Tuna Can Alcohol Stove

by Repair Lab in Outside > Camping

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Tuna Can Alcohol Stove

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The "Tuna Fish Can Alcohol Stove", is a very effective way of getting boiling water or hot meals while hiking or bivouac. It is only a few grams of steel to carry (plus the denatured alcohol, of course).

The main pros are: it provides more surface for supporting the pot than the usual "soda can" alcohol stoves.

Supplies

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The list of items is voluntarily minimalist (for example, it would have been easier to use a power driller rather than a knife):


  • 2 empty tuna fish cans
  • A Swiss army knife (or any tool capable of making 5mm holes in a steel can)
  • A screw driver
  • A small pieces of wood
  • A 5cm long screw
  • Multi-purpose shear (or eventually a strong blade - that you do not care too much about)
  • Optionally, pliers

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  • Denatured alcohol and a mid sized pot

Clean Up the Cans

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Clean up the cans, remove anything still sticking to it (food, paper, glue)

Remove the Upper Border

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Remove the upper border of both cans with the blade.

Get a cleaner cut if necessary / if you feel like so.

Fit the Two Cans

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Fit the two cans together by plying the inner one (to obtain a smaller average diameter). Do this by repeating "tight and twist" operations every one centimeter or so, all along the can border.

This can also be achieved using the non cutting side of a blade and applying a pressure with it while maintaining the can with two fingers.

Drill the Holes

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Create the side holes using the "screw tool" described above. Then enlarge with the knife or a large nail.

Create the big upper hole as well.

Test the Stove

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Fill with a few alcohol and light it all (via the top hole).

Wait a fistful of seconds until you hear the sound of alcohol under pressure and the vaporized alcohol starts to flow by the side holes.

Cover the stove with the pot.

You're all set!

A Variant

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