You can make a basic wood-fed camp stove from a clean, large food can by cutting a low opening for air and fuel, then adding holes near the top for exhaust. The openings help air move through the can, but this is an improvised open-flame stove—not a controlled or indoor cooking appliance. Build and use it outdoors, and take care around sharp metal edges.
How the can stove works
The can forms a chamber for the fire. A lower side opening admits air and provides access for fuel; smaller holes near the upper end let hot gases escape below the cooking surface. The layout is simple, but published instructions use different dimensions. The steps below follow the Scouts New Zealand handout hosted by Brooklyn Scouts rather than combining measurements from separate designs.
What you need
- A clean, large catering-size food can
- Tin snips for cutting the can
- A punch-type can opener or a drill for the upper holes
- Work gloves and eye protection when cutting or punching the metal
- Fine, dry wood for fuel
- A stable, nonflammable outdoor surface
Check the can before you start. The available instructions do not establish that every can coating is suitable for heating, so do not assume an unknown liner or finish is safe over a fire.
Build the wood-fed stove
- Choose the orientation. Use the open end of the can as the bottom. The opposite end will be the top, where the pot sits above the fire.
- Cut the lower air-and-fuel hatch. Near the open bottom edge, cut a rectangular hatch in the side of the can. The Scouts New Zealand version specifies a hatch about 100 mm by 60 mm. Smooth or fold back sharp edges only if you can do so safely; keep hands clear of cut metal.
- Make the upper exhaust holes. Punch eight holes just below the opposite end of the can. Keep them near the top so gases can escape around the cooking area.
- Check the stove’s footing. Set the can upright on a level, nonflammable surface. Before lighting it, make sure it will not wobble with the intended pot placed on top.
The Michigan State University Extension archive describes a different version: a No. 10 can with an approximately 3-inch lower opening and triangular chimney holes near the top. Those are that handout’s construction details, not additional dimensions to combine with the Scouts design.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Duel Fuel - Compatible With Both Butane (Fuel Not Included) And Propane Fuel (Fuel Not Included), Operates On A Single Butane Cartridge 8 Oz Or A Propane Cylinder 16.4 Oz , Propane Converter Regulator Included
- Automatic Piezo Electric Ignition - Piezo-Electric Ignition That Eliminates The Use For Lighter/Matches In Order To Ignite Flame, No Need For Lighters Or Matches With This Stove
- Easy To Use - Our Gs-3400P Is Easy To Use With Adjustable Heat Dial And Automatic Piezo-Electric Ignition
- Safety Features - Built In Pressure Sensor Cartridge Ejection System And Gas Flow Cut Off Mechanism (Butane), Will Eject Cartridge When Irregular Pressure Is Detected
Use it outdoors
- Choose a clear, stable spot away from dry grass, vegetation, tents, and other combustible materials.
- Feed small pieces of fine, dry wood through the lower hatch. Keep the opening clear enough for air to enter.
- Light the fire carefully and place a suitable pot on the top only if the stove remains stable. Avoid reaching through or across the hatch while it is burning.
- Stay with the fire while cooking. When finished, let the can and any remaining fuel cool completely before moving or handling them.
UK government outdoor fire guidance says not to cook inside a tent and to keep cooking appliances away from tent walls and flammable material. Follow the current rules of the campsite or land manager as well; open-flame and fuel restrictions vary by location.
Keep other burner designs separate
Wax-and-cardboard burner
The Scouts handout also describes a separate burner made by rolling corrugated cardboard into a shallow can and pouring melted candle wax over it. Its instructions place that burner on the ground away from flammable materials, light the cardboard, and set the larger stove can over it with the hatch facing away from the wind. This is a distinct fuel arrangement, not a step in making or operating the twig-fed wood stove.
Rank #2
- PORTABLE: Easy addition to the campsite, picnic, roadside, and more
- TWO WIND GUARDS: Help shield and protect burners from wind
- HEAVY-DUTY LATCH: Easy to open and keeps the stove closed when not in use
- EASY TO CLEAN: Durable, chrome-plated grate is removable for easy cleanup
- IMPROVED KNOB ROTATION: For precise temperature and simmering control of two independently adjustable burners
Alcohol-fueled can stove
An alcohol stove made from beverage cans uses a different design and fuel. Do not pour alcohol into this food-can wood stove or transfer another stove’s lighting instructions to it. The City of Misato’s aluminum-can instructions warn about sharp cut surfaces and call for adult supervision for junior-high-age children and younger, but those instructions concern a separate alcohol-fueled stove.
Age and supervision
Scouts New Zealand cautions that young Keas must not use hobo stoves, citing children who had been burned. That is the organization’s guidance, not a universal age threshold. In any case, cutting metal and tending an open fire require appropriate adult supervision and local safety rules.
Rank #3
- High OUTPUT - Most Fuel Efficient Butane Portable Stove On The Market - Boils Water quickly with 7,650 BTU Evenly Compared To Compeititors Portable Stoves/ To Be used with 8oz Butane Canister Only (Fuel Sold Separately)
- SAFETY FEATURES - Highest Safety Standard: CSA (US & Canadian Standards Association) Approved Portable, Easy To Use, Reliable For Camping, Outdoor Cooking, Home Emergency Kit, Etc. Equipped with Fuel Cartridge Injection safety feature, If the stove defects 0.7 kilogram force from canister, It will automatically ejects butane canister from the stove
- AUTOMATIC IGNITION - Piezo-Type Electric Starter With Safety Shut-Off System; No Matches Or Lighters Required
- Portable - Easy To Use, Reliable For Camping, Outdoor Cooking, Home Emergency Kit, Etc. *(Comes With Carrying Case/Complete With User Manual
- Quiet Operation - This stove provides clean efficient burn along with silent operation *OUTDOOR USE ONLY*
What this simple design does not establish
The cited instructions describe construction options and fuels, but they do not establish a safe heating rating for every food can, measured fuel savings, boil times, or comparative efficiency. Do not rely on a homemade can stove for indoor cooking or use it inside a tent, shelter, or other enclosed space.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Designed for Outdoorsmen: Make your outdoor cooking sessions more enjoyable and cook like a pro with the Gas One outdoor burner propane! Our single propane grilling side burner is durable, reliable and safe, making cooking more enjoyable during your outdoor adventures!
- High-Output Propane Burner: This single burner propane stove features a high-output design that delivers a steady, continuous flame for even cooking and ensures fast cooking and boiling without burning your food.
- Enhanced Heat Protection: Our propane stove burner is equipped with a top heat guard that protects against oil spillage and prevents the flame from reaching the hose connection, and a bottom heat shield designed to protect the components and surfaces against heat damage.
- Superior Durability: The one burner propane stove has a heavy-duty metal construction with a cast iron propane burner head that can withstand intensive use. Use it for backyard cookouts, camping, tailgating, fishing or hunting and enjoy a full cooking experience outdoors!
- High Quality Hose: What makes the Gas One portable propane burner truly amazing is the High quality hose assembly ensures better durability and consistent gas output to the burner.
Rank #4
- Portable: Built-in handle ensures easy transportation; heavy-duty latch secures the stove when not in use
- High Control: Independent adjustable burners with PerfectFlow and PerfectHeat technology for precise temperature
- Easy Ignition: Push-button Instastart ignition for matchless lighting
- Easy Maintenance: Removable chrome-plated grate & rust-resistant aluminized steel cooktop
- Wind Protection: Dual wind guards to shield and protect burners from wind
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
