Altoids Tin Alcohol Stove

I've seen this all over the internet, and decided I would make one myself. There isn't a whole lot of variation that can be done to the design, and this is pretty much a direct copy of the stove design found here: http://www.backpacking.net/makegear/altoids-stove/index.html
This is a cool idea, very cheap to make, and I think it needs more coverage, so here it goes, my first instructable, how to make an Altoids tin camping stove!

Step 1: What you need:

Materials:
A mint tin, for this one we're using a rectangular Altoids tin.

A section of fine metal mesh, windowscreen works great.

Some perlite, which is cheap, and easily found at most garden supply stores. I've heard you can substitute fiberglass insulation for the perlite, but I have not tried this and cannot confirm.

Tools:
Some shears or other tools to cut the metal. Heavy-duty scissors should work fine.

A ruler to measure the tin and screen.

A permanent marker to mark your measurements.

Optional:
Some sandpaper to remove the paint from the tin.

Comments

[n0ukf]

Make sure your metal mesh is not galvanized. Burning zinc fumes are a nasty health hazard.

[n0ukf]

BTW, how do you not put out the flame when you put a pan on the stove?

[SniperBEAST1515]

you need a pot stand, which will hold it about 1-2 inches above the stove

[dolfinmagikpro]

Everclear is another alternative, or any cheap vodka. Since they are grain alcohols they won't make you sick if you accidentally spill it on food that you may be cooking, plus their fumes, in my opinion, smell better. Great idea for the stove! Thanks for sharing!

[kc8hps]

I've also used epsom salt instead of the perlite.

[civiloutlaw]

I can't personally recommend using the window screen wire mesh as it melted upon first test. It melted even faster when exposed to direct flames.

[simplebeep]

A metal window screen melted? I'm a bit surprised. Perhaps try one of a thicker gauge, or of a metal with a higher melting point.

[tazsapp]

how hot does it usually get?

[Biopyro]

I wouldn't want to cook mini sausages in the alcohol fumes directly. Fibreglass should work fine, it won't melt or burn, and will stop the alcohol spilling

[isrlear]

Do not use fibreglass! Most fibreglass contains formaldehyde, and it will burn and possibly get into whatever you're trying to cook.

[Tampaguy]

In the USA, formaldehyde is BANNED in the manufacture of fiberglass. Fiberglass (USA) contains only fiberglass, which is finely spun silicone (sand).

[bettbee]

Silicon :-)

[blodefood]

Thanks for this info.  I didn't know this and I thought fibreglass was the best thing to use.  Is there a way to find out if it has formaldehyde in it?

[A flyin muffin]

Fiberglass NEVER has formaldehyde if you live in the U.S.A. Fiberglass is actually perfect. Double check your sources ( even me :) before you trust them.

[Weissensteinburg]

(I realize how delayed this comment is) Alcohol stoves are pretty common for campers, so I don't imagine this would be any different.

[knektek]

can you use methanol?

[unominame]

Anything that evaporates quickly and is flammable should work just fine. I.e.
Heet or isopropyl alcohol, methol, and Denatured alcohol.
Late comment ftw :D

[Ben_the_Sci_Kid]

great ible but could you use rubbing alcohol instead?

[A flyin muffin]

It doesn't burn all the way so you might have residue on the perlite, but you could use it.

[carlpogi_11]

this is awesome i think im gonna do this

[John-4]

This So cool. I made one but I had Three layers of mesh two were the kind you used but the top one was a stronger mesh that the squares were 1 cm squared. But I soldered the mesh to the tin. But I use lighter fuel because it has a bigger flame.

[portalturret2]

pretty sweet invention

[liammk]

to make the flame visible add table salt to the alcohol, note that it should be about half a teaspoon of salt to one cup of alcohol

[rocketman121]

Wouldn't the salt make the alcohol burn less efficiently?

[backlash]

yes, but unless you are running a lab test on efficiency, the difference should be negligible. plus, being able to see the flame is very handy.

[lilpepsikraker]

Can i use anything other than perlite or vermiculite? I really dont want to fork over $5 for 8 quarts of the crap when I only need 4 ounces. Maybe I'll ask around if I can have a cup of it.

[japxican91]

if you have extra altoid tins and all the excess fluids n perlite, make a few extra stoves? give em to friends who go hiking, may need it in an emergency since winter is coming and who knows what happens, heat is very valuable. or sell them to other folks for 5 a piece and make a profit lol

[TANZMEISTER]

use fiberglass insulation, has a much much much greater surface area thus working better as a wick.

[pood]

Using the insulation instead also makes it way lighter.

[abadfart]

i wouldn't want to try fiver glass i have seen/tasted what happens when it gets to hot

[A flyin muffin]

Why are you eating fiberglass insulation (you said that you tasted it, unless you mean tested)? And unless your alcohol burns at 2075 degrees (at which point the Altoids tin would probably also melt) you shouldn't have any problems :)

[abadfart]

we had a fire at a job site, the smoke was so thick you could literally taste it

[xd12c]

I wouldn't use vermiculite. There are concerns with vermiculite containing asbestos

[cindi59]

Vermiculite is now tested for asbestos. So not a problem to use it.

