1680 The Magical Forever Wick - The Plant Pot Heater On Steroids

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[@das250250]

One day a world famous scientist will be interviewed and he or she will say I was inspired to do science because of a guy called Rob on KZbin

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

that would be so cool!

[@robertthrobert2337]

that's bogus. you're bogus. I'm bogus. momma's dead now from the crab disease.

[@Rizzob17]

Hi, my name is Rob and I am on KZbin. Please folks, be inspired, haha. Jk.

[@6226superhurricane]

yes rob and deane from the curiosity show

[@AndreaDingbatt]

@@robertthrobert2337 And I believe your momma is very,very chuffed that she got Away from You..... And the Curiosity Show,,, has 2Bogus and Envious kids.....

[@mr.s171]

I just recently found this channel and the superior teaching talent of this man. The internet is living up to its original promise with this kind of content. Well done, Robert. 👍

[@MrLiamHenderson]

Yes, this is REALLY what the internet is for. Sharing excellent ideas. I only recently discovered the channel and it's changing the view of my future. I am going to strive to be as off-grid as possible hence forth. Thanks to @Robert Murray-Smith

[@sara31786]

well said that man

[@sara31786]

@@MrLiamHenderson nah our supreme leaders will provide🤢.............they're just leaving it too the very last sec , Hollywood style

[@benjigirl1971]

Where has this guy been all my life? Love him! My homeschooled kids are going to love this. Now I’m off to see what else he has done!

[@gudgengrebe]

Me too! Just found him a few minutes ago and subscribed!!

[@benjigirl1971]

@doubleheadergr we don’t have to DO his projects. Watching the burny ones could be educational enough 😉

[@finallythere100]

Can anyone tell me if using a stainless steel pot seems to work as well as the clay pot of similar size? Hard to tell, I think it is as effective bc the pot gets very hot very quickly and stays hot. I find with both that I idon'thave to set the thermostat anywhere near as high bc the heat is comfortable when using either of these, but please let name know if you have tried this. Thanks.

[@Remembernukpunuk]

Right?

[@QUIETSTORM-xj4ux]

@@gudgengrebe me too!

[@johngoldsworthy1925]

It seemed to me that when Rob placed the chimney on the plant pot heater the amount of soot exiting into the room went up substantially.

[@Siouxperman]

I thought that too. Seeing how there was a already a hole in the planter, I wonder if a chimney was needed.

[@datyashema1006]

I think keeps down carbon,,, I would Crack a window ,,maybe,, 🤔 but good ideal

[@ddhhobbies1404]

I bought a 1" to 1/2" copper reducer to use as the ferrel for the wick. The bottom leaves the felt less compressed for easier wicking and is a steadier base with less chance of being knocked over.

[@dernukleus8599]

Weld three little bars for better resistance.

[@Ad_Astra_321]

@ddh... Thanks, works a treat! ;)

[@shemamabell-irving2671]

Brilliant thank you.

[@TwinkleToes2day]

Have you tried this yet and if so, how are you dealing with the soot?

[@ddhhobbies1404]

​@@TwinkleToes2day He covered this issue in his video. You have to add a chimney to this to make sure it gets hot enough to burn the soot.

[@brettfoster6786]

Our School systems need teachers like you. Awesome presentation, thanks . You have me thinking. Using a small catalytic tail pipe for more heat and a cleaner burn 🔥

[@wombleofwimbledon5442]

Brilliant. This reminds me of an old survival stove I saw when I was a kid. Coffee can, with a toilet paper roll in it. Filled with alcohol, when lit, it only burned on the top, and the paper barely singed.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

same principle I think cheers mate

[@fookingsog]

That's a cheap Tiki Torch to ward off 'skeeters!!! Wire a tin can to a post, insert TP, pour in appropriate amount of kerosene & light on 🔥 🔥 🔥!!!😁👍🏻

[@DavidMartin-ym2te]

@@fookingsog great idea. I need two for my entrance in winter to guide drivers in. Thanks for the top tip!

[@bozo5632]

A large tin can half full of sand with a few ounces / 75ml of gasoline in it will burn for - idk how long, I put it out after half an hour. Not very safe, but probably better than burning straight liquid petrol.

[@fookingsog]

@@bozo5632 petrol....gasoline, diesel or kerosene???🤔

[@aimeemoran7549]

A chunk of cotton rope or cord supported in the oil also works fine and doesn’t itself burn up - it’s the basis of the “floating oil candles” that were very popular some time ago. All you really need is a ring around the “neck” of the cord (such as a grommet) which is used to both support the end of the cord above the oil, and also to contain the burning action at the end of the cord. We use these a lot while camping, as they’re self-extinguishing, nontoxic, and pretty.

[@cath5360]

Wish I'd seen this comment before I wasted money buying 2 different pieces of activated carbon felt from amzn only to discover both had Fire retardant coating even though they didn't say they did. Will try cotton.

[@billiemfan]

@@cath5360 I bought one of them too Cath. Really frustrating. Thanks for your post. It was the one I was looking for. The felt I bought was for plumbers. I tried cotton and it didn't work either. I can't set that vegie oil on fire no matter what I do. LOL

[@creinicke1000]

So... is the real issue to use vegetable oil? Does the rope wick ..actually wick up the vegetable oil, Since that seemed to be an issue? Having g a small rope used, and not be dangerous if knocked down seems great.. but I can't see the rope not burning and having to be raised or at least checked every half hour.

