and save on space and weight. They pack away inside the sweety tin with the trangia on top.
http://pix.myphotoalbum.com/a/ad/add/addo/addos/addos/albums/album11/apf_smockbag_002.sized.jpg (http://addos.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=a lbum11&id=apf_smockbag_002)
Another prob I wanted to sort was stability. The other bits in the tin are to peg the stove to the ground (4 of) and raise at the same time to ovoid scorching and increase some air flow while maintaining a bed of embers. The extra lid that raises the stove goes over the trangia and tin.
http://pix.myphotoalbum.com/a/ad/add/addo/addos/addos/albums/album11/apf_smockbag_001.sized.jpg (http://addos.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=a lbum11&id=apf_smockbag_001)
http://pix.myphotoalbum.com/a/ad/add/addo/addos/addos/albums/album11/apf_smockbag_004.sized.jpg (http://addos.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=a lbum11&id=apf_smockbag_004)
http://pix.myphotoalbum.com/a/ad/add/addo/addos/addos/albums/album11/apf_smockbag_003.sized.jpg (http://addos.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=a lbum11&id=apf_smockbag_003)
Hopefully thats it now. :) Addo.
saddle_tramp
26-09-2008, 15:51
I was lookin at mateys in that youtube clip, and at first i thought it was too flimsy, but cos it fits his pot so perfectly, the rigidity dont much matter. which got me thinking as to whether it need be a fixed size container at all. so i might play around with some thin metal sheet. something that can be rolled and hooked to fit a pot, but perhaps adjustable to allow me to use bigger pots, but scould be rolled tighter to fit inside the pot for storage. obviously that costs me the base, but im not sure if thats any loss?
I was lookin at mateys in that youtube clip, and at first i thought it was too flimsy, but cos it fits his pot so perfectly, the rigidity dont much matter. which got me thinking as to whether it need be a fixed size container at all. so i might play around with some thin metal sheet. something that can be rolled and hooked to fit a pot, but perhaps adjustable to allow me to use bigger pots, but scould be rolled tighter to fit inside the pot for storage. obviously that costs me the base, but im not sure if thats any loss?
That idea could have its uses but would basically be an open fire wouldn't it?
The beauty of a hobo is that you can move it about whilst burning, ie if the wind changes, or you go to join someone else and take your fire with you:D
my humble opinion though
Bodge:)
saddle_tramp
26-09-2008, 16:59
The beauty of a hobo is that you can move it about whilst burning, ie if the wind changes, or you go to join someone else and take your fire with you
Yeah, i think youre probably right, im just bugged cos i cant find that perfect size pot, but it aint like theres any rush
I am a convert after originally being sceptical as to the merits of these stoves. I tried one out of curiosity and immediately saw the benefits, fast boil times with little fuel etc:. I only use natural fuel like wood etc: with no intention of using small meths burners or similar so my experience is limited to this, pine cones are excellent and I want to use it purely for natural fuels, therefore my needs of stove design are more simplified than if I was using multiple fuels. I am in the process of making my ideal stove, at first I just used one of those Ikea utensil holders to try it and as it was already full of holes just bent some wire into shape placing it over pot, it needed no further modification for simple use with wood only. Depending on circumstances sometimes for cooking I only go out with a crusader mug but at other times I may take an MSR cooking pot as I like the wider and lower size compared to the more usual Zebra like billy, for these pots I am in the process of trying to make a hobo that will accommodate the MSR and still be very compact, I want to keep the ‘low’ profile so hobo will pack easily possibly even inside pot, for this I am experimenting with a ‘’telescopic’’ hobo stove as it will need to be higher than pot of course for efficiency. The Ikea job I am using will not accommodate a zebra billy or similar so is not ‘’space friendly’’ with packing and as I have to make another one anyway because of this then it will be of different dimensions to suit my cooking pot. The pots on photo are the usual crusader with home-made lid, my MSR with added wire on handle for allowing either ‘handle’ use or ‘suspension’ over fire, a cheap though excellent pot the same size as a zebra billy, this last is excellent over a hobo with it’s handle but with no bail unsuitable for suspension, and the temporary hobo.
http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq51/photos2send/2900111111111111111.jpg
Yeah, i think youre probably right, im just bugged cos i cant find that perfect size pot, but it aint like theres any rush
What size billy do you have then?
Maybe someone else has the same and could advise as to which s/s container you should go for.
I personally took my bulldog billy with me round a few shops and checked the cannisters out whilst instore, I ended up with one from Wilkinson.
Somewhere out there is the perfect sized cannister for your billy can:D
Bodge
There are 3 ss canisters with good lids for a fiver at wilcos at the mo. Labeled coffee tea and suger. There all the same size, a tad smaller than a 10cm zebra and one fits inside the ikea drainer ok. Your mug fits under your bottle and I take it and that msr looks like it would fit top and bottom of the drainer if you wanted more cooking pots.
Theres no perfect way but that might work. (Have to make a bail arm and lid loop for the ss if over a fire as well of course).
saddle_tramp
26-09-2008, 20:51
What size billy do you have then?
Maybe someone else has the same and could advise as to which s/s container you should go for.
I personally took my bulldog billy with me round a few shops and checked the cannisters out whilst instore, I ended up with one from Wilkinson.
Somewhere out there is the perfect sized cannister for your billy can:D
Bodge
that aint a bad idea, my drainers a homebase one and its 12cm diameter (with the roll top on outside) so if anyone knows wheres good to get 11cm wide stainless cannisters, be grateful
edit today,(28 sept) just back from boot and i reckon im sorted now cheers
There are 3 ss canisters with good lids for a fiver at wilcos at the mo.
http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0205170
Also noticed that IKEA have slighty taller versions of the cutlery drainer now, 18cm high.
has anyone found a 'stove' that will fit a 12cm zebra? - all the ones I have looked at are too small (I've even resorted to carrying a piece of card cut to the diameter of the billy:D)
saddle_tramp
02-10-2008, 18:07
im sorted now cheers, tho drilling holes in the cannisters was fun. i ended up using engraving bits on a dremel and pushing them through when it was red hot n soft, (always pays to have right tools for the job. . . lol) killed a bit per hole, but it worked. used a bicycle spoke for a bail which amazingly does fit in the stove attached, but its easy to remove too.
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/CIMG0912.JPG
Chris
I absolutely bloody LOVE that. All good ideas are worth copying.
The hinges are obvious enough, but where did you get the folding sieve thingy?
korvin karbon
03-10-2008, 10:42
I absolutely bloody LOVE that. All good ideas are worth copying.
The hinges are obvious enough, but where did you get the folding sieve thingy?
the folding thing, from what i believe, is a grate used to stop vegetable peelings and such not go down a plug hole, never seen one that big before (stop sniggering you lot in the back)
I absolutely bloody LOVE that. All good ideas are worth copying.
The hinges are obvious enough, but where did you get the folding sieve thingy? the Folding thingy is a steamer, you put in in a pan with water in the bottom, it holds the veg out of the water, and steams your veg without the goodness leeching in to the water.
cheap too (http://www.cookshop.uk.com/prod_img/937_1_large.jpg)
I thought it looked like an expandable steamer to go in a saucepan..... :rolleyes:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NORPRO-Stainless-Steel-Expandable-Vegetable-Steamer_W0QQitemZ280273095148Q QcmdZViewItem?hash=item2802730 95148&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177
There is something called a fire bowl
http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/fire-bowl/index.html
Or go the steamer route
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90112531 :D
The steamer's are hinged to fit different pans. The Chinese use them to steam, veg, marinated pork mince, buns, dumplings, whatever.
They also steam Chinese preserved meats, which can be delicious and will last for many months. I believe for this reason the Chinese issue personal field cookset is specifically designed to accommodate steaming.
Ogri the trog
03-10-2008, 13:47
The steamer's are hinged to fit different pans. The Chinese use them to steam, veg, marinated pork mince, buns, dumplings, whatever.
They also steam Chinese preserved meats, which can be delicious and will last for many months. I believe for this reason the Chinese issue personal field cookset is specifically designed to accommodate steaming.
You can't make a comment like that and not post a photo!
Ogri the trog
I am sure someone cross-posted one before to BCUK, BB, and SpiritBurner.com I asked around a lot and people confirmed the story, but I wasn't able to get my hands on one for a photoshoot.
Minotaur
04-10-2008, 03:43
Going to have to go and play, but before I do, got a question, aimed in Wayland's direction.
A true Hobo stove has two sets of holes, on opposite sizes, which makes for a chimely effect.
Does more holes make a big difference?
Also why have the bottom holes if you are going to have the big feed hole?
The main reason I am asking these questions, is I am thinking of making one from a set of mess tins, so carry two sets a cooking set, and a cooker set.
I'm no expert, but it seemed to me that I wanted good air flow from bottom to top through the fuel to get good combustion.
the feed hole is above the bottom to stop stuff falling out, so I put some holes near the base for the air intake.
The top of the stove is not a perfect fit which lets the airflow out again, as you say, creating a chimney effect
I found my stove worked better with holes at the bottom and exit at the top than holes all around like the Ikea Drainer. I think mainly it was a wind thing, but I have been working on a new design which pre heats the air which then enters all around the combustion chamber and that seems to work very well.
Incidentally, I was in Ikea the other day and they've started selling a taller version of their drainer which could be interesting.
I'm no expert, but it seemed to me that I wanted good air flow from bottom to top through the fuel to get good combustion.
the feed hole is above the bottom to stop stuff falling out, so I put some holes near the base for the air intake.
The top of the stove is not a perfect fit which lets the airflow out again, as you say, creating a chimney effect
I found my stove worked better with holes at the bottom and exit at the top than holes all around like the Ikea Drainer. I think mainly it was a wind thing, but I have been working on a new design which pre heats the air which then enters all around the combustion chamber and that seems to work very well.
Incidentally, I was in Ikea the other day and they've started selling a taller version of their drainer which could be interesting.
Yeah, noticed the taller drainer online. Also have you seen these?
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/00113648
Larger and not as nice shape to carry, but wonder if the cone shape would help direct the heat to around a billy, assuming the top is wide enough to get one in. Sadly lacking dimensions.
Also the silicone lid might be nice to hold the rest of the kit in there when carrying.
I absolutely bloody LOVE that. All good ideas are worth copying.
The hinges are obvious enough, but where did you get the folding sieve thingy?
Got to have a go making one of them , so simple
Yeah, noticed the taller drainer online. Also have you seen these?
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/00113648
Larger and not as nice shape to carry, but wonder if the cone shape would help direct the heat to around a billy, assuming the top is wide enough to get one in. Sadly lacking dimensions.
Also the silicone lid might be nice to hold the rest of the kit in there when carrying.
Yep, did notice that.
Brought to mind the Caldera type stoves.
saddle_tramp
04-10-2008, 23:15
Im gonna endorse the homebase drainer, i cant do pics but i noticed huntersforge has one identical to mine (and shall now attempt to cut and paste his picture)
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh283/huntersforge/P9220473.jpg
did that work? Its 16.5cm tall by a fraction over 12cm in diameter, but the rolled top is on the outside, and all others ive seen are annoyingly on the inside.
:) EDIT hurray my computering skills know no bounds! erm
Minotaur
06-10-2008, 02:15
I'm no expert, but it seemed to me that I wanted good air flow from bottom to top through the fuel to get good combustion.
the feed hole is above the bottom to stop stuff falling out, so I put some holes near the base for the air intake.
The top of the stove is not a perfect fit which lets the airflow out again, as you say, creating a chimney effect
This Picture from wiki seems to go with that.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Hobo_stove_convection_2.jpg
I found my stove worked better with holes at the bottom and exit at the top than holes all around like the Ikea Drainer. I think mainly it was a wind thing, but I have been working on a new design which pre heats the air which then enters all around the combustion chamber and that seems to work very well.
There do seem to be a lot of fan powered modern versions.
noddynigel
06-10-2008, 13:20
I would like to thank everyone who has posted
this is just a shopping list
Homebase s/s utensil holder £3.99
Wilkinsons s/s small canister £1.99
s/s skewers 4 £0.59
poundstretcher
s/s large canister £4.00
also at wilkies
total £10.57
out with the tools!
noddynigel
korvin karbon
06-10-2008, 13:38
noddynigel. We now of course expect a tutorial LOL.
Good luck, as soon as my busy period ends a hobo stove is on my list of projects to do, along with trying to figure out how i can use my 4 weeks holiday and 2 weeks of flexi time i have built up, before the end of december LOL
Ok, not quite finished, and still virgin as far as fire is concerned, but it is about time i showed off my "Russian doll hobo stove setup". You will note that a lot of ideas from this forum have been incorporated into this 'thing' and i appologise if anyone is upset by the shear disregard for copyright and patent laws.:)
First we see how it packs up (minus it's 'lil green bag). And it weighs 2 1/2 lbs.
