Hobo Stove - First Attempt (Pics)

webmuppet

Tenderfoot
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Took advantage of the wifes discount and had a first attempt at a Hobo Stove using 2 Ikea cutlery drainers. Got one large and one small for comparison. Cut a hole in the front using wire snippers and filed away the most dangerous looking points.

Come lunchtime thought I'd treat our 10 year old to some super noodles and hot dogs and reckoned I'd go the whole hog and light the burners with a firesteel and cotton wool. Wasn't as hard to light as I'd expected and I was going in no time. Problem came with keeping them burining hot - I was using a big bag of firelighting sticks which I was cutting down to 3" or so. I would get them roaring but then 2 minutes seconds later they were down to embers again which gave me issues where the pans kept going hot and cold. The noodles were fine (if stuck to the pan in the middle) but the sausages were a disaster. They all split, then kept sticking to the bottom of the pan - very annoying but we ate them anyway.

Looks like I need some experimentation with different length and weights of wood as well as deciding in whether waiting for a big ember bed or keeping wood flaming is better.

Either way it was a laugh on a Sunday afternoon :)
 

John Fenna

Lifetime Member & Maker
Oct 7, 2006
23,312
3,092
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Pembrokeshire
I found problems like this with softwoods as well.
Try starting the burn with soft wood , then add hardwood pieces and/or charcoal lumps from old fires.
I find this gives a more even and longer lasting burn avoiding the hot/cold/hot cycle.
I hope this helps.
 

Minotaur

Native
Apr 27, 2005
1,624
246
Birmingham
This might be me being an idiot, but what about a wind shield?

Or a blower?

Wonder what you could put under them to stop burning surface....
 

SkogKniv

Full Member
Dec 7, 2008
157
0
43
Way upstate NY
Those look great! I keep hoping to run across some stainless myself that will be perfect.

I did a video in my youtube profile in my signature of a "less than 1 dollar hobo stove".
 

AJB

Native
Oct 2, 2004
1,821
9
57
Lancashire
They look great, but I had a thought/question...

Everyone cuts out a hole at the bottom to add fuel, but (never having made or used one) it seems to me you’re adding fuel essentially under the fire or when it’s burnt right down. Why not have the hole higher up, so you can drop fuel into the fire, or for that matter just lift your pan off and drop it in the top. If the lower hole also doubles for removing ashes, do people ever really burn them long enough to need to do this?
 
They look great, but I had a thought/question...

Everyone cuts out a hole at the bottom to add fuel, but (never having made or used one) it seems to me you’re adding fuel essentially under the fire or when it’s burnt right down. Why not have the hole higher up, so you can drop fuel into the fire, or for that matter just lift your pan off and drop it in the top. If the lower hole also doubles for removing ashes, do people ever really burn them long enough to need to do this?

I have a low square hole on my hobo which I seldom use for adding fuel, however it is brilliant for getting at the bottom of the flames or embers with a blow poker and getting things going again.:)
 

Pignut

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jun 9, 2005
4,097
12
45
Lincolnshire
They look great, but I had a thought/question...

Everyone cuts out a hole at the bottom to add fuel, but (never having made or used one) it seems to me you’re adding fuel essentially under the fire or when it’s burnt right down. Why not have the hole higher up, so you can drop fuel into the fire, or for that matter just lift your pan off and drop it in the top. If the lower hole also doubles for removing ashes, do people ever really burn them long enough to need to do this?

point well made!...
 

Shewie

Mod
Dec 15, 2005
24,259
26
49
Yorkshire
They look great, but I had a thought/question...

Everyone cuts out a hole at the bottom to add fuel, but (never having made or used one) it seems to me you’re adding fuel essentially under the fire or when it’s burnt right down. Why not have the hole higher up, so you can drop fuel into the fire, or for that matter just lift your pan off and drop it in the top. If the lower hole also doubles for removing ashes, do people ever really burn them long enough to need to do this?



I tend to re-fuel mine little and often rather than full blaze then nothing. I`ll just have it ticking over nicely and feed 3-4" sticks into the lower hole. I have got another hole on the opposite side which is higher up but I rarely use that. Each to their own though which makes these kind of stoves fun to play around with.
 

Pignut

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jun 9, 2005
4,097
12
45
Lincolnshire
absolutly! I have a few designs all different but fun...... Mainly cos they have fire in em!
 

Tadpole

Full Member
Nov 12, 2005
2,842
21
60
Bristol
I like the idea of having the feed hole further up - that seems to make sense.

What is best to make a windshield out of? Something I could roll up and keep inside the stove.

Thick aluminium trays (the kind sandwiches are served on at buffets) you can buy them at Pound shops. Cut them long enough to go round and high enough to fit just under the billy when it is resting on top of the hobo
 

webmuppet

Tenderfoot
Thick aluminium trays (the kind sandwiches are served on at buffets) you can buy them at Pound shops. Cut them long enough to go round and high enough to fit just under the billy when it is resting on top of the hobo

Is that stuff not really thick - didn't think it would roll. Could you cut it with a Dremmel or would I need something more heavy duty? I invested in a Dremmel at the weekend and it's crying out to be used (as soon as I can suss out what goes where ..)
 

saddle_tramp

Need to contact Admin...
Jul 13, 2008
605
1
West Cornwall
The first hobo i made was like so many, made out of a stainless cutlery drainer, but i wondered if there were too many holes in it, as in all but little or no wind, flames seemed to exit the side of the can.

My current hobo (mk 5 lol :rolleyes: ) only has holes around the bottom, and a couple at top for the pot support, so seems to work better, by replicating the chimney effect.

dunno if that helps any
 

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