Anyone used one of these heaters before?

Toilet Paper Heater

I have carried that setup in our vehicle for several years, but have never needed to use it. A friend in Colorado has though, and reports that they work well...

I wondering if the TP has to fit "snuggly" in the can. My first little test produced high flames that one would not want in anything resembling a car or ice fishing shanty.

When I first saw this, I have to admit I was a little septic al. Then I flushed out the details and I had to wipe the smirk off my face...it just might work!

Sorry <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I believe that the one pound sized cans are what you want. TP roll fits in pretty snugly...

I've not tried it but I would like a toilet seat heater, the paper is not that much of an issue on a cold morning:) Seriously, it sounds to be worth a try in a safe place sometime.

Does anyone know if the TP roll fits completely inside a one pound coffee can, or whether it sticks up at all?

I had read about the TP heater on the NOAA website a while ago. I didn't have a one pound can handy but thought the idea was interesting so I tried a smaller scale version. Took a soup can, stuffed crumpled paper towels inside it, added the alcohol and fired it up.

I understand the science behind it, but it still amazes me that the paper towel doesn't really burn even though a flame is dancing over it. Pretty nifty. However, the entire can got extremely hot, including the bottom part. I don't see how I could have this sitting anywhere inside a snowbound car without melting something.

I didn't fill the can completely with paper towels, hence my question about a TP roll. I'm wondering...if the TP sticks slightly above the rim of the can, maybe that keeps the flame away from the can and it won't heat the metal up so much. Just a hunch.

It leaves an inch or so of space, enough for a couple of Bics in a ziploc bag...

OK, so much for my theory about the flame burning above the rim of the can... <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Well, I'll be! It might just work! Thanks for all the input.

I'll look for the proper size can (might even start drinking coffee just to get the cans.) And I'll work on that toilet seat heater thingy. I feel your pain......