My hobo wood gasification stove

[jzmtl]

So I  have an empty paint can lying around and wanted to make something out of it. After some googling on designs I came up with this. It's based off the Bushbuddy design, except that'll cost $100 whereas mine cost $8 even if all the materials are bought new.

In the first pic you can see the individual components. Outer can with bottom vent hole (and wire mesh just above holes), inner sleeve with upper vent hole, and pot holder. Second pic is all assembled.

I'm quite happy with the trial run result, zero smoke, and zero leftover wood/charcoal, everything was burned to dust. It even works with damp wood, I cut down some bush a few days ago and it burns without problem, even thou some are still scizzling with water being boiled off at the end.

The theory behind is the inner sleeve is filled with fuel first, up to the inner vent holes. Fire is set on top, and the heat cause pyrolysis of wood immediatly below releasing wood gas, which combines with air coming in from the upper vent holes and burn. After all the wood are consumed and turned to charcoal, it would still burn for quite sometime.

Time to boil water: duno, don't feel like to blacken any of my kitchen pots. 

Problem: the bottom vent holes are way too big, you can see I covered 6 out of 8 and it still works fine. One or two rows of 1/2" holes would be plenty.

[donvito]

Nice bit of DIY there J like the fact that it's smokeless and fuel efficient If you get around to it, update us on boil time say for .5 L of H2O

[Zed]

Nice bit of DIY there J like the fact that it's smokeless and fuel efficient If you get around to it, update us on boil time say for .5 L of H2O

x2 would love to know how it goes 


paul

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

That's a cracking looking stove there mate

[Gareth]

I like it.

[andre0407]

Sweet piece of gear there mate.. just another good showing that 'improvisation goes a long way'.

[sparky415]

Clever idea!
I like how you can use old rubbish to make a great little cooker   

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

Here's mine.

Quart paint can, Progresso soup can and a Hash can...along with a piece of paint roller strainer for the bottom grate.

[jzmtl]

Hmm maybe I should try a smaller version like yours next. Mine's made from a gallon can.

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

These are the instructions I based mine on - Instructables

[jzmtl]

Okay test result. Half liter of water took 5.5 minutes to boil. Ambient temp is 5°C, with very slight breeze that push flame to one side.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Okay test result. Half liter of water took 5.5 minutes to boil. Ambient temp is 5°C, with very slight breeze that push flame to one side.

That's pretty impressive mate

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

I haven't used mine much, but the stove seems pretty wind sensitive.

[jzmtl]

I haven't used mine much, but the stove seems pretty wind sensitive.

My experience as well, Putting the lower vents toward wind helps but definitely need windscreen  to boil anything.

[robertrogers]

Yeah, I think the smaller version works just fine - burns less wood, easier to pack, less weight.  I own a similar stove and have gotten rid of my regular gas burners (wood is ALWAYS available in my area).