It's a single wall ice bucket i picked up for a fiver and is 14cm dia and 17cm tall.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj122/T4Tony/Hobo%20Stove/DSCF2441.jpg
Next we see a 'lil white rim, this is a windshield tucked inside the billy.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj122/T4Tony/Hobo%20Stove/DSCF2442.jpg
Unloading the bits n bobs inside the billy we have a KFS(knife,fork,spoon), a pair of tongs that came with the ice bucket(i figured these would be good for loading charcoal into the stove), two modified tent pegs(for the mini stove), and the main stove pot stand (made from an old printer ink head guide bar).
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj122/T4Tony/Hobo%20Stove/DSCF2443.jpg
Next we see the Ikea drainer (nuff sed).
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj122/T4Tony/Hobo%20Stove/DSCF2444.jpg
The unloaded windsheild.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj122/T4Tony/Hobo%20Stove/DSCF2445.jpg
The medium sized billy (10cm dia 12cm tall)(£1 plus a 50p knob plus 30p's worth of stainless cycle brake cable).
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj122/T4Tony/Hobo%20Stove/DSCF2446.jpg
The mini stove is revealed (forget where i got this).
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj122/T4Tony/Hobo%20Stove/DSCF2447.jpg
Now the micro billy (9cm dia 12cm tall)(still to be fitted with knod and bail).
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj122/T4Tony/Hobo%20Stove/DSCF2448.jpg
Inside that we have my folding handle mug (probable the most expensive part of the setup), and a fan guard for in the bottom of the mini stove ta aid air flow.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj122/T4Tony/Hobo%20Stove/DSCF2449.jpg
The mug holds coffee, tea sugar, waterproof match case and pot handle. Plus we see how the medium and micro billy's sit on the two stoves.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj122/T4Tony/Hobo%20Stove/DSCF2450.jpg
The big billy can sit on top of the big stove or.......
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj122/T4Tony/Hobo%20Stove/DSCF2451.jpg
.....be suspended above it on the lightweight tripod i made tonight.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj122/T4Tony/Hobo%20Stove/Dscf2452.jpg
Thanks for looking, had fun planning and making, giddy about using them for the first time at Middlemud.
Superb stuff Tony
And oh so shiney, needs blacking up a touch mate.
That`s a really nice setup you`ve got there, will you carry them all as a trail stove or just pick and choose ?
Pick and choose i think, the mini stove and micro billy (with me mug inside) pack really small (about the size of an 800ml water bottle) ..... when i've fitted the knob n bail that is.
Oh, and happy birthday for yesterday. Ooops, make that the day before.
Oh, and happy birthday for yesterday. Ooops, make that the day before.
Cheers buddy - spent the day walking round York city walls then found a pub for the rest of the afternoon.
hic :beerchug:
Minotaur
14-10-2008, 02:33
Cheers buddy - spent the day walking round York city walls then found a pub for the rest of the afternoon.
hic :beerchug:
Goes to show you, how long it has been since I went to York. For the life of me cannot remember the pub we use to drink in. Bizarrely, remember the car park.
Remember the pub in Broughbridge(spelling may be way off), called the new church or clock, brillinat reasturant, and first place had Korenburg blank. Good gaffer too. Also has a camp site, the other side of the car park.
Minotaur
14-10-2008, 02:36
Pick and choose i think, the mini stove and micro billy (with me mug inside) pack really small (about the size of an 800ml water bottle) ..... when i've fitted the knob n bail that is.
Nice set up!
Wonder if the wind shield solves the strainer problem...
Quick question, what is the tripod made of?
The tripod is three lengths of 8mm dia aluminium tube from B&Q at £2.74 each, and a 1m length of chain at £1.48. All i did was drill a 3mm hole through each tube close to the end, and then feed them onto a keyring. Still to find a pothook (i just know there's a packet of them in the garage somewhere, but can i find it).
The tripod is three lengths of 8mm dia aluminium tube from B&Q at £2.74 each, and a 1m length of chain at £1.48. All i did was drill a 3mm hole through each tube close to the end, and then feed them onto a keyring. Still to find a pothook (i just know there's a packet of them in the garage somewhere, but can i find it).
Nice one Tony, I love the tripod.
:)
Still Waters
14-10-2008, 11:53
Hi lazysod can i ask where you got that mug from?
Ive been looking for one like that for ages
Here is mine (Detals on my web pages) but you should get the drift from the pictures.
All self contained in the billy, multifuel etc.....
All packed
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/DavidCribb/10-1.jpg
Components
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/DavidCribb/02-1.jpg
Assembled
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/DavidCribb/04-1.jpg
With pan
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/DavidCribb/05-1.jpg
Burnning meths
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/DavidCribb/06-1.jpg
Burning wood
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/DavidCribb/15-1.jpg
Compared to nimblewill
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/DavidCribb/16-1.jpg
Hi lazysod can i ask where you got that mug from?
Ive been looking for one like that for ages
The mug came from eBay about a year ago, took ages to find.
The mug came from eBay about a year ago, took ages to find.
If you mean the folding wire handle mug I got one from millets for about £3 - £4
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Converti-billy_small.jpg
It's not illustrated, but the hobo shield fits (tightly) around the billy and is retained by the wire handle.
Minotaur
14-10-2008, 13:14
The tripod is three lengths of 8mm dia aluminium tube from B&Q at £2.74 each, and a 1m length of chain at £1.48. All i did was drill a 3mm hole through each tube close to the end, and then feed them onto a keyring. Still to find a pothook (i just know there's a packet of them in the garage somewhere, but can i find it).
Thanks for that will have to have a nose.
Pignut, do rivets work?
No melting problems?
When buying the aluminium tubes BEWARE,
The 'raw' aluminium tubes i bought for £2.74 were mixed in with the 'anodised' aluminium tubes which cost £3.50.
Check the product codes next to the barcodes, you want the one ending 5202, NOT 5302.
Heres mine
http://picasaweb.google.com/GrebbyIan/Hobo#
The billy is biscuit tin about 13cm diameter and the stove a tea tin from wilkos. The internal cylinder (with holes in) also came from wilkos and was labled as a "bbq stainless steel grill" the bottom mesh was cut from a cutlery draw sepearator thingy.
I then went on the scrounge for some offcuts from a metalworking firm just round the corner from work and came up with this. I do have a wind shield somewhere but raise it off the ground so it just protects the stove billy interface. This allows the stove to be turned so the hole can face into the wind once going which makes it burn HOT. Hot enough to pop ally rivets! I had to replace them with steel.
I've only played with it in the back yard but it will be going out with me as soon as I can get out.
Cheers
Grebby
Grebby, that's a fantastic and well made cooker. I'm thinking of making a stove for myself out of thin stainless steel and looked over your photos in detail looking for direction and ideas. Would you please explain the design to me, so that I can learn from your experience. As I see it, your idea is to have a basket that will hold a charge of twigs and then encapsulate it in a jacket that will reflect back some of the radiant heat into the burning coals.
I have a whole bunch of questions: How long is the burn time and approximately how much water does it boil? Is it difficult to feed in new twigs, or to you simply stack in new twigs as the old ones burn down? If so, what happens to the remaining ash? Does the outer jacket soot up or oxidise on the inside and if so does it lose its reflective benefit? Does the jacket help by causing a chimney effect, where a windshear or thermal updraft draws more air into the stack increasing the rate of burn and completing oxidation? Finally, if you were to make another, what would you do differently?
Thanks for that will have to have a nose.
Pignut, do rivets work?
No melting problems?
No mine are Stainless steel
Here's mine. Based on the Nimblewell, cut from 1.2mm titanium. And in it's own leather pouch.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2535295591_385f6822d8.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/2535291077_30ac631514.jpg
Nice one shep:D - But I must admit to thinking initially 'crikey that bit of plate has warped a bit!' :o
then realised it was the leather pouch:lmao: :sulkoff:
Yep, it's made from a lovely bit of leather taken from a dead antique chair - not some kind of mad superheated trashed titanium plate :rolleyes:
Grebby, that's a fantastic and well made cooker. I'm thinking of making a stove for myself out of thin stainless steel and looked over your photos in detail looking for direction and ideas. Would you please explain the design to me, so that I can learn from your experience. As I see it, your idea is to have a basket that will hold a charge of twigs and then encapsulate it in a jacket that will reflect back some of the radiant heat into the burning coals. ?
You put that a lot better that I could have done. It just looked right and made sense when I was putting it together. Only allow the heat out where I wanted it to go i.e up, combined with a chimney effect and good airflow that can be forced in by facing into the wind.
I have a whole bunch of questions: How long is the burn time and approximately how much water does it boil? Is it difficult to feed in new twigs, or to you simply stack in new twigs as the old ones burn down? If so, what happens to the remaining ash? Does the outer jacket soot up or oxidise on the inside and if so does it lose its reflective benefit? Does the jacket help by causing a chimney effect, where a windshear or thermal updraft draws more air into the stack increasing the rate of burn and completing oxidation? Finally, if you were to make another, what would you do differently?
It boiled a full billy (approx 1.7 litres) in about 10 mins I think. I wasn't really timing it and could be way out. I basically lit it and got it going nicely then topped up the fuel and popped the billy on. The one fuel load boiled the billy and I think kept a rolling boil for a while. To top up fuel you can poke bits inbetween billy and stove top but it is easier to lift the billy, it's so stable that this isn't a problem. Any ash just dropped down through the larger mesh into the base but there wasn't much at all, pretty much everything was consumed, including a lot of cider hence the vagueness.
I never noticed any sooting on the inside of the jacket but I've only played with it once or twice. The only mod I've planned and that was sort of there from the start is to make a sliding cover for the air entry slot at the bottom to allow the airflow to be restricted and reduce heat output.
I'll have a slightly more scientific and less drunken play at the weekend and post up the results.
Cheers
Grebby
Thanks for the answers. I have a thing for stoves.
Browsing around yesterday and discovered Schichirin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shichirin) stoves.
Same basic design as most hobo stoves, but made with ceramic, so not ideal for carting about but interesting none the less.
Load at http://www.fnw.gr.jp/7rinhonpo/index.htm
It boiled a full billy (approx 1.7 litres) in about 10 mins I think. I wasn't really timing it and could be way out. I basically lit it and got it going nicely then topped up the fuel and popped the billy on. The one fuel load boiled the billy and I think kept a rolling boil for a while. To top up fuel you can poke bits inbetween billy and stove top but it is easier to lift the billy, it's so stable that this isn't a problem. Any ash just dropped down through the larger mesh into the base but there wasn't much at all, pretty much everything was consumed, including a lot of cider hence the vagueness.
I never noticed any sooting on the inside of the jacket but I've only played with it once or twice. The only mod I've planned and that was sort of there from the start is to make a sliding cover for the air entry slot at the bottom to allow the airflow to be restricted and reduce heat output.
I'll have a slightly more scientific and less drunken play at the weekend and post up the results.
Cheers
Grebby
Right, I eventually got round to actually timing stuff. I went with 1 litre of water and discovered my guestimate was WAY out. I lit it and it basically took 2-3 mins to get going really well. I then topped it up with long upright split wood (pencil thick to just over 1cm square) a bit shorter than the length of the basket and popped the billy on. I discovered that the long stuff burned very quickly and had to top it up about 4 mins later. This time I used shorter fuel and basically put as much in as possible placed across the basket. this lasted longer but it took another top up before the water boiled. Boiling took 15 mins from putting the billy on but did keep a rolling boil for about 5 mins more.
The ash left was minimal and had dropped into the base. I could pick up the stove with a riggers glove on without any heat issues and there were only a couple of small (approx 1cm cubed) coals left in the basket.
I still need to sort out some form of wind shield for it but I think it works OK. Thicker fuel may help burn times but I'll have to see. The only annoying thing is having to lift the billy to top up fuel but it's not that bad
I've added a few pics of it lit to the picasa web album Here (http://picasaweb.google.com/GrebbyIan/Hobo#). The pic of the wood shows the long length and the short lengths were basically half this length.The laplander is there for scale and cutting the stuff up:D . I probably went through 1.5 to 2 times as much as is shown in that pic.
Cheers
Grebby
Mistwalker
19-10-2008, 23:04
Great stoves thanks for the info and the inspiration, I really must put one of these together now.
For those of you still making hobo stoves (and I knew that I'd seen it somewhere) Homebase have stainless steel 12.5cm dia, 17cm tall cutlery pot with lots of holes for £4.99 as per these
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/showfull.php?photo=3226
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/showfull.php?photo=3227
Now you just need either the standard issue Zebra billy or something else which is 12cm in diameter.
Chris
I put this up on another thread somewhere on here.
It is sweet tin with used cooking oil it. a cotton rag wraps around the outside and that becomes a wick when lit. It boils water in 10-15 minutes (I have timed it).
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u152/lepista/6C_DSC00102.jpg
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u152/lepista/6A_DSC00104.jpg
THERE IS ONLY ONE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH IT, IF ANY WATER AT ALL GOES ON THE FLAME IT PRODUCES A FIRE BALL. But it is small and compact knocks out heat, fits on pocket and doesn't leek, It is easy to light, just dont over fill the kettle, and check it is level before lighting.
