View Full Version : How cool is this (alky)
klpicktown
04-28-2010, 15:40
I just introduced our 'Alcohol Stove Lesson' in engineering class today (i teach high school intro and advanced engineering)and showed them 10 different stoves i have made and we boiled some water (and of course answered a ton questions about the AT). Tomorrow starts research and sketches. For part of the final they have to make me instant mac n cheese......mmmm......20 helpings of mac and cheese in two hours....yum.
I'll keep you updated at what these kids can come up with.
Cool! Got a blog or YouTube channel to show us the results and winning designs? Can't wait to see the follow-up!
I Love this!! Wish I had your class way back when*! I bet you get some innovative ideas. I also bet you should have a spare fire extinguisher or 2 handy :p
*OH, you weren't even born when I was in High school, sorry. :)
srestrepo
04-28-2010, 20:58
i was gonna do this with a particuly talented group of older boy scouts... and then they disallowed the use of liquid fuels...
i HATE the rule change in the BSA. kids don't need to be coddled, they need to be taught, especially young boys. JMHO though..
I just introduced our 'Alcohol Stove Lesson' in engineering class today (i teach high school intro and advanced engineering)and showed them 10 different stoves i have made and we boiled some water (and of course answered a ton questions about the AT). Tomorrow starts research and sketches. For part of the final they have to make me instant mac n cheese......mmmm......20 helpings of mac and cheese in two hours....yum.
I'll keep you updated at what these kids can come up with.
Show us/tell us what your 10 different stoves are:) we like to see some fire also, makes good eye candy.;)
Your idea is cool!!!!!
Zelph's looking at a potential new market, I think ;).
klpicktown
04-28-2010, 23:45
zelph asking to see my stoves...... like bill gates asking my ideas on writing new code...
i showed them some unpressurized stoves, some semi-pressurized (what i call penny type stoves), and fully pressurized stoves.... so they will pick where they want to go.
I will definitly keep you guys updated..... and I still teach welding and casting and molding so if the district doesnt have a problem with students pouring 1100 degree molten aluminum hopefully ill be good with some cups of water to put out any mis-pours...
mkmangold
04-28-2010, 23:56
I will definitly keep you guys updated..... and I still teach welding and casting and molding so if the district doesnt have a problem with students pouring 1100 degree molten aluminum hopefully ill be good with some cups of water to put out any mis-pours...
Yes, please keep us up-to-date. High school engineering? Is that like an applied physics class or maybe high-end shop?
white_russian
04-29-2010, 07:35
i was gonna do this with a particuly talented group of older boy scouts... and then they disallowed the use of liquid fuels...
What? So no white gas? When did this happen?
klpicktown
04-29-2010, 09:47
Yep.....not shop class anymore---- Technology Education. Moved on to problem solving and critical thinking along with hands on experience (no more bird houses and end tables)
Zelph's looking at a potential new market, I think ;).
HeHe, the "GoTo" is my final stove. Going to breakaway from design and spend more time bushwhacking and traveling. Lots of complaints that new stoves are introduced too fast. Not looking for new markets.
all very cool. all classes should be this engaging.
fifo
dzierzak
04-29-2010, 12:27
What? So no white gas? When did this happen?
Depends. The Guide to Safe Scouting says:
Guidelines for Safely Using Chemical Stoves and Lanterns
Use compressed- or liquid-gas stoves or lanterns only with knowledgeable adult supervision and in Scout facilities only where and when permitted.
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and more of the same concerning canister and liquid stoves and lanterns.
Further:
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Chemical Fuels—Liquid, gaseous, or gelled fuels.
Approved Chemical-Fueled Equipment—Commercially manufactured equipment, including stoves, grills, burners, heaters, and lanterns that are designed to be used with chemical fuels.
Prohibited Chemical-Fueled Equipment—Equipment that is handcrafted, homemade, modified, or installed beyond the manufacturer’s stated design limitations or use. Examples include alcohol-burning “can” stoves, smudge pots, improperly installed heaters, and propane burners with their regulators removed.
Recommended Chemical Fuels—White gas (Coleman fuel); kerosene; liquefied petroleum gas fuels, including propane, butane, and isobutane; vegetable oil fuels; biodiesel fuel; and commercially prepared gelled-alcohol fuel in original containers.
Chemical Fuels not Recommended—Unleaded gasoline; liquid alcohol fuels, including isopropyl alcohol, denatured ethyl alcohol, and ethanol; and other flammable chemicals that are not in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions for chemical-fueled equipment.
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Note the difference above - Approved/Prohibited vs Recommended/Not recommended. All the above notwithstanding, some local Councils are banning liquid fuels - a royal pain. Hasn't happened here yet.
ed :-?
Reminds me of the time on last years thru when I ran into a group of about 20 Princeton students on an outing. I watched them fiddle around trying to light an MSR stove for about an hour.......I still chuckle at the sight of all those burned off eyebrows. Thank goodness nobody got seriously burned.
I will definitly keep you guys updated..... and I still teach welding and casting and molding so if the district doesnt have a problem with students pouring 1100 degree molten aluminum hopefully ill be good with some cups of water to put out any mis-pours...
For a second I thought you were going to pour a few cups of water on mis-poured aluminum. And I wanted to let you know how bad an idea this would be. Reading it again clarified that the water is for alcohol spills. WHEW!!
...commercially manufactured.
It looks like scouting crafts are over.
Buy stuff. Be a consumer.
I am glad to hear there is Technology Education for problem solving and critical thinking.
There's been some bad accidents in BSA camps with alcohol fuel including one fatality that I know of. We can still teach them how to make a wood burner stove. Zen has about 30 types on his site to chose from.
mkmangold
05-05-2010, 01:12
There's been some bad accidents in BSA camps with alcohol fuel including one fatality that I know of. We can still teach them how to make a wood burner stove. Zen has about 30 types on his site to chose from.
Engineer this: a wood burning stove that also efficiently burns alcohol and maybe even esbit.
cwayman1
05-06-2010, 19:54
I just introduced our 'Alcohol Stove Lesson' in engineering class today (i teach high school intro and advanced engineering)and showed them 10 different stoves i have made and we boiled some water (and of course answered a ton questions about the AT). Tomorrow starts research and sketches. For part of the final they have to make me instant mac n cheese......mmmm......20 helpings of mac and cheese in two hours....yum.
I'll keep you updated at what these kids can come up with.
KPT,
This is such a COOL idea! I'm REALLY jealous of the opportunity these kids have! Please keep us all updated with designs, results, brands of mac-n-cheese, etc.!
cwayman1
klpicktown
05-24-2010, 21:16
Well I have been taste testing mac and cheese the past two days..... I have a student taking pictures and will update soon.... but they love this project, one of my most successful! the penny stove has been the most popular but i have a few wild cards in the bunch.
.........the pot stands however are pretty much monstrous disasters, they just don’t grasp it has to fit neatly in a pack!