[@stevenmark8156]

@@cath5360 send them back. If they didn’t disclose the fire retardant aspect, they should have to refund them.

[@jonijohnsonstringer3098]

Didn't they use to use a piece of plastic with the wick push through an X cut into the plasic. It was like the shallow dish you'd get if you cut off the bottom 1/2" if a water bottle. Allowing a small portion of oil in the floating tray kept it from burning.

[@raass233]

Farmers used to clean used motor oil by placing it in a barrel in the top of a building and wicking it through a hemp rope to a barrel at the bottom of the building. It would take a long time, but clean oil was the product. I wonder if the carbon wick would clean oil at a faster rate with going uphill and using gravity to separate particles?

[@cotteeskid]

bloody brilliant. I had seen the plant pot heaters which I liked, but was reluctant to make it due to the frequency of replacing the tea lights. but this is a game changer. cheers

[@misiotatazuzi7970]

Please install carbon monoxide detectors in every room you will have that heaters. I am afraid that many people will die this winter from carbon monoxide poisoning.

[@violet2048]

@@misiotatazuzi7970 Thank you. I was truly wondering if that would be the prohibiting factor. Everything this genius has to have a flaw somewhere. Thank you again.

[@francoistran5681]

Ever heard of Crisco candles. It will last longer

[@stevenmark8156]

Please watch the videos that are also on KZbin about the extreme fire hazard with these pot heaters. Most people would probably not even think of such a thing (including me) until they watch them. Don’t go to sleep with them burning for sure if you use candles under them. That paraffin is amazingly dangerous when confined under those pots! I couldn’t believe it!

[@edwardmmanns7454]

The amount of BTU's is determined by the oil and wick and the pot cannot increase it.

[@DavidMartin-ym2te]

For us, this is a seriously life changing innovation. We have no electricity on our land when are working and use lanterns with very expensive lamp oil. I can't wait to try this! Amazing! Thank you!

[@TwinkleToes2day]

Have you tried this yet and if so, how are you dealing with the soot?

[@eco_logic]

@@TwinkleToes2day could you make a long enough flexible pipe that brings the soot outside leaves you a healthy warm environment especially in combination with a second pot creating a double wall and turbine effect.

[@randygunn9499]

Did you try the wickin heater yet?? Please let me know how it works plzz

[@conniepritchardreinhardt9978]

I too live off grid

[@deanb949]

Expensive and dangerous. A small solar recharge station that recharges tool LED lights is safe and sane.

[@Luddite1]

I absolutely love your films I love the way you take regular household stuff and use it in ways in which it wasn’t designed to be used for ! This is a superb way to keep the winter chill off Thanks !!!

[@TrentTationnaiseXization]

Such a wonderful educator! I appreciate every bit of knoledge you share.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@kevinbowker2385]

You connect with your audience with ease! There are few channels (of any material) that I enjoy as much as this one.

[@jdsr7423]

That's pretty cool and I'm thinking there's gonna be a lot of applications for the forever wick! Also if you add a second larger plant pot above that one it'll create a draft between the two giving a lot more airflow kinda like the air multiplying fans. That will increase the heated area. Used one like that on a sailboat for awhile wish I'd have known about the activated carbon fiber back then 🤠

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

awesome mate - nice tip - cheers

[@yougeo]

So you put another larger plant pot above the other? How high above? Or do you put it down over it with an air gap at the bottom?

[@DavidMartin-ym2te]

Excellent idea.

[@tomhiggins4969]

No I think it will just make more smoke

[@jdsr7423]

@@yougeo you want a narrow air gap between the two pots for the air to collect the radiant heat from the inner pot efficiently as it rises. You also have to play with the air gap between the inner pot and the tray or other surface it's sitting on to maximize the heat capture while also allowing enough air flow to maintain the flame 😉

[@viplasmaking1719]

This is a game changer for many reasons. There is 10 kw in 1 liter diesel. Good job Robert.

[@Milkybar3320011]

Genius, I loved the video by “the outsider- candle convection heater” but the design flaw was the candles would naturally reduce in height and so would the performance. Definitely a game changer 😊

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I saw that and liked it - combine this with his stove design and you have a winner

[@Pro_Vs_Con]

My 24 yo. mind exploded with the capabilities this could be used for! Defiantly a mentor to look up to!

[@flatwater5]

Definitely.

[@user-ly9ql3bc1f]

I had tried using a cotton wick before and had no success. Then decided I would stick to lamp oil. This idea will definitely expand my resilience when camping in a safer manner. Brilliant work!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@biancavolosciuc3377]

Brilliant explanations with great confidence , lovely accent and sparkling intelligence ! Thank you Sir !

[@jeffdevine6387]

amazing discovery, especially just before what appears is going to be 'Operation Dark Winter'. Thank you

[@randyrussell6246]

Talk about upgrading a design ! Knock a l bigger hole in the top of the ceramic pot and see how much more it drafts ! Fantastic videos , a public service if you ask me , thought provoking........something that is very much needed in our Citizens.........Bravo !

[@nospam-hn7xm]

Brilliant video! By-the-way, carbon felt can be bought in small quantities (12x12 inch) on Amazon.

[@jakegoakes]

Is it welding blankets?

