My first science teacher was like him. He thought I was special because I used to suggest uses for things when he was performing experiments for the class, often things that were invented and used in the past. He thought I had great potential but it was lost in the "one size for all" education system. Unfortunately with the way my brain works I was doomed in the classroom.
I agree, I t’s great when you do. Both my Chemistry and Physics teachers were very similar to him. So I go from low 60% grades in both subjects the year before (with regular teachers) to 95% and 90% the following year with the much more engaging (close to nutty) teachers. Performance and connecting are so important. Same with Calculus, Finite, Algebra/Geometry. Also would have helped the US to pay their teachers much better wages to keep good teachers teaching. It’s the future you’ve invested in.
@@ruidadgmailcanada8508 I wish I’d had teachers like that! Unfortunately in high school my grades went in the opposite direction. I’m genuinely glad your experience was different! 👍
@@stupidscruff5794 Well done you. Schools are just indoctrination centres - getting through them without losing your common sense is the biggest challenge you'll ever face in life.
With teachers with that sort of down to earth knowledge and experience is what is needed whatever the subject to motivate students and would make a big difference to help in deciding what career they may decide on.
Great idea for the wick holder. I’ve just ordered my felt from you and will make a wick holder out of the rodent mesh as it’ll be easy to bend and have a great deal more airflow. Bravo, sir
TY as always! I like the circular wick idea and perhaps two round wicks inside each other. Can't remember if it was this channel that had used two mesh mantles rather than one? Seemed to be an added benefit. GJ!
I like the wick holder. I also found that if you make a "wick sandwich", by putting a normal cotton wick on the outside (both sides) of the carbon felt and have the carbon felt stick up a little on the top, it will wick up the oil better.
Hi Robert! Again and again I can't get out of amaze of your creativity. For sure, I will use one of these heaters for my greenhouse in the late Winter to start some plants.
Used olive oil for my oil lamp, the flame is descent, fuel wise: lampoil makes it burn for 70 hours, with olive oil it was 96 hours and the smell was quite pleasant. But had to pinch the wick a little bit in order to light it, total soaked is harder to get it lit. That carbon felt is quite an invention and Discovery.
This is a very nice and simple method of making heating unit for cheap. I look forward Robert to you making the circular wick system for the 2.0 version so to speak. Good day mate.
You Are On To A Winner Here ! Keep up the Great Work. Here’s a Thought .How about a very inexpensive Fuel everyone in BRITAN can make at Home to Fuel the Mini Stove you have Created !
That even looks pretty! I’ve ordered some activated carbon felt. Looking forward to having a play with it. I have a couple of hurricane lanterns that I use on the odd occasion that the power goes out and have thought for a long time that it would be great to burn cooking oil in them. Before I found you the best option was to turn it into bio diesel. Changing the wick will be much easier!
@@marijenkins2674 I bought it on eBay. I’m not absolutely certain that it’s correct as I couldn’t find anything about it being 100% activated carbon, and it’s only 3mm thick instead of 5mm, but I figured I could double it up to get the thickness and if it doesn’t burn properly I’ll figure it wasn’t 100%, in which case I can use it to replace filters rather than to burn. It was only $17 so I’m not too fussed if it’s the wrong thing. It actually just arrived a few minutes ago so I’m trying to remember which box the hurricane lanterns got packed into so I can pull them out and give them a go. That might be an impossible task. I do have a couple of tiki torches I’ve never used and I know where they are so maybe I’ll try it in one of those.
Thanks Monique. I found Robert's online shop and bought a piece direct from him. 5mm 14×14 inch for £10. I'm waiting for it to arrive. Good luck with yours!
@@marijenkins2674 oh good work! I’m in Australia so didn’t want to pay international postage. If mine doesn’t work I guess I will though lol. I found the tiki torch and cut a piece of wick for it. I about half filled it with used cooking oil so figured it had a fair way to travel up the wick so left it outside and I’ll try to light it in the morning. Fingers crossed!
Yes a small circular wick should heat and vapourize the oil more. About an inch wide or less. Making sure oil can reach the centre of the circle. Even better but more tricky is a hole in the middle of the oil Holder, metal folded up or a small metal tube welded in the middle. Then the wick ring going around that hole tube. It will look like a donut cake tin. The air rushes up thru hole to make flame bigger and burn better. The oil Holder will have to have legs to allow the air to travel up thru hole.
