DIY Survival Heater/Stove! New/Improved!! (it's a Heater and a Stove!) non-electric! alcohol powered

DIY Survival Heater/Stove! Two "Metal Can" Air Heater and Stove Combos! 2 new designs, how to make them (with full instructions on using them) included in the video. this is an upgrade or improvement to the standard "toilet paper in a metal can" air heater. these upgraded versions work as air heaters and stove burners and are insulated, have greater stability and have thermal mass. i built 2 models with 2 wick sizes. the cooking and heating power of each is shown in the video. the flames on these are powerful so cast iron pots and pans work the best for cooking. regular metal pans are the best (the fastest) for boiling water. as for heating; one unit can heat a big area. i had two going and the whole front half of my house heated up (40F [4.44C) outside at the time). i used both 70% and 91% isopropyl alcohol as fuel. both work well. to convert the unit into a stove just coil up a small piece of 1/2" hardware cloth. (4 squares high) and set it on the gravel (or dirt) surrounding the inner can. works great! great for any off-grid situation (emergency, power outage, camping) or just for general everyday use. be prepared. make it "before the storm". remember to aways use caution around open flame. one easy way to put it out is to cover it with a metal spatula or the bottom of a metal pan. tip: the "wick" lasts a long time (but eventually needs to be replaced). when it's time - you can get an extra use (double-use) out of it by just flipping it over, and reinserting. note that dirt can be used in place of the gravel if gravel is not available. coffee can model is made with a #10 (coffee can) style can and a 28 to 30 oz. steel food can (the inner can). wick on that one is a double roll. paint can model is made with a new empty (gallon size) metal paint can and a progresso soup can (inner can). wick on it is a regular size roll. if you like the vid. please rate comment sub and share.
UPDATE (1/11/2022): i just posted a video on how to add "flame size" control to these units! super easy to do! takes about 2 minutes. allows you to reduce the flame down to the size of a regular candle (or anywhere in between). here's the link to the video on how to do it • The BIG CANDLE! Large ...

[@mannyfragoza9652]

sweet survival heater! for just about a month ive heating my living room with a propane Blackstone griddle (17 in) i also added a mini fan to blow the hot air off the cast Iron plate works perfect.

[@desertsun02]

hi and thanks 👍🙂

[@USSHammerology]

Keep a couple of those in your trunk in case you get stuck on I-95 in a winter storm!

[@desertsun02]

indeed. be prepared

[@cerin59]

Another super idea and build! I could have used something like this during last year's winter storm, and now I'll be able to if/when I need to. Thanks!!

[@desertsun02]

thanks and you're welcome 🙂🔥🔥

[@finallythere100]

Love the video! My Crisco candles melt when I use them with a post as a heater. What is the best type of pic you would recommend? Thinking of making floating win with maybe a circle of foil with wick laced though a hole..??

[@nickstaats3585]

Just a thought, perhaps add water to the gravel and maybe as the can gets hot the water will evaporate and add some humidity to the air. 👍 Nice video.

[@Daz555Daz]

Burning alcohol produces CO2 and H2O anyway, so no need for any additional moisture.

[@2kruimels]

Naughty! Those delicioUs eggs always make me feel hungry!!! Thanks for the iseful info Mr Inventor

[@joantomlin7281]

Love your idea for the support under the frying pan! I actually have some scrap from a garden project. (I'm allergic to buying stuff)

[@melissahoffman4687]

Awesome! Carbon felt would also work as a great wick for your fuel to soak in.

[@jafinch78]

Right on, totally awesome! Thanks for sharing this design... never seen before and following along with the 70% alcohol theme that I didn't even realize can be used for fuel. Wishing I can get my waveguide horn antenna not wide screen circle focal point Fresnel lens focused in a oven design going forward more. I got the sewing machine sewing machine rescue/restore and hacks happening.

[@kristiyoung9735]

Thank you so much for sharing! I love your videos. Your heating solutions are a lifesaver, when the utility lines are down.

[@houndjog]

I'm on this project! Blessings from Tennessee!

[@desertsun02]

good deal. it's good to be prepared.

[@XC797]

Always like seeing your videos . It's great to see that you encorporate this into your everyday setup.

[@myoutdoorlife3833]

That is very cool! How long will that burn for?

[@omegahunter9]

I just started salivating as soon as I saw the eggs cooking with that black pepper. I think I need to go make some food. I wonder if I could use a ceramic or clay as a cooking surface with this stove.

