I love this idea, the simpler the better, no crafting or elaborate tools required. I have often thought, but with no followup, that a small bag of pellets would be a good no fuss emergency fuel or a backup when your planned fuel wasn't availible. No mess, safe and stable to store, long shelf life, light weight, ect. Thanks demonstrating.
I love this setup! The three items; steamer, trivet, and pie pan should all be easy to source at a second-hand store and would be cheap. When combined with the bag of pellets and the fire starter it is a perfect setup to keep in an "emergency bag" in the trunk of the car. For someone on a tight budget, this would be about the cheapest possible setup that is robust and reliable.
So glad I saw this video. I love when people repurpose items! You certainly have great ideas. I can"t waiting to try this myself. I have learned so much. Thank you!
This is a great low cost alternative to the Firebox but I believe the Firebox will out perform and outlast the vegetable steamer stove. I like using both but if I had to choose it would be the Firebox. As long as I could afford it. Thanks for comenting
Great video/ idea. Ever since I watched this video I have picked up about 6 steamers in thrift stores. If you clip 4 metal binder clips on the top "petals " facing down, you keep them from moving and get flat surfaces to rest pots on. Instead of disposable pie pan , I got 2x aluminum pie pans ( angled sides) or cake pans ( 1" deep, straight sides) from Dollar Tree to take along as base pan and cooking container. Really like the wood pellet idea, I think a squirt of non scented hand sanitizer would start them faster.
Great video. I picked up a veggie steamer about 1 1/2 years ago to act as a fire protector for mr IKEA stove, but found it worked as a portable fire pit, wind shield for my "penny stove", and Esbit stove. I use a cookie tin top for a base ( and as a top smoke plate on my IKEA to prevent crud build up on my pot). Now I'll look for the dollar store trivit. All these ideas came from you...thank-you. You might remember me, I made the "Dutch oven" from a pot, bunt pan, BBQ ceramic bricks, all from the Goodwill store.) Once again thank you for the handy tips...it's like going through old Mechanics Illustrated or the Backwoodsman magazines.
Hi Mark. Watched you vid on veggie stove. The wife and I looked all over town for one. New to you, Home Hardware etc. On our way out of town we stopped into Giant Tiger. There on the hanger was 4 for sale. Only $5.75 ea. They we're small but we bought 3 of them. Off to the dollar store for a trivit. I am also trying different types of fuel. Cedar kindling strips first off. Thanks again for this video and I have subscribed. Hope to see you on the trail someday. I am only 100 miles away. Colchester County.:)
Mark my friend I love the way you up-cycle every day items and adapt them for bush craft. It goes to show you dont need the £250 whatever - if you have an imagination and a bit of creativity anyone can have great performing gear at a fraction of the cost. Keep the videos comming 👍👍👍
Thank you for your kind words. I find it fun to re-purpose items for use in the woods, I see it as a modern bushcraft mindset of using available resources...at least kind of.
Very informative and useful video. My suggestion would be to use some wire; i.e. coat hanger wire, bicycle spoke, modified wire staples, etc. to make 2 or three wide shallow "U" shaped clips and use the existing holes in the leaves to "lock" the leaves together at a desired amount of "openness". These would hold the steamer as desired so that a pot or container could sit right on top of it. 3 such spaced around the perimeter would make it very secure, I believe.
Lots of useful tips there👍I’ve been using tea lights and saving the residual wax and when you open a vitamin bottle if there’s any cotton wool I save that. I thought the cotton wool dripped in the wax left to cool could be used as a fire starter
Great video, Mark. I think the wood pellets are a viable alternative fuel in many instances, thanks for your videos captioning the use of them. The low cost/high efficiency is key. A small baggie of them goes for a long time.
Well presented and informative video Mark. I have a veggie steamer that is 3-4 years old and ready to be re-purposed; thanks for some innovative concepts for the next phase of its usefulness.
Thats great. Im using a collander with a cake rack on top. If i want to bake i use a piece of sheet steel as a heat diffuser. Been using it since november 2020!