Robert, that topper thing you put over the flame can be enhanced by first blackening the whole thing (both inside and out) by holding it over the flame so it gets covered by soot. Dark surfaces absorb heat better, but they also radiate heat better. Matte black surfaces have much higher emissivity than shiny metal surfaces. That way, when you put the topper on, and it gets hot, it will radiate out heat to the surroundings as infra-red radiated heat.
@@larrymartineau7507 The reason a mantle is used is because the point is not actually to heat the room. The point is to heat the *people* in the room. If you just have the flame by itself, the heat is embodied in the hot gases, which just rise to the ceiling. But if you use a mantle, those hot gases heat the mantle up, and the mantle radiates heat sideways, warming up the people around it.
I'm making a setup using a computer cpu radiator and 120mm fan to distribute the air, much like a secondary heat exchanger in a home furnace. This oil burning set up should be a great addition to my build today.
Another wonderful video! This should work well with kerosene or even rubbing alcohol. I have used the little chafing dish burners refilled with isopropyl alcohol and a construct much like yours with some good success. I put a small Sterling engine stove fan on top for forced distribution and it's even better. I'm going to stuff the whole thing in a terra cotta chimenea this season and see if we can warm a room with it.
Hi Robert, fabulous videos, coupled with an immensely curious mind, keeps me highly entertained! Keep it up. You say you sell the carbon felt in your shop. Can you give me a link please. TVM john
Hi, I have worked with heavy used cooking oil when looking for recycled fuel lighting. Eventually I ended up with floating wicks, as they will always be the same distance to the heavy oil.
If you want air to get to the wick from the underside, then use the wire mesh stuff you used for the mantel, for the wick holder. Would that be too much air and cause the whole wick to burn from head to toe?
cool,. I bet an upside down sardines tin could work as a wick holder. plus the mantle didn't seem close enough to the flame to help much with combustion. I wonder if you could use a pot scrubber as a short mantle?
Now your sucking vegetable oil rob, well done. TIP: you could put a peltier stove fan on top of the flame . Tip: you could put the wick between two round metal rods pencil size and make the wick adjustable.
Hi I have just started watching your channel I find it very interesting as I live off grid. Could you tell me please were down I get the wick. Will be passing your channel onto my friends there also live of grid. Many thanks for your channel, you make it easy to understand 👍
That is a cute little heater for next to nothing. I only have one question: does the radiant heat warm the oil once the mantle is placed on top? I haven't seen you check that and it might help you with future iterations mate.
I think maybe of all the videos other than the safety heater this is the most simple and the cheapest and arguably the most efficient one can make at home from materials basically laying around the house. Keep up the good work. Jesus Christ Almighty God bless you all 😊
Love this design! QUESTION: Could this design be modified to work in a tent? Instead of a wood tent stove for example. Add a chimney of sorts and make it more about heat than light?
I tried to burn sunflower oil with a thick wick in a ceramic holder, but it just kept burning the wick down and burned out, it was supposed to be a lamp oil wick as well, what did I do wrong, can you help me please?
I wonder what the effect would be if you mixed a small percentage of a less viscous fuel (e.g. methanol) with your veg oil. Would this give a lighter fuel with easier flow? Perhaps burn hotter and cleaner? Thanks.
you show a lot of interesting heating things in the last time. but all of them who are using oil to burn have smoky, stinky burn. isn't it possible to ad some clever materials like catalyst to make a more clean and effective burn?
Can I ask where and how much is that felt and how long does the wick last does it depend how big the container is sorry lots of questions it started with one but the longer I was writing the more came to mind so better stop now otherwise you have to have a life but hopefully after my answers.
I just paid £10 plus p&p £1.15p for 5mm carbon felt straight from Robert's shop which is called Working Ink. I think the size was14x14 inch. Carbon felt may last forever as it doesn't burn at the temps incurred with these fires. That's what's good about it along with its ability to wick light and heavy oils.
@@marijenkins2674 Thank you for reply , only caught you on UA-cam last week and have been watching your other videos you’re very watchable and say it as it is rather than nonsense that others think is what people want to hear , they just need to watch you keep it simple that even people like me gets it, so thank you for being you.
This is a life saver!! Certainly this series is Awesome, and Especially as our fuel prices are up by at least 40%! And the Net Profit of the Companies who provide Energy,, ~ have gone Up by Well Over 60%!! I see this as sticking a couple of Fingers up to Those Companies!! (Not Fish-Fingers,Lol!) Thank you Robert!!
