Alcohol Stove?

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edwint

Joined
Jan 10, 2000
Messages
41
I just put together an alcohol stove (*), and would like to know what fuel would burn best in it, and if there should be any characterstic of the various fuels I should be aware of.

I've tried Methylated Spirit (burns well), denatured alcohol (burns well, but doesn't seem as hot), and 2 propernol (burns, but seems even 'colder' than the above 2).

Kerosene doesn't work; Anyone knows if I should experiment w desiel or petrol?

Ed
(*) http://www.fulton-net.com/~sgraber/stove.htm

[This message has been edited by edwint (edited 02-11-2000).]
 
Diesel will be the toughest to IGNITE. It will provide a long burn however. Not sure if you want to go that route.

Mixing the diesel with something that ignites easier will give you more benefits, but then you have TWO fuels.

The aluminum can stove, I assume you are talking about, was covered in one article I read, where the author used Isopropyl Alcohol for cost and ease of purchase. THe stove was meant for a "disposable" usage such as a trip after a flight where you couldn't transport the necessary fuels and whatnot.

I'm glad to see somebody taking it one step further and trying different fuels.
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Plainsman :)
primitiveguy@hotmail.com

You use what you have on you, then you improvise! :)
 
Alcohol has a big advantage of producing a minimum of toxic gasses. Wood alcohol (methanol) works very well, but is toxic to the skin and to drink. If you bought Everclear (something like 90% grain alcohol) you could use it freely as an anticeptic, mouthwash, and entertainment. One way to use it is to use it to soak a roll of toilet paper. That burns strongly and evenly.

Do not use petrol (gasoline), since it tends to flash and/or explode in confined spaces. It also gives off toxic gasses. You might try common candle wax. Many things soaked in melted wax will produce a lot of heat and light. The other big advantage is that you will not spill solid wax and solid wax will not build up explosive vapors.

[This message has been edited by Jeff Clark (edited 02-14-2000).]
 
Originally posted by edwint:
Kerosene doesn't work; Anyone knows if I should experiment w desiel or petrol?
Click to expand...
I haven't examined this design, but alcohol stoves aren't uncommon in Sweden, and none of the above should be used in any of them.

In case you don't want to build your own, or are curious about other alcohol stoves here's <A HREF="http://www.trangia.se/trangia_inter/default.html">Trangia</A>'s web site. This is what I use.

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Urban Fredriksson
www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/
Latest udates WM1 neck sheath, Moki Blossom and Fällkniven S1

"Smooth and serrated blades cut in two entirely different fashions."
- The Teeth of the Tyrannosaurs, Scientific American, Sep 1999
 
Tks everyone for the replies.

Griffon: Yes, it is an alcohol burner - I didn't get a trangia mainly because there isn't a distributor of their products around my area, and S&H from anywhere else seem somewhat pricy.

What kind of fuels should/can one use safely in an alcohol burner? What should I avoid?

I read somewhere tt adding a little water (to the alcohol) helps, how does tt work, and how would I know if I should be adding water?

Jeff: Can't help but wonder, how does everclear provide 'entertainment'?

Ed.

 
Well, I would suppose after enough everclear, it's the people who drink it that would provide the entertainment. That's just my guess, though, my one real brush with it was not pretty, LOL!
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Don LeHue

Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings...they did it by killing all those who opposed them.
 
I made one a few weeks ago out of a sterno can, some string and half pound of parafin wax. The boil time was unacceptable, so I bought some kerosene lamp wick and am planning on using that. In the next month I will know how it works. Got the idea from Len Mcdougal's book "Made for the Outdoors". He calls it a buddy burner, and if nothing else it will provide hours of flame. I am getting ready to take some leave, so while I am gone I will try it.

I'll get back to you on this in a couple of weeks.

pat
 
Originally posted by edwint:
What kind of fuels should/can one use safely in an alcohol burner? What should I avoid?

I read somewhere tt adding a little water (to the alcohol) helps, how does tt work, and how would I know if I should be adding water?
Click to expand...
The only suitable fuels are ethanol and methanol (note that this is poisonous), or mixtures of them. The ones we use here have been made undrinkable, but as they're sold as fuel, whatever is put in them doesn't make them worse as fuels.

Adding water (10-15%) is to reduce the soot buildup.

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Urban Fredriksson
www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/
Latest udates WM1 neck sheath, Moki Blossom and Fällkniven S1

"Smooth and serrated blades cut in two entirely different fashions."
- The Teeth of the Tyrannosaurs, Scientific American, Sep 1999
 
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