I bought one those stainless steel four sided cheese graters for $2.00. I cut the top handle off and used it as a wood stove. I trimmed down a mini aluminum loaf pan to catch the ashes. It works great. I also cut a small hole in one of the sides to feed the fire with additional sticks.
As I was watching this video I could not help but think of the colander's potential use as a winter stove. You could place a chain on each handle with the other end of the chains coming together perhaps 3 feet away. You could now hang this from a tree branch well above any deep snow level and do your cooking at a convenient height. Of course with your particular model one would want to configure the hang point in such a way as to keep it hanging level. Also might have to be concerned with it tipping when using something too heavy with only two hanging points. Or you could fashion three hanging points on the colander to reduce tipping. I know a fella that likes to do the same thing with a traditional metal gold pan.
Make sure whatever branches or tree trunks you use are sturdy enough to not move very much, since wind could cause the whole mass to sway, which could run a risk of oversetting any pot...but if you ran 4 lines, one each from the two handle corners, that could impart enough stability, maybe...? or an S-hook or whatever through one of the holes in the collander to give you 3 point suspension? Please experiment carefully & safely, Lonnie; Connie and the rest of us would never forgive you if anything happened, lol.
It's good that you're showing how Thrift Stores can be great for useful budget DIY outdoor activity items.. Many Thrift Stores are a GOLDMINE but far to many people overlook them.
That’s so right. I use a lot of stuff from dollar stores now- they have so many products now. Remember back in the day when they didn’t have much at all? And Mark is great to follow- many good ideas, and smart ways to “MacGuyver” things to what you’d need. Love this guy lol. I’ve been wanting to try a portable fire pit and I’m gonna use this idea in the vid. Thank you Mark!
@@MarkYoungBushcraft I even picked up a Russian issued gas mask kit at a local thrift store 2 years ago. It sits in storage, as one of those hoping to never need to be used collectable items.
WOW! Once the fire is established it is almost smoke-free. I like it. The mat is a great idea. You could also use a piece of carbon fiber or fiberglass welding mat. The colander has a large base that has great stability. The grate is very generous for pots and grilling food. And all of this comes at a price of under $10. Man, that's a win, win, win. Great job, Mark! To make it more stable, put a steel pin through the bottom, through the mat, and into the ground. Just nail it to the ground, LOL.
It is as if it was made for use as a wood stove. I am finding the BBQ mat is not working as well as stopping heat transfer with this stove as it does with others. Carbon felt or fiberglass welding blanket would be much better. Thanks for commenting
One stove-base is a cookie tin - add foil to the interior of the bottom and place your stove inside this as a base. I saw it work on another channel - no burned ground or table tops!
Mark, I work with a Boys outdoor adventure program and m always trying to show my students that they don't need the lastest and greatest new products. Improvise is my moto, use what you have. As Mors Cochnski would say, "The more you know the less you need. I would add, the more you improvise the less you need to carry.
Been using a couple of Ikea colanders as camping stoves for years - Love them ! Let the wood burn down to coals, and this is a setup that can't be beat...at any price. Appreciate all you do, Mark - keep the videos coming !
I use a colander for a mini fire pit, when I just want a little comfort fire or to roast a sausage over. I do have a grill for it but haven't used it in that way yet. Good to see you back to the DIY stoves, enjoy seeing what you come up with and it is so useful to those who can't afford to spend a lot. Thanks for sharing. :)
@@MarkYoungBushcraft I bet it is hard, sometimes you have to see something and then get the idea for a stove. Sorry, I have no ideas, got most of my mine from you! lol
Hi Mark. I made the Cadillac of hobo stoves using a Weber coal carrier,got on sale at Canadian Tire for $12. Made 2 heavy duty crisscross pot stand,removed the inside grate and replaced it with 1/8 grate screen...used 4 stainless steel screws and nuts to support the inside screen. Cut out a 3"×4" hole to feed your wood. It has plenty of ventilation and a handle to move it anywhere. You can use those cheap tent pegs for alcohol stoves. I made a 9"×9" galvanize plate for stove to sit on. (Optional) Stove works like a champ. The whole project was done with a Dremel and other materials kicking around the house. Thanks for the share 👍
Wow. Outstanding modifications. I have a couple of videos using a cheap charcoal chimney and plan on buying a Webber to up my game. Thanks for commenting
I cooked steak tonight on a stove I made out of a flower pot. I put a trivet in the base for airflow. I used a grill pan that has holes instead of a grill rack. Worked great. Next time I'm going to set it up for my grandkids to make s'mores. Not for the woods, but it's great in my front yard!
