Do alky stoves all work better with a wick

Posted by: bmwrider

Do alky stoves all work better with a wick - 05/19/10 12:31 PM

Do you know of design thats works just as well without a wick?

Or if they need a wick can you advise me on a good wick material.

I can't seem to find any wick that does not burn away, Lowes does not have them, the stuff I found was flat but turned to ash once the fuel was gone.

How long does a wick on the outside of the stove last?

Has anyone used steel wool inside the stove? I don't have exposed insulation in my attic


Posted by: lori

Re: Do alky stoves all work better with a wick - 05/19/10 12:48 PM

This sounds like a job for zenstoves.net.

A supercat works without a wick, as do many other kinds of alcohol stove.

You can get fiberglass wicking from places that sell candle making supplies. Tinny at MiniBull Designs sells it in small bundles.

I've seen stove designs that use perlite (cheap, from the garden section) inside. Check the above website for examples.
Posted by: taM

Re: Do alky stoves all work better with a wick - 05/19/10 02:16 PM

I don't use any alcohol stoves that involve wicks.

I have one setup that weighs a bit more, but is somewhat more robust, and boils quicker, and one SUL setup that weighs almost nothing, but takes longer to obtain a boil.

The heavier one is the Heineken can based "penny stove" for which plans can be easily found with a google search. Fairly easy to make, and very simple to use. No priming pans, no warmup times, just put fuel in it, light, and leave.

The lighter one is the "tea light" stove, which is a simple open tea light candle container filled with a half ounce of fuel, and lit. It does not burn as hot, so it takes longer to boil (under ideal conditions I've gotten a boil of 2 cups of water in 8 minutes), but it is more fuel efficient, and weighs only a half a gram. Paired with a good windscreen, and a Foster's can pot, the whole shabang weighs less than 2 ounces. It's not as durable a setup, so care has to be taken with it, but it's very light and extremely efficient.

I've never attempted any wick stoves, or any stoves with insulation in them, but I've seen a few people on the trail with them, and have also heard plenty of 4-letter words from the people trying to use them. That's enough to convince me to steer clear.
Posted by: phat

Re: Do alky stoves all work better with a wick - 05/19/10 03:35 PM

I don't find I use a wick in mine.

some people do for small ones. fibreglas insulation works.

don't use steel wool it burns.

Posted by: P740

Re: Do alky stoves all work better with a wick - 05/20/10 10:35 PM

use a wick and snuff out the flame and cap the stove before the wick begins to burn if you make a stove with a tight fitting lid the alcohol will be there for the next burn. wick stoves burn steady and waist less fuel just like your grandfathers kerosene lantern a adjustable steady burn.
Posted by: Bushman

Re: Do alky stoves all work better with a wick - 05/21/10 02:51 PM

go to a house and grab some insulation from the rafters, seems to work alright.
Posted by: jasonklass

Re: Do alky stoves all work better with a wick - 05/22/10 11:44 AM

Some stoves do, some don't. It's really a trial and error thing. BTW, a good wicking material is fiberglass cloth. It doesn't produce an orange flame like house insulation can.