[@holisticparent4366]

Yep I got a smaller piece for a fiver on Amazon

[@Forestduck1]

Man, I've said it before but I am going to say it again. Robert, you are a legend for all you show and share, truly God Bless you many times over!

[@C-M-E]

I had a feeling I was going to see a carbon sponge as the wick, though the felt was similarly brilliant. I was goofing around with carbon filters one day that are designed to be a pre-filter medium on HEPA filters and noticed the same effect. I hadn't the foresight to make it into anything like this, but that's why we come to you, Robert! 👍 As a small bonus, at least in the US though I suspect you can get it anywhere or online, the carbon filter stuff is available in relatively small volume and quite cheap. Minus the parts I've cut off for my purposes, the one I have is a meter/yard long and 24 inches wide (~600mm if my armchair conversion math is close). I think it was 12 or $15 US and at a home improvement type store, though I've seen it online as well. I originally got it for both the pre-filter and experimenting with battery electrolyte-holding duty, but not I'm genuinely curious about what else it can do! Fire!!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - it was you who set me thinking about this mate - so - personally I see it as you to blame lol

[@ecospider5]

I have a bunch from the 5 inch filter for my cat litter box. Easy to find at pet stores.

[@C-M-E]

@@ThinkingandTinkering I definitely blame you in the best way for me having gotten the graphene bug. Now I've got 500 pounds of anthracite on my patio that I'm trying to convert before the end of the year! Just about to kick into phase 3 this weekend as a matter of fact as we go for the instant graphitization method via plasma. 😈It's gotten a bit out of hand with the processing and all the new equipment, but I feel it's enriched my life, so we'll call it a draw!

[@jude7321]

@@ecospider5 Hi What do you ask for when you go in the store? What's it called?

[@xanadu1jw]

@@jude7321 a welding blanket

[@michiganebayflipper9497]

His enthusiasm is contagious do what you love to do!

[@lookuptv6755]

⚠️ Warning important! ⚠️ You really should have said that the heat resistant carbon fibre felt is highly toxic if burnt.⚠️ I used to work in a factory where we manufactured this! All the heat resistant variants use a heat resistant binder that is extremely toxic when an open flame is applied! This only applies to the heat resistant variants! I really hope you mention this in a future video! Always good content and great ideas though Robert. ☺️

[@makethis8114]

Thanks 👍

[@leonf.7893]

I was going to ask about this. Thanks for sharing.

[@stephengirling7859]

The carbon fibre felt isn't burning. It's vegetable oil that's burning. The 'wick' is simply supplying the oil to the flame.

[@ArnookieVR]

@@stephengirling7859 Its still in contact with an open flame! I would definatly use caution!

[@kpluck5479]

What toxic reaction is caused as mentioned?

[@KB-ym7fk]

Totally inspired! 👌Thank you! 😁The laughter is disarming.

[@victorgaladimawa6399]

I came, I saw and got inspired! loved it!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

awesome!!! that's so good to hear - thanks for sharing that mate

[@DreadX10]

Veni, Vidi, Inspirati ! Amavi!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

@@DreadX10 valde bonum lol

[@DreadX10]

@@ThinkingandTinkering Having a bit of trouble translating that last word/acronym.....Ridens Magna

[@DreadX10]

@@mitch190 Was referring to "lol"... ;-)

[@samappleby1297]

Just brought a shed load of carbon felt. Thankyou so much! Imagine a storm lantern wick never needing to be replaced!

[@nocturnmidnight]

I think I'm starting to enjoy this series as much as the DIY battery stuff from way back. Thank you sir.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

awesome mate -I am glad to hear that

[@KamiM1111]

Rob, you are a true treasure!!! I’ve been prepping and the one thing I don’t have YET, is emergency heat. I plan on gather the items and have - just in case of an emergency. Thank you so much for this amazing information!!!!

[@thomashverring9484]

That's fricking brilliant! I mean, all your videos are so (surprisingly*) interesting! I just love it! * Surprisingly-because it takes a certain type of viewer, I guess 😄 I just love learning stuff!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Wow, thank you mate and yes it does take a certain kind of person to appreciate - if that's saying something good or bad about the community here I a not sure lol - I joke lol

[@thomashverring9484]

@@ThinkingandTinkering Only time will tell 😂

[@DavidMartin-ym2te]

@@mitch190 4 of us here. You are not alone 😂

[@arjanmuyen3684]

@@ThinkingandTinkering There is a lot of smoke coming out of the metal tube in the end. What happened there?

[@brudug713]

And by the way. You are just a natural teacher. Thank you.

[@TheNorthwestForager]

You nailed exactly what I wanted to accomplish a few weeks back. Thanks for sharing!

[@gvjester]

WOW! This guy is incredible! I hope that he is teaching somewhere! The world needs science that's practically applied! Excellent video!!

[@custos3249]

An idea, fire tornado. Rather than just a straight tubular chimney, split the pipe and offset the two parts a bit laterally parallel with the cut. The inlet air will generate a vortex, twisting the flame and may result in better air/fuel mixing.

[@johnlarkin9594]

Love your suggestion, why not have a go & let us know how you get on please. Southampton

[@jacka55six60]

Are you saying to cut the pipe in half long ways with a small gap like this.....( )....? Please rephrase your idea, I don't understand. Thank you.