@@MarkYoungBushcraft good onya. Just a hint-if making breads use a heat difuser and turn bread half way through baking. Dont expect fantastic results-baking should be done in a dutch oven for great results but who backpacks with a 5kg cast iron dutchie?
My friend and I got both got the veggie steamers and I threw one into my camp box that I call my box of tricks. I have camp gear, a small propane grill, a gasifirer stove and I sure like the pellet stove idea. What a great way to use that veggie steamer when wood is wet, nd the propane is gone. Thanks. My thought was to isolate some embers from a camp fire. Turn the veggie stove upside down and cup over the ember and heat up a cup of water for tea. No idea if it would work. But that's my two cents worth.
You have quite the kit made up. Interesting idea on using the steamer upside down. I will give it a try and see if it will work. Thanks for commenting.
Veg steamer as a wood pellet stove! Good Idea particularly since I have one like yours. I use carbon fiber felt under the wood stoves to prevent collateral damage also place aluminum foil on top of carbon fiber to prevent the discoloration of the felt that happens when the glowing pellets fall and rest on the fiber. I have cooked directly on top of wooden camp tables, without damage, with this arrangement. There is also a small round grill with legs that would fit well with your steamer stove. Amazon sells them. I boil water or heat a foil encapsulate meal in the bottom of a zebra billy and use the steamer in the small pan that came with the billy can, both the same time. Good video, like the sharing of ideas, we all can learn from one another.
I am just starting to explore what I can do with carbon felt since I found a cheap source on eBay. I like you ideas on cooking as well. Thanks for commenting
Hi Mark. I use a little of the pellets soaked in the lid of my alcohol container to start the others off. It works good. I've used it with a driver for a couple of years with no problems at all. Good video.
Yesterday I picked up a large stock pot strainer at the thrift store I hope to turn into a large hobo stove for when I have larger groups of people out on a hike. I like the idea of closing the steamer around the alcohol stove to retain heat. Kind of like the Caldera Cone concept. Thanks for commenting
You brought up an idea of a larger folding steamer basket underneath a smaller folding steamer basket. The upper perimeter may keep the lower basket stable as the lower keeps fire and the upper grills. One will fit in the other, quite compact and two stoves in one package when needed. Note that the hard stand off feet of some prevent one into the other, there are some that have the removable feet. Good tidings from Mission, B.C.
Cool, well, hot, but you know what I mean. I have a metal steamer and a round cooling rack, both unused in a back cupboard. And even a small alcohol gel stove in the shed. I've never seen you before, but up you popped on RU-vid. Subbed. Jon in rural BC, Canada
I'm loving your videos! You are like watching a professional television host with a great voice, who loves going out in the woods and doing everything that I love to do as well! BTW, I bet using a couple of large paper clips, you could insert it into a couple of the steamer basket wings to control the spread diameter. Keep up the great work!
You did a video with Chinese wood stove. I bought the large version of the folding Chinese firebox stove and bought a medium steamer and it works perfectly inside the stove. No need for a pan underneath and the fire is concentrated to the top. I know your friend sent you the stove but they came up with an even bigger version of it and the steamer stoves work perfectly along with modified stand to lift the pot. Or lower it down inside. Semper Fi
Common sense and ingeniuity wins again! Got one hiding at the back of the cupboard I can use :) Wood shavings and wax is a great idea too - as a green wood worker I've got plenty! Subbed :)
I saw this steamer at DG today in karnes city TX. For like $3 .. and now after this vid. Yes will be going for it awesome idea for stove. Keep up the good work
Oh brilliant. I have a couple metal trivets I picked up at a thrift store years ago that I seldom use. Think I will try that out. Just bought wood pellets so interested in trying them out too. Thanks for posting
Great video Mark, between the trivit, steamer and the pin tin should be very budget friendly and also the wood chips is great for those very wet days! Tfs. Take care and many blessings my friend,Nikki.
I use a few binder clips to give the sides structure. They also create a simple platform for pots. Not incredibly strong but good enough for some needs.