[@purebloodirishman9389]

Me too

[@jillhull7358]

You make a person hungry for fried eggs

[@Good4All4Good]

So Easy. So Economical. So Effective.

[@desertsun02]

thank you!

[@Carsonb55]

In survivor mode a roll of toilet paper is a valuable commodity. I'd use something else.

[@watermelonlalala]

That's what I was thinking. I think you MIGHT be able to use cardboard from boxes rolled in a coil or old cotton t-shirts.

[@babydii3487]

Man I love you dude! Thank for sharing ♥️♥️♥️💯

[@MichaelR58]

Good video , thanks for sharing ,God bless !

[@desertsun02]

Thanks, you too!

[@queenelcene638]

ThankYou ❤ Sincerely. Excellent tutorial 👌 👍 👏 😀

[@desertsun02]

You're welcome 😊

[@normplais]

Try making inside can lids with different size holes and choose which size flame you want.

[@dickwhiskey8041]

Good video. I can't wait to try it.

[@jillhull7358]

THANKS for the notice

[@kenk100]

Excellent video

[@desertsun02]

thanks 👍

[@Skashoon]

Great for when the electricity goes out. I suppose the type of TP used doesn’t matter much, so I’ll get the cheapest I can find. I wonder if the 50% isopropyl works.

[@desertsun02]

hi there. most regular TP will work (i wouldn't use the scented kind though). i used double roll (single ply) and regular size rolls. regular size rolls are probably more versatile. *meaning those will fit into a larger variety of can sizes (soup cans etc.). the double roll will only fit into a 28 to 30 oz. can. double roll single ply makes a nice tight wick though so it may last longer than a regular roll. tip: don't pack the wick in too tight or it's hard to get out when you want to change it. 50% isopropyl won't work very well (if at all). needs to be a little higher. 70% is the minimum i ever use.

[@scottnyc6572]

Nice improvements!! What are the cans listed capacities? Looks like you used a one gallon paint can for outer but wasn’t sure what you used on the inner.Also does the toilet paper burn down fast or slow?Thanks.

[@desertsun02]

hi there and thanks! the inner can on the paint can model is an 18 or 19 oz. progresso soup can. the TP doesn't burn much at all if you keep enough alcohol in it. it stays white a very long time. it will singe some if it gets too dry. if it gets super dry it can blacken. as an experiment i let the wick on the coffee can model (double roll single ply) get essentially dry and the top turned brown. it still looks totally solid though and it still seems to work the same. similar to a regular wick on a candle i guess (the top of a candle wick gets black on the top almost immediately and they work fine). btw - the coffee can model inner can is a 28 oz to 30 oz can. cheapest way to get one of those cans is to buy tomato sauce, tomato puree or diced tomatoes from walmart. they sell those in 28-29 oz. cans for less than one dollar.

[@heidisparks4688]

@@desertsun02 couldn't you also just use the piece you put the pan on for a gas stove top?

[@noconsentgiven]

Can you set another can on top as a barrier for those open flames?

[@EricBlazierTheHellRazier]

Yes, a larger can infact has a few advantages when sat over the now smaller can being used.

[@aparecidomiranda1191]

Ótima diga Parabéns muito bom isso 👍

[@desertsun02]

hi there and thanks ✔

[@karenishness1]

Wow wow wow.

[@pnyarrow]

Great idea. Thank you for sharing. Stay safe. ATB. Nigel.

[@desertsun02]

thanks, and thanks for watching! 😎

[@Ak_lyfe]

Did I miss the part about a wick? I didn't see a wick, or what it's made of, how big, etc

[@paradisenauts]

Another great design! How long does a single fuelling lasts?

[@desertsun02]

Not sure yet - it really depends on how much alcohol you use. it might go for several hours if you add a lot

[@lizadivine3785]

@@desertsun02 how can I be sure I've saturated it enough?

[@desertsun02]

@liza divine i just give them a good soak. when the tissue starts to dry out it starts turning brown.

[@lizadivine3785]

@@desertsun02 thanks!

[@fizzlebug]

Awesome! Probably a lot safer than a kerosene heater, I will make one immediately! Approximately how much alcohol do you use?

[@desertsun02]

sounds good. depends on how you want to use it. for just cooking a sandwich or eggs i just use a little (a few times around to coat the top area. if you are boiling water maybe 3 times that much. for extended heating i use a bit more.

