Gear: #47 Making Fancy Feast Alcohol Stove

[@gracefulonthetrail2244]

Very informative and straight to the point. I wish I had watched this video before the 50 others I watched. One good tip I did see on another video was to add a drop of food coloring to your alcohol container so you know it’s not water.

[@denniskuenze659]

Great video. I've built dozens of these stoves. They are great. Bullet proof.

[@jelicoe]

The Armor potted meat can is exactly the same as fancy feast can. Also, small lunch box size Fruit juice cans ( pineapple , orange) are the same diameter as tomato paste but taller.

[@vinceblair670]

Great video, funny and good answers to the questions and comments. It was very well done! Near the very end of the video you said it may not be as efficient as the Super cat stove. This stove outperforms the Super cat hands down - especially in cold weather. Most if not all other alcohol stoves don't perform well in cold weather as the alcohol needs to heat up to vaporize then burn. The alcohol, the stove, cook pot all get cold and often snuff out the flame or you can't even get it started. This stove works in extremely low temperatures without keeping anything warm. This is a great stove.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

That is good to know. I plan on using it during some cold weather trips this year.

[@Sokol10]

From Hiram Cook database: Boil 2 cups (~473 ml) of water with 1 fluid oz (~30ml) of methanol (HEET). Super Cat - boil in 5m 57s and keep boiling up to 10m 30s. SuperCat "Turbo" - with a ring of carbon felt inside, close to the wall; boil in 5m 28s and keep boiling up to 10m 14s. Fancy Feast (Hiran Cook version) - boil in 5m 13s and keep boiling up to 9m. Fancee Feest (Zelph's version) - boil in 7m 39s and keep boiling up to 11m 11s. Super Cat (vanilla) is slight more fuel efficient, but take more time to boil.

[@hardtruth2039]

Great video. I make a very similar stove with a Vienna sausage can and a tomato paste can. No cutting needed just a single hole punch and some carbon felt. I roll the sharp peel top edge down on the Vienna can with my can opener. Slightly taller but it holds between 3 and 4oz. Vienna cans are the same diameter as the fancy feast just a little taller.

[@towerclimber7277]

@ 1:50 the ultralight comment cracked me up, my Friday was made early with that one lol.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Thanks. While light, those spoons are quite useless and get most of the tuna salad on your fingers.

[@lillybrooks7662]

You had me laughing so hard in just the first minute and a half, that I would’ve watched the whole video, regardless of what it was about!!!! And thank you, because it really was well done!!!

[@bereantrb]

Thanks for explaining what carbon felt is. Surprising how many others don’t.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Glad it was helpful. I did not know what it was but picked it up from another vid. Good stuff. Thanks for watching.

[@mitch5077]

I was wondering the same then he explained where he got it, great info

[@denniskuenze4882]

Just wanted to say "Thanks" for sharing the tip on the DIY Fancy Feast stove. I just made two of them and they work great. They will make my cook kit much lighter.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Glad it worked out for you. They are super easy to make.

[@LALATheClown]

THANK YOU FOR ACTUALLY SAYING FLAME PROTECTOR. I called home Depot and they thought I was Crazy. LOL. Every one who make one of these videos needs to actually say what the product name is. NOT JUST CARBON FELT. lol

[@ragnaroksangel]

Flame protector isn't carbon felt. It's a poly-acrylic type of stuff. Basically woven plastic. What you want is a carbon felt welding blanket. Northern Tool has them for $15.

[@GearheadStew]

Not sure if it differs depending on where you live, but in Canada that carbon felt (sold as flame protector for soldering) is around $25 a package. I can buy a nice little butane backpacking stove for that kind of money. So if I was going to build one of these little alcohol stoves, it would have to be the type that doesn't use the carbon felt, like the ones that just have a bunch of holes punched around the top of the can. This one would be cool if you already had the carbon felt on hand though!

[@Will-yk7yg]

I used the wicks from the old kerosene lamps. The kind you take the glass globe off the top and then you spin the handle to raise the wick up to make it brighter. My hardware had them for 29 cents each. I used 2 and has a snug fit.

[@janetsmith9380]

how do you keep the alchol from leaking out? or protect the rest of the pack from smelling? thanks for the video>

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

You don't store alcohol in the stove. you put in a measured amount and the wick will soak it up. Once you are done cooking let the flame die naturally to burn off any extra fuel. Once cool store in a ziplock bag with the bottle of fuel to protect the pack.

[@janetsmith9380]

@@SpiffyguyAdventures thank you so much!!!

[@rcfokker1630]

Just made one. Works great. Used a bit of Terry robing for the wick. Good enough to do the job. I ran it on pure methanol, 'cos I have some kicking around, and it's very cheap.

[@lyndapayne1680]

Vienna sausage can is the perfect size for the inside can.

