View Full Version : I'm making an Ion stove, & have a question?
Big Dawg
09-20-2005, 00:02
I pm'd SGT Rock a number of days ago, but he hasn't been on WB recently. I want to know how he cuts such a nice round circle for the middle 1" opening on the top burner of his Ion stove? For that matter, what does he use to make the 1/16th holes around the 1" hole, a drill? hammer & nail? I wanna make this puppy & fire it up!!
if rock's out of the net, you can be sure he's busy with work... the guy lives on his site and this one... maybe dixie critter (mrs. rock) can fill in the blank for you...
i think he cuts his holes with some sort of chassis punch... Hog on Ice, i think you asked him the same thing, or were able to provide a link to a site to buy one... essentially, you drill a hole, screw this thing on, and it cuts a bigger hole as you tighten it... anyone else remember the post? i'll look it up later if i have time...
i'm sure he drills the holes on a drill press. you can get 1/16'' ones in a lot of standard drill sets or at a hardware store. you can get even smaller ones at any grainger store.
i just cut mine with a razor knife. keep going around gently until it cracks in one spot, then punch it out with your finger (careful not to cut yourself). then, use 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper to polish the edge.
ok... go figure... i can walk into a room and forget what i came in for, yet i can remember that HOI posted the following on another web site a month ago...
"for cutting that type of hole use a chassis punch - basically drill a 3/8 inch hole in the center then separate the two halves of the punch and feed the bolt part through the hole, hand tighten then use a wrench or two to finish tightening which causes the punch to cut the hole." HOI
http://www.markertek.com/productImage/BIG/GL730A.JPG
full credit for this info goes to Hog On Ice, posted to SGT Rock's Hiking Headquarters forum. hope i don't get anyone in trouble copyright-wise.
the next poster stated he found one of these punches on eBay for around $7.
good luck.
dixicritter
09-20-2005, 15:07
if rock's out of the net, you can be sure he's busy with work... the guy lives on his site and this one... maybe dixie critter (mrs. rock) can fill in the blank for you...
Yes he is busy with work lately...lol.
He uses a chassis cutter as mentioned above for the 1" hole in the center. For the burner holes (the 1/16" ones) we just use a regular hand drill... However, he did make a "template" so we get the holes uniformly around the center hole.
Hope that helps. :)
Big Dawg
09-20-2005, 16:22
Thanks all :sun I know Rock's a busy guy,, & if not on the net for awhile, must be really busy.
Thanks all :sun I know Rock's a busy guy,, & if not on the net for awhile, must be really busy.Big Dog the hole cutter is called a knockout punch. I found a great picture on the zenstoves.net web site along with a link to harbor freight so you can buy one if you'd like.
Here is the link
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=91201
And the picture
Lanthar Mandragoran
09-20-2005, 18:30
their hand punch (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44060) is also... well... handy...
and occasionally goes on sale for $10
I have it and the knockout...
Big Dawg
09-20-2005, 21:50
More great info,,,, Thanks guy's!!
Big Dawg
09-21-2005, 20:09
Big Dog the hole cutter is called a knockout punch. I found a great picture on the zenstoves.net web site along with a link to harbor freight so you can buy one if you'd like.
Here is the link
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=91201
And the picture Lone Wolf, or anyone else out there,,,,,, in looking at the website mentioned above, regarding this knockout punch kit, it states that it "Includes: 1/2", 3/4", 1", & 1-1/4" dies,,, & 7/8", 1-3/32", 1-11/32", & 1-11/16" hole punches"
I assume the hole I'll be making is from the dimensions of the "hole punches", not the "dies",,,,which means no 1" hole punch, just 7/8" & 1-3/32",,,, but I need to cut a 1" hole for the Ion stove. I found out that "harbor freight" is also a local company in my city, so I'm going there 2moro to purchase. If I'm right, as stated above, will a 7/8" or 1-3/32" center hole on the Ion stove be ok,,, will the stove still work the same way? Or do I have the info about this kit backwards,,, is the hole that's made the size of the "dies",, in that case, a 1" exists in that kit, & I'm good. Any clarification would be helpful. Sorry if I rambled a bit,, just looking for specifics.
Thanks all!! :)
Old Spice
09-21-2005, 23:02
Can someone please explain to me what an ion stove is? I am thu-hiking northbound come march and would like to learn more about homemade stoves since they are so light.
sierraDoug
09-21-2005, 23:07
Can someone please explain to me what an ion stove is? I am thu-hiking northbound come march and would like to learn more about homemade stoves since they are so light.
It burns alcohol and is designed by Sgt. Rock...
http://www.ionstove.com/
http://www.ionstove.com/build.htm
Old Spice
09-22-2005, 23:14
thanks. i'm going to have to get me one of these.
Check out the SuperCat stove.
http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html
I've never used alcohol stoves before, but picked up a cat food can for $0.33 at the store on the way home tonight and some fuel line de-icer (98% methyl alcohol), $1.50 for 12 ounces. I made the stove in about fifteen minutes. Wrapped a couple of strips of masking tape around it, marked the holes and drilled them. I used pliers like he said to clean up the holes after.
It boiled two cups of water in a 1.3 liter titanium pot with lid in five minutes. I put an ounce of fuel in and it burned for about three minutes after I took the pot off. My house is 70 degrees, no wind of course, but no heat shield either.
I was really impressed with the stove and it couldn't be simpler. It's just a cup with holes in it. The pot seals the top and creates the pressure for the burner holes. It's too light to really register on my stove, but I'd estimate the weight at a quarter of an ounce.
Under fifty cents, under half an ounce, fifteen minutes to make, no brainer, one piece design. You could even easily make one on the trail or bring a couple.