Now that's an interesting idea.
I know from using oil lamps for living history how hot they burn once they get going and used oil is easy enough to come by.
Try it out at the midlands meet.
Put the uncooked pig on the spit. Light the wick get everyone to stand back (at least ten feet) then splash some water on it. i would interested to know if the pig gets burnt by the fireball.
I slightly over filled the kettle and fireball was as tall as I am. It only flashed for an instant but I am certain it would of torched a tarp if there was one near, I dread to think what it could do to bare skin or the wrong clothes. Saying that it is very small for the amount heat it produces when used correctly, it is certainly more effective than shop bought pocket stoves and blocks. It is put out easily by putting the sweet tin lid back on.
Any suggestions for making it safer would be seriously appreciated.
Here's my effort:
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk274/PossiblesPete/DSC01516.jpg
Made from a Woolies drainer and a Morrisons pot, yet to fit the wire handle but have gathered all the necessary bits.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk274/PossiblesPete/DSC01508.jpghttp://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk274/PossiblesPete/DSC01507.jpg
Also made a pouch from the leg from an old pair of trousers (great idea).
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk274/PossiblesPete/DSC01521.jpg
Really enjoyed making it :D .
Thanks Wayland, works a treat.
Pete.
sparksfly
09-11-2008, 22:07
For those of you still making hobo stoves (and I knew that I'd seen it somewhere) Homebase have stainless steel 12.5cm dia, 17cm tall cutlery pot with lots of holes for £4.99 as per these
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/showfull.php?photo=3226
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/showfull.php?photo=3227
Now you just need either the standard issue Zebra billy or something else which is 12cm in diameter.
Chris
Unfortunately the Homebase strainer is slightly too small for use with the standard 12cm zebra billy.
So the Zebra isn't actualy 12cm then? Or is it 12cm inside diameter?
Chris
sparksfly
10-11-2008, 21:47
The inside diameter of the strainer is almost exactly 12cm - and the same is true of the zebra.
Ladies and Gents, while huddling under my poncho on Sunday, I found time to take a few picks of my Hobo for this thread. For the record, here are the features that make it a little unique.
It uses a biscuit container from Wilkinsons , this has nicely rounded top and bottom which make it smoother to pack and the lid acts as a fantastic bowl. This is a really good feature as it provides a clean surface for preparing ingredients , placing you spoon etc.( If I’m going light I sometimes leave the bowl behind ) The rounded bottom also allows me to fit a grill (old computer fan guard) which allows for the use of charcoal when on the moors or mountains. Charcoal is light and provides a great heat for slow cooking of stews and the like, even when in the woods. (You can light your hobo and then go off and do other things while dinner cooks instead of continually feeding it).
I use a 1 litre Primus stainless Billy as the main pot in mine as I prefer a handle on my pan to hold while I stir or eat.
The stove used two skewers to hold the pan at the correct height. There are two positions for the skewers the first for an open fire, the second (lower) for charcoal and my spirit burner.
The Billy is a loose fit with about 1cm all the way around. The pan then fits either 5 or 8cm inside this ‘chimney’ jacket during use which improves its heating efficiency and draw on the fire.
The hobo will also accommodate my 12cm Zebra Billy with the Primus one inside for compactness when on canoe trips.
The Primus handles are bent slightly to form a spring fit with the stove when packed to prevent annoying rattling when hiking with just the main Billy.
I use a stainless steel pan scourer to clean the pans, they last forever, dry instantly and can be sterilised over a fire if they ever get pongy. They weight nothing and pack to nothing and are very efficient at cleaning even burnt on food. I strongly recommend you get one.
http://www.engasol.co.uk/bushcraft/hobo%20bits.jpg
http://www.engasol.co.uk/bushcraft/hobo%20alight.jpg
http://www.engasol.co.uk/bushcraft/hobo%20top%20off.jpg
http://www.engasol.co.uk/bushcraft/hobo%20bag.jpg
Mistwalker
11-11-2008, 17:56
Nice one, thanks for the pics!
some great hobos here, i like the assortment of different designs.
heres an easy one made from #10 coffee can and clotheshanger grill
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/7224/img2854ta0.jpg
http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/4880/img2845af7.jpg
and heres a hobo stove gone wrong, guess it was too thin. :D
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9495/img3152kw1.jpg
DavidEnoch
14-11-2008, 18:08
Have any of you tried the Garlington WoodGas Stove design? I found it here: http://www.garlington.biz/Ray/WoodGasStove/
I just was wondering how it compares to the stoves you guys have posted here?
I have really enjoyed this thread. I want to make a Hobo Stove kit myself.
Another question is what type of foods do you cook in the kettles?
Thanks,
David Enoch
Not tried the stove in your link but as far as food, anything goes!
As Bimble says some charcoal makes a difference doing stews type dishes, as does a small meths burner for a quick stop for a brew when out walking or first thing in the morning after a night out in the cold.
Having a decent sized lid on your cooking pot and a full on breakfast is called for I reckon, or fry a banock/soda bread to go with anything.
Food is good.:)
and heres a hobo stove gone wrong, guess it was too thin. :D
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9495/img3152kw1.jpg
Is that that aluminium or steel?
Looks like ally from the way it's melted. :eek:
I had an ally pot stand that melted like that on a windy day with a meths stove.
Survival Bill
16-11-2008, 18:37
Here is what we have been using at the meets it can be scaled back to just the piping if need be...
I'm sure one can be made up with some sheet metal and some ingenuity to make it brake down into a small enough package..
This has been impressing everyone as to how quick it boils up a pot of water and that once it gets going is smoke free..
http://www.survivalbill.ca/coppermine/albums/userpics/10003/rocketstove.jpg
Gailainne
16-11-2008, 20:17
Have any of you tried the Garlington WoodGas Stove design? I found it here: http://www.garlington.biz/Ray/WoodGasStove/
I just was wondering how it compares to the stoves you guys have posted here?
.....
David Enoch
Yep
I couldnt get it to boil water without the use of a 12v computer fan, ran of a 9v battery. tried a few designs before giving up on it.
Heres the link. (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=314720&postcount=1)
DavidEnoch
17-11-2008, 02:02
I made one of the Garlington WoodGas stoves this weekend. It is tiny stove! It measures 7.5 cm (3") in dia. and 11.5 cm (4 1/2") high. I had trouble making the pot supports to match the ones on the web site. I broke up tiny stick up to pencil diameter into 3 cm (1") lengths as suggested and placed enogh sticks to stack up to about 7.5 cm (3") high. That is only a handful of short bits of sticks with the smallest ones on top. Since I was having trouble with the pot supports, I put the stove below the grate of my charcoal grill and put a 2 qt. pot of water on the grate. This doesn't work as well since there isn't a way to contain the heat from the stove up to the pot. I used about 1 teaspoon of charcoal lighter fluid to start the fire from the top as directed. We had about 30 mph winds and 40 degree temperature outside. The stove smoked just a little for about 30 seconds and then burned without smoke for the next 15 minutes. The water was close to a boil but didn't boil. I am sure I would have had a quick boil if I had the proper pot holder and a wind screen wrapped around the stove and pot. I was quite impressed with the little stove. Now, I just have to firgure out the pot supports. Once I get the pot supports figured out I will take some pictures and check my boil time.
I want to tell you guys that I have been very impressed with the cook kits I have seen in this thread. They are quite impressive.
David Enoch
Can anyone help me Getting those Morrisons Pots/Canisters that Wayland uses for his kit?
I have my self a Zebra Billy can 10cm and 12cm i both want to have fitting Morrison Pots to use as Hobo Stoves. And i cant get anything of use i Denmark
I will ofcourse play ALL expenses and a bit for your trouble helping me.
A site link to where i can get the Morrison s/s pots would also be help full.
Kind Regards
Brian Bergh
I cant help at the moment Brian, but these sort of canisters are available from many supermarkets and hardware stores and Ikea type homeware places. Just a case of taking measurements and a tape to the store, to make sure you get the ones that fit and dont need too much work to convert, the difference in the lids can make you change your mind also.
If stuggling to find them still, im sure someone could help you out from here.:)
If you have a dog, a 800g tin of Chppie gives him a meal and you a nice size tin to play with
Danish Supermarkets and stores dont care much in s/s steel canisters sadly.
Neanderthal
22-11-2008, 21:48
Scene One, Act One. (At Tescos)
Me: "I fancy a big tin of Tomato Soup."
Wife: "You're making another Hobo Stove aren't you?"
Me: "No, I just fancy some tomato soup."
Wife: "You're making another Hobo Stove aren't you?"
Me: "Yes." :o
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg52/Neanderthal1000/StovePacked.jpghttp://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg52/Neanderthal1000/StoveUnpacked.jpg
Packed and Unpacked
Components: Bag, chain for hanging over open fire, cotton wool balls, Meths, Red Bull can Alchohol burner, Hexi Blocks, Matches, Beverage ingredients,
Plastic blowpipe with brass pipe insert. Pint Mug with handle removed.
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg52/Neanderthal1000/StoveinHexiMode.jpghttp://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg52/Neanderthal1000/StoveinMethsMode.jpghttp://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg52/Neanderthal1000/StoveinWoodBurningMode.jpg
Hexi Mode, Alcohol Mode, Wood Burning Mode.
Holes around the top and bottom were made with a Church Key can opener. I used an Opinel penknife to hack out the big hole in the side to feed in the fuel.
The mesh in the bottom allows good air intake from below which made a big improvement. This also provides a raised base for the alcohol and Hexi options.
The Billy is a coffee storage can from Morrisons with a brake cable handle pop riveted on.
The stove is sat on the foil tray from a quiche and protects the grass long enough to make a brew.
Stu
For years I've used a hobo stove made from a simple coffee can. Everything nests, it works pretty well, but nothing fancy. Actually, it's pretty ratty. But it feeds me and keeps me warm(ish) and it costs nothing.
My teenage daughter has finally agreed to accompany me backpacking (the fact that her boyfriend backpacks helps) so we're off to the woods the week after Christmas.
Wayland inspired me to make her a fancy hobo stove (she makes fun of my battered can) as a present before the trip.
Here's a picture of the results and then an explanation of a couple of oddball touches.
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww196/bobcauthorn/hobo3.jpg
Requirements: it had to be shiny and work well. So I picked up a stainless steel cutlery container for a couple of dollars and cut various holes in it.
However, I've been interested in a particular design aspect of the bushbuddy stove: it has a raised wire stand where the wood and coals sit. My coffee can has an annoying quality: as time wears on the coals and ash load up a the bottom and soon don't have enough oxygen to burn well.
The bushbudy design eliminates that problem by allowing the ash to fall through while the coals and burning wood stay suspended over a a grill of open air.
I set out to mimic this behavior by bolting a stainless steel kitchen drain in the bottom of my daughter's stove. Here is one view:
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww196/bobcauthorn/hobo2.jpg
and another, which also shows the top "grill" (more plumbing -- in the case a SS shower drain cover)
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww196/bobcauthorn/hobo1.jpg
My *hope* is the wood and coals will accumulate in the drain basket and ash will fall through. I worry that the holes in the drain basket might be a little too fine to let the ash through efficiently, but we'll see. The drain has about inch of elevation off the bottom of the stove.
If it works the way I hope, in theory it could be a pretty efficient burner (I may need some additional air holes, but we'll see.)
Why bolt the drain basket in place rather tan suspending it on skewers so I can make the height variable for multi fuel? One reason: it's present and I thought having too many individual parts might turn my daughter off.
If the overall concept works, I'll make another one -- smaller and lighter with an adjustable drain basket height.
Here it is packed up with its cup inside:
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww196/bobcauthorn/hobo4.jpg
(Yes, I need to shorten the skewers so it will fit well inside its bag, I just didn't get around to it before these photos.)
I'll report back on the performance of the "suspended coal basket" approach once we're back from our post-Christmas trip.
Thoughts?
P.S. Thanks for Wayland to starting this thread, as a hobo stove user of many years, I've seen a ton of interesting ideas that never occurred to me...
Wilderbeast
20-12-2008, 01:05
wow that's cool, i think i'll try one myself!!!
jddubber
20-12-2008, 01:44
hi guys, loving these stoves , i will make one soon :) would these tins of gel fuel be any good ? obviously itll have the wood burnin capability too :)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260215282092&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=016
When I was a kid I used sterno sometimes and regretted it. It has a bad odor and seems to smoke stuff up -- plus I found that it tended to warm things rather than cook them.
But it's cheap enough, so give a can a try and see how you feel about it. Your reaction might be different than mine (and it might I have changed, I haven't tried sterno in 25 years)
If you want a fuel backup (for times when wood might not be available) I recommend esbit tablets.
hi guys, loving these stoves , i will make one soon :) would these tins of gel fuel be any good ? obviously itll have the wood burnin capability too :)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260215282092&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=016
DavidEnoch
22-12-2008, 13:50
I have not had any luck finding nesting stainless steel containers. I did pick up a set of 4seamless nesting canisters (no lids) made of aluminum at a thrift store for a couple dollars. Will aluminum work for the stove and pot?
