I was thinking about those little soda-can alcohol stoves (like this one:

)

and it got me thinking, could they run on other fuels? Like white gas/naphtha, kerosene, gasoline, ect?

I'm sure it would be dirty compared to alcohol, but would it work if the need arose?

I was thinking I could carry my normal white gas stove and fuel, as well as a commercially made soda-can stove (like the titanium one pictured above). Then, if something happens to my regular stove I've got a back-up. I guess if worst comes to worst I could probably always make a fire (especially with a bottle of white gas ), but I like having some sort of back-up to the gear I use often. A stove like that is so simple and light weight, it would be a perfect backup.

do NOT run alcohol stoves on anything else than alcohol.

If you want a compact white gas stove, try to look for a "borde" stove. They stopped mass producting them many years ago, but they do occasionally pop-up at some places. Really small and compact. Expect to pay a lot, since they are a bit of a collectors item.

Well, judging from the fact that these stoves require the fuel to evaporate into flammable fumes by itself, anything like kerosene or diesel is out. Gasoline is a maybe, and I have no idea about white gas or naphtha.

An easy backup would be a supercat or heineken can stove. Both are real easy to make and super light. Carry about 4oz. of ethanol, HEET (yellow bottle), or denatured alcohol and thats it. No need to spend money on the vargo if its just a backup.

Here are 2 links that I know that might help you build your own stove.

http://www.backpacking.net/makegear/altoids-stove/
http://zenstoves.net/

Hey Paul,
Gasoline is too dangerous.... HEET is reported to be ok, but still not as clean burning as alcohol (and it's 'spensive)..... isopropinol (sp?) has water in it and doesn't burn cleanly....nor does white gas.

100% (closer the better) denatured alcohol is the best for these stoves. The purer the better. Unfortunately, it's hard to find the best stuff. SLX is probably the most widely available in my area, and the can doesn't report its purity that I can remember. It's cheap and an 8 or 12oz fuel bottle will get you through in a pinch. For the most part, these stoves are not meant to replace your MSR or Coleman duel-fuel, they're just a lightweight alternative and are handy to have and fun to make.

How about the 91% isopropinol alcohol? Wal-Mart has it on sale once in awhile.

Dave

Waiting for Blast to weigh in here....


My understanding of the mechanics of most alcohol stoves is that the priming raises the heat of the alcohol, causing the pressurization.

Petroleum products will probably burn much hotter, and gas fumes can be rather explosive...

I would vote against it, but if you want to give it a try, have somebody video tape it..

Why not just get a good reliable expedition grade multifuel stove, which is field servicable.


Primus Optimus 111 Hiker. (One of these was found in Anarctica in an abandoned hut. Apparently it fired up no problem after 80 years.)


Primus Himalaya Omnifuel.
or


MSR XGK Expedition.

I've been experimenting around with the Brunton AF and it will boil water and run Alcohol with no problem. I've been side track lately but I plan on experimenting with a lot more different fuels other than car gas and diesel. The only bad thing I've experienced with this stove is that you need a lighter to fire it up. My old MSR stove I used a piezo electric grill spark to light it. Other than that, I'm going for propane next and see if I can blow my self up.
I don't know on the reliability of this stove yet, too new and few people I know of have got these. I need to also find out what it will do in extreme cold and how well it holds up maintenance wise. My old MSR is a jet engine, either boils water and burns food or it's off. Nothing much in between.

http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=428

When a guy named Blast tells you NOT to do something you need to listen.

DO NOT USE COLEMAN FUEL/GASOLINE/KEROSINE/ETC IN AN ALCOHOL STOVE!!!!

The burn characteristics between alcohol fuels and those long-chain carbon fuels are very different. Use of them in an alcohol stove will result in 5-foot tall flames if you are lucky and an explosion if you are not. The non-alcohol fuels burn significantly hotter than alcohols and the resulting higher heat results in faster volitilization of the fuels which results in even higher heat which results in BOOM!!

