The Gun Counter

The Beer Can Alcohol Stove

2 12oz aluminum cans, Works best if one is full to start with.
1 razor blade or other sharp implement (optional)
Scissors
1 roll duct tape for measuring (optional)
1 sturdy push-pin
1 penny

To build:

Using the push pin, poke 16-20 evenly spaced holes along the outside rim on the bottom of the can, and three slightly larger ones in the center of the bottom.
Take the empty soda can, and place it on the counter rightside up inside the roll of duct tape.
Run the razor blade around the can to score it to allow a nice even edge when you cut it open with the scissors.
Discard the top of the can.
Use the full can as a mandrel to open up the open top of the cut can a little. This will be the top of the stove.
Drink the other can or grab another empty, place it on the counter inside the roll of duct tape, then score and cut it like the first.
This second piece is the bottom of the stove, and the first piece with the holes is the burner.
Wedge the bottom into the top.

To use:

Pour about an ounce or so of alcohol into the stove via the fill holes in the center, then cover them with a penny.
Put some tissue or some alcohol around the base of the stove & light it.
When the alcohol in the stove starts to boil, you'll hear a hissing from the burner.
Light the burner if primer-fire hasn't already ignited the alcohol fumes.

You should be able to boil a quart of water with this rig.

For added utility, you can polish the concave bottom of the stove with a mild abrasive (chocolate will work) and use it as a focusing mirror to light fires on a sunny day.

If you ever see one, pick up a pre WWII boy scout hand book -- the scouts were encouraged to make their own camping equipment, tents, etc at that time. It has excellent instructions for this type of stuff.

In Scouts, we used to make Hobo Stoves out of coffee cans and fill them with a small amount of charcol.. Those things would get hot!

Sweet! I've been looking for the plans on one of these, but hadn't come across anything meaningful yet! I'll have to do this with my kiddo! Have you seen The Dangerous Book for Boys? A must-have for dads with boys!

--Michael

For the alcohol, do you prefer the Jim Beam or the Jack Daniels?

Moved to Gear Talk and Tech

We always made one hell of a camp torch by putting a roll of TP into a large coffee can, then pouring kerosene into the can, right to the height of the TP. Light that up, it burns bright and tall, but you have to have another coffee can to put it out.

The definitive internet source for alcohol stoves...
http://zenstoves.net/Stoves.htm

BadgerVet wrote:For the alcohol, do you prefer the Jim Beam or the Jack Daniels?

Best use for those two. Unfortunately, the proof's a bit too low. Aftershave or Chartreuse should work. You want at least 55-60% ABV, minimum.

And sorry about the re-post, Randy. I figured that I'd forgotten to hit "submit". It's happened before when I get busy at work...

Our Scout troop took these on the Appalachian Trail for a week. They're light and work great. I use Heet for fuel - the yellow bottles of gas line drier in the convenience store. It burns very clean.