Tactical Tuesday: How to Make a Survival Heater



For Comparison: 1817 is 1 quart, 1837 is 1 gallon

I don't like dying. Do you? Good. Lets get on with preventing that shall we?

Tactical Tuesday: HOW TO MAKE A SURVIVAL HEATER

What you'll need:

-1 30oz fruit can or 1 quart paint can: it needs to be smaller in circumference than a regular roll of toilet paper, but taller. If possible with a resealable top that is airtight
-1 roll of unscented toilet paper with the cardboard tube in the middle taken out
-

Alcohol. It is flammable.

Fuel in the form of 70 to 90% rubbing alcohol: other fuels are mentioned below
-A coffee can or gallon can ---this can be any can, it just needs to be larger than the can with the toilet paper roll in it, so you don't burn yourself or wherever you put your survival heater. Also, if possible with a resealable airtight top.
-An aluminum pot or metal: this will be used to smother the flame when necessary: this must be METAL because plastic MELTS
-Matches or other source of fire: to light the heater

   In pre-Apocalyptic times, this heater is kept in the backseat of a car for use when someone gets stuck in snow at night when it is freezing outside. It will keep you alive long enough for the temperature to raise outside
   The purpose of this heater is to keep you warm enough in freezing weather when you are isolated and away from a large heat source (like a kickass survival shelter). It could also be used in the event of hypothermia to raise the body temperature enough to prevent death. It is to be used in an emergency because of the relatively "expensive" use of rubbing alcohol as fuel (since rubbing alcohol or alcohol in general will become scarce post-Apocalypse). It may or may not work with other sources of alcohol, like drinkable alcohol, ethanol, acetone, even some other flammables like deodorant sprays and perfume.
   In theory it can be used to heat/cook food, though it is very impractical for that use. It is to be used temporarily in an EMERGENCY. These items are to be set aside to be used specifically for use in keeping you alive. Not for cooking dinner.

The Procedure:
Pre-set up:
-Remove the cardboard tube from the center of the toilet paper.
-Cram it into the smaller can. The point of this is to get the toilet paper as snug inside the can as possible, if it absolutely won't fit, unroll a few sheets but be conservative. There should be no gaps between the roll and the side of the can. 
-If possible put the lid back on the can (if it will still go on) so that it will protect the toilet paper from becoming wet.
-Put the smaller can into the larger can, like a nesting doll.
-Then put the lid back on the coffee can.

Stop. This is the end of making your stove before you want to use it. If you put the alcohol in the toilet paper at this point and then put it into storage, it may evaporate. You can put it on there before you use it if there lid is airtight, but I find the idea of mixing my flammable elements together before hand slightly unnerving. Also, there are many variables in the airtight-ness of your container. Better to stick with leaving the alcohol in the original container until the last minute.

Using the Heater.
-Take the lid off of both cans.
-Poor enough alcohol into the smaller can to fill it half-way.
-Fun part: Ignite it. Matches, flint, fire steel whatever.


yaaay...I won't die!!!


Now here's a thing to remember:
Alcohol burns very very quickly. The point of the toilet paper is to prolong that burn-rate. But toilet paper is paper which also burns quickly. So you must do something to prolong that even further. What I suggest is taking the lid to the larger can and all but covering your big can (thus the need for a metal lid). This will control the amount of oxygen getting to the flame thus conserving your fuel.

NOW YOU WILL LIVE AND NOT BECOME A POPSICLE!!!
YAAY!

Props to TacticalIntelligence.net for their extremely helpful video and images!