Thanks Brangdon! I actually don't do it with an alcohol stove either (but I tried it *after* assuring myself that the bottom doesn;t get too hot for that feat), I just mention it to show that it stays cool. I mean, IF you dared burn an alcohol stove in the palm of your hand, it would leave you with certain assurances about where you would feel safe burning the stove. As Sue's question centered around burning a stove in the car and what might be suitable as a base, I centered my experiments around that. I held the can with some tongs - not so much for fear of heat (I was already assured it wouldn;t be too hot by that time), but more because if I faltered and it tipped, it could get toasty all around the shop!

I know the Esbit stoves get !hot! so I wouldn;t want to try burning one say, for example, on the rear floorboard carpet of a station wagon. But I think even those you might be able to burn on a piece of hardwood or plywood.

Hmmmm. Time for another experiment!