tin can hole heater

I once seen a hole heater made out of a tin coffee can.It was in a hard cover ice fishing book. It had a copper tubing coiled inside the can that came out the side of the can and sat in the water. When heated the water was sucked in the tubing and warmed as it passed through, and back into the hole. This kept the surface temp above freezing and also kept the water moving to stop it from freezing up. I have been looking for this book, or the plans on how to make one. Has anyone seen this, know the name of the book, or have the plans to make one??? THANKS!!!!

ICHASER

Sorry I haven’t but when I was a kid we used to use a coffee can full of brickets. The can sat beside the hole and melted warm water into the hole. I burnt many a line off

I haven’t seen this. My friend back in SD use to push coffe cans into the hole and put the over on the hole. When he returned, dumped a little fuel in them and lit. They warmed up and out they popped.

I made one, not worth the effort. A plain old coffee can with charcoal works just as well.

-J.

Check out your library. I think I saw it in the In-fisherman book. They put out some educatial books on ice fishing. good luck!!!

thanks guys, I’m determined to find a way to keep the holes from freezing. If you happen to see it in a book. Please drop me a line and let me know the book.

Try this. Take a zip lock bad and put in 1 or 2 hot hands, close the zip lock bag with a little air in it(so it floats), toss it in the hole.

I have no idea if this will work but it just came to me.

Jon, what do you do with the coffee can? Just set it next to the hole so the melted ice goes into it?

Looking for ideas for the Brainerd contest Saturday. Looks like a thermos full of peppermint patties should help!

I don’t know how long a handwarmer would work sealed in a bag since it needs oxygen to keep reacting?

Ferny

I never tried it but you would think one of those battery operated airators would work to keep the water moving and not freezing if it wasnt severely cold out.

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I don’t know how long a handwarmer would work sealed in a bag since it needs oxygen to keep reacting?

Ferny

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You know, why is it the little details that always escape me!

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Jon, what do you do with the coffee can? Just set it next to the hole so the melted ice goes into it?

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Ferny,

You drill down a second hole right next to your fishing or tip up hole. Overlap a little on one edge. Cut the hole about 6 inches deep. That second hole will fill with water.

At the bottom of your coffee can lay in a one inch layer of gravel, then fill to the top with charcoal. The self starting stuff works well.

Lite the can and set it in the second – 6 inch deep hole. The can will get very hot keeping the water from freezing in your fishing hole. Add charcoal as needed.

-J.

Thanks Jon, I am going to give it a whirl this Saturday.
I also have a small air pump just in case.

Ferny

Ferny, check your mailbox!!

Dan