crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on Apr 14, 2016 14:14:02 GMT -8
The thread on stoves and on water filtration made me start wondering how many of us use DIY Alcohol stoves and what style DIYers might use.
I have a style that is my preference but can't seem to link it here. There is a video on Youtube "The Perfect Alcohol Stove, Part 1" that shows how to make it and I've grown to really like over the past few years. It is pretty durable, obviously cheap to make, boils 16 oz of cold water in around 4 to 4 and a half minutes, and it is very light. I used a number of other styles in the past, but this one I've sort of settled on for now and it is very easy to make. I know the fancy feast can, the old tuna can stove, a variety of self primers and Axe can stoves are out there as well.
What style if any do you make and use? Why do you like your style?
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Apr 14, 2016 14:17:32 GMT -8
I have eight? DIY alcohol stoves - I have everything from Cat cans to Penny stoves. They all collect dust. I use a Whitebox alcohol stove. It is by far, my favorite design. I use it year-round.
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Post by melsdad on Apr 14, 2016 14:20:08 GMT -8
Not sure what it is called. But the stove I just made uses a fancy feast can and a tomato paste can that is wrapped with carbon felt and fits inside the cat food can. I have experimented with it at home so far. In two weeks I will be using it on a 3 day backpacking trip.
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tomas
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Post by tomas on Apr 14, 2016 16:00:12 GMT -8
I've tried the DIY stuff and never had one that was anywhere as effective as my Trangia.
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Apr 14, 2016 16:48:17 GMT -8
I've made a bunch of alcohol stoves with very good results. For the last five years or so, I've been using the one that came with my Caldera Cone. It's hard to beat for fuel efficiency.
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Apr 14, 2016 17:36:34 GMT -8
I have experimented several times, but never come close to the effectiveness of the White Box. I do like the thought that if needed, I can make a stove out of more or less nothing.
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Post by JRinGeorgia on Apr 14, 2016 18:28:48 GMT -8
I've made a few as well but now use a Starlyte stove. Super efficient, a half ounce of fuel to boil two cups, and literally cannot spill so very safe.
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Post by gcsaylor on Apr 15, 2016 3:24:37 GMT -8
After reading these threads I accepted the consensus and got a white box II. Seems perfect. I also purchased one of these, www.popsugar.com/food/What-Heat-Diffuser-23947284, cut it down to fit inside the windscreen. Should be able to simmer some meals without scorching. It does need some pop-rivets installed to prevent shifting on top of the stove. |
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Post by hikingtiger on Apr 15, 2016 9:27:07 GMT -8
I use one that's made from a cat food can (google "SuperCat stove.") Simple enough. The only problem I had was on Mt. Mitchell (NC) a few years ago. Being 5k+ feet higher than home, it was a little oxygen starved. Worked o.k., just too longer than usual to heat water.
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Apr 15, 2016 11:36:55 GMT -8
Burn characteristics of a few alcohol stoves (tests performed circa May, 2007):  RED = Brasslite Turbo 1 GREEN = My own homemade 16 jet "photon/penny" stove made from the bottoms of 2 Pepsi cans (nothing inside). BLUE = White Box (the old rivetted Frankenstove) PURPLE = Trangia in a "Westwind" frame Times measured with a stopwatch; temperatures measured using a portable food temperature appliance with a probe. Pot was an aluminum "grease pot" in all cases. |
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tomas
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Post by tomas on Apr 15, 2016 14:13:03 GMT -8
What I also like about the Trangia is being able to fill it up, screw on the cap, and toss it into the backpack. For an overnight it has all the fuel I need.
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idahobob
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many are cold, but few are frozen
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Post by idahobob on Apr 17, 2016 23:02:09 GMT -8
The 12-10 stove that comes with the caldera cone setup is pretty good. That is what I use. How fast it boils water is not a concern to me.
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Post by Coolkat on Apr 19, 2016 4:36:17 GMT -8
How fast it boils water is not a concern to me. I don't use an alcohol stove but the concern over boil times have always stumped me. I usually only use my stove in the evening and at that point I'm just relaxing. A couple of minutes difference in boil time matters not to me. Now if it's believed that a longer time to boil means more fuel consumed then I'd understand the concern. |
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crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on Apr 19, 2016 5:48:34 GMT -8
For some, the time matters because the stove is used in the morning and night. Coffee in the morning, maybe some oatmeal, lots of folks will use the stove twice on several days of a trek. That said, decreased boil time can mean less fuel used and less time spent.
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almostthere
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Post by almostthere on Apr 19, 2016 6:24:52 GMT -8
I've used cat can stoves. Sometimes to boil water for people with fancy expensive stoves that failed them. Simplicity is durable.
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