alcohol stove help

**wvgrinder** · 03-01-2010, 17:15

I'm really thinking of making the switch to an alcohol stove. I was going to make a "pepsi can" stove tonight. Can someone direct me to a site w/ a good design. I found a bunch on youtube-but I trust the input here more.

The design that's impressed me the most so far is one that uses 2 soda cans & a Red Bull can. But I don't have any RB cans around. Thanks.

**Two Tents** · 03-01-2010, 17:34

Try a super cat stove. You don't need much to make one. It works great! http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html

**JustaTouron** · 03-01-2010, 17:49

Everything you could possibly want to know about stoves.....

http://zenstoves.net/

**jedwa19** · 03-01-2010, 17:56

I've been playing with making my own alcohol stove for a few weeks. There are tons of things online about making them. So far the simplest one that I like is the penny stove. Taking two coke (or pepsi) bottoms and putting them together. I put about a 1/4" to 1/8" hole in the middle of the top and then putting 16-24 evenly spaced holes in the top just outside the flat part that the can sits on. I find that this gives me a more consistent burn around my pot without the fire going up the side of my pot. You fill it with at the top hole then put a penny over it to help pressurize the fluid inside. I use heet (yellow bottle) in mine and like how it burns. I've just about exhausted all the options without getting into the more complex designs and this is the one i like the most. Good luck. Next I'm going to try the aluminum beer bottle one and then one made from a shaving cream aluminum bottle to match the one that is sold by antigravitygear called T's "side B" alcohol stove.

**butts0989** · 03-01-2010, 18:34

personally i use the Ettowah outfitters rocket stove, but its a bit heavy at 3 ounces. i use it because of its unmatched efficiency and its crazy fast boil time (exactly 4 min). But IMO the Caldera cone stove set from trail designs is hands down one of the best on the market currently.

**wvgrinder** · 03-01-2010, 19:28

Originally Posted by butts0989

personally i use the Ettowah outfitters rocket stove, but its a bit heavy at 3 ounces. i use it because of its unmatched efficiency and its crazy fast boil time (exactly 4 min). But IMO the Caldera cone stove set from trail designs is hands down one of the best on the market currently.

Can you "cook" w/ the Etowah or just boil water? I've read mixed reviews.

**WILLIAM HAYES** · 03-01-2010, 20:16

easier to simply buy one not that expensive and less of a hassle unless you just enjoy doing this type of thing check out the caldera stove mentioned above this is what i use and it works great even in windy weather great boil time
Hillbilly

**Skidsteer** · 03-01-2010, 20:37

Originally Posted by diggerlit

I'm really thinking of making the switch to an alcohol stove. I was going to make a "pepsi can" stove tonight. Can someone direct me to a site w/ a good design. I found a bunch on youtube-but I trust the input here more.

The design that's impressed me the most so far is one that uses 2 soda cans & a Red Bull can. But I don't have any RB cans around. Thanks.

You can use Sgt. Rock's Turbo V-8 instructions. They'll work with Pepsi cans if you adjust the dimensions.

**RayBan** · 03-01-2010, 22:20

Originally Posted by butts0989

But IMO the Caldera cone stove set from trail designs is hands down one of the best on the market currently.

+1 on the Caldera: my boil time for 2cups was under 4 minutes in about 35 degree weather around 800 ft. ASL.

**butts0989** · 03-01-2010, 22:53

I mainly just boil water with the ettowah stove, but using its inner ring you can burn it on simmer. If i turn the pot lid upside down it works as a pan for cooking things and works great for sausage and things like that(also made pancakes on it one time). Most alcohol stoves can do this, but the difference with the ettowah is that the inner ring can burn for 25 minutes off of 1oz of alcohol. -(also the total burn time for the post above was using 2 cups of water)-

-Butts-

**Inwoods** · 03-02-2010, 00:14

+2 on the caldera cone. works great for me

**Tinker** · 03-02-2010, 00:18

Supercat stove. It's as simple and light as you can get. The more holes you make the hotter it will burn. Pull the windscreen in tighter to the sides of the pot for a slower burn.
If you want to simmer, get a Trangia and tote the extra couple of ounces.

**toothpick** · 03-02-2010, 00:26

I tried using an alcohol stove last year and didn't like it. It really blackened my pot and was quite messy. My trail buddy had an Esbit stove and I was really impressed so I bought one for myself. Costs about $12 bucks for the stove and the burning cubes were reasonably priced. You may want to check them out also.

**Tinker** · 03-02-2010, 00:31

Alcohol will only blacken your pot if A) It's not denatured alcohol (Isopropyl alcohol will burn but blacken pots) or B) If it doesn't get enough air to burn cleanly.
Otoh - Esbit stinks 100% of the time - doesn't keep me from using it in summer months, though. It's the lightest fuel available and can't spill or leak. BUT it DOES leave a residue on the bottom of your pot, which can be scraped off.

**Toolshed** · 03-02-2010, 00:39

Originally Posted by toothpick

I tried using an alcohol stove last year and didn't like it. It really blackened my pot and was quite messy. My trail buddy had an Esbit stove and I was really impressed so I bought one for myself. Costs about $12 bucks for the stove and the burning cubes were reasonably priced. You may want to check them out also.

Were you using rubbing alcohol?
I you want to use esbit, don't even bother buying the stove. Just flip over your pepsican stove and burn it on that. I made a little grill that sat inside the raised edge to place my esbits on - works perfect with the Scott Henderson G Stove

**Tinker** · 03-02-2010, 00:46

Here's an old pic of some of my experimental stoves: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1...59664855LIKyMw
I still like the Supercat best.

**Medic!** · 03-06-2010, 06:31

I personally used these instructions-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRt8mNOP2b0

HOWEVER, the dimensions given aren't quite right. Unfortunately i don't have the correct dimensions on hand (working the overnight truck), but I know that the height of the inner wall is wrong, it should be taller; looks like one comment says 190mm, that sounds about right. Additionally, the outer section (top of the can) is too tall, but can be trimmed to desired height after assembly.

Also, I've found that making the notches in the inner wall as small as possible (1-2mm high, 10 mm wide) makes priming much faster. (my second attempt had high notches, and had the damndest time getting the thing to prime, and couldn't figure out why until attempt 3). Third, the best flame pattern I've found is putting the holes just above the bevel, instead of higher (just under the rim).

It only took three tries to make my current version, which I love, so go trial and error. I'm sure there are better ways yet to make it. Supplies for this are not particularly expensive, if not free!

**wvgrinder** · 03-08-2010, 13:54

Thanks everyone. The input is appreciated.

**Levlle** · 03-09-2010, 08:48

This is my stove of choice:

http://www.youtube.com/smallworldtre.../3/DBCAvQn6vHM

It's tough to beat the simplicity and weight of this design, and it can be made easily on the trail if needed.

**eric j** · 03-09-2010, 09:13

Originally Posted by Levlle

This is my stove of choice:

http://www.youtube.com/smallworldtre.../3/DBCAvQn6vHM

It's tough to beat the simplicity and weight of this design, and it can be made easily on the trail if needed.

I made the super cat last night, it boiled 2 cups water in less than 3 minutes, very cool. Ill have a hobo and a supercat on my next hike

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