[@miggysss1]

I got my alcahol delivered today, i have my 1st can on the go rite now, roll on the power outages in the uk

[@chelseastar2018]

Amazing!

[@desertsun02]

Thanks!

[@maderightamerica3216]

Looks like it works great. Another heater/stove would be a biodigester where the fuel is made by vegetable scraps and the like. Therefore, you would have a neverending fuel supply from nature. Would you mind building a biodigester? You keep things simple and that's what a lot of us like about your channel. Thanks desertsun02

[@desertsun02]

hi. i'll definitely look into it 👍

[@edwingolddelirium]

Hi you can put some stainless steel mesh around the flame 1 mtr high the flame will rise that high.

[@TheOrganizedPineapple]

Wow so easy I could even do it! Does it smell?

[@desertsun02]

hi. i've never noticed any smell

[@pidginprepper8087]

Maybe a defuser could even out the heat for thinner pans?

[@danthompson4879]

Brother ds02, Great movie!! Question, if you put a lid on the can, will it preserve the remaining alcohol? I realize it doesn't much matter, but inquiring minds want to know.

[@nude_cat_ellie7417]

I have one that I did put the lid back on a couple of months ago and when I checked it’s still full of alcohol.

[@waterotterrock6778]

Oh yes, many people keep one or two in their vehicles for emergency. You definitely need a lid 👍

[@jjsc3334]

Is alcohol cheaper than gas?

[@Believe30]

How much alcohol do you use and how long does it burn? Can it be re-lit?

[@desertsun02]

hi there. how much alcohol you use varies a lot. for cooking a sandwich or eggs i just go around a few times with the alcohol. for boiling a pot of water i'd probably use 3 times as much and for extended air heating even more. the unit can be used over and over again. eventually the wick will wear out. but all you have to do is remove it and replace with a new roll

[@robertberry3394]

Excellent. Great content. Have you done anything with ceramic felt? Tks

[@niteknight265]

Magical mistake is that you are heating up a cast iron pan to cook 2 eggs, conserve fuel by using foil or aluminum sheet.

[@ManaBDew]

If non scented fresh cat litter is all you have for the inner insulator . It get hot too touch 🍧🫙🔥✨🫲🥵👍 Use a mittens or, gloves 🧤 I created a lid an micro hinge top lid from a orange 🍊 juice can box top or, bottom lids save they work great Just be safe in all ways 🧯 good job. Some soot 💨 can blacken the heater tape a cotton ball too a wood spoon it works great before you start again. Godspeed sincerely team earth 🌎 🎉

[@nude_cat_ellie7417]

Where to get the little wire cages though?

[@desertsun02]

hi. that is sold at stores like home depot and lowes. it's hardware cloth. it's made of metal but they call it "cloth".

[@frankiem749]

Curious if this would work with alternative fuel source tequila, vodka, kerosene, lighter fluid? And what would the corresponding temperature would be depending on source?

[@jude7321]

Denatured alcohol

[@Nash4Nashville]

How long does it last before the paper burst out or comes apart?

[@AnonymousAnonymous-yj2eq]

Cool. Can ethanol be used?

[@TallPaul7771]

Yes

[@waterotterrock6778]

@@TallPaul7771 I am in my rv and tried this with 70%. What am i doing wrong, it started to make my dog and I sick? I am using cotton balls, 70% alcohol. Any advise would be appreciated.

[@waterotterrock6778]

Tea lights and clay pot work great but I have accumulated alcohol and cotton balls 🤗

[@desertsun02]

@Michele sometimes cotton balls contain other things besides cotton. i'd use 100% cotton cotton balls. that might be it. if the space is very small you might need a little ventilation

[@waterotterrock6778]

@@desertsun02 Thank you, going to switch to TP.

[@bigrivervalleypoacher5459]

Great videos/tip your giving us all. Thanks. I will make some here, living in Norway and the price for electric has gone mad now. Just one question, how much alcohol do you add? Cheers

[@desertsun02]

hi and thanks. you can vary the amount of alcohol that you use. it doesn't have to be an exact amount 🙂🔥

[@graciekitty6213]

remember the Texas.....the Mr. Freeze has a contender now

[@desertsun02]

i've had the texas situation in mind as i was making a few of my latest videos (stoves and heaters). i encourage people to buy the stuff early (before a storm) put the units together and try them a few times to get used to using them. then they are totally ready if they need them. plus they're just fun to use in general (i'll be using mine plenty even when the power grid is fully operational and the weather is mild)

[@reneek7721]

Great video, how much alcohol do you put in them? You had me rolling when you said it was a smooth quiet burn. What's it supposed to do get up and sing and dance? Lol.

