Anybody make alcohol stoves?

Meaningful discussion outside of the potato gun realm. Projects, theories, current events. Non-productive discussion will be locked.
goathunter
Corporal 2
Corporal 2
Posts: 675
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:20 pm

Sun May 27, 2007 10:34 am

One of my other hobbies is hiking,so being the tinkerer I am I try and make my own equipment to use out in the field.For a while I've been using alcohol burning stoves.They are fun to make,lighter,and considerably cheaper than the compressed fuel stoves.And if your an ecosystem lover they are cleaner on the environment not to mention they don't mess up your pots and pans.

Here is a link to a pretty cool website that explains homemade alcohol stoves:http://zenstoves.net/

If you have a rainy day I would recommend his for any Pyro,its just plain cool to see these things burn.
nickz
Private 2
Private 2
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:30 pm

Sun May 27, 2007 11:02 am

i make those too. i make ones with different size paint cans too.
User avatar
turbohacker
Specialist 3
Specialist 3
Posts: 392
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 12:34 am

Sun May 27, 2007 6:08 pm

ive made one or two simple ones out of altoid cans,ect., but they are never sturdy enough and never bring as much water as i need to a boil quick enough. (I camp with at least four other guys that i have to cook for)
User avatar
iPaintball
Corporal 2
Corporal 2
Posts: 695
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:37 pm

Sun May 27, 2007 7:04 pm

I've made a couple out of Pepsi cans...They work really well
Summer Projects:
CO2 tank hybrid: Gotta fix the meter :(
Cane gun: Needs a pilot/fill setup
1.5" piston valve gun: Almost done
goathunter
Corporal 2
Corporal 2
Posts: 675
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:20 pm

Sun May 27, 2007 10:47 pm

My Dad is introducing stoves made out of tin cans in Kenya as a alternative to charcoal.In testing they've been accepted very well.Easy to make,cheap to buy, and solves alot of health problems.
User avatar
Spuddin
Specialist 2
Specialist 2
Posts: 262
Joined: Wed May 16, 2007 1:28 pm
Location: Oklahoma
Contact:

Donating Members

Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:50 pm

cool, ive made about a half dozen or more out of soda pop cans, they are pretty neat. i just dont like buying the expensive denatured alcohol :?
User avatar
Big-mac
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 67
Joined: Sat May 05, 2007 8:23 pm

Fri Jun 22, 2007 12:41 am

those are awsome can you put them out and use the left over fuel and for that matter how much fuel to use?
goathunter
Corporal 2
Corporal 2
Posts: 675
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:20 pm

Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:22 am

You have to snuff them out.You can reuse the fuel.
The amount all depends on the stove and how long you want it to burn.General rule the more fuel the longer the burn :D
User avatar
Big-mac
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 67
Joined: Sat May 05, 2007 8:23 pm

Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:43 pm

cool might try it
User avatar
demilus
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 128
Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:17 pm

Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:14 am

Man these are awesome! I never really gave liquid fuel a though because quite a few of the camps I went to as a kid preached that liquid fuel is bad.

After I went to the site, I have built every kind of the stoves they have listed (except the "cyclone" stove)! Right now I'm waiting for my pressurized jet stove the cure.

I'm planning on going on a short backpacking trip soon (3-4 days, 30-50 miles), so these really pumped me up. Thanks man!
User avatar
SnowFlox
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 134
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:27 am

Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:34 pm

looks very interesting :)

here we got blue alcohol for cleaning stuf. very flamable ....
can i use that to ?
User avatar
mark0491
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 80
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 6:49 pm

Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:39 pm

couldnt you use oil lamp oil i mean they sell it pretty cheap at like wallmart at it burns at like 7 minutes a tablespoon
User avatar
SnowFlox
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 134
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:27 am

Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:45 pm

lamp oil doesnt burn by it self... unless its boiling hot that gasses vaporize. But alcohol does burn by it self.
goathunter
Corporal 2
Corporal 2
Posts: 675
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:20 pm

Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:15 pm

Mark0491,Lamp oil would defeat the point of the stove.It wouldn't pressurize.It would just burn off the fuel.If it didn't pressurize the heat output would be very little.

Demilus, take a look at these.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=288323
Not exactly the lightest but the best messkit I've ever used.Look for the aluminum ones if you want lighter.I have both stainless and aluminum.They work great,dang near indistructable too.

snowflox,what it labeled as? I know any denatured alcohol or methylated spirits will work.When in Africa I use the purple Methylated spirits.Great stuff;stove fuel,industrial solvent,antiseptic,and skin care product(yes this is what it is labeled on the jug :shock: )
User avatar
SnowFlox
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 134
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:27 am

Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:22 pm

@goat hunter

ive look on a wikipedia @ my language.

It says : 85% ethanol, 10% water, 3% methanol, 1% aceton en 1% pyridine

And it also says that its uses by burners in labotory. Because it wil not leave black stuff at glass.

And about the link you posted.
I reconize those burners ! they sell them here in a army dump store. :)
Post Reply