How to Make a Small Alcohol Camping Stove Out of a Pop Can

Alcohol stoves are small stoves most commonly used by campers that use alcohol, such as ethyl or isopropyl, as fuel instead of propane. These stoves are generally small enough to fit on your palm, and only weigh an ounce or two. Cheaper than a propane stove and easily to make, these stoves have become very popular, and are something every camper should have, if only as a backup.

Step 1

Empty two pop cans and rinse them out completely. Allow them to dry by sitting them on a stand, heating them over a stove, or by wiping with a towel.

Step 2

Using a sharp razor, knife, or scissors, cut each can in half around the diameter. Discard the tops so that you only have the bottom of each can.

Step 3

Carefully press the two bottoms together so that the bottom of one faces up, and the other faces down. This is usually difficult to do, as both of the cans are the same size. Use a small piece of cardboard to run between the edges and work them together slowly.

Step 4

Using a pushpin or small nail, tack evenly -spaced holes along the top edge of one side of the stove. The distance between each hole will depend on the size of the holes - a hole the diameter of a pushpin will need to be a few millimeters apart each.

Make a bigger hole in the center of the top. This is where the fuel will be poured, and will also let a larger flame come in contact with the bottom of the pan.

Step 5

Use JB Weld to seal the edge where the two pop cans meet. This isn't essential, but will provide a tighter fit and will increase the durability of the camping stove, as well as directly all of the vapors out of the stove holes for maximum flame and heat.

Step 6

Sand the out of the stove with fine-grit sandpaper to remove the label and coloring from the can. This will make it look more like an expensive camping stove, and less like a cheap can hack. Be careful not to breathe in the aluminum dust.

Step 7

Pour fuel in the center of the top and wait for it to enter the can through the large hole. Once inside, heat the outside of the can with a lighter or match so that the alcohol will begin to vaporize. When vapors are coming out of the holes, hold a lighter or match over them and the vapor will ignite. The heat from the burning vapor will continue to vaporize the stove, resulting in a perpetual fire. Place a pot or skill over the store (careful not to spill the alcohol, as it can cause a flash fire and bodily injury), and wait for it to cook. Generally one ounce of fuel is adequate for boiling a kettle of water.