I was happy enough with my first home-built alcohol stove that actually boiled water to post it here! I build a couple variations of the supercat, but have yet to find the right design to do more than look pretty and get water lukewarm.

I ended up picking up some hardware cloth and frankenstein'ed something resembling the fancee feest. I cut a strip of galvanized hardware cloth to fit in the 3 oz can, cut out a couple sections, folded the remaining four sections of cloth in to form a crude pot stand, leaving about 1/3" space above the top of the can. No holes were punched in the can. I didn't use a wick because of a lack of material (yet another trip to Menard's in the works).

And the winner is.... 2 cups of 50F water in a generic ancient aluminum 2 cup pot with a lid to a boil on 1 oz of ACE hardware denatured alcohol in... 17:35! and it continued to burn until 20:25. Test was outside in 45F weather with a light wind, aluminum foil for a windscreen. The flame was a nice steady blue, but appeared to not go all the way around the can at times.

Any suggestions to improve boil time? More height? Less? Wick? Holes? Thanks!

I was happy enough with my first home-built alcohol stove that actually boiled water to post it here! I build a couple variations of the supercat, but have yet to find the right design to do more than look pretty and get water lukewarm.

I ended up picking up some hardware cloth and frankenstein'ed something resembling the fancee feest. I cut a strip of galvanized hardware cloth to fit in the 3 oz can, cut out a couple sections, folded the remaining four sections of cloth in to form a crude pot stand, leaving about 1/3" space above the top of the can. No holes were punched in the can. I didn't use a wick because of a lack of material (yet another trip to Menard's in the works).

And the winner is.... 2 cups of 50F water in a generic ancient aluminum 2 cup pot with a lid to a boil on 1 oz of ACE hardware denatured alcohol in... 17:35! and it continued to burn until 20:25. Test was outside in 45F weather with a light wind, aluminum foil for a windscreen. The flame was a nice steady blue, but appeared to not go all the way around the can at times.

Any suggestions to improve boil time? More height? Less? Wick? Holes? Thanks!

That is a very long burn for 1 ounce of alcohol. I would think there are not enough holes to allow for a hot enough burn, but that is purely conjecture on my part. My Pepsi can stove has 32 holes and brings 2 cups of water to a boil in 4 1/2 minutes when it's warm, around 6 minutes when it in the temp range you are talking about. It usually burns out in the 8 minute range.

Try increasing the height of the pot stand to @ 5/8". I suspect your flame is being choked. That design would benefit from a wick also.

That is a very long burn for 1 ounce of alcohol. I would think there are not enough holes to allow for a hot enough burn, but that is purely conjecture on my part. My Pepsi can stove has 32 holes and brings 2 cups of water to a boil in 4 1/2 minutes when it's warm, around 6 minutes when it in the temp range you are talking about. It usually burns out in the 8 minute range.

I figured that was the case. From what I know of thermodynamics, I'd say that my stove was *barely* getting enough oxygen to stay lit, hence the long burn time. I kept checking the stopwatch in awe that it was still burning.

Dude... 2 cups of water. 6-7 minutes with 30 seconds prep time....with additional 12-15 minutes of burn time on 1 oz fuel.

Great design, just get it right and it will never go wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRt8mNOP2b0

Also...I double my stoves up when hiking with a group... easily can get 4-6 cups of water boiling in my 9" aluminum pot in 10 minutes....about 2 1/2 oz fuel between the two stoves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2esm2ALk_A

This is what I got that worked very well. Get some 2" header wrap off of e-bay, I think you can get 10' for $5.00 plus shipping. Then go to the hardware store and get a flexable pipe coupler, the kind with the stainless band all the way around the outside with 2 clamps. I think 3" worked, but might have been 2 1/2'. Cut the header wrap so about 1/4" is above the fancy feist can and it goes all the way around the inside of the can and all the way to the bottom. Then cut the clamps off of the stainless sleeve on the pipe coupler and coil it inside the wrap and can. The coupler sleeve is the proper height as is. The alcohol will seep plenty under it to burn very well. Should boil 2 cups in 6to7 min. I just fill it with fuel, 3/4 oz works very well, and set my pot on it and then light the wick. dave

You have just embarked on a path to eventual alcohol stove-induced insanity! :eek: Have fun! :rolleyes::banana:welcome

Just an update, I did increase the height of the hardware cloth to 13mm over the top of the can. the stove burned with a better appearance, however it burned for a total of 13:50 on 1 oz denatured, and only heated the 2 cups water to 190F.

It will be an addiction, I'm sure!

I'm wondering if I just got lucky. I consistently can boil one cup of water to a rolling boil in 3 minutes with a simple cat-stove, on 2 tsps of denatured. Two cups takes a little over 6 minutes. Sorry, no pic. I have 16 holes from a hand-held paper hole-punch, in a line around the middle of a Fancy Feast can. Windscreen and a pot cover help.

This is a good site:
http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html#Build-Instructions

I'm wondering if I just got lucky. I consistently can boil one cup of water to a rolling boil in 3 minutes with a simple cat-stove, on 2 tsps of denatured. Two cups takes a little over 6 minutes. Sorry, no pic. I have 16 holes from a hand-held paper hole-punch, in a line around the middle of a Fancy Feast can. Windscreen and a pot cover help.

This is a good site:
http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html#Build-Instructions
Two tablespoon alcohol is 1/2 oz. your time etc. is on the money cant get much better than that

I'm wondering if I just got lucky. I consistently can boil one cup of water to a rolling boil in 3 minutes with a simple cat-stove, on 2 tsps of denatured. Two cups takes a little over 6 minutes. Sorry, no pic. I have 16 holes from a hand-held paper hole-punch, in a line around the middle of a Fancy Feast can. Windscreen and a pot cover help.