Right on. Flower pots make better stoves than people usually realize. There are ancient Chinese charcoal stoves that resemble modern flower pots. Thanks for commenting
Thanks for your comment. It reminded me that I have a broiler pan from my toaster oven which I will try as a grill top/pot stand for my colander stove. :)
Colander stove seems genius to me, so simple but effective. That was quite the fire you started in that little colander! Good point about using larger pots and airflow, that wouldn’t be fun, cooking in the bush and half way to a boil, the fire goes out. Very useful video Mark, hope you had a nice weekend.
I remember well your IKEA cutlery tin hobo stoves and it’s great that you have gone back to looking at making use of what people may have in the house, pick up easily and cheaply from the local budget stores etc. I have an IKEA colander that I use as a stove/fire pit and it works great.
The first video that got me following you was one of your first diy hobo stove videos. I have been making and experimenting with your ideas since. I always enjoyed the satisfaction of making a piece of kit and tweeking it to get the proper end result. Thanks so much for another great idea my friend. Cheers Mark!
Another great idea Mark. For the longest time I was using a rather large spaghetti pot strainer that I found on the trash as a portable fire pit. It finally wore out a few years ago I haven't found one to replace it. Although they're not all that expensive brand new
Right on. I have a video using the big pot strainer and will be making an updated version soon. Cheap and easy. The best kind of DIY project. Thanks for commenting
That was an excellent video, Mark. Thank-you. Love the clever use of inexpensive items. Don't know about using an enamel coated one though. Might pong a bit. Using metal skewers as pot stands is a great idea. So much fire for a small unit.
first time viewing this site (thanks algorithm) and as a former scout & forester am impressed with the info delivery and overall calm vibe he's presenting ... and a great application for a stove .. well done ..
Great video for we who like DIY which is essentially another form of bushcraft/hobo. While it's nice to see the advancements in the shiny new, it is also gratifying to get down to the repurposed DIY. My favorite has been my vegetable steamer with various sized tin cans that I have drilled holes in like the little bug stoves. Then I just make cross pieces to fit. I guess you could say where new ideas meet old ones.
Nice idea of the colander. For the other stove instead of using fiberglass that you have to buy I simply use an old towel that I cut and wrapped around the inside can. Works great, Great video thank you
Such a great video! Im going on a camping trip and was wonding about usei g a colander as a barbecue and you answered all my questions! It seems a lot better than those disposable BBQs
I have one like your Super Size Hobo Stove. Originally to use to have a small fire on a sand beach and not leave a mess, but have used it to cook on many times. Also makes a fantastic charcoal grill. Portable , light weight and CHEEP . Great Idea anyone can afford. Highly recommended.
The DIY option is great for people to see and gives ideas for other options. That BBQ mat looks to be the one thing I need for my stove, so I’ll be heading to my local dollar store to see if they have one. Thanks for this video Mark.
This is where I started. I could not justify the cost of good kit. I have companies sending me stuff now but always remember when I couldn't buy it. Thanks for commenting
Works incredibly well. Makes you wonder why stove manufacturers don't make similar stoves, unless they do? It looks very easy to load and refill, due to the wide opening - I like that. Also for the same reason, makes for good grilling. Thx Mark.
I have been trying to think of things you might have already at home for a survival kit this has just made my list . Thank you very much going to look through your videos
Another great idea, Mark. With that mat, the colander can be a little fire pit too. I always like having a little fire to sit by while I make/eat a coffee or a meal. This is a great idea for that. I'm headed to the dollar store!
Hi George. It is ideal as a fire pit. The mat is not working out as well as I had hoped with this stove. A lot of heat still being transferred to the ground. I think a pie plate would work better. Thanks for commenting
Went shopping and got a large colander. Husband noticed the relatively small base. Got a stove drip catcher. (The kind that sites under the heat source.) He riveted it onto the base of the colander to give it a wider and more solid base.
My gosh. I saved to purchase Firebox Nano stoves for our vehicles as part of my car kits. Now I think I'll move those to the bugout/3 day bags and put colanders in the cars. The colander would work well to hold the rest of the fire kit, as you were talking about towards the end.
You just provided me with a great idea for our Scouts here in Cole Harbour. We will soon be starting badge work on stoves, cooking etc . Great budget friendly option.
