Introduction: Fold Flat Dollar Mini Camp Stove
I saw this stove on youtube by Survival First and made one change that improves three aspects of the stove.
Nice small light cheap secondary stove to add to your. Made this stove so i could win stove vote for me.
Step 1: Parts and Tools Needed
Parts
Dollar store cookie sheet
Stiff wire approximately 10 gauge
Card stock or cardboard for template
Tools
pen, pencil or sharpie Ruler
Hammer
Trauma shears or tinsnips
Pliers or lineman
Dremel with cutting wheel
Extra not needed but nice to have / use
Punch
Something flat to bang on
Hack saw
Drill, drill bits
Step 2: Template, Trace, Cut
Draw the template on card stock or cardboard and Cut out.
You will need to trace these on to the cookie sheet. Four sides (left) and one bottom (right)
Using the tinsnips cut into the cookie sheet and cut out your sides and bottom.
Cutting into the side of the cookie sheet is the hardest you might want to start that with a small score with the hacksaw.
Trying to avoid sharp splinters by not repositioning shears after starting the cut. Try to save some of the pan for an extra side or bottom. The last photo shows how to do it inside cut.
Step 3: Clean Up and Flatten
You want to make sure that the tabs are all going to fit into the slots when you make the hinges. Also the bottoms should all line up.
Now is a good time to cut the slots that hold the bottom pan. The best tool for this is the Dremel with a cutting wheel. You can also pop through with a sharp heavy knife but be careful.
Lastly you want to take a hammer and straighten any curled corners or dimpled edges by smashing them with the hammer on something heavy and flat. And test fit all the pieces.
Step 4: the Hinges Prep Part 1
Looking at the first photo of the hinges you'll notice in order for the hinge to fold flat the roll has to be on the inside of the hinge. We want to be able to take one pin out and accordion fold up the stove, second photo. The Best way to do this is to alternate the roll on the hinges.
I numbered the sides so I can keep them in order. I also marked the inside of the hinge so I don't forget which way I want them to bend. Each side is a little bit different and They fit together best in the order there in.
Your going to need the pins for the next step I was trying to find some wire and came up with three choices; tent pegs ( thickest gage but would work), wire bale from paint can (would also work correct gage but not very stiff) and a very stiff round of wire I found somewhere best gage and stiffness. I cut 4 - 5 inch pieces.
Step 5: Hinges Simple and Easy Part 2
Step one: Bend 1/8" of the end of the tab 90 deg.
Step two: Place a pin on the inside of the fold you just made.
Step three: Grab the tab and pin with the pliers and roll the tab around the pin.
The sides with two tabs its best to roll them together go slow. So the pin lines up.
Follow the pictures. I used the edge of a screw driver to start the roll once it's started it rolls up easy. Little tapping with a hammer helps.
Step 6: My Changes to the Original Plan
The original plan had cross pieces(cut from the left over pan) to hold the pot on the top.
My change is to bend the pins over so they hold the pot. The pins can be turned inside for small pots or outside for large spots. Or slid up or down to level the pot.
Quick thought: after owing a wire bending jig for about six years I finally have a use for it. Yea! Where did I put it?
Observation: The bends in the pins make them easier to insert or remove.
The three improvements are easy to see now.
Easier pin removal / replacement which is needed to fold the stove
Only two parts less to loose
Better seat for pot you can slide each pin up or down to balance your pot
Step 7: Holes for Air and Wood
The hole for the wood can be any shape round, oval or pizza oven(arch). I've been thinking pizza oven lately. (Next ibble?) I cut the bottom with the Dremel and the arch with the trauma shears.
The original calls for holes or slits in the bottom for air flow. I don't think they are necessary for function. But a cool pattern of holes would personalize your stove. About ten 1/8 or 1/16 inch holes would be enough. A drill or nail or punch would work. Flatten pieces with a hammer after.
Step 8: Finished Stove
Fuel for the original design was sticks picked up while Hiking.
Several other fuels can be used; up to 4 tea candles, fuel cube or heat tab or alcohol stove.
To flatten the stove take one pin out, remove bottom, place pin back in one side of the hinge and accordion fold flat. your stove is ready for travel.