Thanks,
David Enoch
In my experience, it depends on the aluminum and its weight: the problem I've seen is burn through and warping on lighter weight aluminum.
However, the burn through should only happen if you blow a lots on a bed of coals or charcoal (at least that's the only time I've seen it), so you should be OK if you only want to boil a bit of water.
But steel is better by a large margin.
If you don't care about how it looks, consider using a couple of sizes of steel cans that nest -- often you can find tomatos in different sized cans that are perfect for this. They'll get you going and then, as opportunity permits, you can find slightly better finished ones.
I've used a can stove for a long time - the one I made for my daughter is the first fancy one I've ever done. It was fun.
Good luck!
I dont think aluminium would be any good as its a weak metal and as dogwood says it may warp buckle? Thats the last thing you want on a trip out is your dinner ending up in the fire due to a dodgy tin.
Try scouting around supermarkets for large fameily size tins of soup/spaggettie/beans etc
If pushed you could even buy a large tin of dog food just for the tin and give nextdoors dog an Xmass treat :D
Carboot sales is a good place to browse around, only last week I bought a set of 3 small nesting tins for £2.
Keep yer eyes peeled. Most members like myself cant go into a strore or whatever and pass a tin/bucket/container without thinking - That would make a good hobo stove :D
Tom
Survival Bill
29-01-2009, 04:21
yet another hobo stove...
http://www.survivalbill.ca/phpBB3/wordpress.php
http://www.survivalbill.ca/coppermine/albums/userpics/10003/hobostove-1.jpg
Looks good. Have you tried it yet and also how much did it cost to make?
Nice one Bill, I like the legs on that, do they get soft when the stove heats up though?
ohh **** guess whos of to the arcade for a coffee tin and a drainer :D...maybe being stuck in the city's not so bad after all....
andybysea
29-01-2009, 10:21
heres my attempt, its a very basic Wayland(ish) design,my misses wants new accesseries for the kitchen so ive made use of the old ones,
here is it packed up
http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp278/an258/bdayhobo015.jpg
and laid out, its a woolworths drainer,a ss coffee pot,a meths burner(ti) a old pellet tin(contains hexi's) a meths bottle, two steel rods,a old ss cup for a lid,and a pot grabber,and bag,
http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp278/an258/bdayhobo012.jpg
here is is heating, using some sticks taken from back of garden,
http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp278/an258/bdayhobo010.jpg,
finally boiling (quite quick under 5)
http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp278/an258/bdayhobo011.jpg
naboo_the_enigma
06-02-2009, 16:51
nice thread guys! couldn't help getting invlolved.
mine is a lot smaller than most of these, it boils about 3/4l at the max but it does it quickly. It isn't actually finished yet, needs a few more holes drilling and the insides filing down a little.
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq356/dje666/bushcraft/DSCN7355.jpg
above is the hobo stove set up, the cup goes on top when i'm cooking, surprisingly does not get too hot to hold. i take teabags, a sponge, charcloth, a home made oak spoon and a simple home made hexi block style thingy.
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq356/dje666/bushcraft/DSCN7356.jpg
and this si it all packed down ready to go in the flectarn pouch.
great to see some of the craftsmanship that has gone in to some of these, some really impressive work!
The article here
http://www.bushcraftnorthwest.com/articles/stove%20article.htm
looks to be on a useful portabele wood burning stove - it is based on a Sterno Folding Stove (measures 6.5”x 6.5”). I cannot find this for sale in the UK - is there a near equivalent in size,weight , function etc. ( I am not into metal work and so cannot make one)
OK, it's not that portable, but I've managed to improvise a wooden stove:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Woodstove.jpg
(burning out an old stump, I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a cuppa)
PS
Hobo shield (q.v.) in stowed configuration:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/Stowedshield.jpg
scrogger
03-03-2009, 20:04
Ok guys inspired by all I have seen on this thread I cadged swmbos biscuit barrel after much grovelling and scraping and had my first go. I reckon it needs a tweak here and there and maybe a larger cooking pot but im quite chuffed.
Thanks to all for posting there pics I got lots of ideas!!
If I knew how I would post the pictures.
How do I post the pictures?
Andy
andybysea
04-03-2009, 12:45
use a service like http://photobucket.com/ then download the pics to that, when posting copy the img link and paste into your message, someone can probs explain it better but thats about the gist Shewie on here told me how do it and its worked for me.
MartinK9
04-03-2009, 13:52
Ok guys inspired by all I have seen on this thread I cadged swmbos biscuit barrel after much grovelling and scraping and had my first go. I reckon it needs a tweak here and there and maybe a larger cooking pot but im quite chuffed.
Thanks to all for posting there pics I got lots of ideas!!
If I knew how I would post the pictures.
How do I post the pictures?
Andy
Try this:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13734
Here's some pics of an upgrade I've made to my hobo stove.
Having seen a couple of stoves with legs I thought it looked like a good idea. I was originally thinking along the lines of those folding legs on the Peak 1 petrol stove but couldn't find an easy and cheap way of achieving that :( .
That was until I found some 50mm timber framed building ties discarded by some builders.
Made by a company called Staifix from stainless steel they looked ideal :) .
http://www.countysupplies.net/timberframe.html
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk274/PossiblesPete/DSC01870Small.jpg
I just folded the ties in half and made three simple bolted on slots to hold them firmly but still allowing quick removal (The Morrisons pot still fits inside for storage) .
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk274/PossiblesPete/DSC01874Small.jpg
Haven't tested them out yet but they do seem to add extra stability to the stove and raise it 2" of the ground.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk274/PossiblesPete/DSC01869Small.jpg
Cheers, Pete.
MartinK9
08-03-2009, 21:03
Here's some pics of an upgrade I've made to my hobo stove.
Having seen a couple of stoves with legs I thought it looked like a good idea. I was originally thinking along the lines of those folding legs on the Peak 1 petrol stove but couldn't find an easy and cheap way of achieving that :( .
That was until I found some 50mm timber framed building ties discarded by some builders.
Made by a company called Staifix from stainless steel they looked ideal :) .
http://www.countysupplies.net/graphics/Timber%20Frame%20-%20studio.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk274/PossiblesPete/DSC01870Small.jpg
I just folded the ties in half and made three simple bolted on slots to hold them firmly but still allowing quick removal (The Morrisons pot still fits inside for storage) .
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk274/PossiblesPete/DSC01874Small.jpg
Haven't tested them out yet but they do seem to add extra stability to the stove and raise it 2" of the ground.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk274/PossiblesPete/DSC01869Small.jpg
Cheers, Pete.
What a great adaptation Pete
I was thinking the very same thing :approve:
Timber ties you say ? :cool: They look absolutely ideal.
cheers,
Toddy
That's really neat...http://www.wayland.me.uk/assets/images/4166.gif
ForgeCorvus
08-03-2009, 22:15
It should be a lot more stable as your legs are splayed thereby increasing the footprint
Nice mod, going to have to nick it :lmao:
stevesteve
09-03-2009, 00:32
Cool, these are getting good.
I started out with a Woolies drainer, now these are getting technical. I love those legs and may have to have a go too.
Cheers,
Steve
stonyman
21-03-2009, 13:24
I've finally made one, it was great fun, now need to fire it up and sit back and enjoy the first brew from it.
http://i568.photobucket.com/albums/ss125/Stonyman_2009/DSCF0169.jpg
http://i568.photobucket.com/albums/ss125/Stonyman_2009/DSCF0173.jpg
i've made my hobo stove from one of those ikea utensil holders but did had it the other way up and cut the bottom out top make it the top, pics hopefully to come soon
traderran
21-03-2009, 23:30
Now it looks like I will have to make one myself.
mite be a good one for when I don't take a pack horse.
warthog1981
01-04-2009, 22:53
After seeing puubs great modification I had a go at making legs for my hobo stove along the same Idea :D
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m60/warthog1981/P3310109.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m60/warthog1981/P3310115.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m60/warthog1981/P3310114.jpg
cheers Russ
Thanks for the complement Russ, looks great :D .
' The bow legged hobos '........ sounds like a red neck band :) .
ATB,
Pete.
P.S That ash pan is a good idea, going to add that to mine.
Neat, very neat, I think I need an upgrade :rolleyes: :D
I like the ashpan idea too. I think I'm going to see if I can find a bit of fireblanket stuff that plumbers and central heating engineers use. That ought to do for an ashpan as well as to wrap it up in to stop rattles.
cheers,
Toddy
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b104/spunktronics/DSC00120.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b104/spunktronics/DSC00121.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b104/spunktronics/DSC00122.jpg
my one and only attempt
only cost 2 quid i think all together
If by ashpan you mean the tinfoil, it'll also act as a reflector (many gas stoves now come with them as standard). This should increase the efficiency of your heat source.
But won't stop rattles. Swings... roundabouts.
Air Pirate
03-04-2009, 03:50
First please understand I mean no offense when I say, Wayland, after reading the earlier posts in this thread I have a hard time picturing a "freelance viking" in an Ikea. Let me also say that your hobo stove was the inspiration behind my rig.
All "nested" together.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f299/grrlygirl8/Robs%20Gea/Gear_N_EmSexy028.jpg
All that was inside at the time of the photo shoot.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f299/grrlygirl8/Robs%20Gea/Gear_N_EmSexy029.jpg
How the stove and my billy go together.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f299/grrlygirl8/Robs%20Gea/Gear_N_EmSexy030.jpg
Somewhere I have some low quality cell phone pics of this stove in action, just not sure where they are. Eventually I'm going to put a knob or handle on the lid of the billy so I can actually use it. The stove and the billy were purchased at Wal-Mart and Target respectively then heavily modified of course. Whole set cost about $10.
TheBrick
08-04-2009, 15:10
Hi more of a lurker than a poster but just though I'd share my hobo stove I built inspired by this thread (the main reason I joined). I need to use it a bit more but I already have some design tweaks ready for the next one.
Info and pics here. http://whydontyouwriteitalldown.blogs pot.com/2009/04/homemade-stoves.html
I made a 5-minute hobo stove which I made in bordem but it turned out pretty good and outputs quite alot of heat, this picture shows the bean can with the lower intake holes which air is drawn in and you can see the sections cut out of the top with a larger tab cut-out to place twigs in:
http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv104/Crafty002/DSCN0186.jpg
Here you can see the lower intake holes in more detail:
http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv104/Crafty002/DSCN0187.jpg
Here you can see the inside, with the fire-grate made from the lid, kept in place with bent bits of metal cut out from the tin:
http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv104/Crafty002/DSCN0188.jpg
Here is the stove in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUZbZ7Y5gRk
I made a 5-minute hobo stove which I made in bordem but it turned out pretty good and outputs quite alot of heat, this picture shows the bean can with the lower intake holes which air is drawn in and you can see the sections cut out of the top with a larger tab cut-out to place twigs in:
http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv104/Crafty002/DSCN0186.jpg
a true hobo stove! made from rubish not like those fancy stainless steel stoves, i meen where would a tramp get the materials or the tools to make one?:rolleyes:
iv got a fatter pineapple tin lined up for mine:D
pete
Sorry about the size of the pictures. I don't know how to change it.
This is from an idea I saw on the net. It work very well - which is not to say that it can't benefit from 'tuning' or improvements. The stove burns cleanly and smoke free on one filling of twigs for about 1/2 hour.
I used a cheap dog food tin from Tescos and removed the lid with a clean-cut type opener.
It's important to remember that contrary to most wood fires, this burns from the top downwards - you don't light it from the bottom. This ensures that as combustable gasses are released from the heated fuel, they have to pass upwards into the hottest zone and are consumed. If lit from below, the flame heats the fuel above, but not necessarily hot enough to ignite. The gasses produced will then escape as smoke. The only problem with burning from the top is the initial lighting. This is most easily achieved with a teaspoonfull of meths dribbled on top of the fuel stack - but I have done it with strips of birch bark laid on top, but it's not so easy as using meths. The base of the can heats up, but only enough to lightly scorch any underlying grass.
The following images shows the two components of the stove. I created the large holes at the top and bottom with a 1 1/8" hole (chassis) punch I had handy. Other methods of creating the holes would depend on the tools available. I joined pairs of holes at the top to created ovals, but it probably wasn't necessary. Immediately above the lower large holes is a ring of 4mm ones. These were drilled and afterwards the drill shank was inserted into the holes and levered downwards to created a lip on the inside of the can for supporting the hearth. Above this is a ring of about 7mm holes and nearer the top, two more rings of 4mm holes. These holes were also treated in the same way as the 4mm holes art the bottom, in an attempt to divert air into the stove when burning. The removed lid of the can becomes the 'hearth' of the stove, and is 'peppered' with 3mm holes, as shown. The very bottom of the can is left intact.
