Re: [at-l] Date: Thu, 23 Sep 1999 11:25:45 -0400

["W F Thorneloe, MD" <thornel@ibm.net>]

You missed a great deal of action on this topic just a couple of weeks ago.

I don't know that alcohol has benefit over gas simply because of a small 
child. The benefits _may_ be related to weight and renewable resources of 
alcohol. There are several sites on the web with instructions on how to 
make a stove, from used cat food cans to other similar "trash."

Alcohol is not as hot a flame as propane or gas. Boiling times are likely 
to be longer. Propane is often a problem in very cold climes, as it may 
liquify, and fail to become a gas. It is clean an a light form of fuel and 
cooking resource, but I share your disdain for the disposable fuel containers.

Regarding safety and the small child, the clear flame of alcohol can lead 
to accidents. Simply be aware and educate your child. It is usually a good 
idea to try out your stove and equipment in your back yard, long before you 
are 10 miles from a trailhead with a small cold and hungry child.

OrangeBug
Atlanta, GA

At 10:23 AM 9/23/1999 -0500, Mike tocci wrote:
>Help!!! can anyone give me info on making/buying an alcohol stove...I 
>backpack with a small child and am afraid of carrying white gas...will 
>alcohol work  good enough?  how fast does it boil...will it be okay on 
>cold nights in upstate N.Y.?  I have a propane stove (peak 1 micro) and it 
>does the job...however...the ecologist in me hates to keep throwing away 
>propane tanks as they are not refillable....also I heard alcohol burns 
>much cleaner.  any ideas?

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