FAQ

Which stove should I buy?

If you cannot decide which stove to buy, you may find our Stove Selection Matrix helpful.

I cannot disassemble my Bushbox - Am I doing something wrong?

The Bushbox (the standard model without hinges) is equipped with a safety mechanism to avoid accidental disassembly during operation. To disassemble it, the safety mechanism needs to be unlocked. Please refer to the instructions in the product manual.

How do I assemble my Bushbox (models without hinges)?

Please refer to the instructions in the product manual.

How do I clean my stove?

You can use anything except steel wool (which may leave iron particles in the stainless steel and make it appear to rust). The best natural cleaning agents are sand or horsetail (a plant, it is actually one of the best materials for cleaning pots, dishes, cutlery and metal in general). Indoors you can use a kitchen sponge or run your stove through the dish washer.

Are there any general care principles I should follow

Please follow the care instructions in the manual. If you take good care of your stove, it should last a lifetime. These are the basic principles you should follow:

• Do not shock cool your stove! Never put a hot stove into cold water; let it cool down by itself to avoid warping.
• Do not overheat the stove (see also How do I avoid overheating of my stove and what happens if the stove has been overheated?).
• Do not use your stove as a permanent campfire (except Bushbox XXL Campfire), as this may lead to overheating and can result in severe distortion.

What is the difference between the steel and the titanium versions?

The titanium versions of our stoves are much lighter than the stainless steel ones. Also, titanium will show more intense and very beautiful annealing colours (colouring of the material when it is heated above a certain temperature – this is a normal physical process).

Based on the experiences of our customers and our own testing results, our titanium stoves do not warp more (or less) than the stainless steel versions. Also, since we are using pure titanium, it does not become brittle due to heating.

Although the titanium and the stainless-steel versions are identical in design, we deliberately deliver our Bushbox XL Titanium with a bottom plate and trivets made from stainless steel; the same is true for the bottom plate of the Bushbox LF Titanium. Customer experience has shown that these are the only components which may warp or bend if made from titanium.

Will my stove warp when heated?

Warping is a physical effect which happens when metal is heated unevenly. In other words: Warping cannot be avoided. However, we do everything possible to reduce warping to a minimum. If you do not overheat your stove, almost no visible warping will occur, the warping will never reach an extent where the function or operation of the stove is impaired. For more information please read How to Operate Your Hobo Stove.

How do I avoid overheating of my stove and what happens if the stove has been overheated?

Dangerous overheating is only possible with all versions of the Bushbox XL (titanium and stainless steel versions) when operated outside the intended purposes (to cook meals, make coffee or tea, etc.) and only if you use wood. This stove have such a strong chimney effect that – e.g. if it is being abused as a camp fire for an extended time – it may get so unevenly heated that the metal is damaged or permanently warped.

If you use our stoves according to the specifications, they will not overheat, especially if you operate the Bushbox XL with fewer (but thicker) pieces of wood. For more information please read How to Operate Your Hobo Stove.

How do I operate a hobo stove perfectly with wood?

First of all, that depends very much on the size of the stove. The larger the stove, the stronger the chimney effect and the easier you will find it to start and maintain a fire. The smaller the stove, the more experience is required.

To start a fire, you need tinder material, used to catch the initial spark from the ignition source and transfer it to the kindling. Perfect natural tinders are the paper-like outer parts of birch bark, dead dry plants, leaves and grasses, dry moss, wood shavings and dry tree needles. Tinder ignites easily and quickly, but it burns just for a very short time.

Before igniting the tinder, you need to collect two different types of wood: Kindling and the fire wood you need to maintain the fire. Try to use standing wood – material collected from the ground is almost always damp, although it seems to be dry. All the material you collect must be very dry – if it was raining, you can still find very dry wood in the core of branches and logs once you remove the outer layers.

Kindling is used to transfer the fire from the tinder to the rest of the wood – it consists of small twigs, small pieces of wood or thicker wood shavings. Kindling needs more energy to catch fire, but it will burn hotter and longer than tinder – long and hot enough to ignite the real fire wood.

Maintaining the fire is very easy with our large stoves but becomes more challenging with our smaller stoves since they cannot develop such a strong chimney effect. The most important point is to make sure that your fire can breathe, i.e. that it gets enough oxygen from below (and the air flow is not blocked). Always make sure the bottom plate (the one with the holes at the bottom of the stove) is not clogged up by wood or ashes. The bigger the stove, the thicker the wood you are able to use. The larger stoves burn very efficiently, so you do not need a lot of wood. Bushbox LF and Bushbox XL models can even use damp wood once the fire is going.