Great idea. I have tried simple stainless mixing bowls but these work so much better. Could do a side by side demonstration to show how airflow affects fires. Thanks for commenting
I stumbled upon your video today as it had Hobo in the title! I was Blessed to have been able to spend some time with a Hobo named Charles Elmer Fox who wrote the book (Tales of an American Hobo). His Hobo name was Reefer Charlie as he rode the refrigerator trains as they went faster than the other trains. Anyway his path had crossed with a Tramp whose nickname was Tinhead as he wore it as a hat using to bandanas to secure it to his head. Might have to try this out..wonder if old metal marshmallow sticks would work...Great idea and memory jogger Thank you..
Now that is a great DIY idea. I liked the fact that you mentioned that all the different things nest inside the whole kit, and that it all fits into it's own stuff sack. I have plans for a setup that will be useful for my possible future needs and desires, and this sort of idea will fit in nicely with that. Saw your IKEA stove, and was impressed with your idea and insights on that as well. Hope to see more great things in the future with your channel. Best wishes to you. I also like the idea that Far North Bushcraft put out there as well. He's got a great channel as well, so keep up the great work there guys, and I'll be sure to keep checking in on you guys for more great ideas.
I generally think out of the box on accomplishing things and my first thought, bec it's rather bulky for a backpack hiking or camping trip, wear it on your head, over a cap or winter hat. Secure it somehow to a scarf, collar, neckband or bakpak shoulder straps to keep it from falling off or tipping too much to one side. I realize there are those who will go ahead and scoff, but it's something I would try to see if it would work.
I’ve always liked the idea of DIY stuff for people who can’t afford the expensive stuff, or who just want to try and don’t want to invest yet, and there are many who just enjoy doing stuff themselves. I made an exact copy of the Trangia cold weather preheater from the bottom of a second hand steel water bottle, for example. The thing other I can see being good for, even for more experienced and equipped campers, is this is a mini fire pit. We don’t always have to go around stripping the forest of every scrap of dead wood, and many many places with camp sites are barren of wood. With a modest pile of branches, one or two people could have a little fire for an hour or so. Plus it’s way way less work than processing an evenings worth of wood for a bonfire. Have a great day Mark!
I was going to mention that when I saw there was almost no smoke. A camper could be much closer to his fire with this stove. As long as provisions were made for good ventilation, it could be very close to a Mors Kohansky type reflective shelter.
Another unique design of yours, as simple as can be - awesome ! For me it's a lot too big and bulky - I go alone most of the time, and using the Stanley 800ml Adventure cook set, the IKEA utensil strainer is much better suited. But it all depends on... If I had my wife with me or a friend, we certainly would like a bigger pot+stove combo.
I've been thinking about using a colander (or even an old car wheel) as an outside stove. A mate of mine owns and lives on some woodland and he allows me to use an old caravan located deep in the woods. I've been cooking on top of the wood burner in the caravan but it's not very efficient, so I've been thinking about building a fireplace outside under the makeshift porch I've erected. A supported or hanging(thanks Lonnie) colander would be perfect. Thank you very much for this video.
Another great video, Mark. Awesome budget option for the woods. That stove would work well with the wood pellets as well. Pack it full of the pellets and make a central ventilation I shared with you before. Bigger one will make a wonderful fire pit, I think. You are quite prolific these days. Good work. If I may, I'd like to make a suggestion for the ones in the future. How about just you going out in the woods and doing the camp stuff? No product reviews, they are good. I love them. But just camp, bushcraft stuff. Gathering wood for fire, processing the wood for fire building, making feather sticks, splitting wood and making simple coffee, etc. Do the charcloth, flint and steel thing. You might worry some people would find it boring. But I assure you a great majority of people would enjoy it. Don't be afraid of the video getting too long. Many would rather enjoy every minute of it. Well, my comment is getting long winded for sure. Give it a thought, Mark. Appreciate you giving us the good stuff as always.
Thank you my friend. I do need to go out and just enjoy the day with no products to review. The pressure to do reviews is somewhat self-imposed as companies have sent me items and I feel the need to get reviews done. I promise I will make a few day-hike type videos
Mark Young: I think the tent pegs down through the handles would be a really great idea and part a little bit more stability, perhaps a couple of aluminum 9 inch nails or something longer. A person could cut a couple of strips of scrap metal and screw them onto the calendar to write a little bit more stability. I think I’d also take there steel rods or dowels that fit through the holes in the colander easily, and perhaps insert them through the sides such that they stabilize the stove in the colander or the pot in the colander-You know, in a triangular configuration. For those of us in windy areas, having that wide centre of gravity and lots of stabilization, that’ll make a big difference. Thanks for the great idea! I’ve often considered using a can or a cutlery holder, but never a colendar strangely. The colander is a much better option.