This is a good site:
http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html#Build-Instructions

My supercats can perform similarly with one cup, with a variety of hole patterns. Unfortunately when I increase to two cups of water, the time increases drastically, to the point of a full ounce fuel not being able to boil it.

Two tablespoon alcohol is 1/2 oz. your time etc. is on the money cant get much better than that

I suspect it was just a mistype, but two *teaspoons* is a half ounce, not two *Tablespoons*, which is a full ounce.:D

I finally jury-rigged a stove that performs somewhat reasonably! Two cups cold tap water in 50F weather, very light wind, aluminum foil windscreen, aluminum pot with lid, one ounce fuel (30 ml), rolling boil in 10:20, maintained boil to burn-out at 17:50. Should be able to use 20-25 ml for cooking. Flame burned a surprising visible orange, but looked the same as videos of other stoves that burn transparent blue. I suspect the graphite-impregnated wicking is the culprit.
Fancy Feast can with Grapho-Glass lining interior and extending approx 1/4" above can lip, and one section of hardware cloth cut to same height as the wick as pot stand. Ugly as sin, but works! Heavy as far as alky stoves seem to go at 30 grams, but success is success!

My supercats can perform similarly with one cup, with a variety of hole patterns. Unfortunately when I increase to two cups of water, the time increases drastically, to the point of a full ounce fuel not being able to boil it.



I suspect it was just a mistype, but two *teaspoons* is a half ounce, not two *Tablespoons*, which is a full ounce.:D

I finally jury-rigged a stove that performs somewhat reasonably! Two cups cold tap water in 50F weather, very light wind, aluminum foil windscreen, aluminum pot with lid, one ounce fuel (30 ml), rolling boil in 10:20, maintained boil to burn-out at 17:50. Should be able to use 20-25 ml for cooking. Flame burned a surprising visible orange, but looked the same as videos of other stoves that burn transparent blue. I suspect the graphite-impregnated wicking is the culprit.
Fancy Feast can with Grapho-Glass lining interior and extending approx 1/4" above can lip, and one section of hardware cloth cut to same height as the wick as pot stand. Ugly as sin, but works! Heavy as far as alky stoves seem to go at 30 grams, but success is success!
Yes i mess up on tea and tablespoon tea 1/2. table 1 oz.

I suspect it was just a mistype, but two *teaspoons* is a half ounce, not two *Tablespoons*, which is a full ounce.:D

Actually, SIX teaspoons = 1 oz (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_teaspoon_are_in_an_ounce). So a half ounce would be 3 teaspoons not two.

Actually, SIX teaspoons = 1 oz (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_teaspoon_are_in_an_ounce). So a half ounce would be 3 teaspoons not two.
darn i must to a re check and right this down getting old memory not as good

Actually, SIX teaspoons = 1 oz (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_teaspoon_are_in_an_ounce). So a half ounce would be 3 teaspoons not two.

darn i must to a re check and right this down getting old memory not as good

You know, I knew that too; 1 tsp=5ml, 1 Tbsp=15ml, 1 oz= 30ml. I wish I could blame it on getting old, but alas I think I still have some time before I can get away with that! Thanks for the correction!

Medic, I have had alot better luck from the pepsi can stoves. I have tried both and for and all purpose stove te pressurized jet stove is the best for me. it wieghs .41 ounces and boils fast enough that sometimes I dont even bother getting out my pot stand. I can e-mail you some directions if interested.

Medic, I have had alot better luck from the pepsi can stoves. I have tried both and for and all purpose stove te pressurized jet stove is the best for me. it wieghs .41 ounces and boils fast enough that sometimes I dont even bother getting out my pot stand. I can e-mail you some directions if interested.

Sure, go ahead and send the directions you have. I've seen several designs floating around the web, but can't have too many, especially if they work! My only concern with the pepsi can style is durability; i.e. my clumsy @$$ sets something heavy on it. I know that just about any home-built stove has limited durability, but I see a definite difference in strength between can types.

Here are some photos that are related to what has been talked about in this thread. The original FF had a stainless steel mesh pot support and then changed over to a solid stainless steel band support. Some of the photos(top row) are of a hybrid made from a steel cat food can and an aluminum Fancey Feast cat food can. Generic muffler wrap was used to wrap the FF can and it was then inserted into the steel can and pushed down as far as it would go. About 3/16 of wick stuck out above the rim of the cans. Holes were punched into the bottom of the FF can to allow fuel to seep into the fiberglass wick between the walls. The pot was placed directly onto the cans as shown in one of the photos.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/th_E-Z-KATStove009.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/?action=view&current=E-Z-KATStove009.jpg)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/th_E-Z-KATStove007.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/?action=view&current=E-Z-KATStove007.jpg)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/th_E-Z-KATStove006.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/?action=view&current=E-Z-KATStove006.jpg)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/th_E-Z-KATStove005.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/?action=view&current=E-Z-KATStove005.jpg)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/th_E-Z-KATStove004.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/?action=view&current=E-Z-KATStove004.jpg)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/th_E-Z-KATStove003.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/?action=view&current=E-Z-KATStove003.jpg)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/th_E-Z-KATStove001.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/?action=view&current=E-Z-KATStove001.jpg)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/th_fanceefeestebay001.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/?action=view&current=fanceefeestebay001.jpg)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/th_tool071.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/?action=view&current=tool071.jpg)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/th_tool070.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/?action=view&current=tool070.jpg)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/th_tool038.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/?action=view&current=tool038.jpg)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/th_Ultimatepot006.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/sub%20one/?action=view&current=Ultimatepot006.jpg)

I always carry 2 stoves and they fit inside if my cook pot so they are well protected. And on the plus side if you do mess one up the stuff to make a new one can be found anywhere.