Great video Mark, I picked up one at a thrift store after your first video and since found a smaller one at Dollarama. I haven't had a chance to use them yet but plan to when I get out in the spring. Cheers!
Mark I know you like to experiment so here is something I was taught by a ww2 British Army soldier. A container filled with sand then add gasoline or alcohol small amount . It burns quite well under control.
Yeah that's pretty good! Good video fella, I came by it looking at others, I always say take council from all - wisedom is in decerning it's value, (Tacitus? Probably Sun Tzu). I had looked at drain strainers in the past, the things you place over plug holes in the sink to stop material blocking the plumbing below. I'm going to have a look see at your other stuff now. The stuff on my channel is mainly bike & traiker camping, music and stuff about Cameras....a bit of cooking too.
Excellent! Excellent! I didn't read the comments yet but how about placing a flat round piece of steel with a 3" diameter hole in the center and place a 3" pipe on top to turn it into a bit of a rocket stove? Maybe have different size pipe that could be fitted together to play with different chimney heights for various applications? And try different diameters too. I'm also wondering about how something like this could work in a wood stove? You have my brain spinning, Mark! I may make a vid to try some of these ideas out, I'll share if I do. Your channel is great!
Yes, you would have to lift the pot to re-fuel. Small challenge. I do have a video coming out in one week that will address that. Thanks for commenting
A large screw twist pipe clamp that you can twist open to fit inside the steamer when open with another clamp on the outside to slip onto the open edge to hold it in place. Use it over a alcohol jet stove. You could try and make a stove bottom that the steamer opened up and slipped down into a dual wall. I see a light weight titanium wood stove Designed like this. The main body with a fuel hopper like a rocket stove then a tituamium pot that fit inside with a lid with the closed steamer clamped down over the top. 😉👍
Wow. Very creative design. You could probably build and market that. I am not sure I am talented enough to put that together but I will consider it. Thanks for commenting
I put the pot on after about three or four minutes but the flame intensity increased for about 15 or 20 minutes before it started to die down. It was a bit of cold day so it took about 8 to 10 minutes to bring two cups of cold water to boil. Thanks for commenting
Good question. I have three different size veg-steamers I picked up so I can't give you an exact measurement but my suggestion would be that the "fins" are opened outward past the straight up point and some type of grill that keeps them from opening the rest of the way would be best. That is why I chose the trivet I am using. Optionally, a self standing grill like the Coughlans or a tripod would work. Thanks for commentinf
Use veggie steamer inside a Weber charcoal grill (round grill) to burn pellets in the charcoal grill. Still wanting to see how the veggie steamer works as windscreen for triangia (and a firebox nano G2) - trangia alone and firebox nano with triangia inside it, both using HEET. .
I had been planning on an update to a video I made using a charcoal chimney but adding a veggie-steamer for pellets. I have tried it out and it works great. Thanks for commenting
Very nice video. Thank you for sharing the info. I was wondering, have you though about those metal paper clip things, the larger sized ones. They are pretty small and multi use and I bet about three of them would hold the steamer in any position you choose. I look forward to more of your videos. Have a great day.
Glad you enjoyed the video. I have not tried using the paper clips but they sound like a great idea. If I leave the "handles" pointed up they may act as a pot stand as well. I will give it a try. Thanks for commenting
I leave mine curved in. There's sufficient stability for a pot, air flow, and heat is directed only to bottom of pot. Also works with fuel tabs. Cheers
@@MarkYoungBushcraft I have made windscreen panels that fit in the open sides of the folding stoves and use in the first partially open position so All heat is focused on pot instead of escaping around it. 8 minutes to full boil. I use the Coghlan tabs as less expensive, smaller, no smell or residue compared to Esbit. Cheers
Excellent video Mark as always. Good information. I think you could put something together for newbies to the hobby to get involved without spending a fortune ie value village, Would be very good for Canadians. Frankly I am fed up with videos whose intention is to link to buying stuff through them. Good work Thank you
I love making videos on DIY items. I feel it fits in with the philosophy of bushcraft. I do have production items I will be reviewing but you can be sure I will give an honest opinion. Some people do not want to spend time making gear so those video will be for them, Thanks for commenting
Hi Mark, A very nicely done ✔✔✔ video as well as the ongoing series of DIY gear that's based upon utilizing low cost items. I was wondering if you could share your thoughts on the DIY alcohol stove? I was imagining something that appears to be similar, but I was uncertain about the specific elements of your design. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us!
