How you pack for the outdoors depends on how you spend your time exploring nature. Packing light seems to be a common goal among campers, hikers and survivalists. Most also agree that having a compact way to cook and boil water is preferred. I will show you a pocket sized piece of survival gear that will surely be included in your next adventure.
Step 1:
The items you will:
Small tin container (altoids tin)
Wax
Cardboard
Disposable container for melting waxStep 2:
First you will need to cut the cardboard to the depth of the container.
Next pack the tin so the exposed side of the cardboard is facing outside of the tin. I use a spiraling shape but it makes no difference on how it’s formed to fit. It does, however matter how tight it is placed it the tin. If it is so tight that the cardboard’s zig zag pattern within its side walls is flattened then the wax won’t fill inside and the flame time will be shortened. Having the best ratio of wax and cardboard is the goal.
Step 3:
Next melt the wax and pore it slowly into the cracks of the cardboard ensuring that it has as little air as possible. The goal is to allow the cardboard to burn slowly. In short, you are creating a candle with a large surface area. The round one is what I am going to use to light a pumpkin!
Step 4:
This burns fast and hot! It will last a few hours and can be hotter then sterno and more “pocket friendly”. Making a few of these at a time will show its value quickly.
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Clean as brand new.
:-)p
I think the sea change was more recent that that, though. Pocket knives were quite common then, too.
I told the head idiot that in the first place I was an adult and the tool was useful to me in my daily work - and in the second place, that I'd been up since 0200, looking for (and eventually finding and helping evac the body) of a hunter who'd sliced his own throat, and I never went into the woods without at least a Leatherman and a 4-inch Buck knife - and that I'd come right to work from the morgue, and she should be happy that I'd remembered to leave the buck knife in my office!. (She damn near fainted!)
Who cares about the proper amount of kindling and small twigs, when you've got one of these babies?!
Back in middle school, I took an 'outdoor education' elective class. We made these Buddy Burners from tuna fish cans, and cooked pancakes on our version of a Hobo Stove made from large upside down coffee cans with these burners inside. Cooked the pancakes right on top of the coffee can; no additional pan needed.
And yes, these get HOT!
Good job though,
Thank yoiu
GM
I can't say that I have found hard data on this, however, I do have experience with both sterno and "buddy burners". Sterno is not the greatest way to bring water to a boil but it can be done, as many sterno fans will tell you. I have not done any side-by-side comparisons, but from my experience this can be a hotter stove as stated in the instructable. "It will last a few hours and CAN be hotter then sterno...". This is a homemade stove so testing against a commercial product is difficult because of different cardboard to wax ratios and even the types of waxes and cardboard. I make this not because it is better, rather, but because its more economical and fun. So to answer the question... hear-say.
Say, I tried this once before and didn't get it right, maybe you can give me some advice. Just how much of a gap should I leave between the cardboard slices? I think I packed it too tightly and couldn't get enough wax into the spaces. You mentioned the idea, but can you expound a little more about what the "proper ratio" of wax to cardboard might be?
Again, nice job, thanks
Greg
This makes sense to me now. I tried making one a while ago but gave up because I just got shooting flames that went dangerously high. I didn't use a lot of cardboard and there was plenty of space between.
I suppose the dollar store's candles would be just as good!