This awesome stove would be perfect for heating up tea or soup or even cooking small amounts of meat or vegetables.
To build your stove, follow these instructions.
STEP 1
On a fire-proof surface, set up several bricks to form a hearth.
STEP 2
Fill an empty tuna can with coiled strips of cardboard, set it on the hearth and pour melted wax over it (any kind of wax will work, but beeswax burns the longest). And be careful when handling the hot wax, and don’t completely drown the cardboard under the wax. A little bit of cardboard should be showing around the entire can for an effective burn.
STEP 3
If you plan to use the stove now, light the cardboard in the can with a stick match and watch your stove flame up. If you are making a stove to use later, leave one thin strip of cardboard sticking up higher than the rest for easy lighting.
STEP 4
Once your stove is lit, place your pot over the stove, sitting on the raised brick hearth and start cooking. Keep a piece of tin foil handy, to cover the can and extinguish the stove if your cooking is done before you run out of fuel.
Any amount of hot food can dramatically boost morale in a survival situation, particularly if you are really struggling to gain some foothold of normalcy.
This amazing tuna can stove can provide just enough heat, using commonly found items, to make tea soup or cook small amounts of other food.
To learn more about survival cooking, check out Outdoor Life.
Featured Image via Outdoor Life
Girl Scouts have done this for years
I learned how to do this from my mom 40 years ago. Works great
Beth Lear
Made those in the Cub Scouts many many years ago.
Wendel Theriot
I have been doing this for over 50 years. Have one ready now for when I need it.
That was an old thing for us in Boy Scouts. I have made some recently (past 10 years) but still can’t beat the beer can stove.
I agree with Karron.
Made those in cub scouts and used them for ice fishing and hunting. Would make a heat radiating cover out of a coffee can, when coffee cans were actually cans, and a can opener to make air vents.
yep i learned this in the girl scouts
I was curious if you had ever seen/done it.
Ryan Hartman
That’s cool!! Definitely going to have to add this to the tool box!!
I wasn’t a girl scout nor had girls! I need this info
Now days I take a coke can and cut it down and stuff cardborad in it and pour alcohol in it to light the fire place. Same concept as this and it works great and low cost.
We made these with our kids!
The “Buddy Burner” Thank you Girl Scouts of America!
Been doing this for years now.
Put a well vented large metal coffee( #10 I think) and you have a cooking surface…We made them as kids.
I like to use sawdust/shavings from hedge trees
Know them as buddy burners. Good for heat.
Had awesome success using cans, cardboard, and wax. From tuna cans all the way to #10 coffee cans. Have tried the cardboard and oil….one man’s trash is another’s supply closet.