What was your thermostat set at last year? Mine is going to 55 degrees. Unused rooms will be off. This means I'll spend less this year. I bought a wearable blanket and am perfectly toasty as I sit in my apartment at 53 degrees F. I've reduced my power bill by 80 percent by washing my hands in cold water. Washing clothes in cold water. Hanging my clothes to mostly dry and then putting in the dryer with dry towels to dry with no heat. I hand wash my dishes with water I boil on my induction hotplate. I cook with my air fryer. There are ways to use less and be comfortable.
@@secondact7151I can't agree with you more!!🙂👍👍 Financially and Environmentally, ~ these are Brilliant ways to stay warm without 'Costing the Earth!' Sustainability is Not 'Optional' it's Essential! Luckily, I was bought up like this. *~Waste not Want Not~* I am extremely grateful for your kind reply, it's good to know that people are being less wasteful and much more thoughtful with the Earth's resources!!🏡 Namasté 🙏🕊️💞🌟 Andréa and Critters. ...XxX..
Thank you so much. Solves the problem I've had for months: Getting a large-enough flame from vegetable oil fuel. (Candles in Crisco collapse before there are anywhere near enough wicks bunched together for a decent flame.) The cat-can stove starves for combustion with heavy fuels. I arrived at an understanding that the mixture needed lots more air. Great answer. I never thought of having big holes in the wick holder to get that air into the wick. Looking forward to trying the circular version, for that much more flame size.
Is there any way you can indicate actual heat output of the various devices you construct? i.e. in 'watts'. It's much easier to make a decision on the device to build based on 'watts' than 'hot' or 'hotter'.....
You could turn it into a radiator by "floating" the kitchen utensil centrally on a long rod so that it is free to spin around, then using tapered metal construct a fan inside it so that the heat spins it around - sending the heat out further into the roof. Bit like those xmas decorations that spin above a candle but this one may also increase the oxygen intake due to the side ducts, potentially improving the pyrodynamics too!
@@Peter-jo3wt The rising heat is deflected radially by the propellor, distributing it horizontally away from the device - making a radiator. This also accelerates the rate at which air is drawn into the ducts which adds oxygen to the flame.
@@designerzen Heat moves in three specific ways. Convection Radiation And transmission. Convection means, that heat rises in a column of fluid (Water, air, other) dynamically. Radiation means, that heat radiates omnidirectionally from its source (in every direction). Transmission means, if you touch a hot Skillet it's going to burn you. A warmer item will transmitt heat to another item of lesser Heat, through contact. Rising heat that turns a fan does not suddenly become radiant heat. The fact that the fan May spread the heat a little through its mechanical process, does not mean that the heat radiates from the fan.
Hi, just a tip. You can use wheel spokes or some thin steel bars to make an outer structure to give it some stiffness. I made a solar parabole with a candle heater that way.
Robert, I was talking with my father and he said to try black sand in vacuum tubes. He said they operate just like a traditional "radiator" or boiler and the thermal mass maintains a heat of like 300°F even overnight.
Many thanks Rob, I've been trying to get old veggie oil to burn nicely for many years without forced air and now I'm as inspired as I am grateful. Hopefully I'll be able to get more out of the poly tunnel this winter!
Maybe you can just use your mesh as a wick holder and make the t the same . I like the idea of a circular wick with mesh and will be doing that tomorrow with my carbon felt that arrived . I love burning used motor oil . Its my new hobby ! 😂👍🏻
I made my two tin can heater using rubbing alcohol as fuel...started burning really well, then blew up, the inner can flew out, setting fire to some black bags, the main fuel can was also on fire. Luckily I managed to put out the fires using towels to smother...I will now conduct my experiments outside, or in the sink lol I had forgotten the cover the fuel hole in the inner can !
Well, I have some similar strapping as well as some flat stock of similar size. I'm off to make three. One without holes, One with a few like yours and, One with as many holes as I can reasonably fit. I haven't any Carbon felt but I have both cotton and fiberglass wicks for kerosene/paraffin lamps and heaters. I still think it'll give a good comparison as to how much difference the holes make. I'll be back here later if I find anything interesting. Thanks Rob! TnT is time much better spent than going down some YT rabbit-hole or, worse! turning on the TV or some game.
@@Eyes0penNoFear That took a bit longer than planned and, while I aim to try again sometime with carbon felt, the one that worked best for me was a simple cotton lamp wick (the stuff I had was 3/4" or 19mm and I used two to make it reasonably wide) but made little difference what holes were in the wick-holder. What really mattered was how the wick was trimmed (I think the small space between the two wicks made this easier to tune) and, to a small degree, how thermally conductive the holder was. With a better conductor I could get a larger flame before it started smoking. Another bit that helped was a solid chimney about 5" or 12.7cm with air holes just a hair below the flame and then the mantle to make sure everything burned. Set up like that it smelled like maybe someone fried an egg that morning, which I'll call practically odorless. If you or anyone else tries, I'd sure like to hear how it worked for you.
