[Stoves] Simple Two Can Charcoal Grill/Stove

[William Carr]

On May 7, 2006, at 8:53 AM, Lanny Henson wrote:

> The construction methods are simple and require no electricity, you  
> just
> need left cut and right cut snips and a
> knife blade. You can build this stove after the electrical grid  
> goes down.

Wait a minute... left cut snips?    I've got straight snips, right- 
handed snips... why didn't I know about left-handed snips?

Now I have to go buy some !

What about starting with a tin can, right-hand snips and an  
improvised depth guide.   Cut the can into one long 1/2 inch spiral  
strip by going around and around.

Then put one end of the spiral strip in a notched dowel rod and bend  
it around the dowel into a tight coil, then carefully release.

Don't let it spring back and smack you in the face !


I recommend heavy leather welding gloves for this.   (And a face mask  
if you feel unlucky).

When done you would have a slightly skewed spiral ring burner.

It won't be perfect since the metal won't like being twisted out of  
it's cylindrical shape, but if necessary you could crimp the strip  
here and there with pliers to help it bend into a flat coil.


If you ran off a couple of these from the same size can, you could  
silver solder or spot weld several spirals into one thicker burner  
ring by overlapping them first.

Now, the depth gauge....hmmm.

A strip of sheet metal, with a hole drilled in one end, then affixed  
to the snips by first taking out the bolt in the snips  and then  
running it through the depth gauge before bolting the snips back  
together.

Bend it to shape, and design it so it catches the edge of the tin can  
as you finish the first turn... let it ride the rest of the way and  
you will have a pretty good 1/2 inch ribbon after the first turn.

You know, it's a pity coffee cans are an endangered species now, I'm  
running low on Folgers cans !