The Firefly - Simple Small Alcohol Stove

[benjy]

Quick post for a small alcohol stove I've made. Will be making these tomorrow with a group of explorer scouts and using them to make pancakes.

Made the task really simple by finding a small screw top aluminium tin, which you can find on the internet normally sold by websites providing supplies for making cosmetics/soap. The tin has a capacity of 30ml, and is 45mm wide and 22mm high.

The tin is filled with perlite as an absorbing material. I got a bag from a garden centre ages ago as its can be used to aid drainage in soil, solely for the purpose of making stoves. Then a stainless steel mesh screen is added, but from a splatter guard used on frying pans.

Really simple design, takes minutes to make and is pretty effective. Will boil 2 cups of water with 15ml of meths under ideal conditions.

The tin:

Opened up:

Top view:

In action:

Thanks for looking.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Nice little stove. The Scouts will enjoy making them.

 

[funky_rick]

this can be advanced, put the lid on the tin and drill very small holes around the inside edge of the lid aprox 1 cm apart, this allows the stove to then function in a similar way to a trangia burner, spreads the heat and makes the fuel last longer for the same amount of heat to cook with.

 

[benjy]

Rick,

Do you mean to use the lid as a simmer ring, or turning this into a pressurised stove?

If its the latter, then without a inner wall the stove would need to be preheated to cause the meths to vaporise and and exit the lid.

I've made semi-pressurised stoves like trangias from coke cans and from lynx deodorant cans. I've also made completely sealed pressurised stoves than had a preheat ring. I know this design isn't the most fuel efficient, but I was trying to have a simple, functional design that could be made with minimal tools.

My plan is to give the opportunity to make some more advanced/complicated stoves to any that show the particular interest in this one. I was thinking of going onto a lynx can stove next as the materials are readily available and the construction is less fiddly than other designs I've built. If you have an thoughts or designs that you think would be good then please let me know.

Thanks

 

[jackcbr]

Just found these guys on the net. No connection

https://www.soapkitchenonline.co.uk/acatalog/Aluminium_Tins.html

Think I'm going to be ordering a few tins now

 

[plastic-ninja]

I'm sure you have probably seen it already but if not
then check out zenstoves.net which should keep you going for a while.
Some excellent advice on construction and fuels too.
Cheers , Simon

 

[jackcbr]

Just spotted they do metal bottles too

https://www.soapkitchenonline.co.uk/acatalog/Aluminium_Bottles_and_Closures.html

 

[SimonM]

We did this with our Scouts, using Vasline tins...the small ones that get carried in pockets for lip balm etc.

its a good project, they'll love it.

Simon

 

[presterjohn]

Just found these guys on the net. No connection

https://www.soapkitchenonline.co.uk/acatalog/Aluminium_Tins.html

Think I'm going to be ordering a few tins now

You are a star! I was looking for some 'Lush' type tins on ebay but they were a fortune to buy so did not bother. Those tins have loads of cool uses.

 

[Claudiasboris]

Boot polish tins work well as meths stoves for me.


Claudiasboris

 

[Whittler Kev]

May seem a bit of a dumb question, but for us non meths folk, do you have to put the cup on a stand? I keep thinking that if you put the cup straight on top of the can, it will snuff the meths out?

 

[plastic-ninja]

Depends on the type of stove Kev.
See my link below for loads of info on this type of stove.
Quite addictive. Pop can stoves are brilliant fun to make
& work pretty well in conjunction with a windshield or a cone.
Cheers , Simon

 

[jacko1066]

How about putting an O ring in the lid? that way you could store meths in it and also not worry about it leaking.
Great little stove thanks for sharing.

Steve

 

[mrcharly]

How did you cut the mesh?

 

[benjy]

Thanks for the comments guys.

jackcbr - i got the tins from the soapkitchen website. As other mentioned vaseline and shoe polish tins are great too. I bought these as I needed ~30 for all the explorers and leaders and didn't want to have to save up tins.

Whittlerkev - this particular stove does need a stand. I've made a simple tripod from metal coathangers for these type of stoves. Other stoves don't require a stand as the pot sits directly on top for example the lynx stove and other whitebox stove variants.

jacko1066 - great idea for the O ring, will definitely do that to aid the usefullness.

Mrcharly - the mesh is fairly easily cut with a sturdy pair of scissors but may dull the edge. I used a set of tin snips in this instance whv

 

[Thoth]

Nice little stove & great project. I've been using these useful little tins for storing all sorts of stuff, but this is a much more interesting application! Great Stuff! I'm sure your scouts will love this.

 

[Rod Paradise]

Nice job with the Stove Benji - not seen one with the deeper tin before.

Using perlite hadn't occurred to me, most on here have been using loft insulation/welders mats. A few threads although they're called Monkey Boy stoves since he suggested them on here.

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83703&highlight=monkey+stove

 

[Rockmonkey]

I use a monkey boy stove, and a coke can burner, both great inventions!
Hope the scouts enjoy, well done!

RM

 

[Everything Mac]

How do you fix the wire mesh in place? I've seen these a few times now. They look great for a quick cuppa!
Andy

 

[funky_rick]

you are correct that's a pressure stove and does require an inner wall. oops sorry. but its a great idea, may make them with my scouts i take it simple tools, wire cutters and a little patience will be ok.