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Interesting stove for camping/hiking/bugout bag
Rack Ops
Member Posts: 18,596 ✭✭✭
I have been trying to find a stove that packs up easily for overnight hikes.
I bought a small butane canister stove, which I really like, btw. As a weekend-warrior camping stove, it's pretty ideal. Unfortunately, the canisters seem to be hard to come by at a decent price around here, and carrying enough for a long term walk in the woods could get pretty heavy.
After a bunch of searching, I discovered alcohol stoves, which have gained considerable popularity with ultralight hikers. I even experimented a little bit and made a couple out of cat food cans.....ugly as hell, sorta inefficient, but functional in a pinch.
Cruising ebay, I came across this product....Basically, a professionally made "pop can stove"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/221290180712?lpid=82&chn=ps
In short, I can take an ounce, give or take, of alcohol (so far I have used: Denatured alcohol, gas line antifreeze, rubbing alcohol, and everclear) and bring two cups of water to a boil...perfect for ramen or something freeze dried like mountain house.
Anyways, thought I'd share. If anyone has anything like this or uses something else, feel free to share.
I bought a small butane canister stove, which I really like, btw. As a weekend-warrior camping stove, it's pretty ideal. Unfortunately, the canisters seem to be hard to come by at a decent price around here, and carrying enough for a long term walk in the woods could get pretty heavy.
After a bunch of searching, I discovered alcohol stoves, which have gained considerable popularity with ultralight hikers. I even experimented a little bit and made a couple out of cat food cans.....ugly as hell, sorta inefficient, but functional in a pinch.
Cruising ebay, I came across this product....Basically, a professionally made "pop can stove"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/221290180712?lpid=82&chn=ps
In short, I can take an ounce, give or take, of alcohol (so far I have used: Denatured alcohol, gas line antifreeze, rubbing alcohol, and everclear) and bring two cups of water to a boil...perfect for ramen or something freeze dried like mountain house.
Anyways, thought I'd share. If anyone has anything like this or uses something else, feel free to share.
Comments
http://www.rei.com/product/830342/msr-whisperlite-universal-backpacking-stove
Phoebus 625 and 725 white gas (Coleman Fuel) stoves were hot stuff when I was first backpacking a bunch in the early 70's. The stoves come in a can to contain them. The 725 is smaller, the 625 bigger. Used a 625 from sea level to over 10,000 feet, always reliable. Good working vintage stoves are now kind of collectible, at least mine was when I auctioned it off.
Owned a variety including Svea 123 (not reliable, just tiny, know a guy tossed his off El Capitan), an Optimus 8R (still made & very reliable & compact), MSR Firefly stove (mostly fuel tank and super efficient burner on legs), MSR Whisperlite too ... or just a good old fashioned Sterno stove.
I had a 5 gallon jug of 192 proof grain alcohol that I had brought back from Mexico. On the camping trip, I poured 2 ounces of the Mex grain alcohol into the stove, and 1 ounce into the Coke I was drinking.
Perfect combo. That was a great little stove.
You won't find a more fuel efficient one:
http://www.jureystudio.com/pennystove/
I have two of them. One I made with the standard 12 oz Heineken cans, the other with the 24 oz cans (both before they changed the can design. Original instructions here http://www.jureystudio.com/pennystove/stove.html)
I think I've posted about it before. Carry some 190 proof everclear with you and you've got a dual purpose fuel.[:D]
ETA:
I usually use HEET (the yellow bottle), but I have also used some of the "Green" denatured alcohol, as it has the highest ethanol content of any over the shelf variety I have found:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-1-qt-Green-Denatured-Alcohol-QKGA75003/202249513
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Fuel for one is laying all over the forest floor. No chemicals to buy or carry.
If one cares about weight, space and having no combustible liquid to carry this might be worth a look.
It was used by the German army
http://www.amazon.com/Esbit-Ultralight-Folding-Pocket-Tablets/dp/B001C1UGVO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427809535&sr=8-1&keywords=esbit+stove
"Fools learn from their own mistakes. I learn from the mistakes of others"
Otto von Bismarck
Heating galvanized steel gives off zinc and other heavy metal fumes.
[xx(]
"Fools learn from their own mistakes. I learn from the mistakes of others"
Otto von Bismarck
If you are referring to the Esbit it is made in Germany.
The "esbit" in that auction is MADE IN CHINA.
Along with about 5 dozen different "esbit" stoves listed on ebay/amazon.
quote:Originally posted by Wulfmann
If you are referring to the Esbit it is made in Germany.
The "esbit" in that auction is MADE IN CHINA.
Along with about 5 dozen different "esbit" stoves listed on ebay/amazon.
I bought one and a bunch of the tablets last year from Amazon and it says "Made In Germany".
