Mini Camping Stove

This is a project that started from NK5's Instructable. Then I saw benniblueyes's videos and I was hooked. Then I stumbled upon Zen Stoves and got a ton of ideas.

So now I present to you my "Sideburner Jet Stove." This stove is of my own design, a jet stove that you can use as a pot-stand itself. This stove is great if you want a lightweight stove or just to stay warm. (Just please don't use it in enclosed spaces, otherwise nasty carbon monoxide might get you.) I have entered this Instructable into the Stay Warn Contest, so please vote for me. ;)

This stove is a mix between an sideburner stove and a pressurized jet stove. Denatured alcohol is the preferred fuel, but rubbing alcohol may work. (Not tested) Denatured alcohol is commonly used for laquer thinner, and the yellow HEET is denatured alcohol. (Basically)

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Step 1: Materials

This is a list of what you need to make this simple stove:

Three pop cans - One needs to be unopened.
A smallish screw
JB Weld - This stuff is awesome. You can use other high-temperature sealants, just make sure it can withstand 600 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
Scrap wood, 20mm high and a piece 30mm high.
Sand paper

You will also need a few tools:

Drill
Drill bit just a tad bigger that screw, or you can use one slightly smaller and actually screw the screw in.
Awl or other small, pointy object. (Like a needle)
Utility knife blade

aa_kim_ says: Sep 5, 2011. 8:48 PM

how will i put off the fire after i finished using it?

Gelfling6 in reply to aa_kim_Mar 6, 2012. 5:45 PM

I use a over-sized empty can, bigger than the stove element, to simply place it over the element, so it suffocates the flames.. Mind you, it's NOT, I repeat NOT an instant extinguish! leave it covered for at least 10 seconds, to give the boiling alcohol time to cool off a little.. simply covering, then uncovering, will be asking for a flare-up. Someone asked a little further down how did it melt the copper penny... depends on if it was true copper, or the present-day copper-plated? the copper plated, are usually zinc (as much as 97% core is zinc, while the remaining 3% outer shell is pure copper.) and zinc has a low melting point.. 692.68 K, 419.53 °C, 787.15 °F .. Copper itself, is far higher.. 1357.77 K, 1084.62 °C, 1984.32 °F. .. Alcohol, dependent on the purity (% alcohol, opposed to water, and impurities) will burn at 600-900 °C, (1112-1652 °F, OR 873-1173 °K)

I had one stove element melt the bottom of a small aluminum pot, so I would also add potential of acceleration of the air around the jets to the equation.. (though aluminum itself melts at 933.47 K, 660.32 °C, 1220.58 °F, mind you this was a thin walled aluminum pot, and the water I had in it, had boiled off completely.)

ebubbula says: Jul 29, 2011. 5:43 AM

You should show how to make the hybrid jet stove that is in the bottom right of the second picture.

J@50n says: Jul 8, 2009. 10:46 AM

(removed by author or community request)

nunzilla555 in reply to J@50nApr 7, 2011. 6:12 AM

how exactly did it melt the penny? it would be fun to melt them and make metal castings like jewelry or figurines.

triumphman says: Dec 15, 2010. 7:10 AM

It would be nice if you could use inches instead of metric measures for us American blokes! How about adding some USA numbers for us? Thanks Mate!

466267 says: May 16, 2009. 2:50 PM

You know u dont have to use jb weld at the time.... U can just krimp it or do it manually ... that's what i did and it a little funner

J@50n in reply to 466267Jul 8, 2009. 9:53 AM

when you slide them in, instead of crimping (my dad told me too) you can boil a pot of water and stick one side in to make it expand and put the other in the freezer to make it contract. it works good!

junits15 in reply to J@50nOct 22, 2009. 2:31 PM

or you can even use a guinness beer can for the top and a polar seltzer can for the bottom, they will slide together without any crimping stretching boiling or freezing. Although a shim helps alot when sliding them together.

qwertyboy (author) in reply to J@50nJul 8, 2009. 7:23 PM

that's a good idea! i might have to try that when i make my next one.

J@50n in reply to qwertyboyJul 8, 2009. 8:32 PM

just make sure you don't cover he one in water because u have to pick it up. 212 degreese ouch!

bulsatar says: Jul 22, 2009. 9:40 AM

A good way to prevent sticking is to lube up the 20mm with some vegetable oil or some cooking fat. Then it should slip right off after you stretch it.