Not sure if the UK use similar looking strapping for bracing framing diagonally but is a bit lighter and more flexible. Bought on a roll it has a stack of other uses and would be cheaper than what you used Rob. Also easily cut with tin snips. Quite apparent that you're all facing a bitter winter with fuel going through the roof so I'm sure these little heaters are in response.
Some of the best Royal Society presentations I've seen, shame you have never been asked to do a presentation. Great educational these would be good on main stream tv.
Btw, I had used terra cotta for a pick. I cut out a round piece, and partially drilled circles within circles in the center about 1/8-1/16 deep and it burned very well and wicked well also. The circles are necessary to sustain the burn. Start it with the alcohol or equivalent as you have done.
I just remembered - is it possible to somehow dilute the heavy oils , to make them "lighter" (easier to wick through ) and to burn with less sooth (w/o mantle and added air) ?
Awesome video, by the way would adding a computer fan to it work? i was thinking making like a used oil rocket stove using used cans to make a tube with some holes near the bottom, and the fan on the top.
That was a great idea using the wick horizontally with the vegetable oil, you can now make the wick any length you wish. Imagine a 2 foot long flame with a glass top outside your back garden or inside a cabin. It would give of a wonderful gold light for hours and hours on a very small amount of vegetable oil and that's not to mention the heat it would provide. (You need to get a small gas jet flame lighter this will light the wick soaked in vegetable oil instantly.
@@stonynotdusty released carbon monoxide: yes this is a very serious problem and should never be used inside a home especially a family home. ( Its good to experiment and wish to use an open fireplace or outdoors ) thanks for highlighting the possible dangers of vegetable oil lamps.
My carbon felt won't stay lit. I don't get it. I've been using soybean oil which seems to burn with cotton rags and the oil is out in the cold but its not working with this carbon felt. Why not?
If only I'd have had you at school as my Chemistry or Physics teacher I'd have learn't a heck of a lot more and a darn site quicker ! thks
My first science teacher was like him. He thought I was special because I used to suggest uses for things when he was performing experiments for the class, often things that were invented and used in the past. He thought I had great potential but it was lost in the "one size for all" education system.
Unfortunately with the way my brain works I was doomed in the classroom.
I agree, I t’s great when you do.
Both my Chemistry and Physics teachers were very similar to him. So I go from low 60% grades in both subjects the year before (with regular teachers) to 95% and 90% the following year with the much more engaging (close to nutty) teachers.
Performance and connecting are so important.
Same with Calculus, Finite, Algebra/Geometry.
Also would have helped the US to pay their teachers much better wages to keep good teachers teaching. It’s the future you’ve invested in.
@@ruidadgmailcanada8508 I wish I’d had teachers like that! Unfortunately in high school my grades went in the opposite direction. I’m genuinely glad your experience was different! 👍
@@stupidscruff5794 Well done you. Schools are just indoctrination centres - getting through them without losing your common sense is the biggest challenge you'll ever face in life.
With teachers with that sort of down to earth knowledge and experience is what is needed whatever the subject
to motivate students and would make a big difference to help in deciding what career they may decide on.
I built my first one when I was 7yo in the cub-scouts. A badge well earnt.
Great idea for the wick holder. I’ve just ordered my felt from you and will make a wick holder out of the rodent mesh as it’ll be easy to bend and have a great deal more airflow. Bravo, sir
How do I buy direct from Robert?
With winter around the corner and the utilities not being reliable, the information you provide could very well be a life saver! 🙂👍
Wow! I wish you had been my teacher at school. Your enthusiasm is infectious. Thanks again :)
TY as always! I like the circular wick idea and perhaps two round wicks inside each other. Can't remember if it was this channel that had used two mesh mantles rather than one? Seemed to be an added benefit. GJ!
I love your channel. Goddess you and all of us in this difficult and depressing days, I love your videos inspire me and keep me busy THANKS
I like the wick holder. I also found that if you make a "wick sandwich",
by putting a normal cotton wick on the outside (both sides) of the carbon felt and have the carbon felt stick up a little on the top, it will wick up the oil better.
Hi Robert, love your video's. Look forward to new video's coming out each week as they are always fun to watch and interesting to learn from.