Which, to be honest is really cool if you are prepared for it.

An aluminum popcan stove will quickly melt spilling burning fuel everywhere. A brass Triange will first turn into a blowtorch and then explode. I'm not sure what a titanium stove will do but I suspect it'll explode before it melts.

-Blast

NO not unless you have a death wish.

There are two kinds of HEET gas additive that are alcohol. One works better than the other. Perhaps someone can chime in.

Use Yellow Bottle HEET (methyl alcohol). The red bottle is isopropyl and is not recommended.


http://zenstoves.net/Stoves.htm

(scroll down 3/4 of the page)

Zen.net says a high proof grain alcohol like Everclear is acceptable and clean burning, if a bit pricey, but might make a nice multipurpose option, burn it, use it for an anti-septic, drink it, etc etc.

Re,

C. Rowe

"...have somebody video tape it..."

And be sure to say "Here, hold my beer," and "ya'all watch this," just before you touch it off...

Isopropinol will work, Dave, but it doesn;t burn cleanly or efficiently. Use denatured.

I tried my pressure jet alcohol stove on a 40/60 mix of alcohol/coleman gas. It produced a very hot and very tall flame that you might see with an overprimed white fuel stove. I was ready to reach for the extinguisher but luckily I only used 3/4 oz. of fluid so it died out fairly quickly. In one of the similar alcohol stoves that doesn't use the pressure jet technique (the wicking type), it probably would work OK.

The one neat thing about the stove shown in the diagram is that you can flip it upside down and use esbit solid fuel tablets just as easily.

I've been looking at making a small homemade can stove using natural fuels like twigs and such but then flip it over and use it as an alcohol stove as an alternative.

Alcohol is not really a high energy fuel.

Even the pure alcohol can be disappointing for people used to camping with propane or white gas. Sort of the 'Sterno syndrome', a dozen people shivering in the cold for an hour waiting for the food to get warm. Sterno, jellied alcohol, and Sterno burners were/are notoriously slow and inefficient. Liquid alcohol stoves are not that bad but they are still a bit slower than many of us are used to.

91% rubbing alcohol will work but it soots up more than with the pure stuff and burns cooler so it takes longer to do the same amount of work so you wait even longer and need to carry more of it.

That said if 91% is all you have it will work.

Best deal on alcohol is from industrial suppliers who package it as a solvent.

Good to know. That's why I ask before trying it.


Thanks everyone!

Everclear 190 proof is hands down the best fuel for alcohol stoves. The only issue is the price, around $15 a bottle (750ml). And, unfortunately they don't sell 190 proof in some states, CA included. (but the 151 proof works well too) Its also perfect if you store your stove inside a cooking pot, as it leaves no toxic residue like all the denatured/methanol stuff.

I hear everclear works good and is multi-purpose.

Hey Paul,

Great topic! Glad we have Blast for chemistry and thermodynamics reference!

In my humble opinion, if you are interested in alcohol stoves I would stay away from the vargo stove you had pictured in the post. I own a Vargo titanium stove (the other version with the duel use fuel tabs) and have gone towards a clikstand instead. The vargo requires a really flat surface and does not hold any pot I have very confidently...also it really needs a wind screen to perform halfway well. I really only use it as a second burner/backup because its light and I don't like wasting stuff but it requires so much supervision and fidgeting that don't recommend it to others. Check out this review page for a good look at the alcohol stoves out there. http://art.simon.tripod.com/Stoves/

I really enjoy my alcohol stove and have not gone back to white gas. Alcohol stoves are quiet, light, safe and quite frankly smell better...no more worrying about explosions while in the woods.

Hey Nemo,

Can you check your link, I am unable to open the page.

Thanks-
Pete

Hi Pete,

The link works for me...if you can't get to it by clicking above try googling: "Review: Lightweight Alcohol Stoves for Backpacking"

and you should find Art's page. If you have any questions email him, he is good about correspondence

Cheers,