Thanks for sharing another great idea for a budget diy stove, Mark. Next time I go to our local Goodwill or Salvation Army store and see a stainless steel kitchen implement, I'll be thinking... what would Mark do with that? :)
I love the DIY content even though I'm not going to DIY one myself, I'd rather buy a cheap Chinese titanium item that will last me years. But the DIY content shows some of the thought & design process behind the stoves, and that's a treasure trove of useful information. And it's also just a relaxing & enjoyable show to watch.
Good presentation. While I’ve bought a few stoves I find it satisfying to modify or build from scratch other items to use outdoors. Two of my latest projects have been recreating a Pico stove from stainless roof flashing and a hot tent heater from duct material. Before it got to be the wrong season I’ve also been exploring foraging for edible wild plants. I still don’t fully trust identifying wild mushrooms but I’m still learning.
I really like your DIY projects. I may need to "borrow" your ideas😅. You can spend a lifetime on mushrooms and never get to them all. I try to learn individual ones really well before moving on to the next. Thanks for commenting
Depending on the size of the holes in the bottom, One could push a tent peg or two through them into the ground below to stabilise. Thanks for the video Mark, neat ideas seem to be a forte if yours🤯.
Great idea and it's practical. I sometimes cook outside in the winter for practice I have small sticks and branches and will see how it works. Thanks for sharing.
I love this idea! Thanks for sharing…I’m a new subscriber, and will enjoy going back and watching your older videos…but yeah, I love this idea and it makes complete sense. I just bought a Solo stove…and am having a bit of buyer’s remorse ☺️.
Great way to reintroduce using a super cheap way to have a fire. I have many stoves now too, but this reminds me when before i got all these stoves I made a simple large soup can stove. Just to see it work. Made a few others--experiments--that I didn't keep. But just experiment. Maybe sometime you need to make a fire and don't have stove with you.
Hi from England! Great or should I say Grate? Idea. Push your tent pegs through the holes in the ring on the outside of the base to give additional support Thanks for your time and effort uploading to you tube
Old aluminum colander that handles broke off with 3 legs. Works great for small cooking like hotdogs on skewers. Gets too hot it burns through the aluminum but as they're about 50¢ around here that works on the fly. Been known to dig a hole put in a flat rock and put colander on that. But digging holes can get tiresome to some folks. Nice about he? After done push dirt back in hole for cleanup. 😁 You have good ideas and your presentation is spot on & efficient in delivery. Thanks.
I used to have a much bigger one in my garden, with several cinderblock I can quickly put together a makeshift outdoor fire pit. Impressed several friends and caused local supermarket a brief shortage of extra-large colander ~ XD
@@MarkYoungBushcraft would you please consider demonstrating what Tommy Shyng, the comments above mentioned (outdoor fire pit w/larger colander and bricks)? Thank you!
@@MarkYoungBushcraft yes, that’s perfect as that’s my scenario. I have wooden deck so I’d like to make something in the yard w/brick as I’m concerned…being a novice…about making an oven w/flames on a flammable surface and was thinking that the brick solution may be a safer alternative. Thank you for your consideration of my request!
Back then I had about 15 pcs of cinderblock, each roughly 35x20x10 cm in size, left-over from an abandoned garden project. I always keep them in the shed so they are dry enough to be exposed to naked flame. This is important since such heat could turn trapped moisture into steam, which could result in cinderblock cracking, or even worse, small fragments popping off. Typically I use 6 or 8 pcs for base, stack the rest to form a wall that reflects heat, with the colander sitting right in the middle close to the wall. The best thing is I can put together/take apart the whole thing in minutes, the fire never damages my patio floor, and the colander can be used for general gardening purposes anyway.
First time I’ve seen your channel! I’m from Ohio, Us but have ancestors from Digby. I was 40 days from my first trip to Halifax when covid shut everything down.😔. But I’m gonna get up there yet! Planning to car camp, so loving these videos.
How about bending the handles so they slant downward and cutting out a row of slots, leaving the top band intact, to give an opening for adding more fuel. Now turn the colander over so the fire is underneath, and use the bottom as your pot stand. You could even use that flared ring that the colander would normally sit on to support a cast iron frying pan.
Hello Mark, greetings from Northern California. Thank for sharing this informative video. This was a good one. All the best to you. Stay safe and healthy. 🤗
