Making an ammo can heater/stove

I've been thinking of making an ammo can heater/stove lately. I have reservations on whether or not it is worth doing since the metal on ammo cans is thin. Has anybody made one and how long did it last? How often was it used?

Thanks.

We talked about a it in a thread a while back.....
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ght=ammo+stove

I was gonna build one, then went looking for a 50 cal or 20mm can, and found the prices rising like crazy.

Had a few around, but was putting together deployable cache cans, so I put it on hold.
Remember they have rubber gaskets......and let us know how it works.

Uh oh. Nater's been thinking again. No good can come of this.......

Thanks Hunter. I have found a few on the web, but nothing too detailed on the forum. I have been wanting to build one and since there isn't too much detail on them here, I figured I'd document the build for WSF. Like I was saying, my biggest fear is how thin the metal is and that in short time it will burn through. The web has lots of them, but no details on how long they last as it seems there is no info beyond a couple of uses.

I can get .50 cal cans that are brand new, never issued to the military, for less than $14. I really won't feel bad about butchering one that is in decent shape, but been around the block a time or two. I do know about the rubber gaskets. I plan on removing those and placing a high temp substitute (fiberglass?) in it's place.

Rick, keep watching the news. Could be a widespread fire coming at ya from the East!

Pffft. They call it the sun. See? I told you.

Natertot, though maybe you had seen that thread, but just trying to help out.

Let us know what you come up with, ....Like I said I was goung to build on as well.....but in the end chose to use my cans for other purposes.

And to think, 2 years ago,....I could get the 30 cal for $3 bucks, 50 cal $5 bucks, and 20mm for $7...kinda cool as the 50 fits perfect inside the 20 mm box....
I think those days are over.....the guy I was getting mine from had pretty much gone thru his stock...had to buy a semi trailer full at a time.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Okay, I got the basic design figured out...... I believe.

The one thing that's holding me up is if i should line the inside with thin sheet metal or not to prevent the fire from burning through. The professional ones that can be purchased do a lining. A vast majority of the homemade ones that i find don't line them and i can't find any info on their longevity. Most of the temps reported is about 600 degrees, but a few claim about 800 degrees. What's your opinions on a lining?

My coffee can stove has not burned through yet. The ammo can should be sturdier than that. The good thing is - ammo cans are probably more readily available than coffee cans.

You're right, Crashdive123. Not only coffee cans, but paint cans are mostly made of plastic or paperish stuff nowadays. I don't think they'd have a very long life as a stove...

You can purchase empty quart and gallon sized metal paint cans at Lowes and Home Depot. I've used the quart cans to make stoves out of. They do have a can liner that has to be burned out however.

Okay, over the fall and winter I played around a bit. I will go through the build and then give an opinion on it.


First, I removed the handle, rubber gasket, and the inside metal on the lid. A hammer and chisel made this task pretty simple.
Attachment 9870
Attachment 9871
Attachment 9872

Next, I cut a square in one end and placed angle iron inside near the bottom and top.

Attachment 9877
Attachment 9878
Attachment 9879
Attachment 9880

Ya big tease.

Brute force. I like it so far.

Are the pics too large? Try 600 X 400 or something similar. Too large and you'll get an error. Or try photobucket.

See? Nater can handle the bigger hammer concept. It's the finesse items he has trouble with. (walks away shaking head).

When I upload the pics, it reads attachment instead of showing the pic. It doesn't seem to be a size issue as I have had to do that before. I'll try again tonight.

The pics you uploaded have an .htm or hypertext extension.

.....Can on the bench.....hammer in one hand,raised, chisel in the other ...waiting for the next pic........

Thanks. I now have this picture in my head of you sitting on your bench, tools in hand, staring at the computer screen. Oh, you meant can like....never mind.

I thought a can was like a porcelain throne. LOL

2000 years from now, when the future archeologists, humans quit p00ping 1500 years ago, dig up our dwellings....about the only thing that will survive will be the porcelain altar....and conclude that the mighty god was worshiped in every dwelling, as the are multi altars everywhere. .........

.....just to be correct....ammo can.

Okay, I think I got the picture issue figured out. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah!

Next, I fabricated a "grill" out of a spare home vent. Note: I said a SPARE. Do not scrap your house for projects, lest your mate check mate ya!

Attachment 9881

I then used an exhaust coupler and mounted it to the lid. I used exhaust pieces make a chimney and I used flat black high heat engine paint to paint the stove/heater.

Attachment 9882
Attachment 9883
Attachment 9884

Next, I made a door out of some spare sheet metal. I used smaller hinges and a "slide" latch to secure it.

Attachment 9885
Attachment 9886

Then I did a test burn. It also helped burn of the old paint and junk on the exhaust pieces.

Attachment 9887

I disassembled everything after the "burn off" and painted everything with the high heat painted mentioned earlier. I then reassembled everything.... with help, of course!

Attachment 9888
Attachment 9889

And detail pics after reassembly so you can kinda see how it was put together.

Attachment 9890
Attachment 9891
Attachment 9892

To Be Continued.........

Nice job, Looking good!!!

Great job! Thanks for the time and effort to take the pictures and detail the steps!

1. I have that same fridge in my garage. You got me beat on the pink scooter though.
2. Never, ever test a new project between your vehicles. No good can come of that.
3. Don't worry about checking with your mate for house parts. It's easier to get forgiveness than permission. Except if #2 goes awry. Then you're on your on.
4. It pains me to say this but very nice job on the stove and the tutorial. (gulp) I gave you some rep.

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