My decision for placement and sizing of the holes was pretty arbitary, and I'm sure other arrangements would work equally well
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove0.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove2.jpg
The next images show the assembled stove, with the hearth in place and sitting on the lips of the lower 4mm holes.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove1.jpg
This shows the stove filled and ready to light. Use pencil diameter dry twigs broken into short lengths. As the stove is filled, tap the base onto the ground to settle the fuel.
(Appologies for the 'soft' image - It's camera shake because I'd forgotten to switch the camera image stabilisation on!)
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove3.jpg
Here the stove is shown lit. It can be seen that no smoke is being produced.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove4.jpg
The next image shows the kettle on the stove, followed by it boiling after about ten minutes. Again, in both images no smoke is being produced.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove5.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove6.jpg
The final two images show the stove burning out and the ashes to show how complete the combustion was.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove7.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove8.jpg
Jim
(So how do I embed inline images?)
Add the pictures to photobucket and they will give you a link that begins with [IMG] - Use that.
As reference to your stove - I think it's excellent and a obvious piece of good, ingenius workmanship, Obviously it's the same principal as mine but constructed in a slightly different way.
This is from an idea I saw on the net. It work very well - which is not to say that it can't benefit from 'tuning' or improvements. The stove burns cleanly and smoke free on one filling of twigs for about 1/2 hour.
I used a cheap dog food tin from Tescos and removed the lid with a clean-cut type opener.
It's important to remember that contrary to most wood fires, this burns from the top downwards - you don't light it from the bottom. This ensures that as combustable gasses are released from the heated fuel, they have to pass upwards into the hottest zone and are consumed. If lit from below, the flame heats the fuel above, but not necessarily hot enough to ignite. The gasses produced will then escape as smoke. The only problem with burning from the top is the initial lighting. This is most easily achieved with a teaspoonfull of meths dribbled on top of the fuel stack - but I have done it with strips of birch bark laid on top, but it's not so easy as using meths. The base of the can heats up, but only enough to lightly scorch any underlying grass.
The following images shows the two components of the stove. I created the large holes at the top and bottom with a 1 1/8" hole (chassis) punch I had handy. Other methods of creating the holes would depend on the tools available. I joined pairs of holes at the top to created ovals, but it probably wasn't necessary. Immediately above the lower large holes is a ring of 4mm ones. These were drilled and afterwards the drill shank was inserted into the holes and levered downwards to created a lip on the inside of the can for supporting the hearth. Above this is a ring of about 7mm holes and nearer the top, two more rings of 4mm holes. These holes were also treated in the same way as the 4mm holes art the bottom, in an attempt to divert air into the stove when burning. The removed lid of the can becomes the 'hearth' of the stove, and is 'peppered' with 3mm holes, as shown. The very bottom of the can is left intact.
My decision for placement and sizing of the holes was pretty arbitary, and I'm sure other arrangements would work equally well
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove0.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove2.jpg
The next images show the assembled stove, with the hearth in place and sitting on the lips of the lower 4mm holes.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove1.jpg
This shows the stove filled and ready to light. Use pencil diameter dry twigs broken into short lengths. As the stove is filled, tap the base onto the ground to settle the fuel.
(Appologies for the 'soft' image - It's camera shake because I'd forgotten to switch the camera image stabilisation on!)
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove3.jpg
Here the stove is shown lit. It can be seen that no smoke is being produced.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove4.jpg
The next image shows the kettle on the stove, followed by it boiling after about ten minutes. Again, in both images no smoke is being produced.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove5.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove6.jpg
The final two images show the stove burning out and the ashes to show how complete the combustion was.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove7.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.ford60/stove8.jpg
Jim
(So how do I embed inline images?)
Thought I'd help out... Nice post!
Cheers,
Mungo
Perhaps you have already mentioned this, but; how long did it take for the water to come a rolling boil?
Not strictly speaking, a hobo stove - but it is made from old rubbish too. This is a revised edition of the coke/beer can alcohol stove - what is unique about this is the "finely tuned", intergrated coat hanger pot stand and I have solved the sometimes messy and inconvenient trouble of having to pour the alcohol/meths on the ground around the stove or getting a seperate bit of metal to have the stove on to pour the alcohol on instead - I have done this by simply screwing the stove onto a larger tin and waterproofed it with some paint and "No More Nails" so there are no leaks which you just pour a bit of meths or whatever in and wait for the main stove to ignite. I also made a valve from the top of the beer can so more of the vapour comes out the out-take holes rather that uncontrollably out the top where it's not supposed to and wasting the fuel with a not very hot flame!
I personally don't really take meths stoves out anywhere apart from my backgarden when I have decided to make one as I feel is leaves too much impact on the environment and I don't really trust meths.
Top View:
http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv104/Crafty002/DSCN0190.jpg
Bottom View Showing Paint:
http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv104/Crafty002/DSCN0191.jpg
Side View Showing Air Intake Holes And Close-Up Of Pot Stand:
http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv104/Crafty002/DSCN0192.jpg
Obviously not the most elegant thing in the world but it works!
iv always felt that hobo stoves were a bit pointless but seeing how popular they have become i thought i better give it a go. it turned out very well, i used laylandii bark as tinder and larch as fuel, stating off with shavings then finger thick split wood.
unlike most other soft woods larch is very clean burning once it gets going and makes very little smoke and produces good coals to cook on:)
the tin i used was too small to suport a pan aswell as holding enough fuel so i had to hold it lol. i will bring a pot hanger next time:rolleyes:
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk196/peter556/P100409_1608.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk196/peter556/P100409_1609.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk196/peter556/P100409_1623.jpg
pete
There is no need, just cut out some tabs like I did - or if you like Jimford's design better - do it like that.
Btw, Was I apart of your inspiration to make a hobo stove? :)
Well that's my sunday project sorted! Thanks for the ideas, I'm clearly gonna bastardise them all... :D bring on some sunshine to do it in :)
A tip is to try and use a bigger tin, more room for wood also better airflow therefore you'll generate more heat.
Boston973
04-05-2009, 11:40
Well Its taken me awile but I have finally gotten around to making my own. I wanted to thank all of you for the great idea's and models. My own is Nowere as nice but it did cost less than 30 bucks to make the whole thing.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/ryan973/IMG_0593.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/ryan973/IMG_0595.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/ryan973/IMG_0596.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/ryan973/IMG_0598.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/ryan973/IMG_0601.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/ryan973/IMG_0602.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/ryan973/IMG_0604.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/ryan973/IMG_0608.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/ryan973/IMG_0609.jpg
I like that. I hadn't thought of using enamel ware.
How does it stand up to the heat in the stove part?
Boston973
04-05-2009, 16:55
Exellent so far. I had a nice fire going in there for a few hours and i did not get any additional chipping. However I will say that i would prefer a stainless billy. I dropped this one and it hit a rock and penny size chip of enamel flaked off the side. Both cans can hold 2.5 qourts but have a slightly diffrent profile wich means they fit inside eachother perfectly. the two handles are meant to be removable and I keep them both It helps when I need to move the stove and its still hot.
Of course for around 8 dollars each the two billys can be replaced if problems do occur.
The other small set of pan, dish, pot and cup. I also got at walmart. it cost me around five dollars.
The real test comes at the end of the month, when I am off to the White Mountains for a week. Hopefully I will have many pictures to post on my return. I have alot of plans but so far my main goal is to make fire by friction.
Mistwalker
17-05-2009, 04:45
Just wanted to move this one closer to the front again. After that last over nighter I trully realized the value of having one of these and dry fuel in my pack and it is now a front burner project and I will be doing some study. Every time I started to set a fire to cook first my breakfast then my lunch...(went home for dinner) the thunder would come and the sky would open and I'd just put it off again. So..now that I am seriously at this, lol, I didn't want to have to dig three pages to find it again....I suppose I could have searched but I really didn't think about it.
Scene One, Act One. (At Tescos)
Me: "I fancy a big tin of Tomato Soup."
Wife: "You're making another Hobo Stove aren't you?"
Me: "No, I just fancy some tomato soup."
Wife: "You're making another Hobo Stove aren't you?"
Me: "Yes." :o
Stu
Well here's my go :- scribed around bean tin on top of soup can cut through and peeled back with needle nose pliers, drilled tins and pushed together. The pot stand is a pinapple ring tin with the top cut off ( tin opener ) and using the bean tin scribed and cut out a hole in the bottom then used " church key " can opener for air slots. The billy's just a stainless tea pot ( charity shop )
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/QDanT/1-1.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/QDanT/1a.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/QDanT/2-1.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/QDanT/3-1.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/QDanT/4-1.jpg
quite a good wood gas effect
cheers all Danny
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Converti-billy_small.jpg
It's not illustrated, but the hobo shield fits (tightly) around the billy and is retained by the wire handle.
Still championing the bottomless hobo shield - here in its final set-up, protecting a remote-canister gas stove. Sketches for the stainless version are progressing, albeit very slowly.
(Actually, more an excuse for a gratuitous shot of breakfast on Little Oxen Craig. Ever wondered who buys those Handpresso coffee machines ? That'll be the softies like me, drinking fancy coffee with their bacon and eggs.)
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/shield1.jpg]
Survival Bill
01-06-2009, 22:50
Sorry it took so long to get back to you on it no they do not go soft so far anyways I used the spokes off a bike they are very stiff...
I did this so that I don't have any ground scarring seems to work very well....
Nice one Bill, I like the legs on that, do they get soft when the stove heats up though?
I finally got around to making up a cover / bag for my stove even though I have no billy yet to put on it. But I figured whilst I have the time to attempt it I might aswell.
Boot fairs are your friend, I got a set of three kitchen stainless steel tins with lids last year for a project which has since been forgotten and had a spark of imagination one day to see if I could build myself a hobo stove again (previous attempts using solely my imagination had failed, so you may see some likeness to other peoples designs).
This is what it would have looked like before I took it into the garage...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k146/zed1180/HoboStove/DSC01701.jpg
I had stumbled across Wayland's website, then this one and that is when I took pen to paper to rough out a plan of attack because I would be using a battery drill and had to make the most out of it. Also I have a thing about symmetry and its easier to allow for that on a flat surface.
After making my template, I taped it on to the can, wandered in to the garage then started to dent every hole with a large hammer and big pointy thing (now a blunt pointy thing). Batteries on the drill were now charged and this is when I found out that all the drill bits I could find were pretty much blunt :( . Fortunately for me I managed to get a guy in the toolroom at work to sharpen them for me, so last weekend I drilled all the holes and cut out a fuel feed opening in the middle.
Imagine this next picture without the burnt tinge...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k146/zed1180/HoboStove/DSC01702.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k146/zed1180/HoboStove/DSC01703.jpg
I fired it up again today to take some action pictures, main camera was flat so resorted to phone camera. I don't have pine cones available in my garden, so during the week I had popped down to the local cemetery to pick up some spent ones from around the paths.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k146/zed1180/HoboStove/DSC01705.jpg
Yesterday I called into my local surplus shop to buy a new belt and see if they had any off cuts for the purpose of bag making, I left with two new belts, a random quantity of para cord and two legs.
Now, I don't claim to be any good at sowing though that said I am no stranger to a sowing machine or a needle and thread. So please forgive the next couple of pictures of the bag I made from one of the legs.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k146/zed1180/HoboStove/DSC01709.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k146/zed1180/HoboStove/DSC01710.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k146/zed1180/HoboStove/DSC01712.jpg
I'm happy with it, I had fun making both the bag & stove and isn't that the point - enjoyment and a feeling of accomplishment? Comments welcomed, criticism will be expected but I may cower in the corner for a bit first.
Thanks again for all those who inspired me.
Phil.
I've got a project in mind but can't find that diagram of the double walled burner type thing that does technical things with the gas. I know it's posted on here. Not disimilar to Quarryman/Matt's one. Any ideas where it is?
Sketches for the stainless version are progressing, albeit very slowly.
Finally finished flogging my dead horse.
I couldn't find (read "didn't seek very hard") the wood gas stove; so the boy and I came up with the fourth image as our best bet.
Finally finished flogging my dead horse.
I couldn't find (read "didn't seek very hard") the wood gas stove; so the boy and I came up with the fourth image as our best bet.
Once more, with pictures ?
(having trouble using wife's Mac)
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Hoboevo1.jpg
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Hoboevo1.jpg
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Hoboevo2.jpg
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Hoboevo2.jpg
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Hoboevo3.jpg
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Hoboevo3.jpg
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Hoboevo4.jpg
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Hoboevo4.jpg
Survival Bill
04-07-2009, 00:19
Here is my latest Rocket Stove hybrid!
http://www.survivalbill.ca/coppermine/albums/userpics/10003/rocketstove-2.jpg
Wilderbeast
04-07-2009, 00:51
that's mental bill..................but i like mental, good stuff!!
