Beer Can: the Ultimate Survival Stove

AK Sportsman ^ | 6/29/2016 | M Alpert

[w1n1]

Adventurer Tom Allen and his friend demonstrates how to make a stove with the minimal materials.

Beer Can
Get a beer can or any aluminum can, the larger the better and have a knife or a pair scissors.

• Cut the top of beer can at the top ridge.
• Cut beer can in half and get it to 2-3 inches high on both can.
• Dent the bottom half can with a knife all the way around, when done place the top piece together.
• Make a little hole with the thumbtack
• Pour some rubbing alcohol into the and light it up, now you’re ready to start cooking, boil some water. See the video here.

[GraceG]

We used to use a tuna tin with a few oz of rubbing alcohol to start the stove when the wood was all wet and there wasn’t good kindling, just put the tuna tin under the log, light the alcohol in it and let the really hot blue flame work it’s wonder on starting the wet wood.

[SJSAMPLE]

I’ve made a half-dozen of these with a soda can. They work well, especially if you use 100% alcohol.

[Fungi]

Where do you get the alcohol?

[1Old Pro]

Where do you get the alcohol?

Local CVS or Rite Aid I reckin. WHile you're there you can also get a can of LP and a BBQ grill.

[rktman]

You don’t carry a quart of alcohol and a couple of soda cans with you when you’re in the woods? I thought everybody did. LOL!

[SaveFerris]

Anybody know what the lowest percentage of rubbing alcohol will work, similarly? Will 90% or 70%? Never tried anything like this.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

How many people have a can and alcohol on hand for such an emergency? Why not just buy several cans of STERNO.

Shake the STERNO, make sure you hear a splashing sound. If you hear a “thump”it means the Sterno has evaporated.

[laplata]

C 4 works very well.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Because if you didn’t prepare yourself properly, you can always resort to your alcohol and aluminum cans.

[mountn man]

With the SiverFire Scout, all you need are twigs and sticks for the fire. No need to carry alcohol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4Ex_5_NxwQ

[shotgun]

At 6th grade camp are we used rolled up cardboard cut into strips in our tin can stove. Made a pretty nice breakfast of bacon and eggs on mine!

[mountn man]

When you can carry something larger.

The Survivor is used in a lot of third world countries, where people have nothing but sticks for fuel.

http://www.silverfire.us/silverfire-survivor-rocket-stove

[Celtic Conservative]

Just don’t drop anything on it.

CC

[1Old Pro]

AT $180 it would only take a years pay to buy one.

[NEMDF]

Bag of charcoal briquettes and some matches, and we’re in business.

[FateAmenableToChange]

Marine alcohol, sold in the paint section of Walmart, home despot, Lowers, etc. works great. It actually says it is for marine stoves as well. (http://theboatgalley.com/using-an-alcohol-stove/ ) .

Additionally, as the story notes, you can also use Heet brand gas line antifreeze. It’s basically just isopropyl alcohol.

If you want rubbing alcohol, go with the one that’s 90-91%. 70% doesn’t heat as well in my experience.

With all three, you have to be really careful not to get the alcohol or the soot in your food. US law requires denaturants, which are typically toxic. Likewise, methanol is also present in some of the available alcohols, which should also be kept out of your food.

[FateAmenableToChange]

This site (http://zenstoves.net ) has gobs of directions for different types of alcohol stoves. The cat can stove has been my favorite for a long time, even to the point that my high-priced white gas backpacking stoves haven’t been on a trip with me since 2000. Lots of good safety information as well as fuel information.

[SaveFerris]

Thanks for the info. I’ve got some 70% stored for emergencies that would be a backup to a backup in this case.

I’d use a covered pot based on what you told me.

[aquila48]

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