Commonly called a hobo stove, this campsite cooking method is as old as the tin can itself. It became a staple source of cooking and purifying water during the Great Depression, when tens of thousands of displaced people found themselves constantly on the move, looking for work wherever it could be found. For a family project that includes a bit of a history lesson, here’s a quick how-to guide for constructing this simple camping stove.
What you’ll need:
- A #10 tin can (a 2 pound coffee can, for example)
- Sharp knife or metal snips
- Punch style can opener
- Stiff wire (a coat hanger will do)
- 2 small bolts with washers or nuts to secure
Directions:
Remove the bottom from the can with snips or crank style can opener, and cut a 4-inch square “door” along the bottom of the can. Turn the can over and drop the bottom of the can you removed down into the top of the can. Punch several smoke holes around the top of the can with the punch can opener (the can opener tabs will hold the bottom ring of the can in place against the top).
Just above the 4-inch square, drill or punch two small holes and insert a bolt through each hole. Secure with a nut or washer. Attach the wire to the bolts and tighten bolts to hold in place. Bend the 4-inch square you cut to make the door over the wire. This will create a damper you can open and close as needed to adjust the level of the fire.
Now you’re ready to cook! Position the stove over the fire and used the sealed top as your cooking surface. Be sure to use small, pencil-sized bits of wood for your fire, as not much is needed to get your hobo stove fully heated and usable.
Featured Image from Robson Hatsukami Morgan/Unplash