The point of Rocket stoves is the insulation around the flue to keep the exhaust as hot as possible. Looks like yours needs a jacket. Looks like it will fit into one of those 5 pint Heineken beer barrels. Seems like a good excuse to empty one.
m.durston
04-07-2009, 11:20
i really like the idea of the tomato soup tin :)
in relation to this subject i purchased a new 12cm zebra billy can today from my sort of local bushcraft shop. (i am not affiliated)
he has cottoned on to the idea of the hobo stove and has made up some ready made kits using 10cm billys and a the ever popular ikea cutlery stand.
http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/the-bushcraft-store-hobo-stove---complete-set-with-zebra-billy-tin-690-p.asp
a little pricey for me and i dont like the size of the 10cm ones anyway but seems like a good way of buying a set if you cant be bothered to source the parts.
It amazes me that a hobo style stove could become a commercial product.
Half the fun is tinkering and making it yourself. :dunno:
MartinK9
04-07-2009, 12:20
i really like the idea of the tomato soup tin :)
in relation to this subject i purchased a new 12cm zebra billy can today from my sort of local bushcraft shop. (i am not affiliated)
he has cottoned on to the idea of the hobo stove and has made up some ready made kits using 10cm billys and a the ever popular ikea cutlery stand.
http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/the-bushcraft-store-hobo-stove---complete-set-with-zebra-billy-tin-690-p.asp
a little pricey for me and i dont like the size of the 10cm ones anyway but seems like a good way of buying a set if you cant be bothered to source the parts.
mmmm Mine cost less than a tenner and also fits into the Army pouch:
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/386/myhobostovesetup004.jpg
It's not that clean now. Also agree with Wayland the fun is in the sourcing and construction
m.durston
04-07-2009, 13:39
well each to their own! i couldnt afford to plump for the kit but i've already been tinkering my billy can and i have ground off the bail arm and replaced it with a stainless steel plug chain.
next task for me and my mate (who brought one too) is to source a can/container to fit around the outside. wilkinsons here i come!
well each to their own! i couldnt afford to plump for the kit but i've already been tinkering my billy can and i have ground off the bail arm and replaced it with a stainless steel plug chain.
next task for me and my mate (who brought one too) is to source a can/container to fit around the outside. wilkinsons here i come!
another one whos going to get some strange looks in wilkos:lmao:. i'm sure some people think your filling the tin up to steal owt inside :(
m.durston
04-07-2009, 16:44
another one whos going to get some strange looks in wilkos:lmao:. i'm sure some people think your filling the tin up to steal owt inside :(
excellent! the security guard in our local wilko's is a right walter mitty lol
he's about 20 and he told my mate last year that he was a 'private military contractor' in iraq last year lmao the idiot doesnt even know the phonetic alphabet, he referred to a known shoplifter over the radio (using initials) as 'gibraltar charlie':lmao: made the guy sound like a hong kong rentboy.
the only action he's had is playing call of duty 4 on xbox live.
to find the right pot i normally just take in a tape measure and if challenged i explain its for feng shui reasons.
lets hope he doesn't meet the rabbit in you avatar then :rolleyes:
Survival Bill
04-07-2009, 21:28
I did make some that were insulated and built in a 1 gal paint can and it does work well but this was a project to make it as light as possible and as you can see it works very well indeed with only a few sticks it gave a wicked flame, I will be making one along the same line but shorter to make it more compact I used a 4 inch pipe and will see how a 3 inch pipe works for the next one....
The point of Rocket stoves is the insulation around the flue to keep the exhaust as hot as possible. Looks like yours needs a jacket. Looks like it will fit into one of those 5 pint Heineken beer barrels. Seems like a good excuse to empty one.
huntsmanbob
26-07-2009, 10:18
Hi all,
when i first saw hobo stoves about a year ago i throught i should make one , as i do a bit field sports , fishing ,camping & canoeing . The plus side of these is massive i am amazed that no company makes these , there is free fuel just about every where.
This is my first stove which i made about a year ago with a meths side burner, i used this alot & now a few of my mate use them .
http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/bullfrog1967/Picture058.jpg
That one didnt cost a penny so about 2 weeks ago i made this one but this one cost me 27 quid are buying new dremmel bits s/s container & billy can.
http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/bullfrog1967/Picture060.jpg
This the complete outfit .
http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/bullfrog1967/Picture059.jpg
I had noticed a few people had drilled the extra bowl out to make a steamer/strainer , i wanted to keep the bowl so i made this out of the lid which was doing nothing.
http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/bullfrog1967/Picture151.jpg
This is a hot plate for BBQ ing which is made from a bit of mild steel .
http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/bullfrog1967/Picture079.jpg
This is it packed down.
http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/bullfrog1967/Picture075.jpg
Here is a couple of pic s burning wood & using the tranny meths burner which i prefer over coke can burners .
http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/bullfrog1967/Picture080.jpg
http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/bullfrog1967/Picture082.jpg
& hot plate
http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/bullfrog1967/Picture081.jpg
http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/bullfrog1967/Picture165.jpg
At present i keep it in a money bag , i was hoping maybe some one on here could make me one out of some duck canvas which i have and i will pay for their services.I hope you enjoy the pics & thankyou fellow members for inspiring me to make it:beerchug:
swanscot
04-08-2009, 00:20
A few weeks ago one of my backpacking blogging buddies wrote a wee review on his new bushbuddy stove. I thought this sounded fantastic, but so was the price at about sixty quid or some such.:eek: I mentioned this to middle son who said "Why don't you make one from a cutlery drainer?" I thought what a crazy idea! Ha! :) But I searched the net and found this thread and the idea did not sound so crazy after all! In fact I saw a home-made stove was a much better idea. Cheap and fun!
I found a 11cm Stainless steel cutlery drainer in Tesco for £3.50 and a 10cm stainless steel canister - a set of three for nine quid. I ripped open the cardboard packaging around the set of canisters in the shop to check it would fit in the drainer as they did not give the sizes.
The Tesco drainer does not have as many holes as some drainers, so I added 8 approximately 10mm holes around the bottom, then cut the fuel opening in the front.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2508/3722006696_431d601d50.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/swan-scot/3722006696/)
I drilled 4 holes about 3cm from the top of the stove to fit 2 steel tent pegs to act as a pot support.
The stainless steel canister was made into a 'made-to-fit' billy. I drilled two holes near the top and added a bail made from a used bike spoke.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2464/3722006942_130c621a49_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/swan-scot/3722006942/)
It only took a small handful of sticks to bring half a pot of water to the boil – probably a couple of mugs. I used another tent peg to raise the handle and lift the pot off the stove and the pan handle from my MSR pan set to pour it.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/3721192653_c2428bff9c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/swan-scot/3721192653/)
I think I’ll add a lid from the pan set or a paint pot lid for a pot lid. The canister came with a lid with a clear acrylic insert, so although it good to store everything away is no use on the stove!
All the equipment for the stove (tent peg pot supports, pot handle, cotton wool, fire steel, wood shaving, matches) fits inside the pot, which fits in the stove. Then I simply slipped the whole lot in a canvas bag.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/3722006160_8ac25135e4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/swan-scot/3722006160/)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/3721192313_8634c602dc_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/swan-scot/3721192313/)
Ta to all the folks on here for the ideas!
scubapauly
05-08-2009, 21:34
Went to Tescos today inspired by this thread. They have a pair of 'biscuit' tins which fit inside each other for £4.50
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.205-4784.aspx
Got them home drilled some holes and cut a fuel hole in the larger tin and hey presto got a hobo stove :) Tried it out with some wood shavings and sticks and it boiled up half the smaller can filled with water in about 2 minutes :) Very happy bunny now.
I would show pics but my DIY skills are not very good and my finished result is nowhere near as nice as the ones in the thread.
Thanks for the inspiration guys :)
just been into the local pound stretcher, they have the woolworths drainer in. didn't get the price as i was in a rush :)
I absolutely bloody LOVE that. All good ideas are worth copying.
The hinges are obvious enough, but where did you get the folding sieve thingy?
thats brilliant , yet so simple..crackin idea..
More or less the same as the one you first showed us Gary. Strainer from Ikea and billy from Morrisons with a brake cable bail arm
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00687.jpg
Only thing I`ve changed is instead of using scewers for the pan supports I`ve used a fan cover from an old pc. I`ve put a handle on the billy lid which I can screw off when I pack it, once the grill goes on it keeps it all secure and doesn`t rattle anymore.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00688.jpg
Steel cup and brew kit inside, nothing flash just nescafe sachets from hotel rooms and a mini nalgene with sugar and milk powder in.
nearly there ...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00690.jpg
lovely.....
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00691.jpg
i like the fan cover idea, were did u get the cover..much better than tent pegs..
Minotaur
10-08-2009, 12:09
i like the fan cover idea, were did u get the cover..much better than tent pegs..
It looks like the fan cover from a PC power supply. You could try a little PC repair shop.
I have a kitchen drainer which i now have my eye on... i best replace it first before taking it...
the woolworths drainer (from poundstrecher) is £1.99
it is 13cm high 12cm in diameter (11cm internal) and has a circumfrence of 38cm
Hi guys!
I finally found out how to post pictures up on the site!
So here is my Hobo Stove!
The Pot is a Stainless Steel sugar container I bought from Asda £3.50
The burner is one of Alfies (the dogs) empty can of Chappie...crimped it around the edge wth pliers and there couldnt be a more perfect fit!... - £ Free
I also got an old wire coathanger and made a handle and two pegs to support the pot... The pot holds 700ml approximately and is 10cm in diameter and 13cm high
Hope you like it!
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/9943/spa0038i.jpg (http://img30.imageshack.us/i/spa0038i.jpg/)
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3255/spa0039d.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/spa0039d.jpg/)
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/5458/spa0040m.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/spa0040m.jpg/)
Javapuntnl
13-08-2009, 14:43
Here is mine. I wanted to keep it as small as possible for I didn't think I realy needed it => I could just build a fire... I didn't want it to take up any additional space in my pack. Version 3 is finaly to my liking and I have been using it a lot more than I thought I would.
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss277/javapuntnl/DSCF5292.jpg
It all fits into a 12cm Zebra Billy
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss277/javapuntnl/DSCF5296-1.jpg
Everything laid out, including tinder bag
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss277/javapuntnl/DSCF5298.jpg
Tinder goes in the bottom part. Top part is stuffed with wood. I'm using paper here while taking the pics in the field it is usually birch bark. Light the tinder and put on the top and put the billy on top of that.
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss277/javapuntnl/DSCF5300.jpg
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss277/javapuntnl/DSCF5308.jpg
approx 6 minutes later 500ml of water comes to a boil
Depending on the wood I might need to add wood. For a full billy I need to refill twice.
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss277/javapuntnl/DSCF5329.jpg
Just to show you how it's made.
Jacob V.
EarlyRiser
18-08-2009, 16:46
Hi
Some Hobo inspired items I've made with 25l vegetable oil cans:
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa8/tomclaypool/Hobo/X1000499.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa8/tomclaypool/Hobo/P1010366.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa8/tomclaypool/Hobo/hobo2.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa8/tomclaypool/Hobo/hobo1.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa8/tomclaypool/Hobo/fire.jpg
Cheers
Tom
I like this one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_3xDqzEgzE
Minotaur
10-12-2009, 00:21
Hi
Some Hobo inspired items I've made with 25l vegetable oil cans:
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa8/tomclaypool/Hobo/X1000499.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa8/tomclaypool/Hobo/P1010366.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa8/tomclaypool/Hobo/hobo2.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa8/tomclaypool/Hobo/hobo1.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa8/tomclaypool/Hobo/fire.jpg
Cheers
Tom
Well cool :)
for people who are making their own burners, whats the best way to drill and cut the steel? do you need a metal workshop...
for people who are making their own burners, whats the best way to drill and cut the steel? do you need a metal workshop...
Slow and steady, try not to let the steel get too hot.
for people who are making their own burners, whats the best way to drill and cut the steel? do you need a metal workshop...
I managed using: battery drill, hacksaw, pliers, Dremel and... lump hammer. I cheated a little by borrowing a crimping tool at work for the handle.
Cobalt drill bits for stainless, if you've got them.
Mine is pretty simple but it works very well.
http://faculty.gvsu.edu/triert/images19/twigstove1c.jpg
http://faculty.gvsu.edu/triert/images19/twigstove5c.jpg
http://faculty.gvsu.edu/triert/images19/twigstove7c.jpg
samthedog
15-12-2009, 16:40
Call me lazy, I made a gassifier from a food jar thermos. Works a treat and was free except for the ikea drainer.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1192/5108889/22805871/379629252.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1192/5108889/22805871/379629256.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1192/5108889/22805871/379629259.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1192/5108889/22805871/379629260.jpg
It's easy to make, durable and cheap. Add to that the fact that it's VERY fuel efficient and does not smoke and you have a winner.
Paul.
for people who are making their own burners, whats the best way to drill and cut the steel? do you need a metal workshop...
