Made a Alcohol DIY soda can stove.

[sanford12]

The forecast here is for an flooding and an ice storm. Since it's an all electric house and since I'm a cheapskate, at least on some things, I decide to finally build one of these DIY small camp pop can stoves. Not hard to do and there's plenty of videos so I won't go into the construction much. The one I built is called the Arizona penny stove because you use the slightly bigger Arizona beverage cans. Doesn't hurt that grape soda is really good. Nowhere near as sweet as regular soda. You stuff the cans with fiberglass for a wick and to keep the alcohol from sloshing. The penny is to cover the fill hole in the center and has to be a 1982 or older copper penny.

First time filled it close to the top and at first it burned irregularly and lasted half an hour. Foot above the flame was right around 400°. Second test half as much fuel and half as much run time. I'm using 91% isopropyl alcohol. Would rather use straight ethanol but that's a tad too much money The combustion byproducts are water and cardon dioxide so it's safe to use inside.

If I lose power I think I can keep a bedroom somewhat warmer with candles and a an occasional boost from the small stove plus can make another one.

When first started the flames are twice as high.

 

[Jeffery]

Now you just need to do DIY alcohol and you'll have your ethanol!

I bought a 1.75L bottle of the 190 proof Everclear (you can't get 190 everywhere, some places limit it to 151 proof IIRC) to dissolve shellac flakes. Didn't use it all for that, might have to build a stove.

 

[sanford12]

Now you just need to do DIY alcohol and you'll have your ethanol!

I bought a 1.75L bottle of the 190 proof Everclear (you can't get 190 everywhere, some places limit it to 151 proof IIRC) to dissolve shellac flakes. Didn't use it all for that, might have to build a stove.

Here's the video I used. Found it to be straight forward and easy to follow. Heck it's a fun project with stuff a lot of people already have at home.

 

[Shominy]

Fabricated and used by many long trail hikers, myself included.

But I have since become a cold soak hiker.

 

[zebra03]

We bought one of these because I was tired of sitting in the dark. Runs on Naturel Gas.

 

[jimbofish]

Everclear is for drinking.
Denatured alcohol is the stuff for alcohol stoves and shellac, and it's a fraction of the cost. Can't drink it though.

 

[sanford12]

We bought one of these because I was tired of sitting in the dark. Runs on Naturel Gas.

Going on 5 years here and the grid here is very dependable as long as someone doesn't take out a pole. Doubt if we've out more than 10-12 hours in that time. Not worth the money for me. We'll see if I feel the same after this icing event.

 

[zebra03]

Going on 5 years here and the grid here is very dependable as long as someone doesn't take out a pole. Doubt if we've out more than 10-12 hours in that time. Not worth the money for me. We'll see if I feel the same after this icing event.

I live out in the sticks so outages are frequent. From Mini tornados , a transformer that blew on the pole one Sunday (2 days) and old trees falling and taking out lines , it happens more than I care for . Good luck to you and stay safe .

 

[Swokie63]

If I lose power, my home(circa 1950's) will get very cold.. But the oven/stove is natural gas, so a match will warm the kitchen and the dogs and I can live in there for awhile.. not ideal, but we'll survive.. also have the lp grill and a few tanks.. should've bought more cigarettes tho..

 

[Jeffery]

Everclear is for drinking.
Denatured alcohol is the stuff for alcohol stoves and shellac, and it's a fraction of the cost. Can't drink it though.

Everclear works great for shellac and smells 1000% better than denatured. And you can drink it (I don't).

 

[sanford12]

If I lose power, my home(circa 1950's) will get very cold.. But the oven/stove is natural gas, so a match will warm the kitchen and the dogs and I can live in there for awhile.. not ideal, but we'll survive.. also have the lp grill and a few tanks.. should've bought more cigarettes tho..

Hopefully your not going to use the grill to heat the house. Grills aren't efficient enough to burn propane cleanly. There will be carbon monoxide.

 

[Swokie63]

Hopefully your not going to use the grill to heat the house. Grills aren't efficient enough to burn propane cleanly. There will be carbon monoxide.

I would in a pinch. it wouldn't heat the home, just a space, and I'd be careful..
Fortunately, for now, power hasn't gone out, so the home is warm..
I like the camp stove tip though, thanks for sharing..

 

[sanford12]

Not all 91% alcohols are created equal. The stuff I got from Walgreens is much better than the Equate from Wal-Mart. Easier to light and stove gets going much quicker.

 

[sanford12]

Thankfully didn't have to use it. Got less than an eighth of an inch of ice.

 

[RickeyM]

Here's the video I used. Found it to be straight forward and easy to follow. Heck it's a fun project with stuff a lot of people already have at home.

Interesting videos on the many variations. I don't go camping but one might come in handy on the grill table to cook or heat something while the Weber is doing it's thing.

 

[jimbofish]

Came across this alcohol heater the day.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N-q3Zu6jngpSJdXUoSkWl4YKb26RCvAV/view

I like the basics of the burner, the cage seems kind of clunky though. Lots of room for improvement there.

I've been using an alcohol heater in my deer blind and ice shanty for years, Gloy's Heat Pal. Uses about a quart of denatured alcohol a day @ $10/gallon. If I used Everclear, it would be almost $90/gallon. I could buy a pretty good bottle of booze with the difference.