How to build a simple light small wood gas stove
out of a 12 oz Heineken keg can, sardine can and a bit of wire.
Takes all of about 5 minutes.
Typical disclaimer - if you cut your finger or blow yourself up don't blame me !!
The goal was to create a simple ultralight wood gas stove with no moving parts that would
burn for 15-20 minutes and could be made easily in the field.
You can also use a normal steel soup can instead of the heineken can
but the assembly is a little more involved and different.
I call it the finger chopper. You will see why in a minute.
The mug shot - 12 oz heineken keg beer can and an Iberia sardine can.
The Iberia sardine can has a recessed bottom and makes putting the stove together a bit easier.
Use a side cutter and cut the top of the Heineken can.
Electric for us lazy folk.
With scissors trim about 1/16" of an inch of the top.
1/8" is too much
Take a sharp can opener, and punch 8 holes around the base.
If your can opener is a cheapie like mine file it down so its sharp.
Remove the sardine can label and draw a line with a sharpie around the top
about 1/4"-3/8" down from the top.
With the same opener, punch 4 medium size holes in the bottom, 4 large holes around the side
and 12 small holes around the top edge of the sardine can.
Cut off the top with a top cut can opener.
You can do this before or after, but its easier to punch the holes around the top if the lid is still on.
Slide the sardine can into the Heineken can. It should be a fairly tight fit.
Weighs 1.8oz as shown. If the holes were drilled it would be a bit lighter.
Thats thermotec heatshieild on the left for wrapping turbos etc.
I think it was called a turbo heat shield kit. Unfortunately this rig won't fire off without insulation.
Not cheap stuff but I already had it. Wrap it with a double layer.
Without a good layer of insulation it wont go into gas mode.
Wrap 2 layers of thermotec around the can and then wrap it with
Nesco aluminum foil tape from Home Depot.
Thats a coil of 3/32" stainless steel welding wire to the left.
You could use coat hanger wire but it wont last as long.
Just curl it around a pair of pliers and insert it into the bottom carefully.
Be sure to have your suture kit ready.
This is how it looks from the top and why I call it the finger chopper.
The coil sort of gets locked in and sits on top of the punch outs at the bottom sides of the sardine can
If you are not into living dangerously or have kids that will be using this thing
drill 12 3/16"-1/4" holes around the top of the sardine can to make it a little safer.
Weighs about 3 oz with the insulation, coil and foil.
Loaded with some oak wood chips. Very dry.
About 1.2 oz
Started this trial with 1 tsp of denatured alcohol to fire it off.
Poof when you light it so watch out.
I want to try a lighter wood, pencil size stick/wick down the middle to facilitate
the initial burn but its up on the farm.
For those of you that don't know what lighter wood is, it is also called fat wood. Basically
a pine stump or log that has sapped out and become completely saturated with pine sap.
You can light the stuff with a match. Its has other names in other parts of the country.
Trick is you have to get the works hot enough to go into gas mode before the initial burn goes out.
Still on alcohol.
Still on alcohol. This is about 2-3 minutes and gassing.
About 5-6 minutes burn time, sputtering along trying to get going.
Still sputtering a bit.
Somewhere about 8-10 minutes it lights off. Not positive on the time though.
Here we go. Classic wood gas burn.
I don't need no stinkin fan.
Its not a furnace, but it works.
A little breezy out tonight.
Starting to slow down a bit.
Slowing down a bit more.
Last gasp.
Finally on its last legs.
Total burn time 23 minutes plus or minus on 1.2oz of wood.