Who will be the first to make this?

[MillCreek]

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/altoids-mini-bbq/?pid=192

A BBQ made out of an Altoids tin that uses a single charcoal briquette for fuel!

[Jamisjockey]

How about an altoids tin hobo stove?

http://www.instructables.com/id/mini-Altoids-stove/

[bedlamite]

You could shoot your cannon while waiting for your shrimp to cook.

[Jamisjockey]

I actually might take a stab at the altoids tin stove. 
After looking over the designs, I have some ideas on how to make one with a pot-rest or windscreen. 

[PTK]

I already have something similar in my day-pack. :)

[230RN]

Reminds me of the "Sardine Senders" which used to be popular weekend junkbox projects for Amateur Radio Operators.  These are small "QRP" (low-powered, <5 Watts) radio transmitters built on sardine and tuna fish cans for grins and giggles, although contacts with them can be made around the world:

http://www.qsl.net/kb0p/sardine2.gif

http://www.qsl.net/kb0p/sardine1.gif

I was going to build one using the "peanut tube" from an old Civil Defense radiation monitor, but kind of gave upon it for a while.... like thirty years.  I figured, heck, any darned fool could built a sardine sender with transistors, I was going to use tube technology!

Peanut tube:

https://www.tubeworld.com/6021w.jpg

I figured I might get a half-watt of power out of it running Class C.  Maybe.  With forced-air cooling.  Or dipping it in LN2 (liquid nitrogen.)   But it was just for grins and giggles.

Terry, 230RN

[RocketMan]

Hey Terry!  They got them nefangled things called "transistors" now.  They kinda work like them tube thingies but they're a lot smaller and use less power I hear.  Even less than them peanut tubes.  It would be easy to make a sardine sender now. 



Dang, you brought back some memories Terry. "Sardine Senders" indeed. I had forgotten all about them. Thanks. 

[230RN]

Oh, blast.  I'm forever editing and added something about them new-fangled transistor thingies before I read your post.

Here's the first transistor, from Bell Labs:



I'm still trying to figure out which wires go to what, E,B, or C, in that setup.

I quit dreaming about a peanut-tube xmtr* when they came out with those packaged four-terminal oscillators for computers --Vcc in, ground, and an output pin, and a case ground.  Fit one on your thumbnail.  I read of one guy who built a QRP rig with a hex inverter chip.  Phooey.

Somewhere around there's a couple of articles on building xmtrs out of the components in the bases of those compact fluorescent bulbs, too.  Example (see "Why stop there?" paragraph):

http://www.ai4fr.com/main/page_electronic_repair_bulb.html

Terry, 230RN

*
Xmtr = "transmitter."  The prefix "trans" is sometimes written as an "x."  Hence, "transformer" = xfrmr, "transmitter" = transmitter, "transistor" = xistor, "transfer" = xfr, "transve..."

...Never mind on that last one.

[Jamisjockey]

Yeah they had some interesting things including a diy Altoid tin usb drive on there.....

[RaspberrySurprise]

I believe there was also an Altoids tin battery pack.

[230RN]

But the real question is whether Altoid tins will ever replace the old metal Band-Aid boxes with the snap tops for storing small thingies?

Buttons.

Nuts and bolts and washers.

Extra fish-hooks?

Occasionally, ammo?

Well, will they?

Incidentally, I believe that a lot of things like those cans and maybe those fan guards may have a toxic phosphide coating on them.  That's one of the reasons (I heard) that use of old refrigerator shelf grills for grilling food is not a good idea.

?

[sanglant]

headphone amps also fit in them there tins. i'm pretty sure i saw a board that would fit in the smalls tin too.

[AJ Dual]

Incidentally, I believe that a lot of things like those cans and maybe those fan guards may have a toxic phosphide coating on them.  That's one of the reasons (I heard) that use of old refrigerator shelf grills for grilling food is not a good idea.

I think Cadmium was the problem.

[RevDisk]

No love for the alcohol burning beer can stoves?  For shame!

http://www.jureystudio.com/pennystove/

[zahc]

My friend has a small fleet of the beverage-can alcohol stoves. I can't imagine a lighter stove for backpacking; I think it weighs like 1oz.

[brimic]

No love for the alcohol burning beer can stoves?  For shame!

http://www.jureystudio.com/pennystove/

That is cool stuff! I'm going to make some.

[RevDisk]

That is cool stuff! I'm going to make some.

If you can make solid version of it, I'd pay a pretty penny.  Only problem I have with those is that they're not durable.  You don't step on it or throw it against a rock wall without damaging it.  Hence I'd be nervous to put it in my primary kit.  Day trips?  Sure.  Weekend or longer?  Not a chance.  Maybe if I made a kydex container for it...

[RocketMan]

Anyone remember the old heating tabs that came with C-rats?  Anyone remember what the combustion products were?  Did you ever have them used on you in chem warfare training?  Choke, choke, gasp, gasp...

[230RN]

I was just thinking that those fuel tabs they make for model steam engines might be useful in microstoves like you folks are describing:

http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=dry+fuel+tablets

Seems to me it would be a lot easier to light these tabs than a single charcoal briquet. (Though that briquet might have been just for photgraphic purposes.) The fuel tabs burn long enough to bring a cup of water to boiling at high pressure in the model steam engine boilers.

Me, I'm a Sterno man, myself.


Terry, 230RN

[RocketMan]

Me, I'm a Sterno man, myself.

You'll have no problem with the Andromeda Strain then.

[mtnbkr]

If you can make solid version of it, I'd pay a pretty penny.  Only problem I have with those is that they're not durable.  You don't step on it or throw it against a rock wall without damaging it. 

You mean like this? http://www.rei.com/product/761903

Not cheap considering you can make one out of a soda can, but it is light and strong.

Chris