How to build a pop-can alcohol stove
This stove is build out of a simple soda can, it has numerous advantages, grab a coke and keep on reading.
Advantages of this alcohol stove:
- Very cheap, about 1€ initial cost.
- Ultralight, ~15 grams (0.5 oz), aluminum.
- Easy to replace, if it were to break, cans are available pretty much anywhere.
Precautions:
- Requires open-flame proof cooking equipment.
- Caution is required due to its design, spilled alcohol can result in wildfires.
Recommended tools for this hack:
- A pocket knife
- A soda can
- 90% alcohol (pure ethanol)
Instructions
Begin by cutting out the inner top part.- Cut the can horizontally in the middle, giving you two pieces of similar height.
- Take the upper part, and with a knife, notch (do not cut through) the wall in its full height, go around and repeat at a distance of approximately 1cm.
- Insert the upper part in the lower part.
- Fill with a bit of alcohol, ignite with a match (caution: the flame might be transparent).
- To extinguish the fire, put a yogurt cup over the stove to cut of the oxygen (This same pot can be used as a carrying container if it comes with a lid).
Begin by cutting out the inner top part.
Cut the can horizontally in the middle, giving you two pieces of similar height.
Take the upper part, and with a knife, notch (do not cut through) the wall in its full height, go around and repeat at a distance of approximately 1cm.
Insert the upper part in the lower part.
Fill with a bit of alcohol, ignite with a match (caution: the flame might be transparent).
To extinguish the fire, put a yogurt cup over the stove to cut of the oxygen (This same pot can be used as a carrying container if it comes with a lid).Experience
We have used this design for more than a month, we consumed about 1.5L ethanol during this time. It is particularly useful in ultralight, wet, or mountaineous conditions, carrying alcohol does not require a pressurized container and can be poured in a simple plastic bottle.
We store the can-pop stove in a plastic container, this avoids soot smears and alcohol spills on our belongings.
Buying pure ethanol is fairly simple and cheap in most countries, it may be more of a challenge in countries that restrict alcohol consumption.
There are many more pop-can designs out there, let us know what you think of ours and which one you use in the comments below!