Mini Camping Stove
This is a project that started from NK5's Instructable. Then I saw benniblueyes's videos and I was hooked. Then I stumbled upon Zen Stoves and got a ton of ideas.
So now I present to you my "Sideburner Jet Stove." This stove is of my own design, a jet stove that you can use as a pot-stand itself. This stove is great if you want a lightweight stove or just to stay warm. (Just please don't use it in enclosed spaces, otherwise nasty carbon monoxide might get you.) I have entered this Instructable into the Stay Warn Contest, so please vote for me. ;)
This stove is a mix between an sideburner stove and a pressurized jet stove. Denatured alcohol is the preferred fuel, but rubbing alcohol may work. (Not tested) Denatured alcohol is commonly used for laquer thinner, and the yellow HEET is denatured alcohol. (Basically)
So now I present to you my "Sideburner Jet Stove." This stove is of my own design, a jet stove that you can use as a pot-stand itself. This stove is great if you want a lightweight stove or just to stay warm. (Just please don't use it in enclosed spaces, otherwise nasty carbon monoxide might get you.) I have entered this Instructable into the Stay Warn Contest, so please vote for me. ;)
This stove is a mix between an sideburner stove and a pressurized jet stove. Denatured alcohol is the preferred fuel, but rubbing alcohol may work. (Not tested) Denatured alcohol is commonly used for laquer thinner, and the yellow HEET is denatured alcohol. (Basically)
Materials
This is a list of what you need to make this simple stove:
- Three pop cans - One needs to be unopened.
- A smallish screw
- JB Weld - This stuff is awesome. You can use other high-temperature sealants, just make sure it can withstand 600 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
- Scrap wood, 20mm high and a piece 30mm high.
- Sand paper
- Drill
- Drill bit just a tad bigger that screw, or you can use one slightly smaller and actually screw the screw in.
- Awl or other small, pointy object. (Like a needle)
- Utility knife blade
Cutting the Cans
The first step to making a good stove is doing a good job cutting the cans. If you want, you can sand off the paint on the cans t make it shiny and nice looking. These cans are stubborn, though, so I didn't sand them much.
Special note - aluminum cans have a sprayed on layer of heat-cured protective coating (inside and outside of can) that will slowly burn off over time. This will leave brown stains on and in your stove after use and will emit a toxic smelling vapor that may cause a burning sensation in the lungs and/or eyes of some people. Most people don't care or notice the burning smell, but some do. If you would like to avoid this altogether, remove the clear coating and paint from all parts with sandpaper, steel wool and/or SOS pads prior to assembly. - From ZenStoves
After that is done, get a piece of wood 30mm high and a utility knife blade. Put the can on a table and scribe a line around the can a couple times with the blade on the piece of wood. Then, push the blade into the can on the line and tear the can slowly along the line. You should get a perfect cut.
Now do the same with the other can, only this time, use the 20mm block.
Special note - aluminum cans have a sprayed on layer of heat-cured protective coating (inside and outside of can) that will slowly burn off over time. This will leave brown stains on and in your stove after use and will emit a toxic smelling vapor that may cause a burning sensation in the lungs and/or eyes of some people. Most people don't care or notice the burning smell, but some do. If you would like to avoid this altogether, remove the clear coating and paint from all parts with sandpaper, steel wool and/or SOS pads prior to assembly. - From ZenStoves
After that is done, get a piece of wood 30mm high and a utility knife blade. Put the can on a table and scribe a line around the can a couple times with the blade on the piece of wood. Then, push the blade into the can on the line and tear the can slowly along the line. You should get a perfect cut.
Now do the same with the other can, only this time, use the 20mm block.
Jets
This step would probably be easier to do before you cut the can, but I forgot to do it.
Take the cut-off part of one of the cans and fit it inside the 30mm piece. It help if you crimp the edges of the cut-off part. Make sure you can get it off. After that, download either the PDF or Word Document template I got from ZenStoves and cut out the template with 24 lines. Attach this to the top of the 30mm piece with tape.
Now, take your needle or other small, sharp object and punch holes about 5mm down from the edge on the 30mm piece. The smaller the jet holes are, the more powerful the jets will be, possibly rusulting in greater efficiency.
Take the cut-off part of one of the cans and fit it inside the 30mm piece. It help if you crimp the edges of the cut-off part. Make sure you can get it off. After that, download either the PDF or Word Document template I got from ZenStoves and cut out the template with 24 lines. Attach this to the top of the 30mm piece with tape.
Now, take your needle or other small, sharp object and punch holes about 5mm down from the edge on the 30mm piece. The smaller the jet holes are, the more powerful the jets will be, possibly rusulting in greater efficiency.
Fuel Port
Now that you have the jets made, we need to make a hole in the top to fill it with fuel.
Get a screw of the desired size (try to find one 6.35mm [1/4 inch]) and a drill bit to match it. If you want to actually twist the screw to put it in, find a drill bit slightly smaller.
In the center of the 30mm piece, drill a hole. It helps a lot if you make a small hole to start. Go slowly to prevent the bit from catching and ripping the hole really big and destroying it.
Get a screw of the desired size (try to find one 6.35mm [1/4 inch]) and a drill bit to match it. If you want to actually twist the screw to put it in, find a drill bit slightly smaller.
In the center of the 30mm piece, drill a hole. It helps a lot if you make a small hole to start. Go slowly to prevent the bit from catching and ripping the hole really big and destroying it.
Finishing Up
We are almost done here, except for the fact that our stove is still in two halves. We should fix that, otherwise our stove won't work. ;)
Get the unopened can and you 20mm piece. If you want you can make a dilator tool for future use. Take the bottom of the unopened can and push it into the 20mm piece. Be extremely careful to push it in perpindicular to the 20mm piece, if you are not, you might let the air out and get the piece permantly stuce on the can. Not good... :(
Do this untill you can fit the 30mm piece into the 20mm piece.
Get the unopened can and you 20mm piece. If you want you can make a dilator tool for future use. Take the bottom of the unopened can and push it into the 20mm piece. Be extremely careful to push it in perpindicular to the 20mm piece, if you are not, you might let the air out and get the piece permantly stuce on the can. Not good... :(
Do this untill you can fit the 30mm piece into the 20mm piece.
Finish
If you weren't careful like me, you got your 20mm section stuck and had t cut it off. Don't worry, they will be sealed anyway.
Mix up some JB Weld or other sealant that can withstand 600 degrees or more and smear in on the inside of the 20mm section. Then carefully insert the 30mm section into it. Wait 24 hours or however long it takes your sealant to cure before testing.
This kind of alcohol stove needs to be preheated to get it started. Here's how to build a primer pan.
Mix up some JB Weld or other sealant that can withstand 600 degrees or more and smear in on the inside of the 20mm section. Then carefully insert the 30mm section into it. Wait 24 hours or however long it takes your sealant to cure before testing.
This kind of alcohol stove needs to be preheated to get it started. Here's how to build a primer pan.
Links
These are some links to helpful sites:
- Zen Stoves - A great site all about stoves.
- NK5's Instructable - Original inspiration.
- benniblueye's YouTube Channel - He has some pretty cool stoves.
- My YouTube Channel - Go to my alcohol stoves playlist.
- Atman's Instructable