[@pambikes6030]

Great video. Easy to make.

[@pambikes6030]

I got the tomato paste can in but didn't crimp down the edge. It burns but does there need to be a gap for more efficient burning. I can crimp it down if needed.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

I put a v notch in the bottom of the can. Allows fluid to move freely between the two cans. Check 4:30 in the video.

[@pambikes6030]

@@SpiffyguyAdventures I have the v notch in the bottom. Stove works but asking if the performance would be improved with the edges crimped down.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

@@pambikes6030 Hmm that I am not sure on. Might require making a 2nd one and doing some performance tests.

[@melissahoffman4687]

Save the other part of the can you cut off as a simmer ring. Just nail, or drill holes in the middle of the cut off can. Then add wire to make a handle. :)

[@tdulka]

I've made the Super Cat but will try this, getting ready for my hike in a week. I will second your warning of marking your fuel as poison, etc....my son accidentally took a sip of HEET when I had it in a water bottle, which was marked but he didn't see it. We were at the ER for 8 hrs getting tested to make sure he was o.k. He was, but I'll be keeping the fuel in the HEET bottle from now on.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Thanks for sharing the story. Scary stuff. Proves the point of labeling fuel or even using hard to open containers. Safety over weight sometimes. Good luck on the hiking.

[@ricksorber9562]

You're the first one that I've seen overlap the wick. Everybody else cut it to fit perfectly. Then you'd see a follow up where the wick shrunk and left a gap that had to be filled. Yours can shrink a lot and still be long enough. 👍

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Umm that was intentional....sure. we will go with that lol. I did not know they shrunk. Thanks for the info.

[@BenjasUberHobby]

Cool little stove! :) Thanks for sharing Merry Christmas!

[@jamesbrowne6351]

Ive made them with a regular friskies cat food can and a mushroom can. No cutting needed, I just drilled small holes around the base and one hole near the top to vent. I used cotton wadding or cotton balls as a wick and it works fine. When the cotton scorches or burns I just replace them with more.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Cool. Thanks for the info.

[@janetsmith9380]

if i make the same type of alcohol stove but use bigger cans, can i still put 1 ounce inside or will i have to use more because it is bigger? those are the cans i have on hand. :) i know the can will hold more but if i only put in one ounce will it still work the same as with the recommendations of can you give? hmmmm thanks

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

it would depend on if that 1 ounce of fuel is enough to boil your water. you will have to experiment. typically the standard is 2 cups of water. So make a stove, toss in an ounce of fuel and time it lol. If it doesn't reach a full boil you might need to up the amount of fuel you use per boil.

[@branden525]

If there's a big enough gap between the the base can, and the interior can, couldn't you just leave the base can's rim in place? I may try doing that, since that lip might help hold the carbon fiber wick in place.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

On my cans, in order to get the tomato paste can in, I had to crimp that rim. probably just depends on the cans.

[@ragnaroksangel]

You don't wanna use that flame protector stuff as a wick. It's made out of basically a type of plastic made into felt. What you want is ACTUAL carbon felt or ceramic felt. I picked up a genuine carbon felt welding blanket that's 18"x18" from Northern Tool for $15.

[@barkingdoggai]

Well done video!

[@brianswope1636]

Great video but could you please let me know what the thickness of the felt is? Thanks

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

the felt is about a 1/4 of an inch or so. Home Depot lists it as .25 inch. This is the item that I bought. www.homedepot.com/p/9-in-x-12-in-Hands-Free-Heat-Shield-314002/100345508 You can probably find a better deal with some welding supply shots.

[@mitch5077]

Where do you add the fuel and how much?

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

one ounce right in the middle. Give it a minute to soak in the wicking material.

[@VideoIconic]

How do you cut the bottom of the tomato paste can to keep it level???

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Make a mark at the right height on 4 "corners" and draw between them. Then I used a pair of tin snips to cut down to the line. follow it along. You could also a dremel with a cut off wheel. Took a few to get it perfectly level, so may do small trims.

[@galenas564]

A 4 ounce mushroom can works with no cutting needed besides the holes at the bottom and top.

[@schokey3513]

The canned "Potted meat" product by Armour or Libby's, located by the Spam, tuna or canned corned beef products in the super market, is the same size as the fancy feast can.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Thanks for the info. I can just hear Shug saying how he loves that potted meat.

[@TommyNitro]

I think it uses the same can because it is the same thing as the cat food. They just periodically switch the labels....lol

[@tikisailor]

Very nice, informative video. Thanks for sharing.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching.

[@joemcglue2881]

i think the fancy feest is the best one & fastest to boil

[@austinzee55]

I find a 12 inch by 7.5 inch paper towel folded to 1.5 by 7.5 works great for a one-use wick in a pinch.

