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I've built a number of pressure and laminar flow can stoves to learn how to build them from memory and to find the best combination of burner and intake size, jet size, can type, seal type, etc. that would suit my needs. (One thing I'm still looking for is an aluminum can to make a pressure stove like the Swedish Trangia which offers the ability to shutdown and pack up by just screwing on the lid.)
While I have not yet found an aluminum can that is equivalent to the brass Trangia, I have been able to find a single solution that does the following:
1. uses readily found materials
2. supports a "pot" to boil water to heat or cook various trail mix
3. integrates a windscreen that will not blow away
4. reduce lost heat and improve boil time
...by building a chimney for my can stove.
The can stove chimney I built solves all of the problems listed above using readily found 214 or 215 and a 315 tin can. There is room for improvement, however, as far as how the cans are connected and stabilized and what other materials and coatings might be used. (With tin (zinc) coated cans you may want to add some barbecue paint )
Since temperatures can get pretty high its probably best to stay with steel unless you can afford titanium. You can experiment with aluminum if it is thick enough and you are prepared to handle the situation if the aluminum melts out on the trial.
While I have not yet found an aluminum can that is equivalent to the brass Trangia, I have been able to find a single solution that does the following:
1. uses readily found materials
2. supports a "pot" to boil water to heat or cook various trail mix
3. integrates a windscreen that will not blow away
4. reduce lost heat and improve boil time
...by building a chimney for my can stove.
The can stove chimney I built solves all of the problems listed above using readily found 214 or 215 and a 315 tin can. There is room for improvement, however, as far as how the cans are connected and stabilized and what other materials and coatings might be used. (With tin (zinc) coated cans you may want to add some barbecue paint )
Since temperatures can get pretty high its probably best to stay with steel unless you can afford titanium. You can experiment with aluminum if it is thick enough and you are prepared to handle the situation if the aluminum melts out on the trial.
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Signing UpStep 1The cans (or whatever material you choose to use)
I used five cans plus a laminar flow type stove for this example but the pressure stove I used burned hotter with less soot. (BTW - the reason for so much soot is I'm using isopropyl for my experiments.)
Starting from the left with the last can - a mixed vegetable can, it is shown upside down with the top cut out and a 1-1/2" hole cut in the bottom. Holes are easy to cut by first using a punch to knock dots in a 1-1/2" circle which are then cut-connected with a knife.
The next is the "pot" can that holds water for boiling. I used a 16 oz. slim Coconut water beverage can. After the top is popped and the contents consumed the remainder of the top is cut out to make the opening wider and uniform.
Next is a sweetened condensed milk can with both top and bottom removed with a can opener. It is the same diameter as the vegetable can.
Next is another vegetable can with both top and bottom cut out. I had to find one that had a folded seam on both ends in order to do this. 8 holes are punched just under the rim and steel wire inserted to hold a piece of 1/4" hardware cloth which will support the pot.
Next can is the stove.
Next is the bottom can which is a 315 tin can for the air intake unit. Only the top needs to be removed. Punch 8 holes below the rim (or you can go deeper) to receive the steel wire mesh. Hardware cloth can also be added on top of the mesh but I just used the wire mesh by itself.
As you can see neatness is not an absolute necessity for the chimney to work. The wire's job is to support the entire load of the stove, the pot and the rest of the chimney setup so build accordingly.
Starting from the left with the last can - a mixed vegetable can, it is shown upside down with the top cut out and a 1-1/2" hole cut in the bottom. Holes are easy to cut by first using a punch to knock dots in a 1-1/2" circle which are then cut-connected with a knife.
The next is the "pot" can that holds water for boiling. I used a 16 oz. slim Coconut water beverage can. After the top is popped and the contents consumed the remainder of the top is cut out to make the opening wider and uniform.
Next is a sweetened condensed milk can with both top and bottom removed with a can opener. It is the same diameter as the vegetable can.
Next is another vegetable can with both top and bottom cut out. I had to find one that had a folded seam on both ends in order to do this. 8 holes are punched just under the rim and steel wire inserted to hold a piece of 1/4" hardware cloth which will support the pot.
Next can is the stove.
Next is the bottom can which is a 315 tin can for the air intake unit. Only the top needs to be removed. Punch 8 holes below the rim (or you can go deeper) to receive the steel wire mesh. Hardware cloth can also be added on top of the mesh but I just used the wire mesh by itself.
As you can see neatness is not an absolute necessity for the chimney to work. The wire's job is to support the entire load of the stove, the pot and the rest of the chimney setup so build accordingly.
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Apr 30, 2009. 11:14 AMthecollar
says:
You can't use aluminum for burning; that's why trangia use brass. Aluminum corrodes with ethanol (and meths), so it's either steel or something similar.
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Apr 30, 2009. 11:15 AMthecollar
says:
Your best bet is to find suppliers that do screwtop steel tins. Search for those and you'll find hundreds. Adapt it and it works just the same.
Reply
22
Jan 13, 2008. 9:51 AMGorillazMiko
says:
Great job! This looks really easy to do, it's awesome. +1 rating. I also like your name, I like to run around school saying "watermelon" out of nowhere..
Reply
18
Jan 13, 2008. 4:21 PMwatermelon (author)
says:
That worries me. I don't know why but it does... What grade are you in and what school do you attend?
Reply
22
Jan 13, 2008. 4:49 PMGorillazMiko
says:
I am in 8th grade, and I'm not telling you my school. But, it's in Covina, California.
Reply
18
Jan 13, 2008. 7:03 PMwatermelon (author)
says:
That's okay, no need for details, just general information. My sister lives close to there and I have friends who live in Pasadena and from LA who now live North of Santa Barbara, and some in also in Fresno, Stockton and near Santa Rosa. Small world.
Reply
22
Jan 13, 2008. 7:07 PMGorillazMiko
says:
Cool, my dad works in South Pasadena. :-)
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