[at-l] tin can stove

[wb4pan@mindspring.com (Charles W. Davidson)]

Read the article carefully. The reference seems to state that a Fosters
beer can is made of inferior aluminum. When the actual problem might be
the using of gasoline causing the can to burn up. 
	The Fosters can is actually thicker and stronger than smaller cans.
This is usually the case with the standard soda and beer cans being made
of the thinnest materials and the larger beer cans like the Coors 24 0z
slightly thicker (and bigger around) and the Fosters being the sturdiest
aluminum cans I have found readily available. 
	Mostly I chose a Fosters can for my stove because I originally worked
with isopropyl alcohol 70%. The large can diameter allowed for more
holes of smaller size around the can. I found isopropyl (rubbing
alcohol) required more burner holes and more air to work efficiently.
Also since the pot support is a pieced of stainless steel mesh wrapped
around the burner, the larger can makes a bigger diameter and more
stable support for the pot.
	After using rubbing alcohol for most of a year and through one winter I
switched to denatured alcohol. Mostly did the switch because rubbing
alcohol produces a thin layer of black suet on the cook pot. I found
with denatured the same stove had too many holes and flames leaped above
the pot (wasting heat energy that did not have time to be transferred to
the pot). 
	So next I added a removable piece of aluminum can that actually plugged
up 1/3 of the holes in the burner. This made the burner burn at an
acceptable level for denatured or rubbing alcohol. A compromise but not
most efficient with either fuel. Other stoves I made were made with the
correct number of holes for denatured only, This can be adjusted to
increase burn time (less holes or smaller ones) or increase maximum
output (more holes or larger ones). The stoves are so light some folks
would carry two, one made for simmer and one made for quick heat. 
	After a few years of alcohol I have been using Esbit mostly. Only
burning alcohol occasionally. For Esbit I added a piece of the screen
mesh that lies on top of the burner. this holds the esbit up a bit so
air circulates around the tablet. Also since Esbit leaves some residue,
this tends to stick to the screen and doesn't plug the burner holes...
so I can burn alcohol when needed. I even cooked on a twig fire in the
stove once when i ran out of fuel!

	The burner i use is copied from one of the original Pepsi can stove
designs. With two bottom parts of cans shoved together .. the top end
shoved inside the bottom end forming a short can about 5/8" high
perhaps. It is pre filled with perlite for a wicking material and holes
punched in the top to form a burner. this has been duplicated on several
web sites. Seems to work much better than the Traingia copies having an
open center in the burner.

chase







> 
> You need to check out "Fuzzy's Lil' Stove". <http://home.att.net/~ofuzzy1/alcohol.htm>
> 
> Made from one can, and NO tape.  The pot sits on top of the stove, so no extra stove support
> needed.  Burns like a tourch.
> 
> Lurker
> 
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