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Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: Fishaholic on January 03, 2014, 11:11:24 AM

Title: Alcohol Stove
Post by: Fishaholic on January 03, 2014, 11:11:24 AM: This is a pretty fun afternoon project. Its called a pop can stove, penny stove, hobo stove and many others. It will boil 2 cups of water real quick. It also burns on a few different fuels. I used denatured alcohol because its semi cheap and burns clean.

What you need is 2 12 oz popcans( beer red bull v8 cans work well to. 1 soup can some scissors and a set of needle nose.

Cut 2 inches from the bottom of your cans with your scissors so you have just the bottom of the can

Next take your needle nose and kinda bend the top of your can so you can slide one can over the top of the other. They need to fit tight because there will be some pressure in the can.

Next take a tack or needle and poke 3 holes in the bowl of the can and 10~16 holes on the sides of the top of the bottom of the can.

Your stove is made.

Next is a soup can. I cut them about 3~4 inches so your stove is protected from wind. Also this acts like a primer pan to help get your stove going and it also as a place to put a pan for cooking. I used sand paper on both types of cans to get the burs off. Next you take a poke holes all over the can. Then your done. Now all you have to do is Add your fuel ( fill the bowl of the stove 2~3 times. Add a splash of fuel in your priming pan and light. You will be warming hands and boiling water in no time. I WOULD NOT use the stove inside at all. This is for light weight camping and if you make it correct its the only stove that will work 100% of the time. IF you want more info go to google and search zen and the alcohol stove.
Title: Re: Alcohol Stove
Post by: Fishaholic on January 03, 2014, 11:16:22 AM: There are many types and makes of the stoves. the one i made is a low pressure ( sp) can stove. How it works is when you prime the stove it warms up the fuel and turns in into vapor is forced out the holes were its on fire and bam you got a stove. Some people put wicks in them Also some times the flame is clear so you cant see it. Just use your head with them and you will be safe.

Thanks
DJ
Title: Re: Alcohol Stove
Post by: Fishaholic on January 03, 2014, 11:30:46 AM: Also after the stove heats up throw a penny in the bowl of the stove to cover up the 3 holes it will help save fuel.
Title: Re: Alcohol Stove
Post by: slayerofthesea on January 03, 2014, 08:33:07 PM: Not a bad idea. I might make one to warm my hands while fishing in the cold.
Title: Re: Alcohol Stove
Post by: snowpack on January 03, 2014, 08:47:50 PM: the ultra light backpacker seem to love those stoves.
Title: Re: Alcohol Stove
Post by: Fishaholic on January 05, 2014, 01:04:47 AM: Quote from: snowpack on January 03, 2014, 08:47:50 PM
the ultra light backpacker seem to love those stoves.

Ya they are like 28 grams... less then an oz. Also the alcohol weights less then the fuels that are used for stoves.
Title: Re: Alcohol Stove
Post by: Fishaholic on January 07, 2014, 01:49:44 PM: Not sure if anyone cares but I timed a stove and it was boiling water( not sure how much) in 3 mins and the stove ran for 12 mins off an oz or so of fuel
Title: Re: Alcohol Stove
Post by: Easy-E on January 07, 2014, 03:05:44 PM: I use these exclusively for all of my backwoods adventures.
Title: Re: Alcohol Stove
Post by: ICEMAN on January 07, 2014, 06:59:35 PM: We use alcohol stoves for our sub zero trips. No moving parts is a good thing.

For really cold weather, guys should consider also bringing some rubber gloves for fueling. You can get some serious frostbite going by spilling alcohol on your skin at sub zero temps.

Also, never refill a recently burned stove, you cannot really top these off during the burn.... Also, be wary of tipping these over, many of the catstoves have such a small footprint, they overturn quite easily, spilling fuel and flames.
Title: Re: Alcohol Stove
Post by: yajsab on January 09, 2014, 01:32:03 PM: I made a good size ball of fire in my house and scare the heck out of my family. :chuckle:

The stove might still be around.