Hobo Stove with Gas & Sand (w/ Pics)

[angelofwar]

Alright, did it again. This one's actually a little easier to build/use, but you need gas and sand to operate. Got it out of my Air Force Survival Book, and this is the first time I've heard mention of one operating this way, so here goes!



Start off with a medium 12-16oz. steel can. Fill it about 1/3 of the way with sand (which acts as a wick). Slowly pour Gasoline (or Jet Fuel, Diesel...any liquid flammable really). You want the sand to be moist/saturated with gas, but not so much that there are puddles on top of the sand...it should all be absorbed by the sand. You may have to stir it up a little bit, and if you get to much gas in it, just add a little more sand an remix.

Punch a hole (approx. 1/4-1/2" in diam.) just above the sand. This will help create a draft, feeding the fire.

Diagram of the Stove


Punch like holes at the top of the can also, to feed oxygen to the fire.

This pic here shows the sand after it had been burnt.


Here, after use, showing how the holes are...I made these with my Gerber Bush Knife (Woodsman I think is the model???)


And another...


In-Use





Impressions: This is the best, hottest, easiest to build, use, light (and stay lit) hobo stove I have built. This method will be my first choice of hobo stove building when/if I need one. In fact, it's so easy/reliable, etc., I would easily use one of these to supplement one of my camping stoves...

What ya'll think???

[Regulator]

Cool! Never seen one other than in the books. Was always a bit hesitant to light a can of gas. Did you use gas? How long did it burn for?

[angelofwar]

Thanks regulator!

I used about 2 cups of sand and about 1 cup of 87 Octane...got about 45 minutes burn time...more than enough (especially with that flame) for boiling water, etc. I didn't put anything on it (pot, etc...just used it for a hand warmer) since I was just experimenting, but I'm guessing with a pot on it, the burn time would be even longer. What I really like about it, is you get an awesome heat source with little to no prep time. Sand, Gas, light

[chy mausheim]

(edit)

[chy mausheim]

That looks nice.

I've never seen a gas hog used for cooking before. Might give a flavor?

When I was growing up - one of the rules was that a cook fire had to be easy to put out - the kick and stomp or fast cover method.

I'm thinking the gas wouldn't be safe to stomp - maybe a larger can with no holes could be dropped over it. Like a #10 can.

You could transport the gas and the sand premixed in a pint jar snugged into your burn can. And snug that into the larger can with other supplies.

[NorthernAlpine]

Tried this with a coffee can before, but this one seems to last a lot longer! Nice post Angel! Definitely going to try this out next weekend...

[angelofwar]

That looks nice.

I've never seen a gas hog used for cooking before. Might give a flavor?

When I was growing up - one of the rules was that a cook fire had to be easy to put out - the kick and stomp or fast cover method.

I'm thinking the gas wouldn't be safe to stomp - maybe a larger can with no holes could be dropped over it. Like a #10 can.

You could transport the gas and the sand premixed in a pint jar snugged into your burn can. And snug that into the larger can with other supplies.

Thanks!

Yeah, as absorbed as it is in the sand, I don't think knocking it over would be that big of a deal...but, pouring more sand on it would extinguish it rather quickly, I woul imagine. Like the idea of "pre-packing" the mixture. I'm going to try this concotion with an old sterno can and let ya'll know how it works out.

[angelofwar]

Tried this with a coffee can before, but this one seems to last a lot longer! Nice post Angel! Definitely going to try this out next weekend...

Thanks N.A. Yeah, I can see a coffe can burning through the fuel faster, with a larger burn surface. The more narrow the can, the longer it'll burn. Be interetsed in hearing your results!

[troll1000]

Okay, does it have to be sand or could you just use regular dirt? Sand can be hard to find where I live.

[Woods Walker]

Given this uses gas I am going to move it to other gear.

[rsnurkle]

I used about 2 cups of sand and about 1 cup of 87 Octane...got about 45 minutes burn time...more than enough (especially with that flame) for boiling water, etc. I didn't put anything on it (pot, etc...just used it for a hand warmer) since I was just experimenting, but I'm guessing with a pot on it, the burn time would be even longer. What I really like about it, is you get an awesome heat source with little to no prep time. Sand, Gas, light

Neat--thanks for posting this test. My main question is how well the stove would vent with a pot placed right on top of it. Basically a), would it get enough air? And b) would it build up too much heat in an enclosed space?

