Author Topic: 50 cent DIY backpack stove.  (Read 1643 times)

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Offline lakota

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50 cent DIY backpack stove.
« on: October 29, 2012, 05:25:12 PM »
I was bored while stuck inside all weekend doe to the weather. I have been reading about DIY alcohol stoves online and I decided to try making one. I made one called "The Super Cat". You need an empty 3 oz can of Fancy Feast cat food and a hole punch. You punch 2 rows of holes 1/4" apart all the way around the can. I used denatured alcohol as the fuel. I filled it to the lower edge of the bottom row of holes. It brought 2 cups of water to a hard boil in 6 minutes and I got an 12 minute burn time on one fill of fuel. I will have to make some kind of wind screen for outdoor use. I wont be cooking any fancy meals with it but its good enough to boil some water for tea or ramen noodles while out hiking and the stove weighs next to nothing.


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Offline lakota

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Re: 50 cent DIY backpack stove.
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2012, 05:27:44 PM »
There is a ton of info on these DIY stoves here if anyone is interested.
http://zenstoves.net/Stoves.htm#Types
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Offline Ranger99

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Re: 50 cent DIY backpack stove.
« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2012, 05:49:47 PM »
my favorites are the pearlite coke can stove
(probably the first of all the you-tube-type
 alcohol diy stoves) and the axe-can stove
18 MINUTES.  . . . . . .

Offline gcrank1

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Re: 50 cent DIY backpack stove.
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2012, 10:53:32 AM »
Yeah, these things are addictive! Ive made them from tiny tins, like votive candle bases, and candy containers to tuna cans. I use a bit of fiberglass insulation scraps as a wick and an old tin one tablespoon measure to gauge my alcohol amount. Like you I use a set amount and time my water boil of the Sierra Cup. Three pieces of aluminum patching shingle hognose ringed together make a wind screen and fold up flat (just ring the inner edges so you have a 3 flat layout to stand and adjust as needed). My current take along uses an old US canteen 'stove' base rebent a little to hold a cat stove and nests in the bottom of a German style mess kit along with dried food, tea, etc. (whatever fits). Fuel is carried in its original HEET yellow plastic bottle (NOT the red bottle stuff), but you can use drugstore 90% rubbing alcohol; NOTE: the 70% works but isnt near as good.
BTW, my stove with 2T alcy will bring the cup almost to a boil (bubbles are up the sides, not a rolling boil) in a few minutes. It is a heat suitable for me to make tea or instant coffee, or to premix a batch of Ramen and finish off after a little soak with another burn (add some curry powder to zing it up).
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Offline coss

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Re: 50 cent DIY backpack stove.
« Reply #4 on: November 27, 2012, 03:07:31 PM »
I've made about a dozen alcohol stoves of various designs.  The Supercat is my favorite if only because it doesn't require a pot stand, so you can dispenses with another piece of equipment.  Its thermal efficiency is about as good as the best of the others I've tried.

Offline BUGEYE

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Re: 50 cent DIY backpack stove.
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2012, 02:43:18 AM »
I could never make a supercat, I don't want anyone that I know to see me buying catfood.
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: 50 cent DIY backpack stove.
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2012, 04:25:48 AM »
Fortunately there are nice cans suitable in the g-store other than petfood  ;D , and I always keep my eye out for them at our 'recycle center' (formerly dump), so Ive never had to actually buy one.
FWIW, a basic small container with a wad of insulation and a ring of ice-pick holes up around under the rim by 1/4" or so will work to make hot water or burn spam; nothing fancier or more complicated unless you get hooked on making and trying these out.
"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
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We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
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45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974

Offline max1138

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Re: 50 cent DIY backpack stove.
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2013, 09:30:59 PM »
Ive tried penny stoves, just wasnt enough heat to do much with, Ill try a super-cat stove and see how it works. but its gonna have to be really good to outdo my F1 ultralight gas stove. i gave up on pumper stoves a long time ago.

Offline gcrank1

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Re: 50 cent DIY backpack stove.
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2013, 04:40:56 AM »
You cant get the BTUs out of alcohol that you can from gas, but in summer for sure, and other 'mild' weather, the little, user friendly, and made for cheap by you ''can stove' is just plain fun to use (and show off with) and satisfying.
Wish I had known about these when I was a kid trampin' around; then it was the smokey wax burner (coil of corrugated cardboard in a short can filled with candle or canning wax), a 'hobo stove' (gal. can with cutouts to make a little wood stove, or the basic small stick fire.
Maybe thats why I learned to do the 'cold camp' so early (banana or apple, bag o' nuts and a Mil-Surp canteen of water).
"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
      ><   ->
We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
357Mag Schuetzen Special
45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974

Offline Victor3

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Re: 50 cent DIY backpack stove.
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2013, 11:19:24 PM »
You cant get the BTUs out of alcohol that you can from gas,...


 No, but you can use more alcohol and/or a larger burner if you're able to pack it. This one's good for car camping...


http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,259458.0.html


 I've since experimented with smaller ones using pint & 1/2 pint paint cans. You could even buy empty 1/4 pint paint cans for $1 and make tiny ones to put in a pack. This design is nice because you can fill it, seal it up and it's ready to go. If you need more burn time just add more fuel. They won't spill, so they're pretty safe. Unlike some designs, they don't blow out with the slightest puff of wind.


 I've played with several alcohol stove designs including a couple I dreamed up. Overall though, it's hard to beat the old Trangias with a few accessories...


http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Mountain-LIB327550-Trangia-Alcohol/dp/B000N8L90Y
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Sherlock Holmes

Offline Victor3

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Re: 50 cent DIY backpack stove.
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2013, 11:42:36 PM »
...a 'hobo stove' (gal. can with cutouts to make a little wood stove, or the basic small stick fire.
Maybe thats why I learned to do the 'cold camp' so early (banana or apple, bag o' nuts and a Mil-Surp canteen of water).


 Who you callin' a hobo?  ;D


http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,230501.0.html


 Alcohol stoves are nice but tell me what's more comforting on a cold night. A sterile blue flame, or a real fire.  ;)
"It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly, one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts."

Sherlock Holmes