Starting to resemble an oil burner in a Rayburn/Aga... in fact the ring of felt will be exactly like our Rayburn :)
Hi Robert! Again and again I can't get out of amaze of your creativity. For sure, I will use one of these heaters for my greenhouse in the late Winter to start some plants.
Used olive oil for my oil lamp, the flame is descent, fuel wise: lampoil makes it burn for 70 hours, with olive oil it was 96 hours and the smell was quite pleasant. But had to pinch the wick a little bit in order to light it, total soaked is harder to get it lit.
That carbon felt is quite an invention and Discovery.
This is a very nice and simple method of making heating unit for cheap. I look forward Robert to you making the circular wick system for the 2.0 version so to speak. Good day mate.
You Are On To A Winner Here ! Keep up the Great Work. Here’s a Thought .How about a very inexpensive Fuel everyone in BRITAN can make at Home to Fuel the Mini Stove you have Created !
That even looks pretty!
I’ve ordered some activated carbon felt. Looking forward to having a play with it. I have a couple of hurricane lanterns that I use on the odd occasion that the power goes out and have thought for a long time that it would be great to burn cooking oil in them. Before I found you the best option was to turn it into bio diesel. Changing the wick will be much easier!
Where did you get your carbon felt, please? I'm confused and don't want to buy the wrong thing.
@@marijenkins2674 I bought it on eBay. I’m not absolutely certain that it’s correct as I couldn’t find anything about it being 100% activated carbon, and it’s only 3mm thick instead of 5mm, but I figured I could double it up to get the thickness and if it doesn’t burn properly I’ll figure it wasn’t 100%, in which case I can use it to replace filters rather than to burn. It was only $17 so I’m not too fussed if it’s the wrong thing. It actually just arrived a few minutes ago so I’m trying to remember which box the hurricane lanterns got packed into so I can pull them out and give them a go. That might be an impossible task. I do have a couple of tiki torches I’ve never used and I know where they are so maybe I’ll try it in one of those.
Thanks Monique. I found Robert's online shop and bought a piece direct from him. 5mm 14×14 inch for £10. I'm waiting for it to arrive. Good luck with yours!
@@marijenkins2674 oh good work! I’m in Australia so didn’t want to pay international postage. If mine doesn’t work I guess I will though lol. I found the tiki torch and cut a piece of wick for it. I about half filled it with used cooking oil so figured it had a fair way to travel up the wick so left it outside and I’ll try to light it in the morning. Fingers crossed!
Yes a small circular wick should heat and vapourize the oil more. About an inch wide or less. Making sure oil can reach the centre of the circle.
Even better but more tricky is a hole in the middle of the oil Holder, metal folded up or a small metal tube welded in the middle. Then the wick ring going around that hole tube. It will look like a donut cake tin.
The air rushes up thru hole to make flame bigger and burn better. The oil Holder will have to have legs to allow the air to travel up thru hole.
Thanks Rob, now we need to know how to make vegetable oil!
Grow sunflowers, then squeeze the seeds to produce sunflower oil
Robert, that topper thing you put over the flame can be enhanced by first blackening the whole thing (both inside and out) by holding it over the flame so it gets covered by soot. Dark surfaces absorb heat better, but they also radiate heat better. Matte black surfaces have much higher emissivity than shiny metal surfaces. That way, when you put the topper on, and it gets hot, it will radiate out heat to the surroundings as infra-red radiated heat.
@@larrymartineau7507 The reason a mantle is used is because the point is not actually to heat the room. The point is to heat the *people* in the room. If you just have the flame by itself, the heat is embodied in the hot gases, which just rise to the ceiling. But if you use a mantle, those hot gases heat the mantle up, and the mantle radiates heat sideways, warming up the people around it.
I'm making a setup using a computer cpu radiator and 120mm fan to distribute the air, much like a secondary heat exchanger in a home furnace. This oil burning set up should be a great addition to my build today.
Excellent idea as always! Keep them coming.
Love this! Very steampunk looking too!
Another wonderful video! This should work well with kerosene or even rubbing alcohol. I have used the little chafing dish burners refilled with isopropyl alcohol and a construct much like yours with some good success. I put a small Sterling engine stove fan on top for forced distribution and it's even better. I'm going to stuff the whole thing in a terra cotta chimenea this season and see if we can warm a room with it.
Hi Robert, fabulous videos, coupled with an immensely curious mind, keeps me highly entertained! Keep it up. You say you sell the carbon felt in your shop. Can you give me a link please. TVM john
Thank you!!! You make everything look so easy.
