Comments on: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

By: kimmyjling

kimmyjling — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:22:10 +0000

I'm just putting together my coffee can heater kit, and had a thought. Can flannel fabric be used in place of the toilet paper? I sew cloth diapers and have a ton of flannel scraps which could come in great use here. What do you all think??

By: Algarve_Heaters

Algarve_Heaters — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:07:51 +0000

I'm not finished read this yet, but it's so fabulous 'n I'll back again when I was finished my job

By: Algarve_Heaters

Algarve_Heaters — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:07:04 +0000

That's the great article! I just pass 'n read it, two thumbs up!

By: pukwudjivc

pukwudjivc — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:54:30 +0000

What we used to do as a kid (was a school project) is use a tuna can and a cofee can. We'd cut a one inch strip of cardboard and roll it up so it fit inside the tuna can. Melt some parafin wax and dump into the tuna can with the cardboard. This makes a nice little candle.
Next we would cut a small slot out of the side of the cofee can which was a few inches wide. The slot is cut out of the open end of the can. Then you turn the cofee can over so the open end with the slot is sitting on the ground. Add a small vent in the top of the can for the gases to escape so the candle stays lit and you have a nice little hot plate. I hope you can picture this from my description, but basically you are using the bottom of the cofee can as your cooking surface. The candle can be lit and then slides under the cofee pot through the slot you cut.

We called these hobo stoves.

By: algarve_heaters

algarve_heaters — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:19:40 +0000

Bravo, Bros! keep going like this, more good info again.

By: Jodi - Food Storage Made Easy

Jodi - Food Storage Made Easy — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:20:48 +0000

Thanks for the great tips!

By: kdonat

kdonat — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:26:12 +0000

There are two types of rubbing alcohol, 70% and 91%. The 91% alcohol burns cleanest. Using a can as small as a tuna or catfood can works well for your 72 hour or car kits. Use cotton balls soaked in alcohol, cooking oil, or vaseline as the fuel and wick. Just make sure there's a hot pad or heat resistant surface on which you set the can. A piece of tinfoil can be wrapped around and over the can for storage, then be used to snuff the flame if needed. Also, a birthday candle gives off a good bit of heat (especially the kind that you can't blow out), several can be stored in a recycled pill bottle or film canister, and carried in a personal/car/or 72 hour kit. They also are good fire starters when camping or using other fuel sources out of doors .

By: Jodi -- Food Storage Made Easy

Jodi -- Food Storage Made Easy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:30:16 +0000

Thanks for the tips! Julie’s sister also used a paint can. I was just trying to find something I had handy around my house. I will have to look for a better container for my own kit!

By: moana

moana — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:01:13 +0000

You can use a new quart sized paint can. You don’t ever have to replace the toilet paper just add more alcohol. That way the lid is metal and you just put the lid on to stop the flame, or put it on part way for a smaller flame. It can be used in the car but crack the window just a little bit. It is safe. I tape matches to the outside of the can. You can also tape a penny to the top to help open the can when you need it.

By: Jodi -- Food Storage Made Easy

Jodi -- Food Storage Made Easy — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:37:10 +0000

Ours are foil-lined cardboard too. I didn’t realize it until after I had made the video. I did try to update the post to reflect the fact that you MUST use a metal container. Thanks for the heads up It was late at night while I was making it so I have a little bit of an excuse. lol.

By: ctdaffodil

ctdaffodil — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:00:12 +0000

I’m confused – the big swiss moss containers on the east coast are foil lined cardboard….do they ship them diffferently for the other side of the country?
If you need a coffee can – as your neighbors – We do drink coffee so I’ve never had to worry….

By: sarahdanette

sarahdanette — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:34:51 +0000

Here’s the link for the Heat Cells http://www.shelfreliance.com/product/view/p182.
Turns out it lasts 10 hours!

By: sarahdanette

sarahdanette — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:33:05 +0000

I just bought a bunch of Heat Cells (from shelfreliance.com for about $3 a piece, cheap!), which are little cans of fuel that you can burn for heat or to cook food. Each can will last up to 8 hours and is PERFECTLY SAFE to use INDOORS or inside a car (its an ecofuel that is odorless, non-toxic, and 100% biodegradable)! I think the coffee cans would be a safety hazard, and could eventually kill you, if in an enclosed space. It’s very small and easy to store, I haven’t checked to see if it’s safe to keep in the car, but it’s non-flammable, so I think it’s probably ok.

By: lvlc @ From Mom To Mom

lvlc @ From Mom To Mom — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:38:12 +0000

Great Idea!!!! I love it! Nice idea to improvise a stove too.
This reminded me of my passed grandmother. She was very catholic and did the rosary every single day. To do it. She lighted her candle. What’s so funny about it? Well, her candles were not the usual wax candles!

She put a metal lid up side down. Put a cotton ball in the center. Spilled some vegetable oil over it. Made a peak in the top and then lighted it! I guess that’s how they made it back in her times. I never got to ask her about it. Now that I think of it is brilliant but back then, did I cared about it! Nah! Shame on me!

By: gaby

gaby — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:34:54 +0000

or probably we can only use half of the toilet paper so we can have a moderation flame don’t you think? if we have to use it inside the car so it will be not dangerous !! and the flame or fire it will not go very high.
just a thought!!!
sorry for all the many comments Im just thinking at loud!!! LOL
any way!!!
what do you think girls?

By: gaby

gaby — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:30:48 +0000

and actually if you have little kids like my Im a little concern to just have the alcohol in the car because sometimes my kids are playing there what am going to do is I’ll put the bottle inside a vacuum sealer bag and seal it. so it can be safe for my kids , and when I need to use just open the bag and ready.

I think these my be interest for some one.
have a great day!!!

By: gaby

gaby — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:26:51 +0000

thank you well then Im excited I’ll put these on my car and probably we should add a kitchen cloth to hold it if we want to move it. and I’m sorry I don’t know how you call it in english but the ones that we use to put hot pans on the table so we can put there a #10 can (form cannery) on the top and star the fire any way Im excited to give it a try.
thanks girls!!!!

By: Jodi -- Food Storage Made Easy

Jodi -- Food Storage Made Easy — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:35:55 +0000

I answered some of the questions in my update above! Shame on me for not actually USING it before posting this

By: gaby

gaby — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:46:49 +0000

well i have the same question does is safe to use indoor?
because it’s a really good idea, even you can use it too cook or warm things you just put on the top a small cooled rack for cookies and there you go
\but I want to know if these is safe

thanks!! excellent idea !!! I love it.

By: Janae

Janae — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:12:21 +0000

wondering if it needs to be an all metal can? I’m thinking that the cocoa can you show is cardboard and might not hold the flame?

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:54:53 +0000

How easy to do! Here’s a question. I’m guessing it’s obvious (or is it?) that a person would want to burn this outdoors, but what if the weather conditions were horrid? Would a person become sickened by the fumes if the coffee can heater were burned inside an enclosed space? Does anyone know? Thanks!

By: Sandra

Sandra — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:36:02 +0000

Would that actually be safe to user IN a car? Seems dangerous to use unless your outdoors?

Very inventive though!