Pocket-Sized Alcohol Stove
This is my first Instructable so bear with me.
A simple rubbing alcohol powered stove made from two soda cans that can fit in your pocket.
A simple rubbing alcohol powered stove made from two soda cans that can fit in your pocket.
Gather Your Materials
You will need:
Two soda cans (same size)
A saw or knife
A drill (not shown) or knife
A bottle of rubbing alcohol (I prefer 91% isopropyl alcohol but it all does the same thing, you just don't have to get 91% to a boil first)
Two soda cans (same size)
A saw or knife
A drill (not shown) or knife
A bottle of rubbing alcohol (I prefer 91% isopropyl alcohol but it all does the same thing, you just don't have to get 91% to a boil first)
Cutting the Cans
You will need to cut your cans using. the cans need to have the bottoms cut off up to an inch.
I had shown a pocket saw but got frustrated with it and resorted to just a not saw made for cutting metal.
I had shown a pocket saw but got frustrated with it and resorted to just a not saw made for cutting metal.
Putting the Cans Together
You will slide one of bottoms of cans into the other. It can be difficult to some but you want the tight seal between the halfs.
Drilling the Holes
When drilling the wholes I usually like to have eight holes on the outside ring for the gas burner as it is more efficient to have more holes than less although having too many can backfire on you.
You will also need a hole in the center so that you can pour in the alcohol.
As you can see I have gone ahead and used a Sharpie to show where I plan to put the holes.
You will also need a hole in the center so that you can pour in the alcohol.
As you can see I have gone ahead and used a Sharpie to show where I plan to put the holes.
The Drilling
Now it is time for that drill I had mentioned earlier. Now for this you are going to want a small drill bit or it will not properly work however the hole in the center where you would pour the alcohol can be a little bigger, about the hole size that a pushpin would make then double it.
If you don't have access to a drill you can however use a knife but be careful because it is really easy to mess up using a knife. I have messed up many times trying to use that route when in the woods.
If you don't have access to a drill you can however use a knife but be careful because it is really easy to mess up using a knife. I have messed up many times trying to use that route when in the woods.
Just Add the Fire
For this part you will need the rubbing alcohol. All you do is pour it in the top of the can and light it with a match, lighter, or even a striker.
Depending on the heigth you made your stove depends on how much alcohol you can put in it. Now all that it is burning is just the fumes, so beware your stove will burn for a while and it can get very hot.
Although normally it goes to being a full gas burner but I didn't put enough alcohol into the stove so it didn't exactly get to a boil to produce the fumes needed for the burner.
Depending on the heigth you made your stove depends on how much alcohol you can put in it. Now all that it is burning is just the fumes, so beware your stove will burn for a while and it can get very hot.
Although normally it goes to being a full gas burner but I didn't put enough alcohol into the stove so it didn't exactly get to a boil to produce the fumes needed for the burner.