Nice made pal😃. I appreciate that you considered my suggestion😁. Keep it up pal 😎👍
Fun Knowledge , Brain needs to have fun too , off the leash running around the yard , stretching its receptors
Hi, I have worked with heavy used cooking oil when looking for recycled fuel lighting. Eventually I ended up with floating wicks, as they will always be the same distance to the heavy oil.
Who knew Anthony Hopkins was so crafty
If you want air to get to the wick from the underside, then use the wire mesh stuff you used for the mantel, for the wick holder. Would that be too much air and cause the whole wick to burn from head to toe?
Absolutely WICKed video!
cool,. I bet an upside down sardines tin could work as a wick holder. plus the mantle didn't seem close enough to the flame to help much with combustion. I wonder if you could use a pot scrubber as a short mantle?
Might give it a try tomorrow
Now your sucking vegetable oil rob, well done. TIP: you could put a peltier stove fan on top of the flame . Tip: you could put the wick between two round metal rods pencil size and make the wick adjustable.
"Slide your wick in there and chop it off." 🤣
love it!
Hi I have just started watching your channel I find it very interesting as I live off grid. Could you tell me please were down I get the wick.
Will be passing your channel onto my friends there also live of grid. Many thanks for your channel, you make it easy to understand 👍
That is a cute little heater for next to nothing. I only have one question: does the radiant heat warm the oil once the mantle is placed on top? I haven't seen you check that and it might help you with future iterations mate.
I think maybe of all the videos other than the safety heater this is the most simple and the cheapest and arguably the most efficient one can make at home from materials basically laying around the house. Keep up the good work.
Jesus Christ Almighty God bless you all 😊
Brilliant Robert many thanks 🙏🙏🙏❤️
I’m thinking of using the metal from a tin can for the wick holder (and pierce holes in it). Yay or nay?
I imagine that those extra bits help radiate more heat.
Thank you for this information.
Now I'd like to see this on a much larger scale, as an alternative to waste oil heaters.
Love this design! QUESTION: Could this design be modified to work in a tent? Instead of a wood tent stove for example. Add a chimney of sorts and make it more about heat than light?
I tried to burn sunflower oil with a thick wick in a ceramic holder, but it just kept burning the wick down and burned out, it was supposed to be a lamp oil wick as well, what did I do wrong, can you help me please?
Ring wick for double sided airflow, mantle directly above the fire to get maximum heat absorbed and converted from convective to radiative?
Soooo... If you put something over the flame and turn it into a nightlight does the light turn into heat energy?
Could it be the hight of the wick is why its not smoking rather than the holes introducing air into the burn
Thank you.
I wonder what is the most difficult thing you have made?
New oil is one great, but why didn't you use old oil?
nice if a little smelly. particularly on old used veg oil or engine oil
Can you show us where/ link to this Carbon felt? There are a number of different people who sell this , What do you use on your videos?
I tried this today. And it only flamed until the few drops of Isopropanol was used up. What am I doing wrong? 🤷♂️
Robert, I have an older kerosene heater that needs a new wick. Would replacing the wick with carbon felt and using veggie oil be a viable heater?
would it not burn cleaner and hotter doing a mix of veg oil and methanol ?
Is there anything that could be added to vegetable oil to make it not so thick? To help it wick a little better?
Pretty neat 👏
I wonder what the effect would be if you mixed a small percentage of a less viscous fuel (e.g. methanol) with your veg oil. Would this give a lighter fuel with easier flow? Perhaps burn hotter and cleaner? Thanks.
Does carbon flet put out fumes??
Is it safe to use indoors?
Would it need to be flued ?
Nice👍🏽
you show a lot of interesting heating things in the last time. but all of them who are using oil to burn have smoky, stinky burn. isn't it possible to ad some clever materials like catalyst to make a more clean and effective burn?
I tried this but I cannot seem to get it to work i used 100% 8 mm carbon Felt
Pretty
Show this to the people in Ukraine - sent to Denys Davydov UA-cam Page
Can I ask where and how much is that felt and how long does the wick last does it depend how big the container is sorry lots of questions it started with one but the longer I was writing the more came to mind so better stop now otherwise you have to have a life but hopefully after my answers.
I just paid £10 plus p&p £1.15p for 5mm carbon felt straight from Robert's shop which is called Working Ink. I think the size was14x14 inch. Carbon felt may last forever as it doesn't burn at the temps incurred with these fires. That's what's good about it along with its ability to wick light and heavy oils.