[@bevschultzlifestylepropert608]

Definitely inspired by this. I chuckled at the public service announcement in the middle of the video. Now, I have to try and make this this! Thanks so much! :)

[@drakedorosh9332]

The old brass torches with the little pump on on the side, that were filled with gasoline and used by people to braze and solder had a wick which was assisted by air pressure to the tip.

[@chuckredd9131]

I am (past tense..was) a collector of all those plumbing torches. Quite unusual, I have around 70 all different, and have never lit one! Retired now, kids don't want them, so time to sell.

[@drakedorosh9332]

@@chuckredd9131 Too bad the kids don't want them. They are the perfect torch should supply lines go down. They can be cleaned, repaired and kept in use indefinitely. There are probably quite a few people in remote areas using similar ones as a practical first choice. China makes new ones out of steel and they are made very bare bones. However old yours are they are not obsolete. Check eBay they are still in demand. Brass ones being the most beautiful. Jewelers still use a version for working silver which is pressurized with a foot bellows that bubble air through gasoline and down a tube to a torch head.

[@chuckredd9131]

@@drakedorosh9332 Appreciate the info., your time & help!!!

[@skepticalhippo6376]

I can see this helping a lot of European people this winter. And is great knowledge to have in the event of a disruption in heating services (SHTF)

[@DavidPaulNewtonScott]

I am into tent stoves and extremely small stoves for super insulated cabins/houses this has great potential.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

awesome mate - I am glad to hear that - I figure it would make a great portable stove particularly if you used veg oil - that not bursting into flames bit has to be good for a stove used in a tent

[@timtelemark907]

Hi, You may wish to consider all the combustion gas that will be released into your tent.

[@Strakin]

@@timtelemark907 Such stoves work with tent roofs

[@DavidPaulNewtonScott]

@@timtelemark907 No I will always have a flue.

[@1AXMRDR]

Very interesting. You taught me something today. Thank you for sharing this information. I'm over 60yro and still enjoy learning new things.

[@pauljs75]

Fiberglass is something else that also has long been used in that fashion. It'll wick a liquid, but not readily burn either. It also can take heat fairly well, so it is used to wick fuels used in gas heaters or lamps. And there are videos on KZbin showing how to make simple greenhouse heaters putting the wick through a copper coil so that only the vapor emitted through a small pinhole at the bottom of the loop is what is burned, and those are fairly efficient.

[@giwant2003i]

Do you think carbon fiber will work out as a wick to?

[@ucmeytsc7302]

Any link to, how to make simple greenhouse heaters on KZbin? Thanks

[@AndreaDingbatt]

@@ucmeytsc7302 Ummm,,,Here!!

[@dalehastings1062]

I would think fiberglass in the air from burning would be a bad thing. Too many other materials to use.

[@tracyguerrero5849]

In all that you do, be aware of what you use, how you use it, and how it affects you and yours. 💗 (And the availability, plausibility, and effectiveness of alternatives) 😎✌️

[@gw10758]

I see one household in the UK who will not be affected by the NatGas shortage this winter... Great Job!

[@justtinkering6713]

I tried solder wick, it doesn't work on vegetable oil but works great on lamp oil. It will last forever.

[@suzannefronzaglio2427]

Love this tinkerer's enthusiasm and excitement!! He loves figuring these things out!

[@Medic3000]

I like the idea of this, especially with fuel prices on the rise this winter! One concern I have about these terracotta heaters: what concern is there with exhaust? I wouldnt think you'd need to worry as much about venting like a wood fire, as the oil is carbonizing far less, but as noted, w/o chimney it seems sooty. Any good ideas?

[@rosieb.2719]

I place a quarter on the inner pot's hole and a terracotta small dish over the outer pot's hole. Soot stays in the pots.

[@jonijohnsonstringer3098]

Use a taller spacer to set yards dots pot on and place the drain dish over the hole. Pot will collect the soot. The heat will radiate through the the pot. I will be using bricks on both sides and across top like they did with candle. Its the bricks that will absorb and raideat the heat. With the added air flow I'd think it would burn cleaner. I have COPD so it won't take long for me to know if I'm wrong.

[@charlestoweh1613]

I just love people like you. You understand the purpose of knowledge. Knowledge was meant to be shared!!! To unite mankind. I appreciate you man!

[@kellyroup4262]

Funny thing is we've been using that material for light for a very long time in Coleman lanterns. We just have to put on the little bag and light it. It then burns and leaves a delicate little carbon bag that wicks the gas burning in a uniform controlled burn but one touch or heavy breeze and time for a new bag. I never thought of doing this though. Pretty darn safe to use inside.

[@roseskyschmolesky]

So,is this safe to burn indoors ?

[@TheShutterNinja]

Very informative, and quite interesting timing that this popped in my feed considering a hurricane is on its way towards me.

[@Nettsinthewoods]

Brilliant, I’m going to biod one for my greenhouse.

