How to Make a Buddy Burner (Entirely From Trash).

This is a simple and easy project you can make at home and, in the process, recycle several materials you would normally throw away.

The materials needed for this project are:

1. a short can, a tuna can works well
2. any old cardboard that you no longer need
3. old broken crayons that you do not care for anymore
4. a normal can (I used a can from beans)
5. an outdoor stove
6. pliers
7. a marker
8. a ruler
9. scissors or box cutters
10. a lighter or matches
11. a stick

For this step you will need:

1. the cardboard
2. the scissors or box cutters
3. ruler
4. marker

In this step you will cut out the strips of cardboard for the buddy burner. First you will measure 1 1/4" wide cardboard with the ruler and using the marker, mark the lines where you will cut the cardboard. After you have drawn the lines you can use the scissors or the box cutter to cut out the strips of cardboard.

For this step you will need:

1. the tuna can
2. the cardboard strips

Now you will fill the tuna can with rolled up cardboard. You will roll up one strip of cardboard on a table but leave a few inches sticking out. Then you will tuck the next strip in and roll it up. You continue this process until it fits the tuna can tightly. Now you can push the cardboard into the tuna can. If the roll is to big, cut off the excess until it fits into the can.

For this step you will need:

1. 2" long piece of cardboard strip from step 1
2. ruler
3. marker
4. scissors
5. the filled tuna can from step 2

First you will measure 1/4" size pieces of cardboard with the ruler and mark several strips using the marker. Once you have marked the strips, use the scissors and cut out the strips along the lines you drew. Stick the strips into different gaps you find in the cardboard filled can (see picture).

For this step you will need:

1. old broken crayons
2. a normal can

Peel the wrappers off the crayons and put the crayons into the normal can. You will need about half a can of crayons.

For this step you will need:

1. the normal can with peeled crayons in it from step 4
2. an outdoor stove or heat source
3. pliers
4. a stick

First set the can with crayons in it on the stove and turn the stove on. Once the crayons are almost completely melted, mix them with the stick to make sure that they are all melted. As you mix them hold the can with the pliers so that the can does not fall over.

For this step you will need:

1. the prepared tuna can from step 3
2. the melted wax from step 5
3. the pliers
4. a sheet of cardboard

Set the cardboard filled can on the cardboard sheet to catch any wax that spills. Now you are ready to pour the wax into the prepared tuna can. Pick up the can with wax in it using the pliers, then pour the melted wax into the prepared tuna can until it is at least 3/4 full. Do not touch the can for a few hours because it will be hot from the wax you just poured. Once your can is cooled your buddy burner is ready to be used.

For this step you will need:

1. the buddy burner
2. the lighter or matches

When you light the buddy burner light it outside. Set the buddy burner on a stable surface then light the wicks and keep the flame protected from the wind until the flame is large enough that it will not easily go out. When you want to put out the flame just blow out the flame using your breath, then you can reuse the buddy burner until the cardboard and wax is all burnt out. Then you can reuse the can to make a new buddy burner by repeating these steps.