I was waiting for someone to ask about the alcohol stove. Simple design that I have been playing with. As soon as I can be sure of a source for the items I made it from I will do a video on it. Thanks for commenting
On the steamers that the handle or post will come out I do remove them for compactness. I have a couple with welded in handles I use for other stove setups. Thanks for commenting
In order to use the accompanied small pan that comes with the Zebra pot, in conjunction with a steamer device, holes must be drilled in the small pan to allow steam from the bottom pot to rise into the top chamber where the steamer device sits. Cooking two dishes at one time.
After doing a bit of looking around here on RU-vid, I'm wondering if anyone has ever made a wood-gas stove using a bundt pan? (That round cake pan with a cone in the center.) Not sure where you would add extra holes in the middle cone, but I think you should be able to get a very nice flame out of that shape of a stove.
I have seen videos where a bundt pan has been used to boil water similar to a Kelly Kettle but I have not seen one used as a wood stove. I will give it some thought and maybe pick one up at a thrift store to give it a try. Thanks for commenting
I did do that with the alcohol burner and could probably done that with the pellets but when I tried to do that with sticks I found it more effort than it was worth. It would focus the heat to a degree as you suggest. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft yeah i tried with sticks also, and even with maple, it seemed to burn them out to quick. I also bent the tabs on the bottom so the sides wouldnt open up as far on mine. Seem to add enough rigidness to set my smal kettle on top.
It is working out great. I plan on doing a long term review sometime in the spring after it has been in a few more fires. So far so good. Thanks for commenting
Can I assume you mean as feet for the stove? It does have small one inch feet now but they may have to be replaced as they look a bit fragile. Unless you meant to have them stick up through the floor as a pot rest. Hmm...interesting idea. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft Oops .. I realise I wrote this while watching. I mean as a pot stand. Basically like the stove stands but pointing up. Does that make sense?
To add on to the alcohol stove combination. I've been playing with this same idea over the last few weeks. Using a capillary 8oz soda can stove or a 8oz side-burning aluminum bottle stove, (both at 2" height and not needing a separate pot stand), puts my 900ml wide base Lixada titanium pot at the perfect height for the vegetable steamer to act as a cone/windscreen. This also helps keep the flame off the handle of the pot. With this combination I was able to boil 3 cups of water in 6 mins 15 seconds (amount for 2 mountain house meals). My issue is I'm currently using a Toaks small wood stove combined with the alcohol stove so can I convince myself the extra 5.75oz of the vegetable steamer is worth it, or just drop the $45 Toaks for a $5 vegetable steamer since it doubles as a wind screen so well...
Sounds like a good setup. I have a number of similar DIY alcohol stoves as well. I don't have the Toaks stove but I do have the similar Lixada version in stainless steel. I think I would consider them two different setups. As good as the steamer stove is with wood, my Lixada is better. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft hopefully my pot supports will show up this weekend and I'll be able to test my theory on running the Toaks with only 2 of the pieces. I also want to try out using one of those light weight bubbler blowers with this stove. I saw a tin can video where a guy used one and it was pretty impressive.
On your last video,you tried wood pellets with lump coal.This time with pellets with wax chips was much better,How about wood pellets with wax chips And broken. up lump coal,to about same size as pellets.Just thinking coal might stretch burn time.Quien sabe?
I have played a bit with both the pellets and charcoal. I find I tend to use pellets when dry wood is hard to find, it can also help to dry out the damp wood. I tend to only use charcoal for cooking and usually only during fire bans (we are permitted to use charcoal here). Just my thoughts. Thanks for commenting
