Ultimate Penny Stove ( Camp / Backpacking Alcohol Stove )

This is the best stove I've made so far. I've made a lot of the stove designs from the internet and they've all come up short in one way or another. After trial and error, this is the best one.

Main Features: Safety, Durability, Built in Pot Stand and Funnel, Wind Resistant, and Easy to Light with no priming pan.

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Step 1: List

The list of items you will need:

cooking spray can (PAM or equivalent)
metal knockout from an electrical panel or other metal disc
hack saw
permanent marker
fiberglass insulation (formaldehyde free is recommended)
metal snips
needle nose pliers
gutter crimping tool
drill and bits
jb weld

hjimmy says: Dec 31, 2012. 11:59 AM

Hi, good job!
I was just looking thru the back recesses of my desk drawer and came across a well worn 1943 steel penny. An idea flashed into my mind about a name change:
"Steel-Penny" stove.
It goes along with the steel stove concept, and removes the copper penny problem.

SgtHawk says: Nov 23, 2012. 2:00 PM

Some excellent ideas. What a great comment on the penny. We all probably know what copper can give off but I think you are probably the first person to connect the dots when the penny is used on the stove. Well Done!
How much fuel did you put in it to last 30 minutes. Do you think a version about 1-1 1/2 inches tall would work for 10-15 minutes if full?

Did you ever consider or play around with a tight windscreen from below the flame to above the top of the Cup or pot with some sort of filler flap to cover between the top and bottom of the handle?
I made and tested a shade tree version out of a resized large juice can and HD aluminum with an 1/4-1/2" air space (insulation) between the inner juice can skirt and the outer HD aluminum skirt. The resized juice can leaves 3/8" all around between this reflective insulated skirt and the cup. Results were very impressive so I am trying to see how to make the stove as efficient as possible when I use it to heat water in a 750 ml to 1 liter aluminum water bottle. Any thoughts on this or any fuel efficiency improving ideas would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.
Regards and nice job,

onemoroni1 says: Jul 25, 2012. 8:07 AM

I made this, but can't get it to light, even shortened the height, but it just sputters and goes out. Using rubbing alcohol.

upnorthsurvivor in reply to onemoroni1Nov 4, 2012. 4:18 PM

Try using heet, or denatured alcohol. Rubbing alcohol doesn't work very well. And I think the fumes are bad for you

DamianKillcannon (author) in reply to onemoroni1Aug 7, 2012. 8:27 PM

I'd be interested to see a picture of the one you've made. That might help me trouble shoot it for you. The only thing I can think of is that you're not getting enough air to the fire. If the pot stand doesn't have sufficient air flow then it will smother it. I ran into this a lot with some of my designs. Check this by removing the pot stand in a no wind environment. Let me know how you make out.

onemoroni1 in reply to DamianKillcannonAug 7, 2012. 9:00 PM

Thanks for your reply. I noticed something as I reviewed your instructable. I didn't drill enough holes and need to drill the smaller size. I just skimmed it the first time and thought I had it figured out. I'll rework mine to see if it works.

DamianKillcannon (author) in reply to onemoroni1Aug 8, 2012. 6:24 AM

cool. I hope that does the trick for you.

n0ukf says: Jul 3, 2012. 1:00 AM

"One more thing, don't use a penny on a penny stove unless you need to. Copper gives off some bad fumes when you heat it."

Most pennies are now made with a zinc core. Burning zinc fumes are a nasty health hazard.

lrwelling says: Feb 2, 2012. 9:55 PM

Nice design, looking forward to building it. FYI, Boy Scouts require an Off valve on stoves, so these penny stoves can't be used on official BSA events.

pedro ivo says: Jan 24, 2012. 4:42 PM

DamianKillcannon (author) in reply to pedro ivoJan 27, 2012. 3:51 PM

looks like you've got some fire going. Not sure why you have such big holes in the can? how long does this burn for?

curious youth says: Jan 20, 2012. 10:49 PM

would zippo stuffing work instead of the insulation ?

punkhead58 in reply to curious youthJan 21, 2012. 1:01 PM

Yes, cotton works, but it chars faster.

curious youth in reply to punkhead58Jan 21, 2012. 2:14 PM

Awwk then thanks

jcksparr0w says: Jan 18, 2012. 10:04 AM

Am i mistaken or aren't there types of insulation that have chemicals in them? I wouldn't want that in my stove either. Anyway, great instructable! Keep it up!

DamianKillcannon (author) in reply to jcksparr0wJan 18, 2012. 4:05 PM

Not all fiberglass insulation is the same. You do want to make sure you know what you are putting in the stove. That is why I'm specific about using formaldehyde free insulation.

backpackandgear says: Jan 18, 2012. 5:26 AM

This is some stove. Is this easier than just buying a good light weight stove? The insulation takes me back a little. I guess I could buy the insulation at Home Depot and make sure I get the right kind. This stove looks good and seems to work well. Joe from Backpack and Gear

http://www.backpack-and-gear.com/backpacking-stove-reviews.html

DamianKillcannon (author) in reply to backpackandgearJan 18, 2012. 4:03 PM

You can buy the insulation from any hardware store, however I already had some from remodeling jobs. If you are going to get some make sure it doesn't have chemicals like formaldehyde in it.

malsonc says: Jan 17, 2012. 9:32 PM

While I'm not a big fan of alcohol stoves, Idid like this one.

One comment I have concerns the metal knockout called for in the materials list. I don't see it called out during the assembly of your stove. I believe I see it covering the hole where the valve used to be. Is that piece attached with JB Weld or just laid over the hole?

Thanks for presenting this Instructable.

DamianKillcannon (author) in reply to malsoncJan 18, 2012. 3:45 AM

I'm glad you liked it.

You are correct the metal knockout is covering where the valve used to be. This doesn't get attached to the stove. As with any "penny" stove you need to cover the fill hole when the stove is lit, but it needs to be free so that you can fill the stove.