The thing to remember about drilling steel or anything hard is to use a center punch. Thats a tool that looks like a fat nail - well mine looks like a fat nail. Mine is made from machine tooling steel - its really hard, hard as nails some might say. I also have one thats sprung loaded with a really sharp point on one end, you line it up and push it in, the spring mechanism inside clicks and produces a little dent in the material. Then i use the nail like punch, resting the material on a sturdy piece of wood, lining up the punch with the dent and giving it a confident hit with a reasonable sized hammer.
Then after that commotion I start to drill. The only way you can drill steel is with a sharp drill bit and once you have used a good sharp bit you will be amazed at how blunt a lot of you other bits are.
Slowly slowly catchy monkey.
Oh and if you can borrow some cutting fluid from the tool room at work then that helps. On a basic level it lubricates the drill bit, the hole, removes the swarf - bits of metal cut from hole and cools the drill bit. You can get away with using ordinary oil or WD40 but its no way as good as the proper stuff.
Thats my two pence worth and hope it helps.
Phil.
Oh and if you can borrow some cutting fluid from the tool room at work then that helps. On a basic level it lubricates the drill bit, the hole, removes the swarf - bits of metal cut from hole and cools the drill bit. You can get away with using ordinary oil or WD40 but its no way as good as the proper stuff.
I don't know if it's a good idea or not, but I've had quite good results using Castrol LM grease in lieu of cutting fluid - eye protection is a must, if a bit of swarf laden grease spins off the bit and hits your eye...
I don't know if it's a good idea or not, but I've had quite good results using Castrol LM grease in lieu of cutting fluid - eye protection is a must, if a bit of swarf laden grease spins off the bit and hits your eye...
I don't know the ins and outs of it all but basically you can use virtually anything to carry the swarf away from the hole and lubricate the cutting. In our tool room at work they use a cutting oil in constant flow - like someone holding a hose at the drilling. Its easy for them as they have all the gear and dont pay for fluid.
I wear glasses all the time and have workshop glasses for messing about with power tools so didn't think to mention it, well done and thanks for pointing it out.
Greenbeast
17-12-2009, 13:56
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b316/GreenBeast999/stove.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b316/GreenBeast999/hobostove.jpg
i've since added a base to it similar in style to the pan support in the picture, to protect any grass/ground i might be on
Mine is pretty simple but it works very well.
http://faculty.gvsu.edu/triert/images19/twigstove1c.jpg
http://faculty.gvsu.edu/triert/images19/twigstove5c.jpg
http://faculty.gvsu.edu/triert/images19/twigstove7c.jpg
Hey I like that Hoodoo. So a bread tin, but what is the inner grate?
i thought it was the base of a smaller loaf tin?...
i thought it was the base of a smaller loaf tin?...
That's a great idea!
It's a piece of stove pipe that has been flattened and drilled, then folded.
http://faculty.gvsu.edu/triert/images19/twigstovegrate1c.jpg
oh well close enough. :) could even be the base of an identical loaf tin, turned upside down...
Here's one I made a while back, as Ive started posting here again and just found this thread thought I better share :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6OCpbEaw2w
ocean1975
22-12-2009, 10:30
Well i have got round to making a hobbo stove:)The bag is made out of a old combat trouser leg,great idea that one so simple:)The legs are from spare cupboard door bolts ;) Good fun sorcing all the materials for this project.http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/th_hobo3.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/?action=view¤t=hobo3.jpg)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/th_hobo4.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/?action=view¤t=hobo4.jpg)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/th_hobobag.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/?action=view¤t=hobobag.jpg)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/th_hobolayout.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/?action=view¤t=hobolayout.jpg)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/th_hobolegs.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/?action=view¤t=hobolegs.jpg)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/th_hobopacked.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/?action=view¤t=hobopacked.jpg)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/th_hobostove2.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/?action=view¤t=hobostove2.jpg)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/th_hobostove1.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/albums/ae147/ocean1975/?action=view¤t=hobostove1.jpg)
someones been to wilkinsons ;).
why when picking up tea/coffee/sugar canisters to we all seem to go for coffee?
MartinK9
22-12-2009, 12:38
someones been to wilkinsons ;).
why when picking up tea/coffee/sugar canisters to we all seem to go for coffee?
:lmao::lmao: so true
yup. mines was the same one with COFFEE wrote on it... can't see it now though as it's all black :)
MartinK9
22-12-2009, 12:56
Same here, before and after shots about 7 months apart:
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4908/myhobostovesetup005.jpg
http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/1825/jerrycanhearth.jpg
Personally I like the idea of those double wall woodstove burner things. You can make them with two different sized cans and some appropriately placed holes at the bottom on the outside and near top on the inside. There is a whole sicence to this as it involves secondary burning of the volitles from the wood where the inner holes are (heated air from between the two walls joins the volatiles from the wood ...
So on and on according to many other forums I've visited. I once heard of a canoe touring holiday company using the drum of a washing maching for a type of fire/stove.
Not sure these count as hobo stoves though, just thought I'd contribute something even if irrelevant. :D
My tumble drier has a stainless steel drum.
When it's time is up it's going to be converted into a Bar B Q.
I like to womble me. :)
I don't really fit in here as I don't make stuff but have bought the honey stove instead. Does that count as a cheat's hobo stove? :)
ocean1975
22-12-2009, 18:18
someones been to wilkinsons ;).
why when picking up tea/coffee/sugar canisters to we all seem to go for coffee?
I know :) i picked up the sugar one,put it down and took the coffee one:)Must be a subconscious thing;) boil water for coffee lol.
someones been to wilkinsons ;).
why when picking up tea/coffee/sugar canisters to we all seem to go for coffee?
I went for tea, perhaps its because I don't drink coffee.
theres always one ;)
i don't drink that much coffee though. couple fo cups a week...
_scorpio_
12-01-2010, 20:32
these all look fantastic and im now searching for an old thermos flask to hack to bits, but until then i went traditional and made mine from just what i can find in the bin and my pocket knife. so far it consists of some old wire, 2 tin cans, some screws (to rest the pot on) and holes. its not quite finished yet but it works. when i have finished perfecting it i will show you it in action.
I don't really fit in here as I don't make stuff but have bought the honey stove instead. Does that count as a cheat's hobo stove? :)
ABSOLUTELY NOT! :You_Rock_ and so does the honey!
You might want to consider adding to this thread though....
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39489&highlight=honey+tour
_scorpio_
13-01-2010, 10:40
my "traditional" hobo stove:
http://i16.servimg.com/u/f16/12/26/74/68/img_7211.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=106&u=12267468)
http://i16.servimg.com/u/f16/12/26/74/68/img_7212.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=107&u=12267468)
the stove is in the middle, then the boiling tin to the right and saucepan with lid to the left and grill in front. this took about 15 mins scavenging through the recycling bin and 30mins to make all the stuff. everything tastes a bit metallic but i managed to cook 3 bits of bacon, a sausage, an egg (in two parts, i suppose traditional hobo's use pigeon eggs) and a cup of tea. everything tasted a bit metallic and had bits of ash in it but oh well, im happy with it! now i need to find an old thermos flask.
andybysea
13-01-2010, 12:38
That metalalic taste probably means the metals used to make the tins are leeching in to whatever your cooking and the ash is probably the coating they put in tins these days,think i will stick to stainless and alu pots.
_scorpio_
13-01-2010, 14:24
yea i reckon your right, i will treat this as my test run and do a proper one later.
stevesteve
13-01-2010, 20:43
Here's my old Woolies hobo making my new Outwell kettle sooty in the snow.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n71/stevestevephoto/Bushcraft/Outwellonhobo.jpg
Cheers,
Steve
Hello folks this is my first post on here, and would like to submit my pictures, the funny thing I have noticed is just how many people use the IKEA stainless steel utensil pot :)
more pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparkplug1982/
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4406895245_79e8bd8a96_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4406894169_b2fa023c0f_b.jpg
Ideally I want to use wood as a fuel source but it can use meths and solid fuel blocks as an alternative.
so far its only been tested in the garden I hope to use it out in the scrub soon (hopefully weekend)
Survivalmike
05-03-2010, 06:50
@JonS: nice set up!
Where did you get this "claws" as a pot holder?
Are they anything special and can be buyed in a DIY-store or did you made them your own?
I´ll show my hobo set up, when I´ve finished all parts of it and have together what I´m thinking for.
greetings from Austria
Mike
Dontthink ive put this in here :rolleyes::D
but ive been working on a burner system ( ooooo a system :lmao:hark at him )
Its not quite finished yet but fairly close and some of these pics are dotted about in other threads ive linked to them where i can :rolleyes:
Ive based it on a 12cm Zebra Billy (really think the 10cm is to small and I carry a crusader mug as well) its a very good size cooking lots for one and ample for 2 and fits my pack nicely. I also like the 14cm.
I havent cut the bail off i like it like this its a better handle and you can take teh lid on and off etc when suspended over a fire etc it would save little weight and as you can see (below) where i pack it its not a problem.
So we need a wood burner bit. I dont like putting burners all sotty etc or any fuel in side my billy for storage so it has to fit on the outside the IKEA one is to small 11.5cm ( I think). Fro ma heads up on here I got one From ASDA for £3 which is 12.5cm and perfect (unfortunatly they seem to have only had one stock of them as no one can find any more :()
wit ha couple of slots cut for the bail arm points it slides in leaving about 3/4" gap in the bottom so is pretty much zero space as this is where i store the dirty bits of the stove ie pegs and grate plus a tinder and steel set
In the main billy i have a custom made (By Woody a guy i met at the Cornish RV last year) bucket bag which fits the space under the secondary pan exactly this has condements and brew kit plus a Ferro Rod and stiker this lifts in and out and keeps its shape so easy to use and pack up etc ( i hate spending hours packing little bits in the right order and place etc :rolleyes:) in the secondary pan I have a cut down to fit pot handle which is invaluble for pouring etc and can be used to move the burner as well. Theres still a bit of space here im deciding what to put in
so in use (for the light weight guys this weighs in at 1.5kg :lmao: no fuel but does have brew kit etc as below)
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/Hobo4.jpg
first level of packing up
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/Hobo3.jpg
fully packed
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/Hobo2.jpg
fits here in the top of my side pouch on top of my Hennesy hammock
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/hobo1.jpg
pot handle with burner
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/Hobo5.jpg
thumbnails from now on
my 3yr old using for her first brew (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52586)
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/th_Hobo6.jpg (http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/?action=view¤t=Hobo6.jpg)http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/th_Hobo7.jpg (http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/?action=view¤t=Hobo7.jpg) http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/th_Hobo8.jpg (http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/?action=view¤t=Hobo8.jpg) http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/th_Hobo9.jpg (http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/?action=view¤t=Hobo9.jpg)
as well as Wood / Charcoal / Meths burner / Hexi block Ive now got it to take a trangia gas burner (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52851):eek: and it woild also fit a multifuel burner to if you wanted to spend out.
this required a shelf /grate which i now also use for the wood to lift the fire of the base and get better airflow under
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/th_hobogas2.jpg (http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/?action=view¤t=hobogas2.jpg)http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/th_hobogas3.jpg (http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/?action=view¤t=hobogas3.jpg) http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/th_hobogas1.jpg (http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/?action=view¤t=hobogas1.jpg)
I wanted to use the Stove burner to cook other stuff and used ot carry a mini Wok in my kit on exercise so dug out one i had in the loft these where fro ma local chinese supermarket for a few quid on my original I had re done the handle as detachable and will MOD this one later
Stirfry can be used for most anything sauces are light and easy to carry etc plus it was invented to use little fuel
heres a authentic chinese potato bacon sausage n egg fry up :eek:
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/potshobo.jpg
I also wanted to sort out what to do with the secondary pan as a lot of peeps drill em as strainers which seems a waste . I have seen some use them as mini ovens to do Bannock etc but on a normal open fire which you can bury it in teh embers and get all round heat. I wanted to do it on the hobo where you get all the heat on the bottom.
teh first one i did filled the pan and was bout 1.5" thick :rolleyes: it burnt a fair bit onthe bottom and i ended up breaking it into small chunks to cook it
was with choc powder and rasins as was tastey :D
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/th_hoboBAn2.jpg (http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/?action=view¤t=hoboBAn2.jpg) http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/th_hoboBAn1.jpg (http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/?action=view¤t=hoboBAn1.jpg)
so tho thick and no heat on top thinner was easier just mix less :rolleyes: then i thought if you put a chimney in the middle it should let teh heat up to teh top and keep the bread of the hottest bit the middle of the pan
i founs a bit of 1.5" copper tube and ended up with a bit of oil with a Bushcraft Begal (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53610) :D
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/th_hoboBAn3.jpg (http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/?action=view¤t=hoboBAn3.jpg)
after 10 mins turned it over
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/th_hoboBAn4.jpg (http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/?action=view¤t=hoboBAn4.jpg)
for a further 5 mins
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o109/FGYT/Stove/hoboBAn5.jpg
it worked well tho my dough making needs a lot of practice and i used charcoal as the fuel for a controlable even heat I think with wood its going to take a bit of practice to get teh emebers right :D
@JonS: nice set up!
