A New Design of Alcohol Backpacker Stove boils water faster than a Trangia

[@simon4043]

Please note: 1. This stove (with 6 lower holes) boils 500ml water 50 seconds faster than a Trangia, as long as an equivalent wind shield is used. 2. The design shown (12 lower holes) burns methanol at a rate of 4 ml per minute, boiling 500 ml of water in 6.5 min (less with ethanol). Fuel capacity is 95 ml, giving a total burn time of 23.75 minutes 3. Although this design shows a tin measuring 11 X 7 cm, the stove can be made with any size can. You just need a minimum of about 6 cm between the top and bottom holes in order to generate the convection pressure (chimney draft) effect. I have made the stove with down to 4 cm separation. It does work but the force of the upper jets is less, and more prone to wind disturbance. The smallest I've made was from an airline coke can. Aluminium is fine with alcohol, but charcoal is too hot for it, and it will melt 4. You don't need a big tin to snuff the stove or retrieve the fuel. A cooking pot, a mug or a cone of aluminium foil will work just as well. 5. Although it looks similar, this stove works very differently from a tuna can, cat can or "super cat" stove. None of these designs have inner flame jets, hence all have a central cold spot 6. Like all alcohol stoves, this design works best with a wind screen when used outside. I bought this one on ebay: www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mini-9-Plates-Cooker-BBQ-Gas-Stove-Wind-Shield-Screen-Outdoor-Camping-Picnic-NEW/262906835072?epid=865279854&hash=item3d3677f080:g:tNoAAOSw32lY035l:rk:5:pf:0, but mainly use one I made, which has never let me down: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHzYg3earbqgi6s 7. Do not attempt to refill any alcohol stove until it has been snuffed for at least 15 seconds and the stove has cooled to touch. As a stove burns down, it may look to have gone out as the flame will be invisible. Pouring more fuel in at that point will result in a flare up and flash back into your fill bottle, with serious consequences. Using a squirt nozzle on your fill bottle may reduce the risk of flash-back 8. My latest design uses 12 diagonal overlapping slots 19X4 mm instead of round holes in the upper row. This allows you to light just one upper jet. The other jets then light progressively around the rim. To make the slots I made 12 holes with a thumb-tack just under the rim, then worked the tip of the small blade of my Swiss Army knife into it, angled down about 30 degrees. I then did the same with the larger blade, then the butt of the blade, to create a rectangular hole. It most cases that's all you need, but if you got the angle wrong and the slots don't quite overlap, you can make them longer with a knife with a wider blade. It's really easy to do. The other way to light all top jets at once is to lift the kettle or pot off the stove a couple of centimetres about 45 seconds after lighting the internal flame, then slowly lowering it again. Flame coming out the top of the stove will light the top jets. This is what I normally do out in the field when I've got the windshield around it. 9. Most commercial airlines will not allow you to travel with a stove which has fuel in it (or even had fuel in the past) We have taken this stove on many commercial airline flights with no problem. I would hate to have my 40 year old Trangia confiscated, so never take it on a commercial flight. 10. A few people have queried why the upper jet holes are so close to the rim. Hiram Cook did some videos on the best height and concluded that one inch below the rim was the sweet spot I have tested that with this design and the hole just below the rim boils fastest, as long as the flame doesn't overshoot the edge of the pot After all why have part of the flame not in contact with the pot? With my design, all of the flame contacts the pot, included the magic "one inch away", it just does it horizontally not vertically 11. If I'm planning to use charcoal, I take enough charcoal for the first night or two on a trail, and scrape some coals from our evening campfire to use the next day. At home during winter, I sieve the coals in our wood stove and put them in a steel coffee tin with the lid on, before we go to bed. By the end of winter we have bags and bags of it, to use in the stove and for summer BBQ's A few people have asked me how to reduce the heat output for simmering. For a long, slow simmer I use charcoal in the stove, with all the holes open, as shown at the end of the video. Lump charcoal will last for 30-60 minutes For a short simmer the best way I've found is to reduce the number of open lower air-intake holes, but any fewer than 4 makes the flame unstable and easily blown out. I now make the stove with 6 (not 12) lower holes as standard. Don't reduce the size or number of upper flame holes below 6, or the vapour could back up and come out the lower holes I made a rotating sleeve with which I could select 12, 6, or 4 lower holes that worked well, but it was difficult to make and hard to adjust when hot. I also tried neodymium magnets to cover the holes. Again, very effective until they heated up, lost their magnetism and fell off! I'm now using individual plugs made by rolling some tin around a 5mm drill bit and then crimping at one end

[@joshbaker2157]

Heigth and radius of can, and how far up from the bottom are your holes

[@simon4043]

Hi Josh, the design shown uses a standard tomato tin, 11cm high, 7.5cm diameter. The centre of the lower holes is 3.7cm from the bottom of the tin. I have used smaller tins for heating my coffee mug at our farm, and larger ones to heat a frypan, but the main principle is to have at least 6cm between the upper and lower holes to generate the convection pressure effect

[@bereantrb]

simon4043 This was fascinating. Looks like a fun project. Thanks for sharing this.

[@simon4043]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@pankajkalra2646]

simon4043 ji

[@epiccurious3536]

Judging by the fact that there's not a hint of yellow flame anywhere, I have to conclude that the efficiency of this unbelievably simple design is at or near 100%. Kudos! And thank you for sharing. I'll be building one of these asap.

[@xenaguy01]

The lack of color in his flame is due more to fuel choice than efficiency. He is using methanol, which burns with a blue flame because its molecules have only one carbon atom. Ethanol has two carbon atoms per molecule, so has some carbon released as yellow or orange flame, while isopropanol has three carbon atoms per molecule, and produces a lot of unburned carbon as soot, and a bright yellow flame.

[@simon4043]

@@xenaguy01 You're exactly right. The shorter the carbon chain, the cleaner it burns. Methanol is just about the perfect fuel. Shame it's so toxic!

[@ethangildersleeve9551]

I tried and tried. To prove you wrong and get better sizing and placement but I couldn't you have perfected the alcohol stove. Very Well done 👍

[@simon4043]

That lovely comment has made my day! I'm really glad it works for you.

[@Robert-mm3jo]

​@simon4043 ...man, I am amazed at this simple and awesome design....that is 1 of the best and easiest I've seen yet...easy and genius😮...great job brother

[@aAnd67]

I know this is 6 years ago, but i judt made this, in mins, and wow! It boils in no time. You are a genius buddy. Thank you so much 👊👊

[@simon4043]

I hope you have fun with it, and find it useful.

[@richardjonsson1745]

Astounding simplicity! And the demo is genious.

[@AMC-eq3jr]

One of the greatest report in the study and design of alcohol stoves. The data never gets old. Thanks for your service to all.

[@fabiogarcia1431]

Hi, Simon. I made an identical stove following your guidance. I'm running it on etanol. It is very economical and boils the water really fast. Thanks for sharing this amazing design with us.

[@Redneck45TRP]

Dude.... I've been making and using alcohol stove for years. This is by far the easiest and best I've made and used! Hats off to you sir!! Thanks for the outstanding video showing what led to your design. Kudos!

[@simon4043]

I'm glad you're finding it useful!

[@g-r-a-e-m-e-]

After seeing endless stoves, you've come up with a new design. That is remarkable. Sorry that it's 6 years later!

[@gat569]

A thru hiker on the AT showed me this in 2000. I sat in the dirt outside a shelter in massachusetts with a can nail and rock and bashed holes in it till the burn tolerated a pot on the top. I ditched the trangia, and have used this ever since - same can for 19 years. Only needs a windscreen.

[@darrellmathis1]

4 years later and your design is still very simple and impressive, thanks for sharing.

[@simon4043]

Ha ha, no-one's more surprised than me!. People have told me it's crossed the Atlantic on yachts (hopefully no spills or fires) and used throughout developing countries

[@chrisbellis4762]

I thought that the view from above through the glass plate was the most informative I have seen and has help me to understand the method burner far mor than baby other video Many thanks Chris

[@simon4043]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jasonjohnson6344]

After watching this video I immediately made one from my box full of various sized cans I’ve been saving to experiment with for all the stove ideas on the net. This design is my favorite. It boils water very fast. It may use more fuel than some of the other smaller jetted designs but I can sacrifice a tablespoon more fuel for a quicker boil. I am going to try to make one using nothing more than a knife blade to get my holes and see how it works. I can play with the hole sizes by twisting the knife if needed. I’m thinking that, once I’ve proven that it will work, I don’t need to even carry a pre-made stove with me. Just a can of soup. Pour the soup in my pot and poke holes in the can. Great design. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

[@pedroclaro7822]

Hope you're not boiling and eating from cans. They're lined with plastic...

[@Metqa]

@@pedroclaro7822 " Pour the soup in my pot and poke holes in the can"

[@andrewvautour1795]

I do a lot of camping, these days mostly in my pop-up tent trailer but I do manage to get one or two canoe trips under my belt every summer. For those trips, I need super light and compact equipment, the lighter the better. When I first saw this video I had to try it myself so I spent one evening making this, I stuck close to your design and then went out in my back yard to test it out. Absolutely amazing, economical, efficient, and lightweight, hardly takes up any room in my drybag and the fuel sits in a bottle inside the unit. I have spent hundreds of dollars over the years looking for the best solution to cooking outdoors only to discover, the best solution is using stuff I would normally throw out. GREAT video, loved the pyrex demonstration. Yeah, very impressed thank you!

[@simon4043]

You've made my day (albeit two years after posting your kind comment) Thank you, I'm glad it's worked well for you!

[@hoboroad]

Thanks for the video! I loved that you used a glass Pyrex container to showcase lighting it.

[@sunsetz72]

Just watched this for the first time. Litterally 5 min later I had one made and it’s perfect!!! Thank you!!!

[@simon4043]

I hope you have fun with it, and find it useful!

[@shanegrisham179]

What size can did you use?

[@Sokol10]

@@shanegrisham179 In their notes in the comments (not pinned): "3. Although this design shows a tin measuring 11 X 7 cm, the stove can be made with any size can. You just need a minimum of about 6 cm between the top and bottom holes in order to generate the convection pressure (chimney draft) effect. I have made the stove with down to 4 cm separation. It does work but the force of the upper jets is less, and more prone to wind disturbance. "

[@drusjodin923]

Wish i knew of this 35 years ago when I hiked into northern B.C. Canada. Might not be as quick as a engineered pressurized stove but would have worked just fine and saved more weight. These are great when the weather has soaked everything wet or there is 6 feet of snow everywhere and you desperately need a soup or a tea or are long over due for a meal. First class information and wonderful presentation! Cheers, hope to see you in the woods.

[@simon4043]

Many thanks for the kind comment. I hope it gives you some comfort after a long hike in the cold, Cheers Simon

[@rcg5317]

This is an excellent video and I recommend it a s a project and you’ll get a cool stove out of it. As a note, I recommend punching holes in each position of the air holes using a finishing nail as the pilot hole before using the 6mm drill. I smoothed the burrs using a file. When I lighted the alcohol it burned orange until I placed a pot on the stove top. This means that it needed the top sealed, as the video discussed, to maintain pressuse on the alcohol vapor within the stove chamber. When it exits the holes at the top it is regulated by the size of the holes so that it hits the air hot and ready to burn at a rate that it is nearly perfect rate for the available air to allw for clean burn; hence the blue flame. This mis made a grate procject for anyone who loves camping.

[@simon4043]

Yep, a pilot hole is the way to go. I use a thumbtack, but any small pointy thing will do.

[@rcg5317]

@@simon4043 pointy thing: right! the box of tapestry finishing nails were handy so it was the choice. 😂 fwiw, my SAK reaming tool is about 6mm at the root so may do this again in the field as a demo with a can of beans. Burn out the plastic liner 😡 with a lump of charcoal then cook the beans in my mess kit and soak up the admiration of my mates. 👍😂

[@arvosimo]

I've been using a stove with your design for a couple of years worth of outdoor cooking. I added a bigger tin (same height, larger radius) around the burner to act as a wind shield and more stable pot stand. I like it a lot, thank you for sharing your work!

[@mancampovestiminvatam]

This is very good when using bigger pots. Tried it today outdoors. This also needs a windscreen otherwise the flame can end up burning inches away from where it should. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@theyrenuts2845]

Years later and a great stove plan.. a great vid and a very beautiful flame and demonstration .. very calming and useful. Thank you kindly

[@simon4043]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@geographyinaction7814]

Around 1980-81, my Scout Troop did a Jamboree in British Columbia; only 40 miles from where I lived. Following an article in a Boys magazine, I had me mum buy a large tin of tomato juice, and she poured her coffee into a Tupperware container. My dad and I drilled regular spaced holes around the tomato juice tin as well as cut a small opening for feeding the stove near the bottom. Along the top, we cut four holes that fit two tent pegs as the cook top. With pegs out, the coffee can 'billy-can nested inside the tomato can, with pegs in, the billy-can rested on to of the pegs, and just inside of the stove tin...the diameter was slightly smaller. I never timed it, but the one litre billy can would boil water very quickly once the stove was going, it would make tea for my patrol of four, or boil enough water for dinners and breakfasts. I kept the whole set-up in a bag made from an old blanket and hung it from my pack, the billy can retained the plastic lid during stowage and inside the can were matches and some tinder, all bone dry.. We made several of these, and they always worked great, the blanket kept the soot off my pack, there was always fuel to be found, and it was safer and lighter than any other stove we used. Our Troop was small, only eight of us in two patrols, but we were hard working, and innovative. We had great gear, an ex Para as a Scout Leader and we did a lot of camping, especially in winter. By our third camp after I brought the stove, each patrol carried two, we never used another stove!

[@broadwayFan28]

I have a similar setup and still use it - cooked soup in it yesterday for lunch. I use coffee cans - 1 pound and 3 pound cans. Inside I stack an alcohol stove (Vienna sausages can w two rings of holes at top), a small green cup from a Stanley kit, 4 oz of alcohol, lighter, matches, foil and a bandanna. Same holes and tent pegs. Like it more than the new kits.

[@Bazzawombat]

Can you do a video & upload? Thanks

[@nowonmetube]

Don't understand. Need a video tutorial on that.

[@pedroclaro7822]

@@nowonmetube it's basically the same as the Ikea utensil strainer twig stove, but with a large canned food can. A bunch of holes for ventilation, and a larger hole around the top for feeding twigs and such when already burning. The 'pot' nests inside the burner pot when not in use, and to use it, they need to put tent pegs in the burner holes, for the pot not to fall into it. The 'pot' they used had a plastic lid and they kept tinder inside it when not using it. I do the exact opposite - smaller coffee can with plastic lid that goes inside my larger diameter pot. I store tinder and fire starters inside the burner too for the next fire. After the stove is lit and burning nicely you can feed it wet wood even. I've had an Ikea hobo stove but i bent I fell on it and broke it, but i used the same setup as him before this - larger stove, pot inside. Store tinder inside pot in a plastic bag. Two tent pegs that go into the strainer's holes to make the pot be inside the burner (like the trangia storm cooker). You grab dead twigs and branches for fuel when looking for a campsite. If you are a hammock camper like me and go right into the middle of the woods for sleep, you can gather stuff from right around your campsite. Leaves, pine needles, pine cones, grass. Everything burns, and you. Essentially make ashes which are great for balancing the soil pH.

[@pedroclaro7822]

@@Bazzawombat Ikea strainer hobo stove, and a coffee metal can with lid. That's pretty much what he used. Like a makeshift firebox + zebra billy pot. You want to buy instead of make a bushcraft setup just buy the tatonka billy pot and either one of the cheap collapsible wood gasifiers from Amazon, or a picogrill 85/239. I've used that for cycle touring long distances, but it's more common for bushcrafters and preppers.

[@lenwenzel7440]

Well reasoned and designed. Your design is by far the most effective and elegant alcohol Stove design I have ever seen.

[@lucylu5919]

I like this alcohol stove. I would attempt to make one for a emergency stove. I don't go camping but I know alcohol Burns clean and is safe for indoors in case of a emergency is a great design you came up with as it boils faster and save my money by making this one. Great job man. God bless you

[@simon4043]

I hope you have fun making one, and find it useful!

[@lucylu5919]

@@simon4043 thank you! I tell you how it turned out

[@riskmandel1]

I'd love to see an update on how you have evolved your design over the years

[@simon4043]

Still using it, except the upper holes are now overlapping slots, so they all light together.

[@justplainsampson]

I am new to this entire experience, as I plan for a motorcycle camping trip in remote areas. After reviewing several ultra light stove ideas, your idea and design best fits my needs. This evening I followed your design instructions as pinned, and it worked on the first effort. I used a vegetable can for the main stove and an over-sized baked bean can as the snuffer. In addition, I used a regular condensed soup can and created a grate for charcoal by cutting it to sit just below the lower stove holes. And I drilled several of the 6mm holes in bottom/base of that inverted soup can to create the charcoal grate. I'm very appreciative of your sharing this design, and I really look forward to my experience using it in the near future.

[@simon4043]

Hi Frank, I hope you find it useful on your trip. All low pressure alcohol stoves are vulnerable to wind, so take along a folding windshield. This is the one I use: www.ebay.com.au/itm/Camp-Stove-Windshield-9-Plates-Folding-Camping-Picnic-Cooker-BBQ-Wind-Screen/253250136126?hash=item3af6e2683e:g:mAoAAOSw-29ZUKdB Also, I take enough charcoal with me for the first couple of nights, and then scrape some out of our campfire each night to use in the stove the next day I'd really like to hear how you get on! Thanks for your kind comment Cheers Simon

[@MrAlohaWildMan]

I failed miserably building the soda cans version. And I have found them to be highly unstable. I will try your version with the steel can. Thanks boss 👊🏼

[@icicicles]

The reason I like this stove over the soda can burners is because it can be its own stand plus you can burn coal which is sometimes found along the trail from old campfires. Two in one. Thx 4 the great demonstration.

[@leighmurrell5494]

The simplest designs that you can make work are always the best. Thanks

[@kurtmcdonald7113]

Nice stove! But I was curious if I could make something in a smaller size that would be better for backpacking. I made one out of an Armour Vienna Sausage can. I don't know if you're familiar with that, but it's 6cm tall and 5.7cm in diameter. I made 5mm holes 15mm from the bottom and spaced 20mm apart. On the top row, there is 10mm between the top of the can and the top of the holes. It works quite well. I have a 750ml pot and I used only 15ml of denatured alcohol to get the water to about 76°C. Which is plenty hot enough for coffee, oatmeal etc. Just a few more ml would probably be enough to bring it to a full boil to use for dehydrated meals. Thanks for the design!

[@simon4043]

It's great to see how the basic design has been adapted to suit individual needs! Thanks for your comment

[@brittlanders351]

I’ve made this one and used it multiple times now. My favorite design... nothing fancy and easy to repeat the build. Great for that quick cup of coffee on the trail!

[@simon4043]

Glad you like it!

[@stormyboy129]

How does it perform in windy situations? Do you have to use an aluminum windscreen? If so, how do you position it?

[@james9789]

@@stormyboy129 yes use a windshield and get behind a tree / rocks etc to minimise wind further.

[@vvogt4252]

Thanks Simon for your Great Video. I Spent 25 years putting out fires. Now I'm learning new ways to make them. Gonna make a couple of alcohol. stoves like yours for my next camping trip. Cheers from Pelion South Carolina.

[@simon4043]

Thanks for your kind comment. I hope they work well for you and don't start any fires you have to put out!

[@OverlandOne]

I love this design...cheap, easily made, light, wonderful burning profile, and you can reclaim your fuel. Nothing is wasted on warm-up or when done cooking. Very well done. I am going to make one.

[@shed.projects5150]

Thank you for going to all the considerable R & D required on this project, and for sharing it with all of us.

[@simon4043]

My pleasure. The design has crossed oceans on boats, and is used throughout developing countries with both alcohol and charcoal. I hope you have fun making it and find it useful.

[@joelakiatan5647]

I've been using 5.5oz tin fish can for charcoal alcohol combo stove since 2007...with almost the same design as you have...but mine i punch more holes below the top jet holes... Along the corrugated space...then I use aluminum foil as Skirt tied between top and bottom holes...just to increase hot air draft..

[@DoNotPushHere]

I gotta say my Trangia eats half the fuel and lasts 23 minutes too... But then again I remember that not any single of my pots is that size. I gotta give yours a go. About the recovery of fuel, it might be useful to develop a double container system. Say, a dish or a cup of alcohol inside, and the chimney, in two separate tools. I bet the rim of liquid alcohol must be very close to the bottom holes, and I also bet the liquid must heat from the contact of the chimney too, but I think the recovery process is hard from optimal. Besides that I'm gonna build one for sure!!! Awesome idea and thanks for sharing

[@simon4043]

Well then you've got a different Trangia to mine!

[@hungry2hear]

This is a good video and was very beneficial to me realizing the can size makes all the difference. I have tried the coke/beer cans of different sizes without a lot of success. Then tried a larger/taller sided Baked Bean can without success. The I used a pop-top soup can that was just right! Just like the three bears! It is then dependent on the fuel source and the amount used, 91% isopropyl alcohol is what I used not having denatured alcohol and it worked great. Just need to get it up to temp before the top holes will allow the vapors to become flammable and give you the rosette seen here in this video. Then you need to weigh the pro/con of fuel vs time vs energy expended/lost. Make sure if you are using these in a camping environment that you have a wind block and a stable foundation. Otherwise these seem to be a great idea and excellent recycle of waste materiel.

[@simon4043]

Thanks for the considered comment. Try to source either methanol or ethanol (denatured alcohol), as isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) is quite smoky. (the longer the carbon chain in the fuel molecule, the more likely it is to not burn completely, producing smoke or soot)

[@b.anders1574]

Can you please share the size of the can?

[@richardjonsson1745]

I tried it and ended up adding 3 mm holes between the top 6 mm ones. I felt that made for better chimney effect and combustion of the alcohol fumes. Six bottom holes would probably give the same effect.

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

Very simple but yet seems to work quite well.

[@peterhooper3391]

I like the multi-purpose aspect of the stove, too, for our area, as we might easily be in a situation where we have charcoal (from a fire), but not alcohol, because we've run out.

[@leonwashburn4747]

Built one today out of a great value 20 oz beef stew can. It works great. I measured from the bottom up 4-5 cm. Then measured 6 cm from those holes on the top ridge. I can put about 5-5.5 oz of fuel in it max. I can get almost a hour burn time on one tank. The width of the holes apart are about 2" apart around the can.

[@simon4043]

I'm not sure what a 20 oz can is, but I've used 10cm wide cans to heat a fry pan. I'm glad it worked for you

[@leonwashburn4747]

Don't Moore beef stew can

[@MaynardFreek]

Hello Simon, have you done any more modifications to this design. I noticed you said you did slits and different number of holes below. I think everyone would enjoy a video or three

[@simon4043]

One day ..... (my wife is sick of the sight of them, so I have to wait till she's away for a while!)

[@samsien9105]

Thank you Sir ; even 6 years a go, but these one maybe my love and chosen, thank for share .

[@michaelpepper7230]

Liked your idea so much I made one. I couldn't get that secondary burn at the top to work pproperly. So I had another go with another can. Still the same result. In the end I put charcoal in one and 5 bbq heat beads in the other. They worked great with those and got temp of 400c and around 370c for the charcoal which lasted above 6 hours. When I went out in the dark and tried again they worked well and had no trouble with the secondary burn. My thoughts are that the wind was what caused the problem as at night you could see what was happening. During the day the wind was .uch stronger and causing the flame to blow out. With a wind shield they both worked fine at night. Very happpy now. Thank you for your great design. I have an old cheap copy of a Trangia alcohol stove which I use in a modified beetroot can which can be used with wood also that I leave out in the weather and use about every month just to see the effect the weather has on it. It is badly rusted and with no maintenance whatsoever it performs like new after the flames blume. It does take longer to blume though. It has been out in the weather now for about 16 months. Just thought I'd share that with you to let people know that even abused gear can perform well. My trangias don't get abused though.

[@ozsimguy5751]

This is the best!! Great video! Just knocked one up out of a diced tomato can, 2 rows of 12 6.5mm holes... bingo!! Love this stove!! I'm going to include it in my 4x4 fitout. I don't want to carry gas..

[@simon4043]

Hope you have fun with it. I'd love to see photos of your setup!

[@MegzeeR]

WOW!! So simple yet so effective. Kudos to you, Simon!! I'm trying this one for sure. Thank you. I know many homeless people that could benefit greatly from this simplified little stove.

[@577buttfan]

Yeah,they would drink all the fuel.

[@charlesmichaels6648]

@@577buttfan Does grain alcohol burn? Wild Turkey, perhaps, but only in some emergency.....

[@simon4043]

Thanks for your kind comment. I do hope it helps some poor and homeless people find some comfort in their lives

[@graemefenwick6925]

Fantasticly simple yet effective design. Well done.

[@steven.h0629]

Winner.. love how you discovered the theory 👍😎✊

[@MrWmburr7]

It's such a simplistic design that you wouldn't expect it to work well. I have to admit that MY favorite alcohol stove is the Fancy Feast/tomato paste can stove with a carbon felt wick. It is lightweight, efficient, has its pot-stand built-in, and always lights up immediately regardless of the temperature it's environment (and here in Michigan it can get pretty cold!) Hey, thanks for the video, my friend.

[@simon4043]

Hi William, the problem with the carbon felt wick is that you can't retrieve all the fuel if you've put in too much. You might like this design (not mine!) that I also use a lot. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHjZpYufhq9jrNU&ab_channel=OutdoorSoul77

[@mattybignose1858]

Well worth watching through to the end. Not seen this design anywhere else. Thanks!

[@simon4043]

Awesome, thank you!

[@julietamukara5858]

Its so amazing,easy and fast burning...hmmm i love to make one of my own use.Thank you for sharing such a wonderful can stove ,very simple and very useful...God bless you...may you will invent more amazing stove...Amen.

[@simon4043]

Thank you very much

[@pilarmartinezii1143]

Very good design. Learned that the air intake holes have to be close to the same size as jet holes. Gonna try using 8 1/4 intake holes and 1/4 jets

[@rudmerv]

Brilliantly simple design! I've only tried it with methylated spirits, but need to find something else as I can't stand the smell of meths. Not easy finding a suitable range of fuels here in NZ.

[@simon4043]

Methanol is an ideal fuel if you can get it. Essentially odourless.

[@angelus_solus]

I have a wood fired stove made from a large stainless single wall water bottle. You just answered the problem I've been having with a fire grid design.

[@Flashahol]

Impressively simple and works more uniformly than any of the smaller alcohol stoves! Next can I open turns into one.

[@bunadud]

Genius and so simple you should get some award.

[@kermitthefrog6363]

Thanks Simon for the video...this stove is perfect for the emergency pack on our Sled (snow machine) and the paint can keeps it all together!!! Perfect. Have a great summer as we freeze our butts off in Canada!!

[@cbadham]

I made one of these stoves tonight. Took about 10 minutes with a multi-tool. I used the can opener blade to do the diagonal upper slots as you mentioned and that worked like a charm. I did make a couple of mods. I took a screwdriver and angled the lower round holes in a clockwise pattern to create a spiral flame in the chamber. I also angled the diagonal slots in the opposite direction to catch the spiraling gasses coming out. Doing the spiral thing seemed to help the secondary burn jets light up quicker/easier.

[@simon4043]

I had thought a vortex might help but never got around to trying it. Sounds like a great way of doing it Glad you're having fun with it, and I hope you find it useful Thanks for the comment

[@dovh49]

I'd love to see a video of your modifications to simon's designs!

[@pedroclaro7822]

Great design! Simple and effective. Anyone with a drill can make one, perhaps even with just a SAK awl or church key. With something like a mesh to keep wood off the bottom, it can easily be used as a twig stove. Also, twisting the air holes to create a vortex would be nice as the swirling air would likely cause all air exit holes to be self ignited. (Plus this modification could allow for an inner plate/mesh to be held inside simply by the protrusions in the can from the tilted holes). So yeah that’s my two cents - one can, one safety can opener to open the can from inside the rim and then have the top drop down and serve as a tray for twigs/charcoal. Twisted air intake/outtake holes for circular air flow, and an easy way to hold the inner plate in place. Would need to drill holes in the inner plate for airflow from alcohol ( though it’d likely be better to remove it from inside if using it to burn alcohol).

[@oldbatwit5102]

The best, and best thought out design, I have seen. Thank you.

[@simon4043]

Thanks for your kind comment. I hope you have fun making it and find it useful. The design has now crossed the Atlantic on boats and is used throughout developing countries with both charcoal and alcohol!

[@SofiaViviEnDo]

I have made some of this (trial and error). My first version didn't work, my second or third version worked amazing. 20 g metanol or ethanol work for 9 min. Still making versions. Once I get the best version as it is so simple, there is no need to take it to camp. It is very fast to make with my Victorinox in some minutes.

[@marchhare9440]

I thought I had seen just about every design for an alcohol stove, then I came across your video. Brilliant! Now I have to make one of these as well to go with my collection. Nice design, keep up the good work!

[@jonwalker5409]

Thank you Simon informative well filmed beautiful design and will lead me to making my own soon and I learned so much thank you again

[@ianrimma]

love it. I'll use it on my cycling around the world trip. I'll boil water then use leftover fuel to light some charcoal or sticks for cooking in a small wok. perfect for everything anywhere. thanks.

[@simon4043]

You've made my day with that comment! A KZbin video with shots of the places you've been to with the stove heating your dinner in the foreground would be a hoot! Sure beats garden gnomes or teddy bears

[@ianrimma]

simon4043 , sure thing but I expect to be travelling for 3 years so I'll be remaking stoves from time to time I assume. Suprising what can be achieved with a Swiss army knife.

[@bocfat]

made it works great, so simple, so if you want max heat you light the top holes with pot on like fry pan will disperse heat, or use to quick boil, to simmer blow out the top jets and let the internal jets work. In the field could open a can throw contents into your cookware pop these holes in the can throw in some denatured alcohol (don't use 91% Isopropyl it is sooty) denatured burns clean wont destroy your cookware. Later can add some charcoal or wood and simmer a stew. Unlike soda can stoves it has a built in rack to support cookware, and is internal jets are fairly wind resistant

[@simon4043]

I'm glad you're finding it useful. Be careful just using the internal flame as you will get unburnt alcohol vapour coming out the top holes. With ethanol it will fill the room with inflammable vapour. With methanol it will make you very sick or kill you.

[@eddiejoeplebani497]

Bravo, thank you for all your footwork to help me better inform myself of the elegances of hobo stove building🤗

[@jerrybobteasdale]

That's the prettiest blue flame that I've seen yet on an alcohol stove.

[@lindam.9282]

The best video of these that I have seen. Amazingly simple, but very efficient. Definitely going to make this one my first choice..

[@simon4043]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AlanAlanAlanDave]

you video is going to save me a lot of time so thank you for this detailed video. I’ve seen that you have replied to another comment regarding an updated video with the slot version and, simply stated that you pinned instructions. However in my understanding of the pinned instructions slots overlapping would suggest that there is two rows of slots. Slots over lapping on one row would surely result in the top being cut off completely. Could you possible explain further on the positioning of the slots or, better still post an updated video.

