Penny stove question?

K

K1CKtheCHICKEN

Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
105
I made a penny stove yesterday and tested it out this morning. It worked very well and I had no problems lighting it at all. I have 2 concerns with it, however. One of them is that it melted the penny that i put to cover the fill holes and the other is that it burned the middle out slightly, it burned a hole a little bit bigger. Is this a problem? is it supposed to happen? any input would be helpful.
 
It's certainly not suppose to melt the penny! Yikes! What fuel did you use?
The larger hole should not be an issue.
 
I'd say try an older Penny that has more Copper in it than a newer one, that's just an assumption on my part.
 
Newer pennies are not copper. They are copper plated zinc. Zinc has relatively low melting (419.5 °C, 787.1 F). Copper has a higher melting point (1084.62 °C, 1984.32 °F). If the can you used was aluminum, it also has a much lower melt point that steel.
 
The more I read about penny stoves, the more intrigued I become. Some pictures of your set up would be nice, if possible.
 
I have tried quite a few (and bought too many) alcohol stoves and have come to like this one best. From a small can of diced chilis or fancy feast cat food (3.2 oz.?) drill two sets of holes along the top. I used denatured alcohol. Trick is to let it heat up for about 30 seconds before you set your cup or pot on it. Also, wind screen is a must for fast heating. Wind screen is from an oven drip pan you get at the dollar store, use a paper clip to hold it together at the right diameter and use hole punch at the bottom for air flow...

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My Supercat weighs 7.7g. It's a 2 min build with the awl on a SAK. It's not just the light weight that is appealing. When it is up to temp, where you balance your kettle is exactly the bit you want to blank off so the pressurized fuel goes up to the jet holes. Winner. No pot stand required and no fancy stove walls needed............................Here's one in a thread
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I also like the Super Cat stove. I've tried numerous versions of the penny stove, and most have worked great. But some have burned so hot the stove only lasted one burning and the can was nearly melted through. I'm not sure, but I think they burn on the inside sometimes.
 
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