I also have a German army older one that says "Made in Germany" and in addition is stamped Bundeseigentum D.R. Ausl. Pantente
I see where the one in my link states country of origin as China and I wonder if they are now made there or if that is just a mistake.
Mine aren't so I am GTG-LOL
"Fools learn from their own mistakes. I learn from the mistakes of others"
Otto von Bismarck
They have in the opening company statement...."and our business partners".... { that's a nice way of saying other people are making them}
ONLY the fuel tablets are marked "Made In Germany" in their online catalog.
Note how many sellers state only for sale in the USA. And have
the country of origin as China.
I think they have outsourced production {for exporting only} to china.
I'm made and given away many pop can stoves. I like the rivet! Three should be good.
The stove is surprisingly strong, which is one of the drawbacks to the usual pop can stove. I can set a full pot of water right on top of it, no stand required.
Note how many sellers state only for sale in the USA. And have
the country of origin as China.
It also says.. "may not be available for 1 or 2 day shipping due to federal regulations that require it to ship via ground ship methods only."
That is not due to the stove itself. But due to the solid Hexamine fuel tablets.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41924bcSmsL._SY300_.jpg
I have to wonder if the Germans just let them use a metal that will hurt their brand name but also admit who really knows
(except my two are made in Germany so I am ready for the Zombie Apocalypse)
What I like about the fuel is no smoke or odor
I also have a ton of MRE heaters
"Fools learn from their own mistakes. I learn from the mistakes of others"
Otto von Bismarck
Just an FYI for the masses, HEET, the gasline de-icer is actually just white gas (or coleman fuel), but marked up 400%.
[;)]
HEET in the yellow bottle is mainly methanol.
ISO-HEET is is mainly isopropanol (rubbing alcohol).
Neither of which I would want to be around long enough to cook a meal with for the fumes alone is enough to kill you.
Hexamine is the solid fuel tablets used in the Esbit pocket stoves
"Fools learn from their own mistakes. I learn from the mistakes of others"
Otto von Bismarck
quote:Originally posted by Flying Clay Disk
Just an FYI for the masses, HEET, the gasline de-icer is actually just white gas (or coleman fuel), but marked up 400%.
[;)]
HEET in the yellow bottle is mainly methanol.
ISO-HEET is is mainly isopropanol (rubbing alcohol).
Neither of which I would want to be around long enough to cook a meal with for the fumes alone is enough to kill you.
As I said above, I prefer to use the yellow bottle HEET. It's fine to use outside. One of the best bangs for your buck, fuel-wise.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Anyone aware of what using hexamine in a confined area might cause problem wise?
Hexamine is the solid fuel tablets used in the Esbit pocket stoves
The heating tabs are made of Hexamethylenetetramine.
It is also used a a food preservative!
Anyone aware of what using hexamine in a confined area might cause problem wise?
Hexamine is the solid fuel tablets used in the Esbit pocket stoves
That stuff is used in a lot of products from food to explosives. I would not carry it simply due to it will decompose to formaldehyde from perspiration.
It is better known as Methenamine. An antibiotic used mainly to treat urine tract infections.
===============================
Again. Learn how to build a simple Jet Stove. Burns small pieces of wood and can create a vast amount of heat. No chemicals to buy or carry and fuel can be found just about anywhere for one.
As I said above, I prefer to use the yellow bottle HEET. It's fine to use outside. One of the best bangs for your buck, fuel-wise.
I've come to the same conclusion. The HEET bottles are very convenient and carry enough fuel for several fires.
I would not carry it simply due to it will decompose to formaldehyde from perspiration.
It is sealed so unless it is damaged that should not be relevant.
I do not go back packing and have this as back up fuel to cook at home for any possibility so perspiration is not an issue
So far no one has suggested using Esbit in a confined/closed space is a problem but common sense suggests venting for any fuel
"Fools learn from their own mistakes. I learn from the mistakes of others"
Otto von Bismarck
How does one prevent crushing the fragile little things in your pack?
Mine fits easily inside my mess kit. Obviously, a little care needs to taken not to get fuel on the inside of your cookware (I sit the stove inside a cover before putting inside the pot).
With a butane canister stove, I can actually fit not only the burner, but the canister too inside my cooking pot...so there's no space cost at all for bringing it, just a little extra weight in my pack.
How does one prevent crushing the fragile little things in your pack? I'll stick to my Coleman pack stove and a bottle of fuel.
Just get two food cans that set inside each other. They work because the weight of the cooking pan seals the stove and the pressurized fumes will make a nice flame, after experimenting with the holes etc. I like to use an inner and outer can, both lit, to get proper heating and preheating going. A wind screen can help. Be careful, indoors especially.