The Super Cat Alcohol Stove (Major Update)

The Super Cat alcohol stove was first shared with the online backpacking community in January, 2005. Since then, it's become one of the most popular do-it-yourself alcohol stoves among hikers worldwide for probably two reasons: it works exceptionally well and it's very easy to make.

The original 2005 article has now been completely rewritten to incorporate many of the design ideas that Super Cat users have contributed over the years. In addition, the scope has been significantly expanded to include new information about materials, build methods, fuels, windscreens, stands, accessories, and real-world usage techniques.

Also noteworthy is that it's being published concurrently with another article, "The Fire Bucket Stove System", which introduces a new high-performance windscreen for alcohol stoves (especially the Super Cat) that can also serve as an efficient, stand-alone stove for burning wood and solid-fuel tablets. In its lightest implementations, it weighs only about two ounces. When used together, the Fire Bucket and Super Cat form an integrated, lightweight stove system that's easy to build and fun to operate.

You can find the new Super Cat article here.

Thanks Jim, I have always enjoyed the simpleness of your stove and have shown it to others.

Thanks Jim. Your Super Cat design has provided me with many cups of Ramen and hot chocolate over the last few years.

Ah! Something to do this weekend. Here kitty, kitty, kitty.:)

Made the stove this morning, frustrating working with the tape measure, a cloth one or something different would have been much better. I used my drill, first drilling with a 3/32 bit, then a 3/16 bit, holes came out pretty clean, not like a bullet had gone thru, making the hole. Just a few, very small burrs, which were easily cut off with a utility knife. The holes weren't exact, disappointed in their final placement, but it doesn't seem to have to be exact. I tried the stove just now while eating lunch, I had to use a stainless steel pot with carbon center from my kitchen, my bping titanium pot is too uneven on the bottom to make a seal on the stove. Anyway, using room temperature water at 4000', in my kitchen, the water came to a boil at around five minutes, and boiled the water for another two minutes. I didn't start my stop watch until after the water was boiling, I was on the puter, playing, so my start time wasn't exact, off by a few seconds. I was happy with the results, using some of my vintage denatured alcohol that I bought in the early '70's. Only the second alky stove I have tried, I made an Atlanta stove about four years ago.

How much alcohol did you put in the stove, Duane?

Hi Debbie,

Two tablespoons like the instructions say. My next upgrade, is to acquire a Fosters beer can, even if I have to drink it.:) I'm not sure at what point that the fuel boils, signaling the fuel is warm enough to set the pot on, I put my pot on when it looked like the fuel was shimmering a little, worked out.

Jim, Have you experimented at all with Jason's Snowcat stove? That's the bigger version of yours that he made from a steel can. It doesn't burn as hot, but burns longer because it holds more fuel, according to Jason's website.

He put the fiberglass string or whatever that stuff is around the base of it.

Hi Jim,
Nice to see you back here in the forum. I told a friend about your stove, he built one and is now eating breakfast in the Shenandoah park (17 degrees) and reports that the stove works great. He called from his cell phone. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Jim Wood <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Surely this is an apparition <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Can't be him, he's always out playing with his stoves <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Jim don't be such a stranger in these parts! Lots of innovated gear conversations going on and your comments would be welcomed.

I made a version from a stainless steel sink strainer about 2" across and 2" high. Already comes drilled <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> and I just place a bit of aluminum foil in and form it up to the first row of holes. Burns like the dickens, ok, jets like your gas stove at home <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> There was some pictures in a previous thread on myog, and Jason has some on his 'puter.

Near to hear from you all...

TomD: Haven't actually tried Jason's Snowcat, but I plan to soon. In particular, I'd like to compare the burn times with the similar (in terms of fuel capacity) Simmer Cat mentioned in the article.

leadfoot: Thanks for the "welcome back". I too was out recently (Veterans Day weekend) in some pretty chilly weather in the West VA Highlands (Dolly Sods wilderness). Temps down to the low 20'sF and quite windy. The Super Cat / Fire Bucket combo performed like a champ.

Earthling: Looking forward to participating more again. Work-related stuff has eased up a bit, so I think I'll have more time for science projects and online discussions. I'll also have to try the sink strainer idea... Will add one to my Home Depot shopping list <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks all,
Jim.