I've been wanting to do this for a while and Sleepnbag's post and a 9 pack were all the motivation I needed to finally try it. After two failed attempts I finally got a working model and since finishing I have also noticed that there is a more efficient way that I will try later this week (use one can, like sleepnbag). It's a nice return for a can of beer and a little work.



I used a Chock full o nuts can as a pot and two cups of water, had a rolling boil in about 10 minutes with plenty of fuel left. Originally put an ounce of fuel in. I can take a close up picture later, but the stove was really hot.

Additionally, my plan is for this to be an emergency camp cook set fully contained within the coffee can.

Beware of the yellow flame. It's burning too rich and will use too much fuel and leave soot on your pots. I made one just like yours and had yellow flame.....I think the vaporization chamber is too tight and shoots out excess alcohol. You should strive for blue flame. Some of the other designs I've tried have boiled 2 cups in 5 minutes with one oz of alcohol and had fuel to spare. This/yours/our design is based on the "long-necked aluminum bud bottle" and something about it is a little different. All the videos I've seen of the bud stove have showed nice blue flames. All kinds of stuff on youtube.....have fun and keep playing. If I ever find the right design, it may become my solo stove. So far, the simplest and most efficient has been the super cat design.

MIpaddler,
I like your idea of a self contained emergency cook set. It wouldn't take up much room and is light weight.

Dick

quote cowdoc: "Beware of the yellow flame. It's burning too rich and will use too much fuel and leave soot on your pots. I made one just like yours and had yellow flame.....I think the vaporization chamber is too tight and shoots out excess alcohol. You should strive for blue flame. Some of the other designs I've tried have boiled 2 cups in 5 minutes with one oz of alcohol and had fuel to spare. This/yours/our design is based on the "long-necked aluminum bud bottle" and something about it is a little different. All the videos I've seen of the bud stove have showed nice blue flames. All kinds of stuff on youtube.....have fun and keep playing. If I ever find the right design, it may become my solo stove. So far, the simplest and most efficient has been the super cat design."

That is probably the neatest thing I have ever seen.

Nice job, it's on my list for a spring project! (right after finishing the canoe remodels, or before if it stays too cold long enough)

quote cowdoc: "I think the vaporization chamber is too tight and shoots out excess alcohol."

I think you're right, if that is the case it seems like more vents should lower the pressure inside the vapor chamber. I restocked my fridge today and have tomorrow off, so I'll be playing with some ideas. If I make any improvements worth noting I'll make sure to do so here.

quote cowdoc: "Beware of the yellow flame. It's burning too rich and will use too much fuel and leave soot on your pots. I made one just like yours and had yellow flame....."

Also take note of the type/brand of fuel you are using. I started out with Sunnyside brand of denatured alcohol from the local hardware store, but it always burned with a yellow flame. I read somewhere to try the S&L brand, so I did and it burned with a nice blue flame. HEET in the YELLOW bottle also has worked very well for me.

Not sure what you are using but try one of those if you are still having a yellow flame.

never thought that Craig...thanks for the tip

Nice work MIpaddler!

I used "Heet" in mine, but haven't tried the Denatured Alcohol yet.

Here is a link to some info on the different types of alcohol for burning in your stoves. Alcohol

Also it is the S-L-X brand I was thinking of not S&L.

Does using a regular size can of cat food work the same? Not as compact but would be steadier for placing a pot on. I know here at the bwca.com site we are always thinking 'smaller is better' but if you tip over your pot???

Try it and see. Most of these designs were trial/error based. Something about the 3oz can size that meets the "size-volume-pressure-vapoization" equation just right. Trouble with the super cat is limited volume....it's a water boiler stove and thats about it. Boil 2 cups in 5 minutes and you're done. I've never measured its actual alcohol containing volume, but I guess it's maybe 2 oz. So you could probably boil another 2 cups quickly.
I'm working on the Trangia style right now made out of the Monster can with the screw on lid. Jury is still out. I may have to bring it inside....not doing well out in the cold. That should be noted....these stoves work decent in warmer weather but not so great in the cold. The super cat may be the exception. It worked fairly well in the cold.

With pressurized alcohol stoves, cold ground or cold water pot will rob it of it's heat...delaying the "blossom". You can insulate the ground from the burner and/or have less contact with your pot...or "preheat" the can stove by spilling alcohol around it.

Alcohol stoves with a fiberglass wick or carbon felt(plumbers cloth) wick will burn in any temp.

I was "spilling" to preheat but stove was on an aluminum plate on cold cement and lost heat quick even though lit. I'm going to insulate that plate plus surround with windscreen to retain heat and keep stove warmer.

quote cowdoc: "So far, the simplest and most efficient has been the super cat design."

I bought a can of cat food yesterday!

some years ago when the pop can stoves began to show up on the light hiking sites i spent a winter making up a bunch.the Belhaven Ale can was suggested because it fit over a Pepsi can in a very tight fit.i made about ten of these and gave most away.the photo is the left over parts that i'll get around to working on someday.these are sort of complicated with a inner wall and lots of holes for jets.i held all that together with JB Weld.the one in the photo is sealed with heavy muffler tape but on some others i used JB Weld around the seam.my East Coast Buddys used theirs on a float around the islands in Georgian Bay in Canada along with some other stoves on a stove test paddle.

i would not take something like these on a long canoe trip,just not my cooking style.using a alcohol stove and cooking in a old tuna can is fine for those guys who weight 125 pounds and trot thru the trails for weeks.

here it is fired up with a couple "real" alcohol burners in the back ground, a Trangia and a Swedish Army stove.i would use one of those if i did want a light weight burner.the Army one burns forever and you can use a simmer lid on the Trangia.

i would also skip the tuna can and use a real kit like this one.