alch. stove question

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
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So I just made an alcohol stove out of the bottoms of a few soda cans as seen in this video:

http://www.hobotraveler.com/2008/08/alcohol-stoves-are-easy.html

I didn't have any fiberglass inulation (as mentioned) on hand so I just filled the apparatus with denatured alch. and it lit right up and boiled a cup of water n under a minute. Was just wondering, what the purpose of the insulation was, and if it is necessary. Thanks.
 
I think is so it heats it up faster so the gas vaporizes faster. And i think it helps save the fuel. I think.... :p
 
To give the alcohol more surface area, evaporates faster to give more burn. Thats my understanding anyway.

I used peralite, should give the same effect.
 
I just used it again I guess I used about 3-4 tablespoons of denatured alch. and brought a medium saucepan (about 4 cups of water) to a boil for about 6 min.. THis thing is awesome...
 
RescueRiley said:
I just used it again I guess I used about 3-4 tablespoons of denatured alch. and brought a medium saucepan (about 4 cups of water) to a boil for about 6 min.. THis thing is awesome...
Click to expand...

Yeah, they work great. You can create a simmer ring if you want to be able to adjust the flame, but they basically just boil water, no fine tuned cooking.
 
boiling water is exactly what I wanted.. I don't pack in much water when I camp and a quick way to boil lake and stream water is mighty handy, also a quick cup of instant joe on the trail is always welcome.
 
Maybe it is just me or maybe it is just that I usually hike and climb where I can pretty much drink whatever running water I find but... I always find boiling water as the less convenient way to purify water. Usually Micropur Forte tablets do the work if I need to.

I agree with you that sometimes you feel like eathing warm food or beverages... Well, then the Pocket Rocket comes into play. I won't risk using one of them inside a tent or a vivy. I wouldn't hesitate firing up an LPG stove inside though. It is much safer. If you knock over your alcohol stove inside a tent, you are screwed. If you understimate the alcohol needed to make a meal, then you need to wait untill it goes off to put some more, they are not suited for simmering, just boiling and if you put more alcohol than needed, you will be wasting the fuel.

I am not bashing alcohol stoves but they just don't work for me.
Mikel
 
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