This winter I have been building some experimental hobo stoves. I didn’t follow any particular pattern, but built about 8 different versions or modifications.
My efforts culminated in a stove you would hardly want to take backpacking, but it works ok in the boat yard.
So far I am only using this to heat water for tea and warm my feet.
Anyhow, I have burned a few of these tin stoves out, and was thinking of something more sturdy and durable when I found these old boat seat pedestals. Rocket stove material, for sure!
Trying to minimize cutoff waste, I nest the cuts together.
I test my pipe fitting skills.
Not straight yet. Just a bit more grinding needed . . .
I removed one flange and cut/shaped the other three smaller.
Close enough so far . . .
Ah yes, the metric square! (There is some myth that it is more square than the English square.)
Lots of hacking with grinders and then smoothing with the wheels and belt sander.
Drilling out the ends. This was the hardest part. Too tall for my tiny drill press.
Soon to be welded. I still need to make the fire grate and the ash door.
My efforts culminated in a stove you would hardly want to take backpacking, but it works ok in the boat yard.
![4B526A56-F2D6-4AD4-A1D4-3CCD5DDE3859.jpeg 4B526A56-F2D6-4AD4-A1D4-3CCD5DDE3859.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/260/260109-4B526A56-F2D6-4AD4-A1D4-3CCD5DDE3859.jpeg)
So far I am only using this to heat water for tea and warm my feet.
Anyhow, I have burned a few of these tin stoves out, and was thinking of something more sturdy and durable when I found these old boat seat pedestals. Rocket stove material, for sure!
![EF900C8A-BC6E-4CDF-BD8D-071FA962F8F1.jpeg EF900C8A-BC6E-4CDF-BD8D-071FA962F8F1.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/260/260110-EF900C8A-BC6E-4CDF-BD8D-071FA962F8F1.jpeg)
Trying to minimize cutoff waste, I nest the cuts together.
![B7000C6E-F51B-422F-B052-344688409810.jpeg B7000C6E-F51B-422F-B052-344688409810.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/260/260112-B7000C6E-F51B-422F-B052-344688409810.jpeg)
I test my pipe fitting skills.
![A7CE1BE6-95C7-4B96-B132-3A6E6DE2AE2E.jpeg A7CE1BE6-95C7-4B96-B132-3A6E6DE2AE2E.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/260/260113-A7CE1BE6-95C7-4B96-B132-3A6E6DE2AE2E.jpeg)
Not straight yet. Just a bit more grinding needed . . .
![2F5C44E9-1B44-474C-AE8C-7C74999356C6.jpeg 2F5C44E9-1B44-474C-AE8C-7C74999356C6.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/260/260114-2F5C44E9-1B44-474C-AE8C-7C74999356C6.jpeg)
I removed one flange and cut/shaped the other three smaller.
![7FFDF473-7700-4FF2-858E-A116AA746A58.jpeg 7FFDF473-7700-4FF2-858E-A116AA746A58.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/260/260115-7FFDF473-7700-4FF2-858E-A116AA746A58.jpeg)
Close enough so far . . .
![AEE26104-A05E-47C1-AB4B-CFA130A74BEB.jpeg AEE26104-A05E-47C1-AB4B-CFA130A74BEB.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/260/260119-AEE26104-A05E-47C1-AB4B-CFA130A74BEB.jpeg)
Ah yes, the metric square! (There is some myth that it is more square than the English square.)
![C8AB7A7D-1004-4C13-A702-9F171EB60666.jpeg C8AB7A7D-1004-4C13-A702-9F171EB60666.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/260/260117-C8AB7A7D-1004-4C13-A702-9F171EB60666.jpeg)
Lots of hacking with grinders and then smoothing with the wheels and belt sander.
![717D0AA5-73C6-4801-90B1-CEF7E11ED437.jpeg 717D0AA5-73C6-4801-90B1-CEF7E11ED437.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/260/260116-717D0AA5-73C6-4801-90B1-CEF7E11ED437.jpeg)
Drilling out the ends. This was the hardest part. Too tall for my tiny drill press.
![5F103633-6FBF-438F-B173-B050EA2665F7.jpeg 5F103633-6FBF-438F-B173-B050EA2665F7.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/260/260120-5F103633-6FBF-438F-B173-B050EA2665F7.jpeg)
Soon to be welded. I still need to make the fire grate and the ash door.
![31E70B77-BF61-4DDB-B65C-D99B166847DA.jpeg 31E70B77-BF61-4DDB-B65C-D99B166847DA.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/260/260118-31E70B77-BF61-4DDB-B65C-D99B166847DA.jpeg)