[@desertsun02]

hi there. you can vary the amount of alcohol you use. it doesn't have to be a set amount. the main thing is that the wick is saturated.

[@reneek7721]

@@desertsun02: Thank you very much and have a blessed day.

[@chriskopec1858]

👍❤

[@shane40382]

How long does this burn for? How often do you have to change it out?

[@lizadivine3785]

How long do they burn? Can you keep adding alcohol and reuse them over and over? Why do you put stone around them? Thanks!

[@desertsun02]

hi there. how long they burn at a time depends on how much alcohol you put in. i didn't time them or measure the amount of alcohol i used but i'd say you might get up to several hours at a time. if you're just cooking a sandwich or eggs then you just need a little bit of alcohol. if you're boiling a large pot of water you'll need more. the heater/stoves can be used over and over again. eventually the wick will need to be replaced, but that is easy to do. the gravel (stone) is for insulation, stability and thermal mass. 🙂🔥

[@PTJeff9x]

Could you place a flat piece of metal, maybe the lids on top of the toilet paper that has, say several 1/2" holes to regulate the flame so you could use the thinner skillets?

[@nude_cat_ellie7417]

@@PTJeff9x I do that with aluminum foil

[@waterotterrock6778]

I use dirt instead of stone 🤗

[@lizadivine3785]

@@desertsun02 thanks great vid! Could I use denatured alcohol?

[@briansherrillruralliving9708]

OK I'm intrigued. How long does it burn?

[@desertsun02]

hi. depends on how much alcohol you add, but if you use a lot you might get several hours.

[@u.s.militia7682]

About how much total burn time do you get from a bottle of alcohol?

[@yepachternaam565]

What is best? Alcohol 70 91 or bio ethanol?

[@Mossad901]

How many hours can you get from a 16 oz bottle

[@massa-blasta]

how about a hand sanitizer fueled stove that vents away the perfume smell while cooking?

[@desertsun02]

hi. i'll do some research on using hand sanitizer. might be a future video 👍

[@vekngong6306]

how long would it burn ?

[@daviddaigrepont9485]

How long will they last?

[@kpkndusa]

How about using denatured alcohol?

[@desertsun02]

hi there. i've always found that it emits a strong odor

[@gravitystorm61158]

Have you tried de-natured alcohol?

[@desertsun02]

hi. i've found that denatured alcohol creates an odor when i've used it in other projects so i don't use it. it may just be the brand i use though.

[@mrjohnson8747]

How do you prevent any toxic fumes

[@desertsun02]

hi. the best way is to choose a clean burning fuel. you can also vent the room if needed

[@jaywuestewald883]

If you used crisco a tub would burn 1000 hours! A month or so of heat for a 6 dollar can of crisco yall.

[@leodanryan966]

I learned this in the cub scouts over 50 years ago. You know, when girls weren't allowed.

[@Hackbridge1963]

Can you use Methylated spirits?

[@YaakovBuchner]

You can, but it's more likely to shoot the paper roll out like a rocket when you light it. The Isopropyl alcohol you can blow out, whereas Methane will not.

[@watermelonlalala]

@@YaakovBuchner Ahahahaha. My god.

[@wendypoginy4972]

How long do they burn for

[@desertsun02]

hi there. it really depends on how much alcohol you use...

[@robertwylie5567]

How long will these burn?

[@desertsun02]

hi. i never put a full amount of alcohol in one so i couldn't say the maximum. it could be several hours though.

[@robertwylie5567]

@@desertsun02 Maybe an idea for a demo video! Time one of your emergency alcohol and toilet paper heaters… say a quart size. We lost power where i live in Texas last year for 8 hours one time and 6 hours another time. Would be nice to know if they could provide emergency heat for 8 hours

[@desertsun02]

if it runs out of alcohol and the flame goes out, you can always add more alcohol. the unit will last months (even years)

[@stoneyrunva]

Uh oh. Another reason to horde tp.

[@desertsun02]

👍🔥🔥

[@karenishness1]

Not what I would eat tho.