Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#118395 - 07/16/09 09:00 PM alcohol stoves
sabre11004 Offline
member

Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 513
Loc: Tennessee
I was recently looking at the different variations of the alcohol stove and I do think that I have got that thing worked out. I have a couple of basic Pepsi can stoves that work really well. I was reading what a difference that a wind screen could make in the efficiency of your stove, and have found that this is the answer to an efficient stove I have one variation that is about 3 inches tall, holds about 3 oz. of fuel, and will boil a liter of water in around three minutes. Now I don't know how efficient these things can be but I don't think that I have seen any more efficient than this one. I have had it (I made it around two years ago)around two years and have used it for every thing from over nighters to being on the trail for around two weeks and it has always worked flawlessly. Some times I will take two of these because if I want to cook I have to have a longer burn time than just one stove will allow. So while I am cooking on one of theses stoves, I have another ready and waiting full of fuel that I can just slip in place of the first one when the first one runs out of fuel. This gives me a 12- 20 minute burn time and that is usually more than enough to cook pasta or whatever it is that you need to cook When the fist stove runs out of fuel, I simply slip it out from every thing and slip the full one in it's place. You can almost have it lit before the actual boil stops and again it gives me a 12- 20 minute burn time. I think , from what I have read, that I have as an efficient of a stove that I have seen any where. I also use a "pocket rocket' as an emergency stove and it will not boil water as fast as my alky stove... If any one needs ideas of how I made my stove so efficient feel free to e-mail me and I will be happy to share....sabre11004 awesome awesome
_________________________
The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there 1!!!!!

Top
#118417 - 07/17/09 11:34 AM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: sabre11004]
finallyME Offline
member

Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
How about pictures and a description right here? confused
_________________________
I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

Top
#118421 - 07/17/09 12:18 PM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: finallyME]
jpanderson80 Offline
member

Registered: 07/28/06
Posts: 292
Loc: Memphis, TN
Yes please post that info here on the design and the fuel usage. 3 min. boil sounds amazing from an alky!
_________________________
I always forget and make it more complicated than it needs to be...it's just walking.

Top
#118431 - 07/17/09 02:15 PM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: jpanderson80]
sabre11004 Offline
member

Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 513
Loc: Tennessee
Most of the posting that I do is from a work computer and I have no way to post any pics,(I am not sure that I could do it any way) unfortunately. Most of the improvement that I have gotten from these stoves have come from things like discovering what is the best height for the pot to sit over the stove. Also, a great help is to have the properly sized wind screen, both the closeness of it to that pot and the height of it. I have also experimented with a heat vent that sits on my wind screen and lets more air pass between the pot and the stove. It is just basically a lot of different variations of the "stove, the "windscreen", and the pot stand that have made the difference in it's efficiency and burn times. I cooked macaroni and cheese on it last night and I started it about the same time that dinner was started and trust me I was eating before any one else...You just have to get your self a few variations of these things and play around with them. I always test all my gear at the house before I actually go into the back country so as to avoid any accidents or maybe a piece of gear that does not work like it was anticipated to work...sabre... awesome awesome
_________________________
The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there 1!!!!!

Top
#118454 - 07/17/09 10:22 PM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: sabre11004]
Trailrunner Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 1835
Loc: Los Angeles
Sounds like a great stove but I don't see too many exact numbers here. Don't forget you're on a site where people split grams.

Figures please. They're even more important than pictures. I'd like to see:

Exact amount of water boiled.

Starting temp of water boiled.

Exact amount of fuel consumed. You wrote how much it holds but not how much it uses.

Exact time to boil.

Your definition of "boil"

Quote:
I also use a "pocket rocket' as an emergency stove and it will not boil water as fast as my alky stove...


That's a mighty bold claim unless the Pocket Rocket is on a nearly empty canister.
_________________________
If you only travel on sunny days you will never reach your destination.*

* May not apply at certain latitudes in Canada and elsewhere.

Top
#118459 - 07/18/09 11:22 AM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: Trailrunner]
sabre11004 Offline
member

Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 513
Loc: Tennessee
Amount of Water...............1 liter..(33.8 oz.)
Temperature of Water..........50-60 F
Alcohol used...
I use a little more than necessary because it seems that the actual alcohol "boil" is not only faster but I think hotter too!!!!
Boil Times...................31/2 to 4 minutes

I did put the both of them to the test last night and the Pocket Rocket did start to boil faster but the alky rolled it faster..Certainly, either one would be a great choice....sabre11004... goodjob goodjob
_________________________
The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there 1!!!!!