[@MrLightPanda]

I've been using an empty tea light candle. The little metal thing. Fill it with alcohol and it burns for about 6 minutes. Does produce a lot of soot though. Where do you light this? On the wick?

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Any sort of metal container can work to hold the alcohol. Make sure to use denatured alcohol, or the stuff in the Yellow Heet bottle. The red bottles have isopropyl alcohol which can soot really bad. On the fancy feast you light on the wick. The beauty behind this design is the alcohol is absorbed into the wick, so if the stove is knocked over you don't have a flaming slosh of fuel all over the place.

[@MrLightPanda]

Thank you sir- you make good videos and leave good and quick feedback.

[@donkemp8151]

Spiffyguy Adventures Nicely done. Appreciate the humor and advice. I made mine using fiberglass insulation and it has worked for a couple of years.

[@toml.8210]

You can use paper towels, cotton cloth, and other materials for the wick, but the carbon felt is the best, because it doesn't burn. You can find the "flame protector" cloths in the plumbing Dept. at Loews or HD.

[@ragnaroksangel]

Flame protector is not carbon felt. It's plastic.

[@usernamemykel]

Funny guy, good vid. Guess what? My dog LOVES the Friskies chicken and liver pate cat food! Who knew?? For 48 cents a can, she'll get an occasional treat from now on.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Your dog is welcome :) Good luck.

[@tikisailor]

My beagle loves it too. I tell her it's tuna!

[@stevefaculakiii9720]

My problem with the alcohol stove is the sticky residue that remains or drips into my cup during storage. How do you avoid this problem?

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

I have not had issues with a residue using alcohol. Make sure you are using denatured or the Heet brand stuff in the Yellow bottle. The red bottle is Isopropo something or other. That will give off black smoke and will leave a residue. I have had some residue using Esbit tabs. Typically I just wash it off but if you have a cozy that can protect your gear. Also you can put a bit of dish soap before you use it and that helps keep the residue from sticking.

[@jeffhallman676]

Do you feel You get the same burn with this as you do with the one without the CF wick? Same amount of fluid to boil same amount of water?

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

I feel the burn is about the same as a super cat stove which does not have the wick. The wick is mainly there to prevent issues if it is spilled. Super cat is just fluid in the can with the pot on top, if it spills the ignited fluid can flow. With the wick it can't. usually an ounce of fluid is good to boil up 2 cups.

[@blacksunapocalypse]

Any idea of carbon air filters are made of the same stuff? Seems cheapest but I can't tell if its the same material

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

I am not sure. This was the easiest to source material I had seen in other tutorials. I know you can buy material online in a large quantity.

[@blacksunapocalypse]

Hrm, in pictures it looks very similar. But I haven't felt either material to truly say. Maybe i'll just stop by the hardware store at check them out. The cheapest option if it's the same stuff. Since I really don't need much.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

The big concern is whether it can handle the heat and doesn't melt/give off fumes.

[@thewimpycamper7692]

Couldnt quite hear in the video - what type of tool do you use to punch the hole in the top of the tomato paste can? Great video!! will be trying this out soon!

[@usernamemykel]

He said he used a "step bit", on his drill, obviously.

[@MrCCI]

couldn't you use a regular wick, but replace it once in a while?

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

I suppose you could. This stuff works pretty good. I have heard you can use plain insulation material but I have not tried that.

[@MrCCI]

Scott Hayden I have a lot of extra fiberglass insulation, so I might try that. thanks for the ideas. this channel has made me start thinking.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Suggest a test outside just in case :) make sure it doesn't melt. That would indicate vapors are being released. Bad stuff.

[@MrCCI]

Scott Hayden good idea. I don't think I would want to breath that in.

[@usernamemykel]

Here's the deal - you can use just about anything (regular wicks are just cotton, like your bluejeans) - as long as stop the burning process when the fuel is finished. Think of an oil or kerosene lamp - once you're out of the fuel, the only thing remaining to burn is the wick itself. So, just be mindful.

[@shofarox4037]

hey Hi do you think that steel wool can perform or also be replaced by carbon felt ?

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Don't think so. Steel wool can burn, quite well. It will even take a spark from a ferro rod.

[@usernamemykel]

How would steel wool wick the alcohol????????????????

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Steel wool would not work well I think. I don't think it will wick and it can be flammable. Take a ferro rod and strike some sparks on the wool. It will probably go up. best to use carbon felt or fiberglass wicking.

[@shofarox4037]

Ok I already try, it works perfectly

[@johnbutler5208]

Thank you

[@ErikPearson22]

Why denatured, or heet above the 97% isopropyl alcohol? the burn temperatures are nearly the same, and its way cheaper than heet and denatured.

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Iso and in turn the red Heet bottle produce quite a bit of smoke and soot. So using the yellow bottle Heet or Denatured is a cleaner burn.

[@raymondmay7304]

Availability.

[@julioleon559]

I just made one 5 minutes ago works Great i just got done heating up my hot cocoa in my metal enamel camping cup. I use zippo lighter fluid in mine burns clean for a long time. And I use it in the morning with my mini nonstick 4 inch frying pan to make eggs and ham.i love it

[@cillaloves2fish688]

Nice n easy! My kinda DIY...

[@DavidLorellHoskins]

Great vid. Funny too. Thanks

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Thanks for watching.

[@samsmith8870]

Question: How do you feel about storing a stove like that in your pot? I know that alcohol is poisonous so... I was thinking of making the switch from canisters so I don't know. Thanks

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

I don't have concerns myself. The denatured alcohol should be burned out by the time it has cooled down. I have carried a trangia, which is a spirit burner that has a seal-able lid, in my pot. I do keep it in a ziplock. I have kept a bottle of fuel in my pot too but once again I keep that in a ziplock. You could find a small lightweight tupperware that would fit the stove as well. Another option. Do what you are comfortable with.

[@raymondmay7304]

I use a 5 hour energy bottle. Small, lightweight, cheap, good seal.

[@GreyRock100]

@@raymondmay7304 Have you found the alcohol to evaporate from the 5hr bottle? I've heard some people say that over time the alcohol will escape with some plastic containers.

[@raymondmay7304]

@@GreyRock100 I haven't had any issues with leaking.

[@GreyRock100]

@@raymondmay7304 Nice. Incontinence is an issue for many.

[@flowerchild777]

You came up with this all by yourself?

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Not at all. This is a pretty common stove people make. I am not sure but I think the original designer was Zelph. He has made quite a few different stove designs and has a website selling them.

[@MrTmax74]

Thank you for the tutorial

[@charlheynike9619]

use a can opener instead of crimping edge

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

I suppose you could. The type of can I used has the pop top on it.

[@charlheynike9619]

yeah I made one today with the same type of can. The can opener still works and gets rid of that sharp edge. I made the mistake of cutting the inner can too short though. It doesn't burn as hot as it should

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Good to know. There are lots of options with this type of stove. That is part of the fun with them, lots of experimenting can be done. Interesting what the short can did to the burn. I suspect there is that sweet spot.

[@lordbyrom100]

Does it work ...well never know ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

[@alecnichols3700]

And cats 🤣

[@m.hernandez1404]

Yellow:good, red:bad

[@weatherstorms]

A regular chicken noodle soup can works well too. :)

[@mastersun495]

Show me ?

[@marcosalexandre2474]

PARABÉNS!!!!!

[@martysmith8191]

plumbers pad!!! call it what is is

[@SpiffyguyAdventures]

Ahh there you go. I should have known that. I play a lot of Super Mario Brothers.

[@usernamemykel]

Plumber's pad, plumber's butt, they're all the same...

[@Radoslaw731]

What are you Talking about. My diy fancy feast stove is better even than Trangia. Clearly you dont know alcohol stoves

[@jamesaritchie1]

I wouldn't use a homemade stove. You can buy a very good alcohol stove cheap. There have been far too many accidents with homemade stones, and cases where people were fined for using them in open fire ban areas. One thing you might consider when using any alcohol stove is using 190 proof grain alcohol as fuel. It burns better and more efficiently than any other fuel, including denatured alcohol, which is just grain alcohol with poison added. It also emits no noxious fumes, which means you can even use it inside a tent or shelter in an emergency. You can also mix it with water and drink it. It's good for pain, and for shock. On top of this, it's child safe. This alone is enough to make me use it. With tax, a fifth of it costs me $14.99. Not as cheap as other fuels, but two or three bottles last me all year, and, for me, the advantages more than make up for the higher cost.

[@MrLightPanda]

definitely going to seriously consider this. Don't like having to keep my denatured alcohol outside, aka I don't like that it's a fire hazard, dangerous, etc. Plus you can drink grain alcohol- hooray! I'm a little worried I'd be tempted but it'd be good practice for abstaining. Thanks for tip. Please, where do you buy your grain alcohol out of curiosity?

[@MrLightPanda]

Also does grain alcohol fair poorly in cold weather like denatured alcohol does? Anyone know?

[@adamwilson4834]

Good for shock?? Lol, no, probably one of the worst things you could do.

[@Floridanwa]

Grain alch is going to be much much more expensive. Heet (the gasoline additive) is methanol which burns hotter and is cheaper is the best choice and you can find it at any gas station.

[@techguy9023]

Floridanwa it’s also very toxic. Denatured is bad enough but I think has less methanol than HEET. Still a shame it’s as poisonous as it is.