COOK UP A STORM WITH YOUR OWN URBAN SURVIVAL HOBO STOVE
Homeless Individuals Craft homemade stoves for outdoor cooking purposes.
When the city grinds to a halt, you'll still need to eat. Urban survival comes in all flavors, but not all are appealing. Electric or gas stoves might be a thing of the past in times of strife. enter the hobo stove!
MIKE, THE NO-FRILLS SURVIVALIST, HERE, GIVING YOU AN UNCENSORED LOOK AT THE HOBO STOVE - AN UNSUNG HERO IN URBAN SURVIVAL COOKING.
GET IN, GET AROUND, AND KEEP OUT OF SIGHT
A hobo stove provides a small, contained fire to help you fly under the radar, avoiding unwanted attention from unsavory characters in urban survival situations. Other benefits of hobo stove cooking include:
- Efficiency: Less fuel is required in a concentrated area, resulting in increased airflow and heat, and a more efficient burn. These stoves minimize waste by burning fuel more completely [5][6].
- Faster Cook Time: An open campfire wastes a lot of fuel, heating cookware slowly. Hobo stoves come to temperature faster, reducing cooking time, especially important in cold weather and when time is of the essence [5][6].
- Safety: Small fires in hobo stoves are easier to contain, reducing the risk of accidents, such as wildfires, and making them a safer option [5][6].
PRO TIP: Cover your stove with a large metal container to snuff out the fire if necessary. This might extinguish the fire, but remember, you've already got heat and fuel. Oxygen is usually all you'll need for a resupply.
PORTABLE AND LIGHT ON THE PLANET
Hobo stoves can be made using readily available materials like cans. They're lightweight, making them easy to transport, and their aluminum construction cools off quickly, perfect for grab-and-go situations. Hobo stoves also minimize their environmental impact when compared to burning larger logs or using chemical fuels, and they produce less smoke [5][7].
WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO GET STARTED
- Coffee tin, tomato sauce can, or larger green bean can
- Tin snips (or heavy-duty knife for stubborn materials)
- Church key-style can opener (or alternative puncturing tool)
- Awls, drills, or Dremel tools (optional)
- Leather gloves (for handling hot cookware)
CONSTRUCTION
A hobo stove creates an efficient, small, controlled fire for cooking and boiling water. To make the stove, follow these steps:
- Choose your can and punch holes for ventilation using your church key around the top and bottom.
- Cut out a large panel from the top to create a fuel port, using tin snips for precision.
- Cut additional vent holes as needed for airflow.
- Consider using a stovetop grill, chicken wire, or metal tent stakes for added support.
- Slide tent stakes through the top vent holes to hold a pot if needed.
THE KEY IS TO HAVE A PORTAL
Civilization's top guns burn their precious hardwood coals, letting them spill out the bottom. Don't let this happen to you! Change up the design to have vents on the top and bottom. Top-feeding ports ensure that all your coals remain intact and prevent waste.
LOAD 'ER UP
Start with small, dry twigs and stack finger-thick pieces and larger ones on top. Save the fine tinder for last, adding it at the bottom to maintain airflow. Ignite the fire from either below or above, and feed it with larger logs once it's burning steadily. Minimize fuel waste by adjusting the larger vent position to catch the breeze, or flip the stove for a self-feed effect.
Experiment with different fuels, such as maple, oak, hickory, and walnut, to reduce the amount of wood needed for cooking and boost the BTU output. Using a stable pot over the stove? Create a windguard using Y-sticks, a green stick, and protecting gloves.
COOK A FEAST
A hobo stove is versatile, capable of boiling water, frying food, and even steaming meals. Get crafty, and make your plant or flat griddle in a matter of minutes by flipping the stove upside down. The possibilities are endless!
REMEMBER, SAFETY FIRST
Use a leather glove or bandana when handling hot cookware, especially in windy conditions. To keep Mother Nature from putting out your fire, ensure your fire preparation remains dry and covered when not in use.
PLEASE REMEMBER
I'm just here to tell you how it is. While I can't predict every outcome, I've provided a general guide for a hobo stove that works well. Remember to adjust to your specific circumstances and experiment with variations to maximize efficiency and minimize waste.
Stay safe, and good luck!
NEXT UP, WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MIKE TRIED THE IKEA HOBO STOVE... STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURE!
SOURCES:[1] https://www.hackneygreen.co.uk/news/12th-april-2020/build-a-homemade-backpacking-stove/[2] https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Homemade-Backpacking-Gas-Stove[3] https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Camp-Stove-from-Used-Cans[4] https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Stove-from-Cans[5] https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Hobo-Stove[6] https://survivalistcd.com/how-to-build-a-hobo-stove/[7] https://preppersuggest.com/diy-hobo-stove/#:~:text=DIY%20Hobo%20Stove%20Differences
In the context of urban survival, cooking with a hobo stove can be a part of an efficient and sustainable lifestyle. This portable and eco-friendly cooking method can be beneficial for outdoor-living, food-and-drink needs, and even home-and-garden projects like camping or gardening supplies boiling. When you need to stay under the radar, a small, contained hobo stove fire can help you cook up a storm without drawing unwanted attention.