Top
#118460 - 07/18/09 02:30 PM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: sabre11004]
EricKingston Offline
member

Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 272
Loc: Michigan
Setting aside test results, please, go ahead and post the build instructions.

Also, if you have the ability to take pictures, you can send them to me via snail mail or email and I'll post them on your behalf.

Top
#118463 - 07/18/09 04:05 PM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: EricKingston]
sabre11004 Offline
member

Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 513
Loc: Tennessee
Hey, my wife said that she may be able to do that. I will work on some pics of the whole set-up and then maybe I can get them on here...sabre11004... thanks
_________________________
The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there 1!!!!!

Top
#118617 - 07/22/09 11:32 AM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: sabre11004]
sabre11004 Offline
member

Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 513
Loc: Tennessee
I tried a different variation of the little alky last night and it failed me. I had a "two" burner set-up with a wind screen/pot stand and it was of too thin a material and it collapsed on me.(melted) I had a small mess but I always use a aluminum under-tray while I am doing my experimenting. Any way I am still working on the pics to send every one. I actually do have some pics made but I still will have to figure out how to get them on here. Be patient and maybe one day I will actually manage that...sabre11004... thanks
_________________________
The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there 1!!!!!

Top
#119057 - 08/04/09 01:52 PM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: sabre11004]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
Depending on the length of time your out and packing xtra fuel for 2 stoves etc. It may be more weight effecient to pack a canister stove. At a certain point the alcohol becomes more weight. I like my pop-can stove and aluminum flashing windscreen. I carry 10 oz fuel max for it. I'm sure someone,
"PHAT chime in" has better data than I on the matter.
_________________________
Enjoy your next trip...

Top
#119064 - 08/04/09 04:53 PM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: chaz]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada


Depends if you're concerned about the max weight you'll be carrying or the average over the whole trip.

Being a little more concerned about my pack at the heaviest,
I tend to start looking hard at using a canister stove at
more than about 7 person days of cooking. (Which does mean for
99% of my backpacking outside of winter I use alcohol)

_________________________
Any fool can be uncomfortable...
My 3 season gear list
Winter list.
Browse my pictures


Top
#119145 - 08/08/09 08:00 PM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: phat]
Folkalist Offline
member

Registered: 03/17/07
Posts: 374
Loc: Fredericksburg, VA
Oh, Great Alky-Stove Whisperer (phat),
that is the most succinct explanation of alky versus canister per person per day "is it worth the weight" I've seen in a while!

And, of course, as you know, I'm already alky-stove impaired!
_________________________
Why am I online instead of hiking?

Top
#119186 - 08/10/09 11:25 AM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: Folkalist]
jpanderson80 Offline
member

Registered: 07/28/06
Posts: 292
Loc: Memphis, TN
LOL
Oh, Great Alky-Stove Whisperer (phat)
LOL

Thank you... that cracked me up.
_________________________
I always forget and make it more complicated than it needs to be...it's just walking.

Top
#119207 - 08/10/09 08:15 PM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: jpanderson80]
Folkalist Offline
member

Registered: 03/17/07
Posts: 374
Loc: Fredericksburg, VA
I'm pleased to have brought mirth to a fellow Ewok.
_________________________
Why am I online instead of hiking?

Top
#119215 - 08/10/09 10:52 PM Re: alcohol stoves [Re: sabre11004]
Bushman Offline
member

Registered: 07/01/09
Posts: 122
Loc: California
IMO a stove should be more fuel efficiant than have a fast boil time. I use a cat stove that can boil 2 cups of water with .5 fl oz of HEET, in about 4-5 minutes. This is great because most of the time i use 2 or less cups of water. If i am going to want to keep something boiling longer ill use 1fl oz of fuel.

I am going to try the soda can stove side burner design and see if it can be as efficiant as the cat stove. Oh yeah the cat stove i use is the two can design(one 5oz and 3oz can).

I find that adding a wick helps.

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 160 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum