$3 DIY Alcohol Stove

[otherthan]

Last week I purchased a single burner butane stove at $10 from the hardware store… tested it at home and was pretty impressed by its performance… so I started thinking about ways to make it gimballed, maybe a simple platform?... then I read that butane is almost available anywhere in the world but not always…so my mission was to build an equally cheap alcohol stove alternative…I do own an origo 2 burner and love it, however I never use both burners so a single burner is enough…I came up with this idea at the dollar store, all material for $3 total…tested it against the butane stove and to be honest prefer the bucket, its simple and fun to use, I bet it’s cheaper to operate and safer?
All in all for the low coast voyager having both will surly guaranty a hot meal anywhere.
just sharing for fun and to get ideas!!
Ps. my wife like the buckets burner, and use it as an ambiance fireplace.

[capt.bobfm]

What are the materials that you used? What are you using as an absorbsion medium? Your stove looks great. It would be easy to cap off so that you eliminate evaporation when not in use.

[colemj]

If you think butane is difficult to find in parts of the world, wait until you go looking for alcohol. However, I do appreciate that you found a way to have a choice for so little money.

Mark

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by colemj

If you think butane is difficult to find in parts of the world, wait until you go looking for alcohol. However, I do appreciate that you found a way to have a choice for so little money.

Mark

Just buy the local moonshine... most of the 3rd world Agricola stuff will work...

[otherthan]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Just buy the local moonshine... most of the 3rd world Agricola stuff will work...

Calibri (Corps)




Boatman61 I always find your posts (spirited) to say the least…keep it up!
I agree alcohol is avail everywhere or I can make some with just about anything that ferment’s.
Cheers

[otherthan]

Originally Posted by capt.bobfm

What are the materials that you used? What are you using as an absorbsion medium? Your stove looks great. It would be easy to cap off so that you eliminate evaporation when not in use.

thats just a prototype made with a bucket, a wire and a bean can...I use a dog food cover on the can to prevent evaporation...oh and a role of toilet paper as absorbsion medium to keep the liquid from sloshing and spill safe.

cooked super for me and wife with it this evening, was fun and easy
and all my pots and wok fit on it...goood

[bella]

If you are buying those small butane cannister.. look for a local asian store.. Waste Marine has them for like $5 each and for $5.95 I can get 4 cans at the local Vietnamese or Phillipino stores.. got 4 4 pakes in my closet now for emergencys..
why not just make a boyscout sterno kit.. tuna can, soak come cardboard in wax insert into tuna can in a roll and light it.. works great..

[otherthan]

Originally Posted by colemj

If you think butane is difficult to find in parts of the world, wait until you go looking for alcohol. However, I do appreciate that you found a way to have a choice for so little money.

Mark

thanks for your coments mark...one thing I must say about this poor mans stove, it is way safer in operation then other stove iv seen (including my 3 burner and oven on my IT41ft) The reason is the bucket...if you cook with oil and a fry pan while underway, whatever spills out from the pan when say you flip it falls into the bucket and flames out without incidence...the butan stove is open and burning fluids simply falls trhu it and on cownter (not a good thing)

[HopCar]

Because we're on the subject of improvised stoves, I thought you all might find soda can stoves interesting: Beverage-can stove - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
They're made from two soda cans and work surprisingly well. They weigh less than an ounce, are self pressurizing, and can boil water pretty quickly. I don’t think they are suitable for use on a boat but for hikers they’re great. Two friends of mine recently did three days on the Appalachian Trail and this was their only stove. They just used it to heat water for rehydrating freeze dried meals. For more information Google “soda can stove”.

[otherthan]

I can use any can available at the foodmart...use 3 diferent hight of cans allows diferent heat levels...opening a can is all the skills you need.

soda stove is too much trouble for no benifits... but good for hikers.

cheers

if anyone has a kerosene alternative?

[seandepagnier]

I built an alcohol stove for way less than $3. It is just a can cut in half with 4 bolts to hold the pot in place so it works at sea. The pot is wedged in between them. Moving the pot up and down controls temperature. The expensive part is fuel for $4 a liter, but since I mostly cook with electric cookers from solar panels, a liter could last up to a year.

[otherthan]

Originally Posted by geckosenator

I built an alcohol stove for way less than $3. It is just a can cut in half with 4 bolts to hold the pot in place so it works at sea. The pot is wedged in between them. Moving the pot up and down controls temperature. The expensive part is fuel for $4 a liter, but since I mostly cook with electric cookers from solar panels, a liter could last up to a year.

can you show a photo

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by HopCar

Because we're on the subject of improvised stoves, I thought you all might find soda can stoves interesting: Beverage-can stove - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
They're made from two soda cans and work surprisingly well. They weigh less than an ounce, are self pressurizing, and can boil water pretty quickly. I don’t think they are suitable for use on a boat but for hikers they’re great. Two friends of mine recently did three days on the Appalachian Trail and this was their only stove. They just used it to heat water for rehydrating freeze dried meals. For more information Google “soda can stove”.

OK, so paying $10 for some used bear can is extravagantly wasteful. HOWEVER these are made way better than what I could do, works awesome, totally bullet-proof and hey, it's ten bucks

http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...ghlight=stever

[otherthan]

Originally Posted by xymotic

OK, so paying $10 for some used bear can is extravagantly wasteful. HOWEVER these are made way better than what I could do, works awesome, totally bullet-proof and hey, it's ten bucks

Alcohol Stoves - ADVrider

I find these things clever!
however they arent convinient in many ways, first I like to close the burner with a lid and reuse it when needed, I like alcohol to be contained and not sloshing (safty) I like the larger cans autonomy (can burn several hours and keep the cabin warm) most of all the bucket is not only gimbaled but a real safty component...being a chef in Montreals french restaurant I know its imposible not to spill while cooking, at least for me! I spill burning oil every time I fry and flip vegetables or when I boil water thers some spill...with the bucket its retained and all you got to do is clean the bucket...I admit the systhem is plain ugly, but thats what makes it charming

now if some one can tell me how to make a kerosene burner aim in buisiness!!

[JanetGroene]

If a fire results, could your jury rig arrangement void your insurance? Also may not pass USCG inspection. Just a thought.