Food Storage Made Easy - Latest Comments in How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

Zachary Creekmore — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 19:06:17 -0000

you're welcome, I do have an alternate that uses a single piece of charcoal at a "wick" but this is more for a larger open mini camp fire kind of thing, use it for light and heat, or make s'mores. he-he

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

Jodi and Julie — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 13:09:46 -0000

Awesome idea. Thanks!

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

Zachary Creekmore — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 21:52:20 -0000

I use a simpler system on my front porch, and safer besides. Take 2 cans, one small, one big (I use a small tin coffee can and a tomato past can my self.) Put a layer of sand in the bottom of the coffee can to level the second can and finish filling the coffee can to almost level with the small can (this depends on how big the small can is, or how high you want it), fill the smaller can with lamp oil (not a lot just a splash) and fill the second can again with sand, add grill or lighter fluid (note if you use grill fluid it is somewhat harder to light) and light. The fluid burns slow and steady. (I modified this from an old army trick) You can cook off this setup. The outer layer of sand means the sides of the can is cool. (keep in mind that this is an open flame and watch your children. making a large cut in the larger lid directs the flame and the smaller can be used to snuff out the fire. No tp needed. But if you want one I would think that twine would be a better call.

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

craig732 — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 23:14:12 -0000

I am glad to see the authors of this post are here for follow up questions. So where and how do you suggest placing this in a car while it is burning so that your entire car will not catch on fire? I just tried it in my car and (GMC Jimmy, pretty roomy inside) and the flame is dangerously close to everything wherever I put it.

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

Jodi and Julie — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 16:52:10 -0000

I think a couple hours of heat time could be life-saving in an emergency. And it uses all materials that are cheap and easy to put together so that's the plus side. The problem with propane is it isn't safe to use indoors so you couldn't use it as a car emergency heater. Maybe some kind of butane stove or commercial alcohol stove could be a better solution. Thanks for the feedback, it's great to hear what others are doing too.

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

craig732 — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 02:25:37 -0000

So I tried this today. Although it sounds like a great idea, in practice it is not. It burned for only 2 1/2 hours on almost a whole, large bottle of alcohol. When all of the alcohol burned off, the toilet paper began to burn and created a lot of smoke. At that point the bottom of the can got VERY hot. Rubbing alcohol may be cheap, but looking at it from a BTU/hour standpoint propane is much cheaper and more efficient. You can buy a cheap propane heater at Walmart for $30, or you can get one REALLY cheap on craigslist; I got one for $10. A $4 propane canister will burn for 24 hours.

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

squeaky — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 01:34:18 -0000

I used a hand can opener to put holes around the top and bottom of a #10 can. Then squeezed a roll of toilet paper into a 1 lb. veggie can. Poured a bottle of isopropyl alcohol over the toilet paper. Then pulled the cardboard tube out. (it slipped right out with no problem). Then I sit a small cast iron trivot in the bottom of a #10 can and sat the veggie can with toilet paper and alcohol on the trivet inside the #10 can. Lit the toilet paper with a long refillable grill lighter. It burned for 30 minutes. The toilet paper didn't burn. The second time I poured a piece a bottle of isopropyl alcohol on the toilet paper, lit it and sat a pan of water on top. The water boiled and then me and my sister made a bowl of ramen noodles with the boiling water. The flame is really high to start with so I would be weary about using it in a car. I used a round metal pizza pan to put the fire out. The outside can was not hot but the inside can was.

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

Catherine — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 07:08:16 -0000

As a heat proof surface to use in a vehicle, you may consider adding a 12" x 12" trivet or a tile of some sort to set this on during use so you do NOT catch your vehicles interior on fire. Also make sure you have a small fore extinguisher on hand as well.

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

Jodi and Julie — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 01:56:18 -0000

Thanks Cindy, we actually did do an updated post on this with some additional tips submitted by a reader. This is pretty old and I feel silly now looking back on it :)

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

Cindy J. — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:42:17 -0000

It is a great video but I think you should redo it for safety sake, and next time include the need to leave windows cracked to vent carbon monoxide and warn against the use of Swiss Miss and other paper containers that look like they're metal. Someone could get into serious trouble without these instructions and they might not read the text about the Swiss Miss container below the video.

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

Victoria Brown — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 07:12:38 -0000

In Girl Scouts, we use a #10 can instead of the coffee can for the hobo stove, and we call the tuna can with rolled up cardboard & melted paraffin wax a buddy burner. We've made them for many years.

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

kimmyjling — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 10:22:10 -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??

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

pukwudjivc — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:54:30 -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.

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

Tactical Intelligence — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:44:07 -0000

While burning any carbon-containing compound (in this case isopropyl alcohol) in an area with reduced oxygen can produce carbon monoxide, rubbing alcohol is still relatively safe to burn indoors. In a car, you'll want to be sure to crack the window a bit so as not to deplete all the oxygen as well as to create some good air circulation.

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

Jodi and Julie — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:20:48 -0000

Thanks for the great tips!

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

kdonat — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:26:12 -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 .

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

Jodi -- Food Storage Made Easy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:30:16 -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!

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

moana — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:01:13 -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.

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

Jodi -- Food Storage Made Easy — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:37:10 -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.

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

ctdaffodil — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:00:12 -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....

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

sarahdanette — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:34:51 -0000

Here's the link for the Heat Cells http://www.shelfreliance.co....
Turns out it lasts 10 hours!

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

sarahdanette — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:33:05 -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.

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

lvlc @ From Mom To Mom — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:38:12 -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!

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

gaby — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:34:54 -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?

Re: How To Make a Coffee Can Heater

gaby — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:30:48 -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!!!