[______]

try lash oil

[spark2FLAME]

will vermiculite work as well? or is it just perlite?

[YotaTruck]

Is there a version of this stove that will let you top it off while it's running?

[jibbers75]

i think if you add it in small amounts then you can do it while it is running

[YotaTruck]

I think I'll try running this on Methyl Alcohol as well (HEET gas line antifreeze) because it would be really convenient. Most gas stations carry HEET or similar products.

[TANZMEISTER]

HEET is nothing other then (approx) 90 percent isopropenol alcohol (by volume).

[Appollo64]

 You can use anti-freeze for these kind of stoves. I don't know how easy it is to find the alcohol.

[TANZMEISTER]

to be precise, you may use HEET fuel line antifreeze. DO NOT USE standard radiator antifreeze it contains chemicals for lubrication. You can get HEET at any gas station. Also, you can get 90 percent iso alcohol at any major chain drugstore (RiteAid, Walgreens, etc). Or you can get Denatured Alcohol at any hardware store.

[Chikara]

I have an interesting idea.. not very sure it would work but it is worth a try: do almost exactly this, BUT cut a hole in the lid and put the mesh screen on that.. or maybe even just cut a ventilation hole on the side and sandpaper the screen down.. would this work?

[Tim Temple]

How do you intend to put it out?  Use your thumb?

[TANZMEISTER]

with an altoids tin, you won't be adding more then 2-3 min worth of fuel, just let it burn out

[Chikara]

it was just a concept.. :D

[atrus713]

couldn't you just close the lid?

[Chikara]

no, there is a hole in the lid

[stupidstickanimations]

is there anyway you can make the mesh removable without making the mesh smaller cause then you could refill it and use it again. or is there another way to make it refillable

[eneergcam]

the perlite isnt supposed to come out, it is used for insulation, the alcohol is the fuel.

[madhops0620]

The mesh doesn't need to be removed, just add more fuel to the perlite

[skimmo]

i tryed to refill my fuel stove with metho while it was still burning and the vaper in the bottle exploded and showered burning metho every where, so all my hand feels like bad sunburn, i had to pat out all of the little fires every where

[unmdec]

LMAO...you didn't think that was a bad idea before hand? no pun intended...

[thepaul1993]

Well at least you know not to do that again.

[Bloodbeard]

 Ginger is my fav too!  Hard to find though.

[blodefood]

I like this stove design because most of the rest of the stoves I have seen do not show how to extinguish them properly when you're done.  With this tin, you can just flip the lid closed with a stick or something.  The only thing I would add would be some sort of "simmer ring" when you want to lower the heat and continue cooking. 

How do you deal with unused fuel?

By the way, in Canada, stove alcohol is known as methyl hydrate.  It's probably the same as denatured alcohol as it is found in the paint section of the hardware store and is labelled as usable for alcohol stoves.

[mason0190]

wait. what about the zinc oxide all over the tin? Isn't that a potentially fatal poison if burned like this?

[die_dunkelheit]

Altoids tins are not galvanized so this is not a concern.

[malweth]

Ginger Altoids FTW!!

[kcls]

What do You cook on it?

[kevinkm77]

how would u cook stuff? right on the screen?

[lilpepsikraker]

pot stand that holds the pot/skillet an inch over the tin. if you put something on the screen, no oxy gets under, so the stove then burns inefficiently.

[shaun.russo]

whats the perlite for?

[I Got A Cup Productions]

Perlite is used as a type of wick for the alcohol. If the perlite wasn't there the alcohol would burn up very quickly.

[YotaTruck]

I imagine it also increases vapor pressure because there are tiny, tiny pockets of air all throughout the perlite. It "wicks" very well. That way you don't have to prime the stove first. With an even finer mesh, you could probably gather even more pressure for a higher heat burner.

[mason0190]

Wouldnt this burn perlite all over your food?

[YotaTruck]

Perlite is glass. It is inert and gives off no gasses, and would need to be heated to very high temperatures to even melt.

[CaptainGroovy]

I have to admit that the Altoid tin stove is cute however Sams club and party stores sell Sterno and it normally pretty cheap. If not you can make it your self on the net and Instructables That not to say I don't have 101 other uses or the little tins starting with a paint job. A little tape a scuff pad and the spray paint color of your choice

[sharlston]

nice job

=)

[navyeod]

Did I miss something? Doesn't the flame "snuff out" if you put a pot on the stove to heat or cook food? Perhaps large rocks around the can to sit the pot on so the stove will get air?

[stephenniall]

WOw i have seen a few altoid stoves and this is by far the best for making stuff like mini sausages !! rated 5/5 for good instruction

[ebqbbqmaster]

(removed by author or community request)

[Squid Tamer]

I'm going to have to make this! If only you could store the alcohol inside the stove. Though that seems like an accident waiting to explode in your pants.