I know people's cooking setups are talked about quite frequently but I just recently made a new alcohol stove, a design I haven't seen elsewhere, but am curious if this has been made before. Check the video.

I ran a bunch of tests on this stove along with a gram weenie, cat can, smaller diameter cat can (out of an aluminum hairspray bottle, same sized holes with hole punch, an even smaller diameter cat can (same method as last), another stove similar to my new design and so far mine boils water quicker with less alcohol. My testing showed that my stove boils 1.5 cups water in 4.5 minutes (in kitchen setting, no windscreen, no lid, and cold tap water) with 15 mL (1/2 fl oz) alcohol and burnt out at 5.25 minutes. The cat can stove boiled the same amount of water in 4 minutes but with 22 mL (3/4 fl oz) alcohol and burnt out at 5.5 minutes. The gram weenie boiled 1.5 cups water in 5.5 minutes with 15 mL alcohol and burnt out at 6 minutes.

The video isn't of these tests but of my kit that I'll be taking on my PCT thru this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFx9uBdlAQc

Edited by bahlers7 on 03/28/2011 19:22:31 MDT.

You may have chosen 1.5 cups of water to boil since that is what you do in the field.

I think most stove comparisons are standardized for 2 cups of water. You might get completely different results.

--B.G.--

But I tested all the stoves with the same amount of water.

"But I tested all the stoves with the same amount of water."

I understand.

Some small stoves such as Esbit or alcohol are simply incapable of boiling a large amount of water, probably due to inefficiencies of the windscreen, etc. Your pot might lose heat almost as fast as what you are putting into it, and the net result might be a pot that never boils. Try to boil 2 quarts of water with alcohol, and you will see what I mean.

If you have a big stove, like a big canister stove or a white gas stove, you can easily deliver enough heat to the pot that you overcome the heat losses. I think I've boiled 5 quarts of water in a 6-quart pot before.

Testing with the amount of water that you need is practical for you, but it limits easy comparison by others with their stoves and cook pots.

--B.G.--

High brian,

Nice kit and nice stove design. Flame patern fits well under your pot.

Nice!!! I wish you well on your upcoming adventure on the PCT.

.

Thanks Dan! This will be my first thru hike and can't be more excited about it!

Very sharp looking kit.

And all the best to you on your PCT adventure. I wish I could be out on the trail with you this summer.

If I'd change anything at all about the kit, I'd use a longer spoon. Short spoons lead to food muck on the hands, and paying less attention to avoiding that at the end of the day while I try to eat is worth the extra weight to me. YMMV my friend.

Again, looks sharp.

Thanks Ben!

That spoon is actually longer than my previous one, haha! Getting food on my hands was why I made this one longer and since haven't had that problem. I cut it more to just fit inside my SP600, I'm not too worried about the 1 gram I saved ;)

Nice stove design and review. Have a good walk!

Nice kit. I carry something similar with the exception of your stove. I really like the flame pattern and the way you used the shape to help direct the jets. Have a great time and take lots of pics!

Brian,
I really like the design and look of your stove. I'm also impressed at how fast it primed and bloomed. Any chance you would be willing to share materials, specs? To me it look like you used venom or budlight can, but not sure.

Tia..

-Dan

I had someone ask leave me a comment on youtube for a video of how to make one. I'll try and put on together here shortly, I'll let you know when I do.