[@simon4043]

Just one row of slanting slots at 20 degrees from horizontal, so the end of one slot finishes under the start of the next slot, so they light each other round the can

[@kontakt4321]

You could add a split metal band sprung tight to slip down over the intake holes to extinguish with a pot on top.

[@j.goebbels2134]

Super! Making one of these tonight. I live on a sailboat and butane fuel is getting more and more expensive. So I want to try a simple, effective alcohol burner. Thank you.

[@simon4043]

Please use a fire-proof plate underneath, and only use it when on a mooring, not when under way. I'd hate to hear that alcohol spilled out and set fire to your boat!

[@Heathfloors]

Hi, I've been using an almost identical design to this for the past 6 yrs but with an silicone alcohol feed tube attached.

[@burtvincent1278]

Good instructional video. Thank you. Years of horse packing hunting trips caused us to end up with propane since liquid canisters always had a way of rubbing through and leaking. If I were to use an alcohol stove I would use ethanol as it could also be used to fuel me.😊

[@haraldthi]

Great idea! I have to try this, but using a lower can, with less distance between the upper and lower holes, and then compensate for the lower pressure by having more holes, should give a few benefits. Less weight, more stability, and perhaps you can even get the lower ring to ignite the upper. If only I can find the right tin can...

[@simon4043]

Good luck with it. I've found that less than 6cm between the top and bottom holes loses the convection pressure effect

[@bighammer587]

Harald Thingelstad The height of his design is important, cannot work without the proper height. It’s the “draft effect” that moves things along!

[@morayjames92]

I have been experimenting with a much smaller tin 5.5mm dia. x 8.9mm tall made of tin it was a small tomato paste tin. This works very well.

[@kovarilaszlo3146]

actually it should work just as fine with less distance between the two row of holes, if you make the upper holes a bit smaller or less, or the air vent holes bigger or more. Either way pressure should rise, wich then leads to a stronger flame.

[@james9789]

Like the stove very much and the charcoal aspect ,nicely presented Simon thank you.

[@simon4043]

Thanks James. I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope you find it useful

[@ballisticcoefficientdepend9811]

I love this stove! It's so easy to make, it's stronger than a "soda can" stove, burns multiple fuels and doesn't involve all of the overly complicated methods that are used in the smaller stoves: it's straight to the point! Thanks for the video, it's a great design!

[@simon4043]

Thanks. Simple minds make simple things, so my wife tells me

[@sinclairmarcus]

Great design. Easy to make thanks for upload

[@johnjmas13]

Excellence in the working simplicity of this design, a must build!

[@bobkelly2447]

LOL well done that is the one I have been looking for ! i'll make it tonight ! thank you

[@Zero_Reaper13]

I like this design it has worked well for me, is there a chance you could do a follow up video with your updated design, I would like to get an image of what it looks like and what are the pro's to the updated design over this one.

[@vonleiningen]

Awesome design! Exactly what I was looking for. Simplicity as its finest!

[@jamesbrowne6351]

Like it. I've looked at a lot of these videos looking for a simple and effective one. This one hit the nail on the head.

[@Coolcatz2500]

so cool! looks like a UFO! no sound and nearly invisible fuel....pretty cool

[@matthiashepworth6583]

Greetings from England. Excellent presentation dude! I've just made a tuna can stove and thanks to this video have realised that I wasn't allowing the meths to heat up enough before slamming the kettle on, and the disappointment of the flame going out was traumatic. Cheers for that. Moving on, I'm going to try one of these too. Pyrex dish for observation is genius.

[@simon4043]

I understand it's known as "cold kill" It happens with soda can stoves even after the jets have bloomed, presumably because the cold kettle or pot acts as huge heat sink, condensing the alcohol vapour back to liquid You won't see cold kill with my design as the lower internal flames keep the alcohol vapour hot Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for your comment Cheers Simon

[@Seamus3051]

That's a common error that almost everyone makes. Once the alcohol is properly heated, and vaporized, the kettle actually aids pressurization, and improves the efficiency of the burner.

[@billyandrew]

simon4043 The kettle creates a vacuum, in fact, which is easily surmounted by placing a couple of pieces of wire bent into 'L' shapes on the top of the soda can rim.

[@billyandrew]

IndustrialBaking Complex Soul destroying...from my first attempt, as I recall. Lol.

[@mikeb5190]

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 We used something very similar to your stove in Vietnam, around 1967, to heat up C-rations. We used Jet Fuel [JP-4] which we had plenty of since we were a pipeline crew. I had pretty much forgotten about it until I went to a Exhibit on the Vietnam War in the New York Historical Society and saw an example of the stove heating a canteen cup. The stove they had was a short can, about the shape of a tuna can but twice the height. There was two rows of holes, one row along the bottom and another row along the top, made with a can opener, or church key. Your stove is an excellent version of the stove. A perfect example of KISS- Keep It Simple, Stupid. I was going to make another type of alcohol stove, but your design won the contest. Your video was excellent. Great Special Effects.

[@simon4043]

I'm sure I'm not the first to hit on such an obvious design I'd love to see a photo of the Vietnam war era one Mind you, the first person who wrote "there's nothing new under the sun" immediately proved themselves wrong, simply by writing something never written before

[@mikeb5190]

@@simon4043 I was not able to upload a photo of the VN era stove. Instead I used the Circle where most people put their face to put the photo of the stove. If you enlarge it, or copy and paste it, you should be able to make out the stove and canteen cup on top of it. Mike P.S. I tried to email you, guessing your email was [e-mail] . I know that you can't be too careful of unknown emails.