[SimonZayne]

That is a pretty cool idea, I'm going to have to try that out sometime.
Not something I'd ever plan on making, but knowing how to make one might make a crappy evening a bit better.

[angelofwar]

I used about 2 cups of sand and about 1 cup of 87 Octane...got about 45 minutes burn time...more than enough (especially with that flame) for boiling water, etc. I didn't put anything on it (pot, etc...just used it for a hand warmer) since I was just experimenting, but I'm guessing with a pot on it, the burn time would be even longer. What I really like about it, is you get an awesome heat source with little to no prep time. Sand, Gas, light

Neat--thanks for posting this test. My main question is how well the stove would vent with a pot placed right on top of it. Basically a), would it get enough air? And b) would it build up too much heat in an enclosed space?

Thanks! This was semi-hidden in two of my US Military survival manuals with very "vague" instructions, but it was often repeated as the easiest and most efficient cooking method. If your plane.vehicle crashes, you have gas. This method is a lot easier than fidgeting with cold wet sticks, etc., and is much easier if you have the resources. And, seeing as how it's listed in the manuals, I'm sure it's pretty effective with a pot on it, etc., but I will definitely try it again this week-end, and let ya'll know how well it does in actual use (i.e. cooking up some beans in a pot).

[Gramaton Cleric]

Now this is too cool !

[hikin_jim]

Has anyone tried cooking on this set up? I imagine a covered pot wouldn't pick up too much in the way of gasoline fumes. An open fry pan might be a bit of a problem though.

HJ

[ForgeCorvus]

Benghazi Burner is the name, theres one used in the film "Ice-cold in Alex" and its made from two square tins (cut down 'Flimsies' , the precurser of the jerry can).
Bottom can holds sand and petrol mix, top can is put on rotated 45 degrees and holds the water.

Much used in the desert as you don't need to carry anything else, it leaves no trace and should burn fairly smokeless


I'm going to be experimenting with other inert filling materials, I'll let you know what works

[hikin_jim]

This may be neither here nor there, but I've heard the term Benghazi Boilers applied to the Thermettes that the Kiwis used in WWI in Libya.

Regardless of whether the above is true, your stove should work. I'll be interested to hear how it goes.

HJ

[grennels]

I wonder if clay based kitty litter might sub for sand?

[gunsandrockets]

What's great about your concept is that canned food could serve as integral and disposable burners. No need to carry a smelly, messy burner for re-use.

Step one) Empty canned food into heating container.

Step two) Use empty food can as the basis for the burner.

Step three) Heat food.

Step four) Dispose of burner.

[northernxposure]

Not a huge fan of using regular unleaded - in an emergency I could see it, but for the parts involved I'd feel a lot better about using Coleman/Naptha fuel instead.

NXP

[ODA 226]

We called them "Smudge Pots" and used #10 cans. We used them to mark Drop Zones and they could be seen for miles, especially from the air.

[angelofwar]

We called them "Smudge Pots" and used #10 cans. We used them to mark Drop Zones and they could be seen for miles, especially from the air.

Nice Oda! Never thought of them being used that way, but, once an area has been cleared, or in a civilian rescue op (e.g. Katrina), makes a great beacon/location marker. I'll tuck that away in the back of my noggin' for future use. Have four of them set-up, light, and disperse, wait for the bird to land. Or have three of them staged, and light as a distress marker. Thanks Oda!

[ODA 226]

We called them "Smudge Pots" and used #10 cans. We used them to mark Drop Zones and they could be seen for miles, especially from the air.

Nice Oda! Never thought of them being used that way, but, once an area has been cleared, or in a civilian rescue op (e.g. Katrina), makes a great beacon/location marker. I'll tuck that away in the back of my noggin' for future use. Have four of them set-up, light, and disperse, wait for the bird to land. Or have three of them staged, and light as a distress marker. Thanks Oda!

Anytime Brother!

[phractal]

I remember an airstrip lined with smudge pots in Mexico. Little ways out side of Chihuahua. I didn't know what they were at first as I was landing in the day time. It would have been cool to see em at night.