Aluminum Bottle Alcohol Stove

Step 10: Time to Cook

I use Ethyl rubbing alcohol as fuel. An old plastic film canister is a good dosing tool. It is the right amount for about a 10 minute burn (enough to boil a few cups of water.)

Safety note: Never use petroleum based fuels in this type stove. There explosive nature make them unsuitable for this type stove.

Pour the alcohol in the burn bowl and light.
After about 30 seconds the stove is hot enough to vaporize the alcohol and ignite the jets.
At this point the pot can be placed on top of the stove.
The jets will heat both the pot and the stove.
This continuous heating of the outside of the burn bowl is what keeps this stove lit when a cold pot is placed on it.

Make an option cap from another can bottom and then you can store a canister of fuel in the stove for transport.

Comments

[Gelfling6]

I have 2 bottles already, but it seems bottles are becoming more and more scarce... I think they may've found the aluminum bottle was a little TOO popular for other uses, like this.. :-/

[Gelfling6]

Cancel that.. I now have 3!! Time to start building!

[kbails84]

can you just make and send me one!? I dont want to go through the trouble of this. How much would you charge!? lol

[okto]

Why don't you just buy a camp stove?

[cullenc1993]

Yeah I would love to buy one of these from somebody. As long as you can get it to work as well as is advertised and preferably looks the same also. Send me a message and let me know you price and we'll work something out.

[Mithril Forge]

Just made mine today and tried it out. Works like a charm. I also used the Venom "cottles". I think I'm going to go ahead and make some for friends. Thanks so much for posting this design. I think its way better than the others that I have looked at, and I have looked at hundreds. Thanks again.

[nickhallen]

A "Nibbler" tool was very easy to use to make the openings in the bottom of the bottles and then I used a file to smooth and fine tune hole shapes. Mine works! Black pot using 91% rubbing alcohol so might experiment with different fuels. I tried coors light bottles but much thinner then Venom bottles. So made final stove with venom bottles. The "Venom Stove".

[red9er]

How does the "optional" cap on the last line not allow fuel to leak out but still stay on? Also very well written. I could easily see how someone could make this confusing.

[hpstoutharrow]

The Alcohol is stored in a separate container. The cap is used to retain a small fuel container/bottle inside the stove. In this case I referenced using a plastic film cannister but any small plastic bottle with a secure lid that fits in the stove could be used. Any Ideas for small fuel containers? You could also store other small related items inside the stove like matches, folded aluminum foil for a wind brake, or a pocket knife, etc.

[nickhallen]

Saw somewhere else that those small "5 hour energy" plastic bottles are secure for carrying the alchohol. They have a screw on cap.

[90mp11]

would a paracetamol/aspirin container be small enough

[Nivuahc]

I'm not sure if it would fit in this particular stove but I've had a friend save several of those small energy drink bottles (you know, the ones that are supposed to last for 5 hours) specifically for storing camp stove alcohol. They should hold enough for a 15-20 minute burn and they have a screw-on cap, which is less prone to leakage. I've taken a crack at several camp stoves and this one is, by far, the best looking/working one that I've seen. I suppose I'll have to make a few myself. Thanks for putting this up, it's very well done.

[Metalcaster14]

Great Instructable. good descriptions, very precise. If I could drink/consume wheat ( I'm under age and have a gluten allergy lol) I would definitely build one.

[mopedmoby]

you can... i've seen similar bottles like this one from mountain dew and other companies

[ratazc]

Nice project. I'm going to try it this weekend...but will I do with the contents of those blue bottles? hehe.

[rogue13_13]

I am very impressed with this instructable. I think that such a stove would be a great addition to my camping pack. I have one question though, how does the alcohol get from the burn bowl to the chamber where it vaporizes? I was under the impression that the burn bowl would have a tight fit against the base of the stove, and thus not allow alcohol through.

[hpstoutharrow]

The wording "touching the bottom of the base" in step might have been too strong a term. Its being taken to mean "seal". I may have to reword the instructable. Check the comment and reply from Sept. 7th. Thanks for the interest.

[ccdiver]

This is a great project and well presented. These are something everybody should have a few of for emergencies, as well as a great backpacking stove that you don't need custom fuel dispensors or expensive fuel for. Thanks for sharing this.

[captainwiggles]

Very nice. This is by far the best alcohol stove I have seen. I will be making one this weekend. Thank you for the awsome design.