[@simon4043]

Hi Mike, happy for you to send me details by email: [e-mail]

[@mikkokulonen5677]

Great! Greetings from Finland and Thank you for this video. It was so much fun to watch it and also to make my own soda can stove with your "12-12" design :) this is pretty efficient: 500ml of water in aluminium pod boiled around 5 minutes (inside home at 20 degrees celsius). Thank you for sharing your ideas!

[@stevenkeele8176]

great stove. do you by chance have any measure for how fast it will boil idk, say 4 cups of water?

[@simon4043]

The design shown (12 lower holes) burns methanol at a rate of 4 ml per minute, boiling 500 ml of water in 6.5 min (less with ethanol). Fuel capacity is 95 ml, giving a total burn time of 23.75 minutes

[@johnkidwell370]

So simple and effective. Thank you for sharing.

[@thetraveler4493]

A tomato can and cat food can called a tom cat stove, I live out of a backpack and immediately this idea caught my attention. That's badass lol😂

[@wes326]

I've made a number of penny can and super cat stoves. I think this is a better design because it acts as a pot holder and is self priming. In addition, it heats the center area too. Covers all the bases. Well done. Thanks for posting.

[@clive-t.m.d7955]

Great vid - thanks. I need to heat a small study and I've drilled 3 x cans as you describe and suddenly I have a warmth! Have put the tins in a baking tray with sand in the bottom and never leave the room with them ignited because naked flames and all that.... But, what a great way to get a bit of quick heat. Methylated spirit can be bought in bulk for about £2 per litre in the UK. Not dirt cheap but cheaper than running a 2kW electric fan heater as far as I can see.

[@simon4043]

Please ensure your room is well ventilated. Even something as clean burning as methylated spirits will use up oxygen, produce carbon dioxide and possibly produce carbon monoxide, and can be deadly

[@clive-t.m.d7955]

@@simon4043 You're right. Will get a CO detector on next visit to DIY store!

[@dixy2k]

Cool design. I made almost the same thing for my trangia burner as a wind screen and pot holder. Mine is a tubular design, meaning no bottom on that can.

[@TonniF]

Very well done, but I think you forgot to mention the capillary alcohol stove which is very easy made with a soda can. It blooms very fast, and the alcohol you don't use is easily filled back in the bottle.

[@simon4043]

Capillary stoves work well, but have a central cold spot.

[@NewHampshireJack]

simon4043, A big thank you for posting the build of your project. You have proved that simple can often be better. While looking for the best equipment to put in "get home" bags for our school-age kids here in the Philippines, your video popped up in the sidebar as a suggestion. What I find most appealing besides the low cost is duel fuel capability. Charcoal may not be a good choice for a backpacker but cheap lump charcoal is offered at a large number of SARI-SARI stores here in the PH. These stores are mini-convenience stores on virtually every street in urban settings. Food and water will run out quickly in an emergency situation. I am guessing my kids will still find a good supply of charcoal near their school for cooking the supplies in their bags. With a bottle of alcohol in their bags, they have two choices of fuel while they wait for Mom or Dad to pick them up.

[@simon4043]

I'm really thrilled that your kids might find this useful. I personally love using charcoal. The impetus to build my charcoal camping stoves came from seeing road-side food vendors cooking on terra cotta charcoal stoves in the streets of Thailand Thanks for your thoughtful comment

[@scottmantooth8785]

*like the design of this stove very much...ingenious in my opinion...a few tweaks would make it a bit safer to use and less sharp and pointy...the top of the can could be maintained without the sharp edges and the clips could still be used by making small cuts for them to be fitted/slotted into the stove using a dremal cutting tool (or similar variant) and then folding the small tab that would result downwards with set of pliers...the rests both the outer to hold cookware and those within for fuel could also be made less hazardous with very little effort if you have the tools to do so...this would also have the added advantage that the rests could be removed and stored in the can/stove when not in use (just a personal observation) and less complicated to store away as well... you might have already addressed this issue in a later video as this one is five years old and this is my first visit to your channel...while it is in all probability unlikely you would invest in a TIG welding unit for modifying or building future iterations of this stove such reinforcements of the seams and structure however minor might be worth exploration or serious consideration*

[@billyandrew]

I love the simplicity and elegance of this stove. It's results are actually mesmerising to watch, through that Pyrex dish. Excellent vid, Simon! Also, the update on a six hole lower tier is handy. Obliged to you.

[@sherryh7485]

Really like your device! Easy construction.

[@simon4043]

Glad you like it!

[@iraa9935]

Simple, elegant, functional. Good job! Sharing👍🏾

[@ll1l2l1l2lll]

Good job with the pyrex demo.

[@celegleeson1767]

Hi. Great video. I can see that you could have a stove in a stove as well. So you can cook twice the stuff.

[@Oldsparkey]

Nice idea and a rather unique alcohol stove , always interested in new ideas and thoughts. It appears to be a really nice camp stove for the minimalist camper. Someone with a large backpack and wanting a slightly quicker boiling time should like your stove. I pack ultralight so weight and space for everything is a important consideration. The Trangia ( Evernew Titanium ) style burners are better for me. The extra 50 seconds of burning time plus weight and space savings.has to be considered. The reason I go hiking and camping is to relax and take life easy , the lighter the pack the happier I am.