[@Crowley9393]

I wish I'd found this channel YEARS ago... Thank you for sharing your love of learning & doing.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Cheers mate

[@hubrisnaut]

That's cool. I could see how that could be made into standardized wick products. Wicking kerosene heaters are popular as backup heating option where I live. Vegetable oil is used in liquid "candles". There was a decorative product sold here in the US as a liquid candle "kit". I've made them as emergency candles when the power has gone out. Take a small glass jar and put veg oil in it (half full or so). Get a piece of thin plastic (like from a coffee can lid) and cut it into a disk so that it will comfortably fit in the jar leaving plenty of room to the sides of the jar (only want to cover half or less of the surface area of the oil). Punch a hole in the middle of the disk. Then you cut a short strip (one and a half inches or so.) of cotton (perhaps carbon felt) from an old t-shirt or something, roll lengthwise and run it through the hole leaving half an inch or so on one side, which will be the top side. Then you put the disc and wick on the surface of the oil so it floats short wick side up. Key is to gently push it down so the oil covers the plastic disk, and it will. There you go! A liquid "candle... Light the wick once it becomes saturated. As the oil burns down the wick stays floating on top.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice - thank you for posting that mate

[@davidthompson6547]

Your timeless videos are instant classics and will help inspire generations of creators and creations.

[@nursebank]

You are an absolute legend with what you do. So can you do a video on the best way to heat your home for cheap? As a guy who’s overwhelmed by the videos and ideas you throw out. I’m so lost. Maybe you are just proving what can be done but I’m thinking “can I save money on my next heating bill “ with cooking oil and a plant pot haha

[@RowdyElectron]

I do doubt this would be safe to use in an occupied enclosed space. I wonder if this could be scaled to work with a heat exchanger, and feed a baseboard type radiator in the house.

[@eco_logic]

@@RowdyElectron you can lead the soot outside via a flexible pipe and use old engine oil. Love your exchanger radiator idea

[@RowdyElectron]

@@eco_logic excellent idea. I also saw other comments where others seemed to have success stacking more pots (with spaces between) that might have some affect on the output of heat and soot. I’ll try to do these things myself and report back if I can do so in a timely manner.

[@nursebank]

@@RowdyElectronsorry read your comment again. So this gives off stuff that’s harmful? I was thinking about using it in my living room? Guessing it would burn the house down or something crazy? Not as straight as straight forward as this

[@indeedmyson]

@@nursebank carbon monoxide, it is deadly

[@bobcoggin4618]

Love that he’s got his hands dirty. Walks the walk. Nice one 👍🏻👍🏻

[@nathook6692]

Very interesting, thanks! I have one question though - why do people put the flower pot on top of their tea lights (and in this instance forever wick), as far as I can see, all it does is create a heat sink that will make the heat output lag what it would be otherwise. I've tried it before and the flower pot doesn't seem to cause any significant draught that might improve combustion completeness - and in this video you can still clearly see smoke coming out of the top, unlike when the narrow tube was employed.

[@NeilSearle]

I believe it's turning more of the available energy from both convection and visible light into radiated infra-red concentrating the heat in a more usable area rather than being allowed to go directly to the ceiling.

[@vossierebel]

Great... I've not watched recent videos... time to catch up! Just watching this reminds me why I so enjoy your carry-on... your infectious enthusiasm ignites action!!👍😁💥👍

[@crazydrifter13]

I didn't know wicking vegetable oil was hard. I have been lighting Diyas all my life with Ghee and vegetable oil

[@markusgorelli5278]

That isn't the (primary) point. This video was about wicks that would last longer than cotton and that could also handle vegetable oil.

[@splash4891]

great knowledge of science and how you apply to practical applications topped with a sense of humour

[@hexadecimal7300]

Amazing as usual. I wonder if I can use those activated carbon pellets as a wick? Guess there is only one way to find out!

[@charlenelynch6505]

Thank you wonderful good sir! I'm sending this video to my friend in Germany. Love your wit and playful intellect.

[@CondescendingOaf]

May need to make the hole in the planter bigger. There was still smoke coming out the top even with the extended metal chimney. Personally, I made an alcohol candle using a tea light candle holder (about the same size as a shot glass) and the cut off bottom of an aluminum soda can that happens to fit perfectly over the glass. Drilled about a 1/4 inch (4-5 mm) hole in the middle of the can bottom, then used a piece of pink fiber glass insulation that I rolled into a thin strip and fed through the hole to use as the wick. I use 90% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol as the fuel. Depending on the size of the flame it will burn 2-4 hours on average. Also, if you blow the flame out before all of the alcohol burns, the fiberglass will last pretty much forever. However, if you let the alcohol burn out completely, it will "melt" (burn) the fiberglass. If that happens, just pull a bit more through and you're good to go. It takes such a small amount to make the wick. I got a couple chunks of the fiberglass insulation out of a trash dumpster in a new home construction job site, that will probably last me a lifetime. 👍😁

[@CelticDruidess1]

Having more space between the pot bottom and the bottom surface will help to bring up more oxygen to assist in a better burn.

[@CondescendingOaf]

@Kev Fit Give it a shot. I have no idea if it will work being as that wmo is a much denser liquid. But there's only one way to find out. 👍😀

[@CondescendingOaf]

@@CelticDruidess1 Yes and no. You still need an exhaust hole large enough to let the extra air pass through. It will only take in as much air as it can let out. With the possible exception of it being some kind of pressurized system.

[@CelticDruidess1]

@@CondescendingOaf exactly

[@CondescendingOaf]

@@CelticDruidess1 oops, that last reply was meant for Kev

[@puregallusproductions]

Awesome. So simple and so effective. I’ve seen the tea light videos, but this carbon felt and vegetable oil is on another level.

