View Full Version : Alcohol stove Question
srestrepo
07-03-2009, 14:14
i made a cat food can alcohol stove a few weeks ago and have been dying to use it out on the field, i think the design is a side burner. i havent been able to find a good kind of bottle to hold my alcohol, my entire backpack was flammable during a recent trip...
the question is the following, does anyone know where i can get a good bottle to hold the alcohol in??
AND
does anyone know if i can use the hand sanitizer alcohol to also fuel my stove??? i think it would be neat because it can serve a dual purpose.
anyway thanks so much for the insight. look forward to hearing some ideas and suggestions.
mister krabs
07-03-2009, 14:37
a bottled water bottle, I use an 8oz one found in packs at the grocery.
small listerine mouthwash bottle is what i use.
Homer&Marje
07-03-2009, 14:44
I either use a small 12 oz dasani water bottle for small trips, more fuel I use my sigg aluminum bottle, can hold 32 oz and is light....thats fuel for 3 people though
srestrepo
07-03-2009, 14:45
do you guys know if that hand sanitizer works???
i don't think hand sanitizer will work.
mister krabs
07-03-2009, 15:03
it will work if you use it to start a wood fire and cook on that!
but not to fuel a stove, don't think it would be hot enough.
medicjimr
07-03-2009, 15:45
I would stick with either Heet ( Yellow Bottle ) or denatured alcohol Hand sanitizer does not generate adequate heat.
Hikes in Rain
07-03-2009, 16:39
Agree with the above. It's a good fire starter, but won't fuel a stove. Alcohol content isn't high enough. I use a little soda bottle for my alcohol fuel.
vamelungeon
07-03-2009, 17:22
I use a plastic Coke bottle.
Kerosene
07-03-2009, 18:43
Take a look at the half-liter Platy softside bottle (http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/accessdetail.cfm/PL1005) with a squeeze top.
I just used an empty water bottle for my alcohol on recent 1 week hike. It worked just fine. Had to be careful not to drink it, though.
Hand sanitisers are made with 60-80% alcohol , so not that efficient as fuel. For starting fires cotton balls impregnated with Vaseline (petroleum jelly) tend to work better.
That Platypus container is handy because it collapses as it gets emptied, so takes up less room.
The 0.5 liter is under 1 oz , very practical for shorter trips too.
(make sure you push that pop top down fully, it clicks when in place)
The Gatorade is my drink bottle, I don't like bladders.
Platypus 500ml , 25g, Gatorade 650 ml ,40g.
No clear winner, just personal preference.
Franco
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e389/Francophoto/Fuel-containers.jpg
do you guys know if that hand sanitizer works???
More over from not generation enough heat, it has additives in it that burn into a gel and produces some really foul fumes think its the moisturizer they put into the sanitizer, so it doesnt burn clean and it stinks..but has already been said its fine to light up a small bundle of sticks to get a bigger fire going
kayak karl
07-03-2009, 21:46
do you guys know if that hand sanitizer works???
NO, but Everclear does if your looking for duel use,
but its alcohol abuse at it worse:D
cwayman1
07-03-2009, 23:11
well, the hand sanitizer question is solved... not enough heat.
for a fuel bottle? i wouldn't really spend that much on a fuel bottle... especially if you didn't spend anything on the stove. I've got a 4 oz. water bottle from a lunchables pack (i work at a daycare :)) and for longer trips you can get one of those 8 (or 12 i'm not sure) oz. dasani water bottles-- the short chubby ones. something that small can easily fit into your cookset :)
atraildreamer
07-04-2009, 00:01
Use Heet Yellow and leave it in the original bottle. After all, it was designed to hold the methanol in the first place and there is little chance that some newbie is going to try and drink the :eek: stuff like could happen if you put the fuel in a soda bottle or water bladder.
