Hobo Stove

[SU405]

You are dealing with a chemical compound. The composition prior to burning (an oxidation reduction reaction, resulting in new compounds) is different than after burning. I suspect it's toxic before burning, but the fumes from the flame are not. So, unless you are adding it to flavor the food, you are fine.

As an example, I suspect exhaling and then taking a nice big hit off of a natural gas line is probably really bad for you, but people have been burning natural gas for centuries to cook their food.

I understand all this.

I was just having a little fun fellas.

[Irving]

I understand all this.

I was just having a little fun fellas.

Yeah right. I already called the police telling them that I suspect a dude on the internet is going to try and drink some gasoline on the way home from work today.

[SU405]

Yeah right. I already called the police telling them that I suspect a dude on the internet is going to try and drink some gasoline on the way home from work today.

Damn you!

I was wondering how he knew I had Premium on my breath.

I only drink the good stuff ya know.

[Irving]

I found this video of how to make a rocket stove out of bricks. This stove could use some improvements, but the idea is cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSMR2...eature=related


Also, it should be noted that what I've learned from watching all these "rocket stove" videos, is that none of these types of stoves are actual rocket stoves, they are only referred to that way as a layman term. I think a true rocket stove is much more complex.

All that aside, the idea of this type of stove is very cool. Many of you probably already know this, but I didn't and thought it was great to learn. The point of making these stoves with insulation and a chimney is so you can greatly increase the heat at one point. This allows you to use much less wood and still be able to have high enough temperatures to effectively cook food. The insulation keeps the heat in the stove and the chimney directs all the heat out the top where your cook surface is.

[van7559]

So stuart, what is the verdict on the petrolium jelly versus the alcohol test? I am curious.

[Irving]

I haven't tried the petroleum jelly yet, although I do have a new can stove to try it in.

Pouring that 70% alcohol into my first can basically ruined it, because now it seems to be water logged. I guess I could try the petrolium today though. I was kind of under the impression that the jelly wouldn't release enough fumes to ignite. Guess there is only one way to find out though.

Seems like with the petroleum jelly, I won't need a medium (cotton balls) to hold the propellant up close to the holes or keep it in place. I'll try it with just jelly and no cotton balls unless anyone says something different in the next few minutes here.

[Irving]

So far, petroleum jelly is a failure. Apparently, you can't burn the jelly directly, the heat just liquefies the jelly and it drips off where ever you're trying to burn it. A cotton ball with the jelly worked in will burn for a bit. I put a bunch of jelly into a can, and worked a bunch of cotton balls into the can, going 4 at a time. So I have this can with about 12 soaked cotton balls in there now. It won't light with the lid on. I suspect that the only way I can get it to light would be to light it with the lid off, and figure out a way to get that delicate can lid back on top before I engulf myself in flames.

It is looking like the best way to is to make a can, put some cotton balls in it, seal it up, and just keep the bottle of fuel in its own container with the stove and use it when you need it.