How To Make a Pocket Stove from a Soda Can
Introduction: So I'm sure that all of you have seen some of the articles out there about making camping/hiking stoves out of a soda can. I look at them all the time, but they have one big flaw. Most of them don't have enough pictures, don't explain how the stove works, and have very vague directions. I am going to try to write an article that contains all of these things, and is easy to understand. The stove that I am going to show you to make can be used for camping, hiking, sitting around, making light, or just watching stuff burn.
Instructions:
Instructions:
- Get two cans. Make sure that they are empty and dry on the inside.
- Cut the bottom off of one of the cans. Make a smooth cut (I used a razor blade). The cut should be a little further up the can than an inch.
- Do the same with the other can.
- On one of the cans, you should crimp the top. Do this by gripping the can with a pair of pliers every half inch and twisting.
- Put the two bottoms of the cans together. The crimped can goes on top and inside of the uncrimped can. Press tightly to make sure that there is a good seal.
- Use a thumbtack to place a small hole in the lip of the upper can. The metal is fairly thick at this point, so it might take a little bit of force.
- Repeat this every 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch all the way around the can.
- Place a small group of holes (I used seven) in the center of the can that you just poked the holes around.
- Done
- The small group of holes that we cut on the top will be used for filling the stove. You have a few choices of fluid, but you can use any alcohol over 70%, or 140 proof. You can use denatured alcohol, HEET, or even vodka. Whatever works is fine, just don't use anything explosive like gasoline. I am going to use plain rubbing alcohol.
- Once the can is filled, we are going to cover the group of holes with a penny and fill the "well" that the can makes with our fluid. The penny is used to make sure that the fluid stays in the "well" and does not go into the stove.
- Carefully light the fluid that is filling the "well".
- The burning fluid on top of the stove causes the metal that the stove is made of to heat up, which boils the fluid inside. When the fluid starts to boil, it turns into a flammable gas that starts to escape from the group of holes that we punched around the top. The flaming fluid on the top ignites this gas.
- Once the fluid on top is used up, you end up with just the gas being burned that is coming out of the row of holes. This will continue to burn until the fluid inside runs out, or you cover with something and deprive it of oxygen.
- Here are some pictures of the stove working: (sorry for the bad picture quality)
Labels: beer can, camping, can, cook, fire, flames, hiking, soda can, stove
*claps* Yay a pocket stove. ^_^;;
I'm on a roll of first comments...
Posted by
Anonymous |
7:58 AM
How do you light it?
Posted by
Anonymous |
7:59 AM
How long does it take to boil, cause the flame on top usually burns out before it boils for me...i think its escaping past the pennies
Posted by
Ryan C. |
2:54 PM
So I made my first one of these today, I Didn't cut it well so it leaked and it was slanted, I duck taped the bottom and it leaked less also it took about 3 fills of the top for it to start for me then it worked great (it was windy tho) Soon I'm gonna make my second one and I'll try to make a better cut.
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:03 PM
not a very good way to create this! use methonal (paint thinner) for a clean burning, efficient stove, seal it with high temp silicone, cut to whole top off, use a drill and a sewing needle. you know what, google search "alchol stove." thats how i learned to do it RIGHT. to works very well@!
Posted by
Arie Moldvan |
10:37 PM
Methanal is formaldehyde. Do you mean methanol (methyl alcohol)?
Posted by
hamish-fowler |
1:08 PM
You do realize that the bottom of a soda can is reinforced with mercury right? If you get any moisture down there, you will form mercury vapor...
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:13 PM
awesome! can't wait to try it
Posted by
SarahAnn |
5:21 PM
mmmmm mercury vapor incapacitating
ahhhh
Posted by
Anonymous |
4:38 AM
i think i used to much alcohol,or it spilled all over, because when i lit the top the entire can started to burn. o.o
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:37 AM
That is awesome... I really like your blog.
Posted by
ariverbiz |
3:28 AM
What penny 4,i tried it without the penny, it just had more flames
Posted by
Anonymous |
5:58 PM
hey, I made my first one today but I don't really have anything to use as fuel besides maybe gasoline... lol... what things besides what was listed could I use??
can you use diesel???
Posted by
Anonymous |
6:52 PM
Nice Idea! Quick and useful backpacking stove. its give a thumb up on SU!!
Posted by
syrhiz |
12:35 AM
Can i use lighter fluid
Posted by
Anonymous |
6:44 PM
ssssssuuuuuuuueeeeeeetttttt
this is awesome, i made a cup of lemon tea.
Posted by
Anonymous |
9:55 PM
How deos the flame get air?
Posted by
Anonymous |
9:52 PM
this is so stupid where the hell am i going to get a soda can?
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:16 AM
dude, this idea is genious, but wat if u run out of alcohol..... NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Posted by
Devz! |
7:51 PM
you're brilliant.
Posted by
infiel |
5:14 PM
lol out of alcohal NOOOOOOOO!!!! nice
Posted by
Anonymous |
5:16 PM
could u get a large beer can and make a charcoal stove ??? :P oh and could u use hand sanitizer wit alcohol poured in B)
Posted by
pyroguy108 |
3:42 PM
you can get a can of Monster and cut just below were you drink and fill it up with a pint of alcohol
also if you look hard they have quart bottles of 91% alcohol :P
Posted by
pyroguy108 |
7:47 PM
or you can just drink the rubbing alcohol* and light your pee on fire.
*only if you want to go blind, of course.
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:48 PM