[@justinw1765]

Haha, I actually mentioned/recommended carbon felt to a person commenting on one of your prior videos--like yesterday or the day before. If you combine the principles of using those vortex type stoves (two cans of a different size within each other, with offset holes on bottom and/or top), insulating the stove and using copper to conduct heat, using multiple carbon felt wicks, and using a chimney, you can create a burner that burns various different waxes quite efficiently and cleanly. This is exciting because wax contains a lot of energy within it, and in a very stable, light, easily transported form. The issue with burning a lot of wax at a time and hotly, is that it has a tendency to sputter out of the container, which can be dangerous.

[@spud7823]

Could I use the cooker hood carbon.

[@spud7823]

@@mitch190 I will give rockwool a go, it's worked well with alcohol stoves, thanks.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol awesome mate - love your ideas - cheers

[@fookingsog]

Anyone try braided copper desoldering wick???🤔

[@CherylMotherofSeven]

I love your channel and your personality. Your energy is motivating:) Thank you!

[@TrueSighted]

It reminds me if the old oil lamps that my grandmother use to have when I was a boy, used on ships and the like. Run on whale oil. Even at that time, the wicking material seemed to last quite a long time. The lamps were quite bright, and put off a decent amount of heat as well. Glass around the flame, and a metal base with a whick and screw to advance it in the lamp. Weren't as necessary once we got more advanced lighting, and with whale oil being less available. Especially after LEDs. But they were handy for their time, and definitely worked in a pinch. Imagine what we could make now with similar tech and advanced materials.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

indeed mate and that style of lamp was called an argand lamp - we covered that in video 1678

[@stewartpalmer2456]

I have 2 of these. Absolutely love them still. Shelf life way beyond any battery. Mine have had no maintenance in 25 years of my ownership. They only require shelf space. Needed them 3 weeks ago.

[@LOFIGSD]

Still buy those, Feurhand, great piece of kit, use paraffin, or similar, if this could wick vegetable oil in one it would be good as paraffin burning doesnt smell that nice.

[@ecospider5]

Those lamps with whale oil created the night shift. No lighting before that was bright enough to work by safely.

[@hubrisnaut]

Crazy as this sounds to people, I have a friend who owns a gallon of whale oil. It is too precious to burn, of course. He uses it by the miniscule droplet as a lubricant for a collection of meticulously maintained antique scientific instruments and time pieces he owns. He has a wonderful large brass jeweled fulcrum balance beam from the 1800's, in it's original glass cabinet. The man is a eclectic genius. He was a chemist before he retired but has his hands into many things. There is an award winning orchid cultivar he bred named after him. Plane pilot, historian, world traveler, conservationist, music lover... Make friends with these type of people. They are passionate, interested in our world and bring something special to it for us all. best wishes

[@marney68papua]

I’m a country girl and will be trying this out sure will come in handy thanks mr rob I think this is awesome

[@aaronfranklin324]

I used to do all my cooking and boil kettle s etc with used chip frying oil using home braided flax wicks poking out holes in the bottom of an inverted spam can sitting in a saucepan of oil. It was a bit sooty, and the wicks did slowly burn up. Thanks for the excellent demonstrations of how to improve things.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@radio2rancid]

just awesome, yet another example of free energy! i had an amazing day on this special day

[@jeroennoordbruis1987]

This looks amazing! I'm definitely going to get my hands on these materials and try it out! Question, can you do this in a closed environment? Is this not polutting the air within the house? I see a lot of black smoke coming out of the pipe at the end of the video, is this safe to do at home?

[@sushimaster77]

That is what I was wondering too. I think that steam may be a large component of what we see. I wonder what the long term effect would be burning this inside. Probably similar to a few kerosene lanterns going or a cigarette smoker (be prepared to see yellowing on your curtains and walls haha).

[@carterlee8344]

Thank you Mr. Smith. You are a hero.

[@angelusmendez5084]

Awesome 👏

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@laurencerusson62]

its amazing just this past few days i was wracking my brains to find a wick that would burn veg oil just switched computer on to youtube didnt even search for it and you come up on the first video

[@woodworks2123]

I also wonder if you could just change the Wick in a standard greenhouse heater with carbon felt then run your greenhouse heater on veg oil.

[@constancehstch3672]

I was inspired by reading a "Boy Mechanic Book" published in 1921 that had the same concept plans for a heater like this.

[@totherarf]

You, sir have a knack of taking stuff I already know and twisting it to a new angle! Please do not stop!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - that is awesome to know mate - cheers

[@ericgather2435]

Cant belive all of this is free !!! Quality content everyday without sponsor ? It is truly amazing

[@opethfantoo3140]

Pure genius! and THANK YOU! I've got a feeling that western governments aren't going to be as appreciative of this gift to humanity though.

[@Samua3]

WOW! That is one of the best things I've watched in absolutely ages! So incredibly useful!

[@shannonjensen3855]

I can’t tell you how many times I just laugh with delight when I listen to your posts! It’s either because your laughter is so infectious, or you say something just hilarious, or because of your boyish enthusiasm That just lightens my heart to see! I can’t tell you how many times I have said it out loud, “I just love this guy!!” What a wonderful place the world would be if more of us followed your example!

[@OnNicegram.ThinkmediaTv]

Let converse📤❤❤❤

[@DG-ov8hm]

I live in America and really enjoy his knowledge...skill...and all his helpful information that he provides...love to sit down and have a beer with this man...would totally pick his brain of knowledge...great personality...