@@marijenkins2674 Thank you for reply , only caught you on UA-cam last week and have been watching your other videos you’re very watchable and say it as it is rather than nonsense that others think is what people want to hear , they just need to watch you keep it simple that even people like me gets it, so thank you for being you.
Chinese diesel heaters for the win, fraction of the cost per kW/H compared to leccy :) Got one in my shed, great purchase.
What about carbon monoxide danger? If you used enough of those to heat a room wouldn't you poison yourself?
Yes, that's why you have good ventilation and a carbon monoxide monitor
Why not just use the steel mesh as a holder and use it as a candle
Ghost light
Looks like a darlick
I love the delight you get from producing great results from simple ideas Robert
This is a life saver!!
Certainly this series is Awesome, and Especially as our fuel prices are up by at least 40%!
And the Net Profit of the Companies who provide Energy,, ~ have gone Up by Well Over 60%!!
I see this as sticking a couple of Fingers up to Those Companies!!
(Not Fish-Fingers,Lol!)
Thank you Robert!!
What was your thermostat set at last year? Mine is going to 55 degrees. Unused rooms will be off. This means I'll spend less this year. I bought a wearable blanket and am perfectly toasty as I sit in my apartment at 53 degrees F. I've reduced my power bill by 80 percent by washing my hands in cold water. Washing clothes in cold water. Hanging my clothes to mostly dry and then putting in the dryer with dry towels to dry with no heat. I hand wash my dishes with water I boil on my induction hotplate. I cook with my air fryer. There are ways to use less and be comfortable.
@@secondact7151I can't agree with you more!!🙂👍👍
Financially and Environmentally,
~ these are Brilliant ways to stay warm without 'Costing the Earth!'
Sustainability is Not 'Optional' it's Essential!
Luckily, I was bought up like this.
*~Waste not Want Not~*
I am extremely grateful for your kind reply,
it's good to know that people are being less wasteful and much more thoughtful with the Earth's resources!!🏡
Namasté 🙏🕊️💞🌟
Andréa and Critters. ...XxX..
Thank you so much. Solves the problem I've had for months: Getting a large-enough flame from vegetable oil fuel. (Candles in Crisco collapse before there are anywhere near enough wicks bunched together for a decent flame.) The cat-can stove starves for combustion with heavy fuels. I arrived at an understanding that the mixture needed lots more air. Great answer. I never thought of having big holes in the wick holder to get that air into the wick. Looking forward to trying the circular version, for that much more flame size.
Is there any way you can indicate actual heat output of the various devices you construct? i.e. in 'watts'. It's much easier to make a decision on the device to build based on 'watts' than 'hot' or 'hotter'.....
You could turn it into a radiator by "floating" the kitchen utensil centrally on a long rod so that it is free to spin around, then using tapered metal construct a fan inside it so that the heat spins it around - sending the heat out further into the roof. Bit like those xmas decorations that spin above a candle but this one may also increase the oxygen intake due to the side ducts, potentially improving the pyrodynamics too!
Heat universally Rises and would act upon the fan idea, gloriously... without the addition of multiple candles.
But it would be rather superfluous.
@@Peter-jo3wt The rising heat is deflected radially by the propellor, distributing it horizontally away from the device - making a radiator. This also accelerates the rate at which air is drawn into the ducts which adds oxygen to the flame.
@@designerzen
Heat moves in three specific ways.
Convection
Radiation
And transmission.
Convection means, that heat rises in a column of fluid
(Water, air, other) dynamically.
Radiation means, that heat radiates omnidirectionally from its source (in every direction).
Transmission means, if you touch a hot Skillet it's going to burn you.
A warmer item will transmitt heat to another item of lesser Heat, through contact.
Rising heat that turns a fan does not suddenly become radiant heat.
The fact that the fan May spread the heat a little through its mechanical process, does not mean that the heat radiates from the fan.
So what you are saying is that the metal fan is unable to heat up even though it is above the source?
get the cutlery holder in IKEA.
The child in you lives within the size of the flame (this is a good thing of course) I thought I would explain that for others I believe you know it.
Hi, just a tip. You can use wheel spokes or some thin steel bars to make an outer structure to give it some stiffness. I made a solar parabole with a candle heater that way.
Robert, I was talking with my father and he said to try black sand in vacuum tubes. He said they operate just like a traditional "radiator" or boiler and the thermal mass maintains a heat of like 300°F even overnight.
