Boil to heat?

Post by **kman** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:32 pm

I don't understand about that "tuna can stove"...what's he burning? He says he's using it to replace trioxane and hexamine but he doesn't mention the fuel - just the metal can.

donaldjcheek · Post by **donaldjcheek** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:46 pm

kman wrote:I don't understand about that "tuna can stove"...what's he burning? He says he's using it to replace trioxane and hexamine but he doesn't mention the fuel - just the metal can.

A "tuna can stove" (aka "cat food can stove" or "soda can stove") is used extensively by backpackers. It burns denatured wood alcohol, available at most hardware stores or at WalMart.

As the name implies, it's made from an empty tuna can or aluminum can of similar dimensions. Ounce for ounce, it's one of the most efficient heaters yet developed.

There's a whole cult surrounding the manufacture and use of these things; just google "alcohol stove" or "tuna can stove" on the 'net.

Post by **kman** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:52 pm

Ok - thanks for clearing that. I thought it might be something like denatured alcohol. I've never tried the stuff myself but I was a little surprised when I saw it in a local sporting goods store last week - it was pretty pricey at about $8 for a little can of the stuff.

YouTube · Post by **housil** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 10:20 am

Treesuit wrote: Yeah, and I also never saw that mysterious little pouch stand either.

Do you need a picture?!

Post by **MCIera** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:55 am

Denatured alcohol is also sold as a solvent, you can get it for much less for larger cans from your local hardware store. Alternatively you can also use the 91% rubbing alcohol from the drug store.

kman wrote:Ok - thanks for clearing that. I thought it might be something like denatured alcohol. I've never tried the stuff myself but I was a little surprised when I saw it in a local sporting goods store last week - it was pretty pricey at about $8 for a little can of the stuff.

dirtbag · Post by **dirtbag** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 12:12 pm

The rubbing alcohol (isopropel) is smoky when burned... You can get the good stuff in home depot etc, for~ $ 12 per gallon. It burns Much cleaner !

Treesuit · Post by **Treesuit** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:52 pm

Hmmm..okay but does that rubbing alcohol heat the water as fast? The guy in the article doesn't make any comparisions to other ways. Seems to me that you could get the same results and a faster burn time with a coleman or MSR portable stove without all the smoke and fumes. Has anybody done a comparison between the alcohol fuel stoves and say a coleman stove or even one of those Jetboil stoves?
I've been sold on the Jetboil cook system and MSR stoves for awhile anybody else.

Post by **MCIera** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:57 pm

Almost any pressurized fuel stove will boil water many times faster, regardless of the fuel used. The tin can stoves are a light weight altenative for those backpackers who would prefer to minimize the amount of weight that they are carrying.

Treesuit wrote:Hmmm..okay but does that rubbing alcohol heat the water as fast? The guy in the article doesn't make any comparisions to other ways. Seems to me that you could get the same results and a faster burn time with a coleman or MSR portable stove without all the smoke and fumes. Has anybody done a comparison between the alcohol fuel stoves and say a coleman stove or even one of those Jetboil stoves?
I've been sold on the Jetboil cook system and MSR stoves for awhile anybody else.

dirtbag · Post by **dirtbag** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:35 pm

here's a link to a good site, and a very good comparison chart.
Basically, if all you do is boil water for freeze dried gunk, then an alcohol stove is the lightest way to go, as long as you're in no hurry...
If you like to cook, then a multi fuel or a gasser is the way to go...
They all have good points and bad points, you have to choose whats best for your situation !
http://hikinghq.net/stoves/stove_compare.html
Personally, my hiking days are over, I mostly car camp, so I like to use one of the multi-fuel stoves (Nova) so i can find fuel anywhere...
But then, I have over 40 stoves to play with so I always take several to tinker with...

donaldjcheek · Post by **donaldjcheek** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:43 pm

As MCIera & Treesuit pointed out, the pressurized stoves work faster - but they are far more expensive, complicated, and can be difficult to light.

The alcohol "tuna can" stove works best with denatured alcohol, but will burn isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) or ethanol (medical alcohol) as west. The three big advatages are: 1) cheap, 2) simple, and 3) really easy to use.

If you are only boiling water to reconstitute dehydrated food or make coffee, then I'd suggest a "tuna can" stove. If your going do do any serious backpacking/cooking outdoors, invest in a pressurized Coleman, REI, or Optimus type stove. Just about any of the ones mentioned will do.

PS: I like the "tuna can" stove because I can teach a 14-year old Boy Scout how to build and use it, without breaking his budget. (What's the difference between the US Army and the Boy Scouts? The Boy Scouts have adult leadership.)