IKEA Hobo Stove and Becker Break-Ins

[Guyon]

A while back, I cut a feeding port into this IKEA utensil caddy. Not a novel idea by any means, but I wanted to build my own IKEA kit.
I wound up going with one of the Stanley Cooksets and a Walmart stainless mug. All told, the kit cost right around $30.
I had the aluminum rod laying around, and I cut and bent it to size for the pot rack.

Nested.

I took advantage of the first burn to break-in a couple of Beckers. One is a BK-9 I'd intended to sell, but because it's the thicker Camillus version, I never could quite part with it. I put some Ka-Bar micarta on it, and it is a dandy. The other is a BK-2 I won in the raffle down at Ethan's last Gathering. I used both knives, plus my trusty 16, for some wood prep.

Here's the stove loaded for ignition. There's a little bit of fatwood "kicker" mixed in there.

Time to get it on.

The pot blackened up nicely.

Got a little bit of boil going.

Final flames.

And a cup of joe.

Some thoughts:

• Overall, I like the way the hobo stove worked. I thought I might want to enlarge the feeding port, but it functioned fine just like it was.
• I also liked the fact that the Stanley pot allowed enough room on the edges to feed the fire from the top without removing the pot.
• I might work on some way to get the stove off the ground to prevent heat conduction on cold surfaces.
• I'm considering a staking system to keep the stove more stable.
• As far as the pot supports, I thought about tapping the rod ends for a nut so that (a) they're still removable, but (b) there's less chance of them slipping.
• I also may make a cross-style support with some aluminum stock to fit on the top of the stove.

 

[The Warrior]

Nice job Guyon. I have one I made for my Stanley, but never posted it up. I have legs on mine as well, to get it up off the ground.

 

[Guyon]

I was thinking about legs, but I also wondered about some sort of round base that I can stake.

 

[The Warrior]

I was thinking about legs, but I also wondered about some sort of round base that I can stake.

Makes sense.

 

[TBL]

Cool idea! Definitely know what I'm going to look for the next time I'm in Ikea

 

[The Warrior]

Cool idea! Definitely know what I'm going to look for the next time I'm in Ikea

Been around for years. I won one here a few years ago: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/848930-Received-The-Giveaway-Stove-Today

 

[TBL]

While looking for a snack in the pantry I came across a sheeple sized box of fatwood fire starter my wife got for our backyard fire bowl. Score! Now to think of an excuse to go to Ikea

 

[The Warrior]

This is where I got the idea for the legs on mine. Actually, it was on BCUK, but the same poster: http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showt...a-Hobo-stove?p=1580056&viewfull=1#post1580056

You can run stakes through the legs into the ground, for stability, if needed, or, as the poster shows, the legs of his windscreen stick through them..

Here's the BCUK thread. Lots of good ideas there: http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33879&highlight=hobo+stove

 

[daizee]

very cool.

This reminds me of a little fantasy project.
I'd like to build a two-burner woodgas outdoor cookstove for the house that looks not horrible. Two burners with a grill top or something... With a feed hole for each burner like an emberlit... Yeah.

 

[dresnor]

That is cool. Going to have to order one of those and make my own.

What did you use to make to cutout in the stove?

Jeremy

 

[tobiism]

The thin stainless is no match for an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel.

 

[The Warrior]

The thin stainless is no match for an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel.

I hear that. I think I used a Dremel with a cut off wheel for mine, iirc.

 

[Guyon]

I hear that. I think I used a Dremel with a cut off wheel for mine, iirc.

Same here. Went through it like butter. Used a file and a small piece of 400 grit sandpaper to clean up the corners and edges.

 

[The Warrior]

Yeah, I also filed and sanded mine. I'll post photos of mine later. I actually forgot about it, until this thread.

 

[trailbum]

Very nice.
I need to make one of those.

 

[Jerry D.]

It sure looks better than the hobo stoves and grills I've made from old coffee cans. I might have to give they the Stanley cookset a look as I build up some gear... It also has me thinking about making a stove rather than buying one.

 

[cpurcell]

Looks great!

As far as tapping the rods to accept a nut, what about drill stops? The steel circle nut with the set screw to tighten. I know they come in various sizes, just not sure if they'll be available for the size rod you used.

Anyhow, looks great, cooks, so..stove win!
C

 

[tradewater]

I was wondering when this was going to happen. You own every factory made stove ever made. God help us now.

 

[Guyon]

As far as tapping the rods to accept a nut, what about drill stops? The steel circle nut with the set screw to tighten. I know they come in various sizes, just not sure if they'll be available for the size rod you used.

Cool idea. The only disadvantage I can think of is that I'd have to keep up with a small Allen wrench.
See the way I've got the rods overlapped here? I'm thinking a small groove on the bottom of the top piece and a small groove on the top of the bottom piece so that they interlock.
Do that on both sides and voila! Some natural tension that will keep them in place pretty well.

I was wondering when this was going to happen. You own every factory made stove ever made. God help us now.

I just ordered three 55-gallon drums. Oh, the plans I have...

 

[gmoneyluv]

Very nice setup!

I just ordered three 55-gallon drums. Oh, the plans I have...

No cow, pig or chicken is safe.