Can you elaborate on what you mean by this? I’m interested
Many thanks Rob, I've been trying to get old veggie oil to burn nicely for many years without forced air and now I'm as inspired as I am grateful. Hopefully I'll be able to get more out of the poly tunnel this winter!
Any chance you could do a video to see how long this would burn by say 100ml
Maybe you can just use your mesh as a wick holder and make the t the same . I like the idea of a circular wick with mesh and will be doing that tomorrow with my carbon felt that arrived . I love burning used motor oil . Its my new hobby ! 😂👍🏻
Update?
@@secondact7151 soon I will but different way of doing the design .
YES Rob I can finally use the waste oil from all those tins of sardines I eat
I watch these videos and now I look at parts and pieces I have laying around and it gets my mind going with the things I can make
I made my two tin can heater using rubbing alcohol as fuel...started burning really well, then blew up, the inner can flew out, setting fire to some black bags, the main fuel can was also on fire. Luckily I managed to put out the fires using towels to smother...I will now conduct my experiments outside, or in the sink lol I had forgotten the cover the fuel hole in the inner can !
Well, I have some similar strapping as well as some flat stock of similar size.
I'm off to make three. One without holes, One with a few like yours and, One with as many holes as I can reasonably fit.
I haven't any Carbon felt but I have both cotton and fiberglass wicks for kerosene/paraffin lamps and heaters. I still think it'll give a good comparison as to how much difference the holes make.
I'll be back here later if I find anything interesting.
Thanks Rob! TnT is time much better spent than going down some YT rabbit-hole or, worse! turning on the TV or some game.
I'm curious to know how your experiment turns out.
@@Eyes0penNoFear That took a bit longer than planned and, while I aim to try again sometime with carbon felt, the one that worked best for me was a simple cotton lamp wick (the stuff I had was 3/4" or 19mm and I used two to make it reasonably wide) but made little difference what holes were in the wick-holder.
What really mattered was how the wick was trimmed (I think the small space between the two wicks made this easier to tune) and, to a small degree, how thermally conductive the holder was. With a better conductor I could get a larger flame before it started smoking. Another bit that helped was a solid chimney about 5" or 12.7cm with air holes just a hair below the flame and then the mantle to make sure everything burned.
Set up like that it smelled like maybe someone fried an egg that morning, which I'll call practically odorless.
If you or anyone else tries, I'd sure like to hear how it worked for you.
@@matthewellisor5835 thanks for the update!
Not sure if the UK use similar looking strapping for bracing framing diagonally but is a bit lighter and more flexible. Bought on a roll it has a stack of other uses and would be cheaper than what you used Rob. Also easily cut with tin snips.
Quite apparent that you're all facing a bitter winter with fuel going through the roof so I'm sure these little heaters are in response.
Some of the best Royal Society presentations I've seen, shame you have never been asked to do a presentation. Great educational these would be good on main stream tv.
Btw, I had used terra cotta for a pick. I cut out a round piece, and partially drilled circles within circles in the center about 1/8-1/16 deep and it burned very well and wicked well also. The circles are necessary to sustain the burn. Start it with the alcohol or equivalent as you have done.
I just remembered - is it possible to somehow dilute the heavy oils , to make them "lighter" (easier to wick through ) and to burn with less sooth (w/o mantle and added air) ?
Awesome video, by the way would adding a computer fan to it work? i was thinking making like a used oil rocket stove using used cans to make a tube with some holes near the bottom, and the fan on the top.
The last suggestion that you made would be cool to see with the circular Wick could you build it I would love to see how big the flame would be 🤔
Brilliant Rob
Bless Up Buddy
With your circular wick idea, do what you can to ensure that the inside gets sufficient air.
That was a great idea using the wick horizontally with the vegetable oil, you can now make the wick any length you wish. Imagine a 2 foot long flame with a glass top outside your back garden or inside a cabin. It would give of a wonderful gold light for hours and hours on a very small amount of vegetable oil and that's not to mention the heat it would provide. (You need to get a small gas jet flame lighter this will light the wick soaked in vegetable oil instantly.
Be careful if too big with carbon monoxide.
@@stonynotdusty released carbon monoxide: yes this is a very serious problem and should never be used inside a home especially a family home. ( Its good to experiment and wish to use an open fireplace or outdoors ) thanks for highlighting the possible dangers of vegetable oil lamps.
My carbon felt won't stay lit. I don't get it. I've been using soybean oil which seems to burn with cotton rags and the oil is out in the cold but its not working with this carbon felt. Why not?
How long would that flame burn on a tablespoon of oil?
first!