Remember, the smaller the stove, the more time you will need to dedicate to the maintenance of the fire – always make sure it is burning well, do not let it go out. If the fire dies, it is very easy to start it again in the larger stoves (by blowing into the coals); with the small ones you may need to start from the beginning.

For more information please read How to Operate Your Hobo Stove.

Is the EDCBox really a fully functional stove?

Absolutely – as long as you use it within its specifications. Nevertheless, the EDCBox is an emergency stove. It will not cook a meal for a group of four, but it may keep you alive in cold temperatures. And although it may seem to be too small (it actually is the smallest hobo stove in the world), it definitely has its own strengths. You may be surprised to learn that the EDCBox is being used by special forces in arctic training.

It displays its full potential when you use it with fuel tablets. But you can even use it to cook a meal, using nothing but wood. Of course, you can also use it as a pen holder at the office (for a subtle hint you’re a seasoned outdoors enthusiast) or put a tea candle in it and keep your coffee or tea warm.

Can I use coated pots on hobo stoves?

No. Over open fire (all our stoves are open fire), the best choices are cookware made of stainless steel, cast iron or wrought iron. Please avoid all coated materials since the coating will not survive the high temperatures (especially with the very efficient, larger stoves like Bushbox XL and Bushbox LF). The efficiacy of the pot will be damaged (and might emit toxic substances in the process).

What is the chimney effect (stack effect) and why is it important for hobo stoves?

The chimney effect (also called stack effect) is basically an airflow caused by heated air which flows upwards and draws in fresh air from below. It results from temperature difference and is the underlying principle of our hobo stoves – once the fire has been started, they burn hot and efficient because an airflow builds up and sucks in fresh oxygen which in turn fuels the fire.

The chimney effect is most important when you work with wood and fuel tablets. It will not make a huge difference when you use a spirit burner inside a Bushbox.

The larger a stove is, the stronger the impact of the chimney effect. Our larger stoves like the Bushbox LF, the Bushbox XL and the Bushbox XXL Campfire will have a perfect chimney effect and get very hot as a result.

To take full advantage of the chimney effect please make sure that the air intake of the stove is not obstructed.

For more information please read How to Operate Your Hobo Stove.

Are there any dangers when working with the hobo stoves?

If you operate your hobo stove responsibly and according to the operating instructions and if you observe these rules for working with open fire, then you should be safe:

• Never leave open fire unattended.
• Keep children and animals away from open fire.
• Make sure your stove has a firm and safe stand (a tipping stove can cause severe burns or start fires).
• Ensure that there are no combustible materials in the surrounding area which can catch fire (for instance never make fire directly on the forest soil, that may cause a catastrophic smouldering fire which you will not even recognise but which will burn for days and destroy large areas before it is detected).
• Never use open fire in enclosed spaces (danger of suffocation and smoke poisoning).
• Never touch a stove before it has sufficiently cooled down.
• Always have material nearby which is suited to extinguish the fire.
• Observe all laws and regulations.
  
  

Do I have to observe any laws when I am using a hobo stove?

Sometimes. Before you use your stove make sure there are no local or general laws or regulations which restrict or disallow the use of open fire such as camp fires, gas stoves or hobo stoves. This may especially be the case in arid regions, during seasons with a high risk of forest fires or in general in certain regions of the world.

If in doubt, always use common sense and observe the rules for using open fire (see “Are there any dangers when working with hobo stoves?”)

Can I use a Trangia spirit burner with my stoves?

All of our stoves (except the EDCBox) are compatible with the Trangia burner. Most of our stoves also have special holding positions for the Trangia – for details please refer to the manual of the stove in question.

Are the stoves compatible with fuel tablets (Esbit, Hexy Blocks etc.)?

Yes, they all are. The EDCBox is perfect for use with fuel tablets.

Why don't you ship the Dog Tag and the Survival Card to Canada and the US?

We have an agreement with the patent owner (Philip E. Bellefeuille), who wants to sell his own products in the US and Canada.

Can I use tent pegs as a grill on my Bushbox XL?

Yes, you can, up to 5mm diameter.

Is it normal that my stove has scratches?