Where did you get this "claws" as a pot holder?
funnily enough they came from a utensil rack that is no longer being used I think it came from IKEA not 100% sure as I found them in the garden shed and claimed them as my own :D
they seem to be stainless steel, unfortunately no tried this set up with a billy can yet but hope to soon (hence the hooks) it does however work with military mess tins.
Figured it was time i posted up what has taken me nigh on 3 years to get around to making :D
SS biscuit barrel with L-brackets as legs
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff278/GunwitchUK/Kit%20and%20Gear/th_BiscuitBarrelAfter.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff278/GunwitchUK/Kit%20and%20Gear/?action=view¤t=BiscuitBarrelAfter.jpg )
Utensil Colander with a trangia burner
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff278/GunwitchUK/Cooking%20kits/th_Hobo004.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff278/GunwitchUK/Cooking%20kits/?action=view¤t=Hobo004.jpg)
The last one now has folding hinges to facilitate packing :D
jonnie drake
10-03-2010, 14:57
some brilliant and inspiring stoves on here :) mine aint anything special but it does the job for me.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr258/jonnied17-2008/PB191441.jpg
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr258/jonnied17-2008/PB191442.jpg
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr258/jonnied17-2008/PB191443.jpg
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr258/jonnied17-2008/PB191445.jpg
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr258/jonnied17-2008/PB191447.jpg
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr258/jonnied17-2008/PB191448.jpg
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr258/jonnied17-2008/PB191449.jpg
cheers
J
Globetrotter.uk
21-03-2010, 16:30
Thanks to Wayland and others here I have modified my Hobo and here's the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jImXSIDgdmk
Just waiting for the material to make the windshield
shaggystu
02-05-2010, 13:07
My wilko cookset (hobo stove if you like).
All unpacked showing contents:
Coffee caddy billy with hacksaw blade bail
Tea caddy billy (this has a rubber O-ring sealing the lid, makes a pretty good seal and stops rattling if nothing else, I just have to remember to remove it before I use the billy)
Sugar stove (similar to a honey stove but much much cheaper!)
Tuna can meths burner stand/pre-heater
Tea-light
Dove can meths burner
Ferro rod and striker
Disposable lighter and innertube
Meths bottle
Piece of wire mesh (used as a stand for the bigger billy when I’m using the stove as a woodburner, the piece of mesh just lifts the billy up a gnats and increases air flow)
Plastic container (keeps things neat for packing and keeps my lighter dry)
Cotton stuff sack
Leather stuff sack
http://i44.tinypic.com/29z2dsl.jpg
the Russian doll bit
http://i43.tinypic.com/2me36dz.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/28incd0.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/m91rfq.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/33ttu2e.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/14l7hfk.jpg
all packed away
http://i42.tinypic.com/24biudx.jpg
set up for meths
http://i41.tinypic.com/zn7km9.jpg
set up for wood
http://i41.tinypic.com/4uf7m0.jpg
the whole lot weighs just under 850grams
cheers for looking
stuart
MartinK9
02-05-2010, 13:23
Nice one Stuart. :)
Looks great Stuart goodjob.
Hacksaw blade handle ... good idea that :).
oakhill_wanderer
09-05-2010, 09:01
After spending quite some time soaking up the information on this site, I thought I'd post some images of my hobo, inspired by the members of this very website.
It consists of a Wilkos stainless steel biscuit tin (note: the old ones are slightly taller, around 1.25" - this is the newer, shorter one), and 12cm Zebra Billy Can, Wilkos skewers cut down to size, a trangia burner, and trangia pot handle.
Theres probably a few things I could work on and improve, such as the bail handle, and the scewers, but so far it works well when tested.
The parallel alignment of the scewers allows for easy stoking of a fire, and also aids lighting/extinguishing the meths burner (in my first attempt the scewers were crossed at 45degrees which was useless in my opinion!)
The lower set of holes are for use with the meths burner, while the higher set of holes are for use with a normal fire etc.
Just as a side note - the easiest way to get 4 equally spaced holes around a diameter as the multiply the diameter by pi (3.142), this gives you the circumference, then cut a piece of masking tape to that length, next all you need to do is divide your answer by 4 and mark these intervals on your masking tape and then stick it round your can and mark them out.
In the case of the biscuit tin the circumference is 424mm, with intervals of 106mm.
Just thought it might be a handy hint to someone.
http://www.021181.com/stuff/hobo-stove/IMG_0553.jpg
http://www.021181.com/stuff/hobo-stove/IMG_0554.jpg
http://www.021181.com/stuff/hobo-stove/IMG_0556.jpg
http://www.021181.com/stuff/hobo-stove/IMG_0557.jpg
http://www.021181.com/stuff/hobo-stove/IMG_0559.jpg
http://www.021181.com/stuff/hobo-stove/IMG_0561.jpg
http://www.021181.com/stuff/hobo-stove/IMG_0563.jpg
http://www.021181.com/stuff/hobo-stove/IMG_0566.jpg
http://www.021181.com/stuff/hobo-stove/IMG_0549.jpg
ocean1975
09-05-2010, 09:49
Great hobbo stove there.They are great fun to make:)
Nice one, do you have enough air holes in it though? Just a thought as the rest of us seem to have "shotgunned" our hobos :lmao:
What are those damn wire crimpers called?
oakhill_wanderer
09-05-2010, 19:51
Thanks Ocean, it was quite fun!
Nat, I did notice some others have rather more air holes. I plan to try the stove shortly using a natural fire so will see how it performs, but using the meths burner seems to work very well indeed.
Those wire crimpers - I'm guessing you mean the brass ones holding the wire rope together - They are the terminals from an electrical terminal block (or choc box as some like to call them), but with the plastic casing stripped away, then, when they were tightened I ground off the screw heads.
The brass curls around the bottom wire rope is simply heavy gauge electrical cable wrapped around tightly to stop the handle slipping and causing the billy to tip. I might try and do some soldering to make a more permanent joint.
Another idea is to use picture hanging 'D' rings riveted onto the sides of the billy - this I only realised thismorning as I have hundreds of them, so may try that next.
Glad you like it though
Silverhill
09-05-2010, 20:37
I wondered how long it would be before you got some pics up mate! Looking good as well, should serve you well next weekend! For the benefit of the thread, I may as well beast a cheeky couple of snaps of mine up as well.
Where is that location please,looks lovely
Silverhill
10-05-2010, 19:55
That's Ganarew Fort, Herefordshire. Cracking view out over the Wye valley and on into the Forest of Dean.
Hi Folks,
Didn't know where else to put this posting but this seemed the best place for it.
Yesterday I picked up an Ikea stainless steel utensil thingy for €1 at a bootfair here in France (yeah, what are the chances eh? :D)
Anyway I cut a window in the side today and got thinking about air flows and such and thought it'd be a neat idea to incoporate a sort of airspace underneath the fire to help with the air flow etc. (Legs will be fitted at a later date)
So this is what I did with a piece of mild steel "mesh" that I had left over from some radiator grills I had to make. Have a gander at the pix and see what you think.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/Bikerbloke99/Tools/Hobo1.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/Bikerbloke99/Tools/Hobo2.jpg
So here's my proposal anyone want a piece of this mesh to add to their own stove? If so, I can cut the piece that's shown in the 2nd picture into three pieces (approx 4 inch x 5 inch)
The first 3 people to PM me with thier address gets it in the post sometime this month. FOR FREE Nope, it's no some scam. There are no strings attached, I'm just trying to help out with some gear I have kicking about that might be useful to someone else here.
Thanks for the inspiration for these stoves. Having seen them here I thought it'd be months before I was able to lay my hands on a decent stainless steel pot. Nabbed two coffee jars while in the UK recently from Wilkinsons which are the biz but that Ikea doodah is the cherry on top.
Thanks for reading.
EDIT: 2 PMs received for the mesh, just 1 piece left to go. Get it while it's being offered ... or not. :rolleyes:
All gone now. Three PM's received and replied to. Thanks folks.
Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
the extra grill really helps air flow i made mine to take the Trangia gas inset but aslo use it now with the fire aswell :D
ATB
Duncan
I have a question.
Obviously the whole point of building a hobo stove is to cram as much kit inside the little bugger, rather like those Russian souvenir dolls you can buy. At the moment I'm up to four pots including the Ikea utensil stove. I'm hope to break the record here. :lmao: I even found a suitably small kitchen sink to fit in there for the washing up afterwards too. :D
Anyway, now that I'm getting the stuff together I also want to make it a multi-fuel thingy and include my fancy lynx effect stove (TM) courtesy of "puub"'s excellant tutorial. (thanks mate!)
My problem is finding a suitable container for the alcohol fuel. So here's me asking what you use? Obviously in this case size matters, but I'd like a decent size supply. I had considered using an old zippo lighter refill fuel can and just refilling it using a syringe.
While on the subject of Zippos, I intend keeping one of those in the kit, and plan on wrapping the whole thing in cling film keep the fuel from evaporating. It seems whenever I've gone to use one after a long period of time it's evaporated dry. (I'm a non-smoker so therefore hardly have use for one) Seems a obvious thing to do but just wondered what everyone else does to get around that problem ... other than taking up smoking :rolleyes:
And another thing. I'm just full of 'em tonight. Has anyone made a trangia type gripper handle doodah thing? If so, could someone point me in the right direction for finding pix. Ta.
Thanks for your time.
Silverhill
11-05-2010, 20:24
Regarding the Zippo fuel evaporation issue, have you thought about keeping the lighter in a wadded screw-top aluminium tin can. Something like this maybe?:
https://www.soapkitchenonline.co.uk/acatalog/Aluminium_Tins.html
The tin at the bottom of the page would be suited, as the dimensions are 90mm x 35 mm.
Just a thought anyways.:)
In the process of making my own now, thanks to you guys! Biscuit tin from Wilko's with a Zebra billy. I added a grate at the bottom to improve airflow, really burns well. I've not cut a feed hole in it as yet and been debateing whether to or not. What do people think on not having one? Think may be awkward with Trangia burner and twigs to fit without...
Will post pics soon.... Still not completely finished
try putting a peice of push bike inner tube around the opening of the zippo hope this helps
Silverhill
11-05-2010, 20:58
From personal experience, and based on both mcambridge's stove and my own, I would say that a feed hole is essential. Oakhill_Wanderer has only used a trangia-type burner in his, and it would appear to be very difficult to extinguish without taking out the pan supports or by putting the supports in parallel as opposed to perpendicular/crossing. Conversely, I've only used my stove with wood, and often find that you need to add a little fuel after the initial charge if the breeze is beasting the heat from your billy.
Im going towards removing the feed hole as it seems to limit the fire coal depth but i think i will definatly move it up or at least the bottom edge on the next one but will have to see how that effects fitting my trangia gas insert
not to bothered about a meths burner as i would never use one
but i will be experimenting with my next hobo on reducing the hole size etc
on carying Biker i personnally would never put fuel (other than a gas bottle ) inside a cooking pot or sooty stuff as I dont like the taste :D i wuld work out how much you need to carry for what you want first its probably quite a lot even for a few Brews
as for a zippo evaporating simple... carry a gas lighter :rolleyes: leave the antique at home :D where it can leak petrol vapour in peace
ATB
Duncan
My problem is finding a suitable container for the alcohol fuel. So here's me asking what you use?
And another thing. I'm just full of 'em tonight. Has anyone made a trangia type gripper handle doodah thing? If so, could someone point me in the right direction for finding pix. Ta.
Did a bit of searching about and found this great Swedish site (http://www.andersj.se/koket1.htm), via a link on Hammock Forums.
There's a pic of a diy pot grab on this page ,I've not made one so can't say how well it would work out ,looks easy to make though.
I'm really liking the look of those Trangia stands :D
Small Nalgene bottles are great for fuel, all different sizes available.
Cheers,
Pete.
Thanks Puub. Frsutrating site that, me being a non Svenska reader, but the pictures speak for themselves well enough.
I like the gripper but the pots I have don't have the lip on the top edge so I need proper grippers. I have a trangia set already so I could just copy the ones I have and make another set, I just wondered if anyone had made there own unique designed ones is all.
I like that pot stand, a lot, with the adjustable height option, that's clever.
Nalgene bottles eh? Google here I come...
Nalgene bottles eh? Google here I come...
or just used Pop/ coke bottles you dont need much for meths
i use a cut down Lidel Trangia clone set pot grip is a real boon for a billy can :D makes pouring easy and safe. dont know if i could be bothered to try and make one:rolleyes:
ATB
Duncan
Hi,
That swedish site is great - you can translate most of it, if you go to the homepage ( http://www.andersj.se/ ), there's a translate link at the very bottom.
I've got a spare piece of AL knocking about, so I think I'll make one of those pot grabs and see how it goes - i've got a proper one, works perfectly but it annoys me that it won't fit inside my we 10cm billy :)
Will post up some pics if I do - I've got a perfect tin for a hobo stove lined up too, Gaultier none the less!
EDIT - nevermind, the al was way too thin, designer hobo coming soon :)