Hobo stove

A Hobokocher, even hobo stove is a fire or burner that works on the chimney effect. It is named after the hobos, North American migrant workers, especially during the Great Depression, where he served as a stove and heater. Today, the term is also often used for industrially manufactured trekking wood stove, which operate on the same principle.

In the simplest case can be a Hobokocher from an empty tin can improvise.

The traditional method to provide a pot on three stones and in between to start a fire is inefficient, since only a small part of the heat heats the pot. The Hobokocher uses this energy more efficiently.

Design and function

A Hobokocher always consists of a high, open-bottomed metal container that serves as a combustion chamber and pan supports. In the lower part of the vessel are holes, through which, thanks to the chimney effect, the air is sucked. The cooker is most effective when the fuel is on a grate made ​​of wire or perforated sheet metal. Otherwise, the fuel just lying on the floor, on which also the kettle is. Smoke and exhaust gases leave the vessel via one or more vents at the top. In general, the Hobokocher is open on top and heated one erected cooking vessel. From improvised cans cooker but also variants are known in which the bottom of the upside-down box is used directly as a cooking surface.

Due to the metal walls of the digester, the radiant heat of a fact -driven fire is concentrated; at the same time the chimney effect leads to a high air. In Hobokocher therefore already burn small amounts of fuel material efficiently, that is completely and at high temperature. Performance data for small Hobokocher are usually significantly higher than the values ​​of portable alcohol stoves, but below those of gas or petrol cookers. As with all open cookers can decrease performance strongly the wind.

Typical focal materials are found on the bottom branch wood, twigs, cones, combustible rubbish. Even moist or rotten wood can be added. Outside of deserts and high mountains of fuel is virtually available everywhere. Hobokocher with a closed bottom and a corresponding operation can be operated with liquid fuels. To counter the risk of flash fire and explosions, it is recommended to bind highly volatile fuels such as alcohol or gasoline in a layer of sand.

Some Hobokocher operate on the principle of the wood gasification.

Modern Hobokocher

As part of the outdoor boom also commercially offered variants of the original DIY stove became popular. They are usually foldable or detachable and made of stainless steel. Very compact designs are suitable for trekking backpack, wood stoves of bucket size are canoe walkers and car travelers reserved.

Use when trekking

As the open cooking fire spared a Hobokocher traveling especially the carrying of fuel. He needs less and demanding looser fuel with increased performance. Hobokocher may therefore be of interest to Travel

• In regions with a lack of supply of commercially available fossil fuels,
• With copious boiler operation ( melt snow, drinking water sterilization, heating, lighting ).

Typical disadvantages include

• The often high weight at least purchasable cooker,
• Mostly limited by conservation and fire protection regulations applicability,
• The persistent contamination of cooking utensils and other equipment by soot and smoke,
• The unsuitability at high altitudes.
• Hazard from combustion products when used in the tent

The operation of wood stoves in nature is occasionally seen less strict than that of a traditional camp fire, but on substantially the same dangers, the same precautions, and a special responsibility of the operator. Nature conservation requires in particular to protect the substrate against scorching and to remove combustion residues (ash, soot) without a trace. Where scarce deadwood is a valuable habitat or locals used as fuel should be dispensed with wood fire.

Use in development aid

In many developing countries, cooking fires are still widespread, for example, an open fireplace with three stones on which the pot or jar is placed. The low efficiency results in a high fuel consumption, the timber inventory risk. Through the use of Hobokochern that can be constructed from sheet metal residues or old casks on site, the logging can be reduced. In addition, the health hazard posed by dirty stoves can be reduced. To accompany this change in behavior when cooking, acceptance programs are carried out.