Scratches from production may sometimes be visible on the surface of our stoves produced until approximately the end of 2022, as we have deliberately not polished our products until then in order to avoid environmental pollution and health risks. Since the end of 2022, we have been processing most of our parts using a new technology that allows us to remove production-related sharp burrs in a way that is particularly gentle on our employees and nature, and to achieve an even surface appearance while further minimising our ecological footprint.

Where and how are the stoves manufactured?

All Bushcraft Essentials stoves are designed and manufactured in Germany, to the highest manufacturing specifications possible, and contain no plastics in the products or in the packaging - opting instead for cotton bags and cardboard.

We also make sure that we use materials of the highest possible quality and that all our products are being manufactured under fair working conditions and without health or environmental risks.

Why do some Bushboxes come in a cotton bag?

We avoid plastic wherever we can. For this reason, all our stoves come in cardboard boxes and/or cotton bags if you order the basic version. The cotton bag is not meant for permanent storage of the stove, it is just a means of wrapping. If you need a sturdy bag for everyday use, we recommend you buy the desired stove as a set (with the Heavy Duty Outdoor Bag) or the Heavy Duty Outdoor Bag as an accessory.

Which bags do I need for my stove?

If you have a Bushbox XL (stainless steel or titanium version), you will need the “Heavy Duty Outdoor Bag Bushbox XL” or the "Leather Pouch Bushbox XL". All smaller Bushbox stoves fit in the “Heavy Duty Outdoor Bag Bushbox / Bushbox Ti / Bushbox UL / Bushbox LF” and the "Leather Pouch Bushbox LF". The EDCBox comes in its own bag, which cannot be ordered separately. The "Heavy Duty Outdoor Bags" of all sizes can also be ordered separately as accessories.

Where can I buy Bushcraft Essentials products?

Many outdoor retailers in many countries carry our products. You will also find our products on Amazon and in our web shop.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes, we do. Just enter your complete address and country when you order.

How much do you charge for shipping?

We charge a flat rate – 4,50 EUR no matter what you order or where you live. The shipping costs do not include additional fees like VAT / sales tax / customs charges.

Which payment methods do you accept?

You can pay with the following payment methods: SEPA direct debit, PayPal, credit card (VISA, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay, Giropay, Google Pay. Some payment methods may not work in certain countries.

Do you offer discounts?

Unfortunately not, apart of our MILBOS program. We may offer a discount when we introduce a new product or on special occasions, but otherwise we cannot undercut our retailers. The only exception is our special discount for military personnel, public servants and NGO’s (20% discount, please refer to our MILBOS program).

Do you offer free samples or free products?

Under some circumstances we do. Since we get many requests for free products, we can only answer requests which follow our Test & Charity Rules:

• Charities & NGO’s: Please send us a letter with the official letterhead of your organisation, giving details of your project and specifying what kind of support you need. We will then decide whether to provide products, special discounts or to support your project in any other way.

• Test products, Bloggers & Reviewers: We are getting many requests every day for free test products. Please understand that we cannot answer each request and that we cannot send out free products in every case. If you are interested in a cooperation, please send an email to marketing@bushcraft-essentials.com, providing the link to your channel(s). Please understand that we are not interested in gear channels, unboxing videos or fake Amazon reviews.

Do you have a physical store?

No, we don’t. Our products are mostly sold by retailers. We select our retailers very carefully to make sure you receive a very high standard of service which matches the quality of our products.

Can I track my order?

After shipping your order, we always send you a shipping confirmation email. In most cases the confirmation email contains a tracking number (some shipments will not be trackable due to circumstances outside our control).

We use two different tracking systems, depending on how we ship. Most of our shipments can be tracked here: https://www.dhl.de/en/paket/information/sendungsverfolgung.html

Otherwise you may be able to use the tracking system of your national post once the package has entered your country.

Why is my tracking number not working?

It takes a few hours (or a few days in some cases) for the tracking to start working. If after some time you still cannot track your order, please contact our customer service. Before contacting us please take into account that shipping to other countries may involve customs, which can significantly delay delivery (up to 2-3 weeks in some cases).

Where is my shipment?

We are sometimes contacted by concerned customers just a few days after shipping. Please take into account that we are shipping from Germany and in many cases the shipment may be held up by customs or simply by long distance. Please use the tracking number (see Can I track my order?) if available.