[@TheNinja691]

Amazing and I love your energy. Question: it’s effectively a mini wood burner so is it safe to have this burning in a room? It’s just, I notice some smoke coming out the flu. 🤔🙏

[@mnieder5300]

My question as well

[@Surgeeon]

It will give off carbon monoxide. Unless you could seal and vent the flu to outside I wouldn’t suggest it unless you never want to wake up again

[@eclecticaddee3597]

I would think it would be as safe as a hurricane lamp with oil in the bottom and a wide wick and glass top.

[@caman171]

@@eclecticaddee3597 yes but the hurricane lamp doesnt smoke if the wick is the right height. if ur going to do what the video says as a heat source, ur room would fill with smoke eventually

[@ranamcneil74]

Hi great video, I use left over kevler, with 80 mm copper pipe at end, I put oil in the tray with the pot on top. With three small pieces of clay stuck to tray as feet

[@Red9GearHeads]

I freaking love it! I wonder if you could get even further capillary or thermal syphon action if you use a small internal diameter?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I honestly don't know - fancy giving it a go and letting us all know?

[@DFPercush]

The diameter of the microscopic passageways and pores in the material does affect the height you can draw something to - the smaller the better - but it also reduces the flow in each micro-tube. If you need to deliver more fuel in total, you would need to increase the cross sectional area of material used. But those two factors are independent - changing the overall diameter won't affect what happens at the microscopic level, just how much of it. Now if you compress the material, that might be a different story. But as they say - all the theory in the world can be undone by a single experiment. ;)

[@GG-od2tr]

@@DFPercush Hardwood briquettes have a nano capillary containment if annealed.

[@Sunshine-Light]

Superb video …. Encapsulating the spirit of KZbin brilliantly ❤

[@Gravel1331]

During Desert Storm, when stuck out on patrol in the middle of nowhere, we would use a cut up Coca~Cola can with a piece of cardboard for a wick as a "field expedient" camp stove to heat up meals. Just splash a couple ounces of diesel fuel into the can (making sure to saturate the cardboard) and light the cardboard. It was extremely sooty, but it would boil water in a metal canteen cup fairly quickly. A three man team could use this to heat up water and meals before you ever ran out of diesel in the can.

[@robertpitt8418]

Thinking and Forming Survival tactics when needed, well done.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice share mate - thanks for taking the time to post - loved it

[@ceemee7368]

Thank you for this video. We heat our 400 apartment with a flower heater but it has 3 different size flower pot nestled onto each other , then a core solid metal 10”-14” bolt running through center with each pot separated by a couple large flat metal washers and finished and secured with 3-4 flat metal washers up into center smaller pot with nut. The head of bolt and 3-4 flat washers secures top of pots. Don’t screw down too tight avoiding breakage. Place pot upside down over “propane” or other safe fuels with tip end of metal bolt directly and closely to heat source. Can regulate heat by raising and lowering flame, but keep flame in all lower settings. Be safe and warm… always have a smoke/carbon dioxide detector.

[@JoinTheTechnicians]

This video is gonna save so many lives! If you want to be prepared for anything this winter, get some friggin' carbon filter mesh! Better than freezing to death, and the stuff is too cheep not to have on hand.

[@davefarley4318]

There is a thing called BTU's. This will not keep you warm

[@bounzig]

@@davefarley4318 God you are arrogant, you think you're the only one that knows about physics and BTU? What's stopping people from having multiple wicks? You could easily heat your house with enough of these. Dummy.

[@JoinTheTechnicians]

@Daniël Well, central heating NEEDS a blower fan which requires AC electricity to operate. Even if you have fuel, the furnace can not operate if the power goes out. So when there's an extended power outage, having a little heater that burns nearly any fuel to warm up a small space could very well keep you alive.

[@bounzig]

@Daniël I already have central heating, I don't live in a shed. But if you haven't heard it's war in Europe plus a global energy crisis. Enjoy your central heating when your power goes out this winter.

[@bounzig]

@Daniël Are you on drugs? What does the Netherlands have to do with this? And there absolutely is a global energy crisis, do you live under a rock? The crisis began last winter, I payed close to 2000eruro per month for heating. This winter will be the same, all we can hope for is that there will be no power outage. I'm in Sweden, here we have insane high quality infra structure and we have all the money in the world, but we are not safe and nor are you. The fact that you laugh about this says a lot about your personality.

[@GeomancerHT]

This will work amazingly to heat a greenhouse during off season, while adding a nice amount of CO2 to the atmosphere inside, as long as it's sealed enough, it will do wonders with a little bit of light supplement during evening hours or early in the morning (or both), I really hope to try it soon! Thanks for sharing!

[@jonijohnsonstringer3098]

If you used the Crisco candle in mason jars and put pot on top. You could both heat and light your green house.

[@bw10097428]

I'd love to see you make one that is big enough to heat a room. Possibly three smaller ones with a larger pot to cover them. I'd be curious what it would take to do that with minimal upkeep in changing fuel.

[@Interdiffusion]

I would think THAT one would heat a room. The pot and chimney would kick out savage heat, but I would want to vent the exhaust gasses outside.

[@eco_logic]

especially with a second pot on top over the existing pot to create a double wall and subsequently venturi turbine effect

[@bronagh1579]

Make sure to get a carbon monoxide alarm!

[@observantgeezer3292]

Why couldn't my science teacher at school have been this engaging.