Fiddleback
07-04-2009, 12:04
I use contact lens solution bottles for my alky. A four ounce capacity bottle will get me through the weekend but twelve ounce bottles are common if you want to carry more. They are all leak proof, don't have a problem with the alcohol itself and come with a fine-tip (removeable) nozzle for easy pouring/fine measurement. And they're indestructable...I have a one-ounce bottle that's older than most WB members.:D
FB
cwayman1
07-04-2009, 23:56
well, the hand sanitizer question is solved... not enough heat.
for a fuel bottle? i wouldn't really spend that much on a fuel bottle... especially if you didn't spend anything on the stove. I've got a 4 oz. water bottle from a lunchables pack (i work at a daycare :)) and for longer trips you can get one of those 8 (or 12 i'm not sure) oz. dasani water bottles-- the short chubby ones. something that small can easily fit into your cookset :)
my b,
i just measured it out and the lunchables bottle is 6.5 oz right up to the bottom of the neck.
sorry for the crummy picture, it's from muh phone
it's sitting next to a .5L gatorade propel bottle
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=34852&c=516
does anyone know if i can use the hand sanitizer alcohol to also fuel my stove??? i think it would be neat because it can serve a dual purpose.
Yes you can use it as fuel. It will boil 2 cups of water if that's what you are interested in doing. Depending on the name brand and it's contents will determin the odor. The one I used had a good smell. different brands, different alcohol content, different results.
Get a bottle and do some experimenting.
Homer&Marje
07-06-2009, 22:58
I think we have all just learned something....Thanks Zelph
vamelungeon
07-06-2009, 23:00
One reason I use a Coke bottle is if anyone can't see the difference between Coke and denatured alcohol, and if they've stolen my Coke bottle and drink it they have earned the result.
Hand sanitizer will burn, but denatured alcohol or grain alcohol will burn better. If you want jelled fuel go with Sterno, but I used it as a kid (I inherited a couple of cases) and it seemed like it took forever to cook anything. I'd rather use alcohol.
Vaseline impregnated cotton balls are a great fire starter, better than dryer lint or hand sanitizer for starting your camp fire.
I know it goes against the grain but I carry a "Light My Fire" brand fire steel to light my stove. They last longer than a Bic and work in any weather.
http://lightmyfireusa.com/
As a 35 year cigarette smoker, I can attest to the fact that Bics go out at the most inconvenient times, especially if you go to a lot of concerts.
One reason I use a Coke bottle is if anyone can't see the difference between Coke and denatured alcohol, and if they've stolen my Coke bottle and drink it they have earned the result.
Hand sanitizer will burn, but denatured alcohol or grain alcohol will burn better. If you want jelled fuel go with Sterno, but I used it as a kid (I inherited a couple of cases) and it seemed like it took forever to cook anything. I'd rather use alcohol.
Vaseline impregnated cotton balls are a great fire starter, better than dryer lint or hand sanitizer for starting your camp fire.
I know it goes against the grain but I carry a "Light My Fire" brand fire steel to light my stove. They last longer than a Bic and work in any weather.
http://lightmyfireusa.com/
As a 35 year cigarette smoker, I can attest to the fact that Bics go out at the most inconvenient times, especially if you go to a lot of concerts.
So true. I carry a Bic, a Windmill lighter, and a few matches. Redundant, I know, but I'll get a fire started if I need to.
I use Everclear for fuel. Generates most heat of any alcohol and mixes well with Hot Chocolate. Sure it is a little more expensive than other fuel but not anymore than canister fuel. I use a small 8 oz plastic bottle that nests with my alcohol stove in my snow peak pot. Another nice feature is that it doesnt leave any residue on the pot and isn't toxic.
Sour
sobo since '04
Red Beard
07-28-2009, 22:37
I just copied this guy.
http://www.packafeather.com/fuelbottle.html
You can get all this stuff at your local hardware store.
Hikes in Rain
07-29-2009, 07:27
I use contact lens solution bottles for my alky. A four ounce capacity bottle will get me through the weekend but twelve ounce bottles are common if you want to carry more. They are all leak proof, don't have a problem with the alcohol itself and come with a fine-tip (removeable) nozzle for easy pouring/fine measurement. And they're indestructable...I have a one-ounce bottle that's older than most WB members.:D
FB
Since I wear contacts (more often than I wear pants, but that's another story!), I can second the usibility and indestructable nature of contact lens solution bottles. I can also see me mixing the fuel and working solution bottles one fine morning!
Maybe if I used a bottle from a solution I no longer use.....