Just a couple of "alky" stoves W/pics

B

beckerhead

Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Messages
582
Here are some shots of a few of my pop can stoves, and primer pan. I don't have shots of my spring loaded fuel cap, but may add it later. Basically, I found that numerous tiny holes will outperform, few large holes for burn time, and boil time. A set of micro bits from Harbor Freight was the best thing ever for my home built stoves. And my riveter is nice too. I have never had any function or durability issues with them, of course you can't sit on them, or stack dutch ovens on them, but I have set a pan with 20 oz. of water in it on the stove for a full burn with no ill effects. Fun, and easy to build, and a breeze to use in the field. And, you can have 2-3 in every vehicle, pack, and kit for free, plus the cost of a bottle of yellow Heet, or Denatured alcohol if you scrounge cans. Avoid the fumes, avoid the fumes, avoid the fumes. Other than that go for it.
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In the absence of a primer pan, you can fill the lid with a bit of fuel if it is a sealed top, or place a small coal against it, or hold a lighter against the side of the stove for just a few seconds until it catches.

Beckerhead
 
The one thing I like about the Whitebox stove is that it is very difficult to crush (~400 lbs). How would these hold up to stress say, for example, if a pack was dropped?

B
 
good looking stoves. i have dabbled with them, and i like them quite a bit for boiling water without waiting on a fire to heat up and then cool off again...

do you use a potstand/windscreen setup, or just sit your pot right on the stove? i made one designed to have the pot set right on the stove, and it seems to work alright. my hope was that the stove would seal the top, creating more internal pressure, so that i would get more jetlike flames from the holes.

brian, i normally nest mine inside a cup or pot when i carry one, so that it is protected from impact. even though i am careful with it, the one i'm currently using is pretty dinged up, and has leaks in several places. i need to replace it.
 
I've been messing w/ can stoves for a couple weeks, coke cans and cans that vegetables come in, and for the life of me I can't figure out how to make the 2 coke can halves fit each other. What am I missing here?
 
i make some slits along the edge of the inside one (or the outside one if you are taping them with that foil tape). this lets the can give a little so that they slide together.
 
brians said:
The one thing I like about the Whitebox stove is that it is very difficult to crush (~400 lbs). How would these hold up to stress say, for example, if a pack was dropped?

B
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Mine ride either nested inside my pan, or in a 12 oz. steel mug. I have cooked directly on the stove with around 20 oz. of water in my pan for full burns with no problem. If your top section is long enough it will be supported by the taper of the bottom section for all reasonable stresses. But, if you step on it? yeah it's trashed.
 
screwthe49ers said:
I've been messing w/ can stoves for a couple weeks, coke cans and cans that vegetables come in, and for the life of me I can't figure out how to make the 2 coke can halves fit each other. What am I missing here?
Click to expand...

You can make a series of angled cuts in the male section, and I like to take an unopened pop can, and use the bottom of it to sort of flare the female section just a bit. I also slick the pieces with some 400+ sandpaper on the mating areas.

Smooth cuts also help. I have 2 blocks that I tack razor blades to, and just spin my cans until the section is basically cut free. This keeps everything nice and flat.
 
siguy said:
good looking stoves. i have dabbled with them, and i like them quite a bit for boiling water without waiting on a fire to heat up and then cool off again...

do you use a potstand/windscreen setup, or just sit your pot right on the stove? i made one designed to have the pot set right on the stove, and it seems to work alright. my hope was that the stove would seal the top, creating more internal pressure, so that i would get more jetlike flames from the holes.
Click to expand...

The "penny" trick works ok for a seal of sorts, and I use mine both ways. Having a threaded rivet fuel hole lets you really get good even pressure and the "jetlike" burn. Number and size of burner holes is really the voodoo of these little dudes. These little jewels are super for the task:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44924
 
I started making stoves using the thin aluminum coke cans but eventually settled on the white box stove design using the thicker wall aluminum beer cans. This is all I use now. I can set a pot right on the stove, no need for a pot stand. They work great, nice clean burn and plenty hot:) I must have about twenty of these on the work bench, can't stop making them, they are so much fun. Besides, it gives me a good excuse to empty a few beer bottles:D
 
pretty cool...:thumbup: i have a buddy that is obsessed with those stoves... he's an ultra-light hiker..
 
IUKE12 said:
I started making stoves using the thin aluminum coke cans but eventually settled on the white box stove design using the thicker wall aluminum beer cans. This is all I use now. I can set a pot right on the stove, no need for a pot stand. They work great, nice clean burn and plenty hot:) I must have about twenty of these on the work bench, can't stop making them, they are so much fun. Besides, it gives me a good excuse to empty a few beer bottles:D
Click to expand...

Post a link to instructions for these please. They Look neat. I have a pot stand, but can cook directly on my stoves as well.
 
Does anybody have a link for making the whitbox type alcohol stove? If so please post it. I can't find anything online.
 
I was going to try making some of the White Box stoves and then realized it was easier to order three of them instead. ;)
 
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