I've fiddled a bit with alcohol stoves before, but I'd yet to find the right combination of stove, pot stand, and pot that I could put together effortlessly and cheaply (read: free). That is, until I found this stove idea, which couldn't be simpler. Here's how you make it:
- Cut off the bottom of a soda can
- Use a whole punch or scissors to cut vents in the top of the stove
- There is no third step
Here's what the "stove" looks like when it's done:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K2fiqhyIUd0wloCc-c6jPLiUZj40b98tqhWnySHF-_orbYmy0DIryyrLt355Jk-fvc04PRStPilx4uboobggPTBcM4zRCr4NiAexfiOSyMNUfidkh9lJSQExOkWikhDNgLyCBg/s400/heet_m.jpg)
To use the stove, you pour some fuel into the soda can, light the fuel, and plop a pot on top. There's no messing around with filling a mostly sealed stove, and best of all you don't need to bother with a pot stand. The stove is the stand.
I had no problem cranking two of these out, taking about 5 minutes each. For one I used a razor blade to slice open the can, for the other I used a scissors. I won't get any points for aesthetics, but it got the job done:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzSd4FNcrIhkPKQxurAgfCJzM4ZglBf9BLtWPzrfJ74j898FBiN7RpzjhIM3gyIkQ1XaYWAL4jcQxClEWERywENZHJuDRpJPVKUCZamkGVpi3Zytr2kiFpEhPrBoJe6OEyhLRTA/s400/20130129_192624.jpg)
For the pot, I used a Blue Diamond Almond can, which will allow you to easily boil up a cup or so of water. Along with the pot, I used a mess of tin foil. Here's the whole setup in action:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YeN_PVp_7nzTZ-E4LS2TtnXKD4ITOcOGLQxelcOq2qJYB60-V9FkZoX1XrFqsGI28Wr-1ZaEgowpFAXUwEZsMNKjz1TyzBqbDRtjoHIOPT-0_Kl3O9mzg_sQdlhcKH_2yTZ_bg/s400/20130129_101430.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9k1tB72XKH0g6yYq9rmeKbPfsr8duXDHA5r50LZE-hSgP1OJjXAXXVOcMB-3QLStgareDe7uMYiOV4cEMEdzAWL17jJBDSvS2B01wR9JFjwzSIvhb-7NSLqKC9rlIZ9lljLdRJg/s400/20130129_101514.jpg)
HEET fuel really does burn almost completely clear, so yes, it's kind of hard to tell that the stove is working its magic. For my test, I couldn't have been any more unscientific: I put a splash of HEET fuel in the stove and in about 7 minutes I had an almost boiling cup of water. Unfortunately, I ran out of fuel before the small bubbles in the water turned into a rolling boil. I believe this estimate when it says:
With about .5 oz of Heet, this stove will simmer 2 cups of water in 5-6 minutes, and achieve a rolling boil in 8-9 minutes (and then go out).
The stove, a bunch of tin foil and a lighter fit neatly in a Blue Diamond pot and it weighs almost nothing. Here's the setup packed up:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5CtQL7AurTazF6XRkC7JrWsaSM93TahyN2jYuQEvT3QqPiv-utxRfnIuHeQA3Hxu-E-X-5zjzqsOCypW45-_RXSww752Tb8WClbXmctsy0gosm133UI1sIYcEVWiwMPsIBfmkA/s400/20130129_192923.jpg)
As for fuel, I've re-purposed some TSA friendly 3oz containers. My plan is to store 3oz of HEET with each stove, along with 3oz of 91% isopropyl alcohol. The isopropyl alcohol burns a lot dirtier than the HEET, which means that it's not as efficient. On the other hand, it gives off quite a bit light and heat, turns the stove into more of a heater / signaling device. In the right context, that could be really handy.
My plan, for now, is to package all this up and chuck one into the trunk of each car. A few years back we had a nasty storm which left people stranded for hours, if not all night, in the cold. By being prepared for that scenario, I figure it will never happen.
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