[@myrthryn]

Was impressed by this, and casting about for materials onhand, I did a test using some foil from a pie pan and some charcloth made from denim. When I put a drop of olive oil on it, was immediately wicked up, and so I rolled it, wrapped it and put it in a puddle. Zero smoke until it went out, whereupon the smell was a bit much. Since old jeans are much larger than any use cases, I figure I could roll my strips into copper tubing and then char it. Next to experiment with various diameters and lengths.

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

Good point, if the carbon mesh is what I'm thinking and the carbon is doing the wicking there's no reason one can't make a suitable substitute. Maybe even using metal window screen as a substitute for the foil in your first experiment.

[@toml.8210]

I easily found carbon felt sheets at the local home improvement store. It come in sheets about A4 size for US $15

[@metralla]

That's pretty cool robert, I used the pot and the tea lights a few years ago out of necessity, and they do work pretty well. I wonder which fuels you recommend for this; Does the veg. oil stops smelling and creating soot when using a chimney?

[@Chimel31]

You can clearly see the soot over the chimney, so you probably need to improve the draft to create a complete combustion, together with a double wall combustion chamber to raise the heat even further. Basically, a rocket stove, but using oil instead of wood. Much better than a rocket stove, actually, because instead of constantly feeding wood, it's easy to get a constant flow of oil from a big drum of recycled cooking oil. Another issue with such open fires is the risk of emitting deadly carbon monoxide, or even plain carbon dioxide. The most advanced gas heaters get an external air supply and exhaust, it's the hot ceramic material that radiates the infrared heat, and the room air that enters the base of the heater and come out warm on top, without ever getting in direct contact with the flame. I'll try it out. This may not replace my wood stove, but I reckon it could be great to heat the glass house in winter and spring for my citrus and tomato seedlings...

[@metralla]

@@Chimel31 It's a great idea using oil as long it doesn't smell. Much easier to automate oil than wood feeding for a mass heater or rocket stove :) I saw some time ago a video here in YT of some guys doing a heating system for a glasshouse by burying a few pipes in the ground and sticking the ends on the surface. At a certain depth the ground has a constant temp so is good for winter and summer.

[@annebeignatborde1832]

@@metralla yes the North Americans seem to be building a fair number of geothermal greenhouses. There's one video where a man is growing oranges in Alaska. the pipes need to be below the frost line.

[@Chimel31]

@Metralla There iis no smell at all if the combustion chamber is connected only to an outside air intake and exhaust, with a secondary air circuit that gets heated inside the chimney's double wall, with an intake from the bottom of the room (supplemented by a small amount of outside clean air), and several exhausts of clean warm air back into the room. Geothermal is great too, and since my house needs complete restoration, I am going to lay loops of PEX tubing with oxygen barrier deep below a layer of insulating expanded glass granulated, above which I'll integrate more PEX tubing to form a low temp heating floor, with complementary heating between the two loops (not a direct feed). I also want a small warm cabinet to leaven bread, croissants or to ferment yogurt and cottage cheese, so I am looking at all these low tech ideas, but I am not there yet...

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

there are improvements to make mate - what I am really showing is the wick - the stove bit is just to give an example in use

[@anthroposcenester1116]

I survived in an emergency power outage by burning veg oil utilizing little wicks twisted from bamboo toilet tissue. Cooked bulgar, made coffee, maintained sanity. It just took hours. The other day I opened the cupboard and a roll of this jumped out at me, a leftover from a deceased air cleaner. It is much too small for my current unit and I wondered if I could find a use for this versatile material... Seeing this segment gave me a start. If there is another energy issue I will surely thank you for this little inspiration. Lives have been saved by a mere candle. Thanks for sharing!

[@RichardCranium321]

I've seen where they make "carbon tiles" out of regular white bread & charcoal process, is it possible to use strips of bread charcoal to make a carbon felt wick? I just like the idea of using bread to burn vegetable oil as a small "green" heat source

[@ecospider5]

That would be great if it worked. Let us know if you ever try it.

[@DFPercush]

As long as you form it into the shape you want before you carbonize it... maybe. A tortilla might work too.

[@christophersmith8014]

Cotton balls might be better to gain capillary action by the fiber structure (even just raw picked cotton). Bread is going to produce a series of sealed pockets. I imagine you could also just take a piece of cotton cloth and carbonize it to make the felt you need. Char cloth is common for fire starting kits.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

it's not the carbon so much as the capillary structure mate - carbon burns at 400 plus degree centigrade cotton around 210 - so the higher burn temp makes it last longer but you still need to draw the oil up and any structure that can do that will work just fine

[@RichardCranium321]

@@ThinkingandTinkering doesn't traditional bread have wicking properties? When I get oil and vinegar on my deli subs, they sit on top of the veggies at first - but if I leave it set for 10-20 minutes (enough time to carry in groceries) then the bread starts to get soft and moist on the edges furthest from the O&V. I think the traditional cell structure of bread makes it possible, but it was just a thought I had. Thank you for replying, I've only recently found your channel but I love what you do. I wish I had a science teacher like you when I was growing up.

[@terrijuanette486]

Gotta love the "horrible and gruesome death" warning. Thank you!

[@Tashio240]

Thank you for this! Is there a known issue with regards to Carbon Monoxide?

[@matthewscholle4149]

That was my exact question... Glad I didn't ask it since you already had

[@ek1046]

You are helping a lot of people with this video and I greatly greatly appreciate it.