Penny Stove

[rockhound]

I don't know if any are aware of the penny stoves. I recently made and used one with great success. It is no wonder that the homeless have fully embraced this stove as their heating and cooking stove. Materials are inexpensive and readily available everywhere. And the fuel is also inespensive and readily available. It can burn denatured alcohol, Heet(gasline antifreeze) and also Isoprophyl rubbing alcohol. 50%, and 70% will work, but 91% will produce more heat. I carry one in my glove compartment, one in my backpack and have several at home. You can see how to make and use one here. Good Luck. rockhound

 

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[rockhound]

Easy instructions: I take two soda, beer, or drink cans(aluminum), turn upside down, cut one bottom off at 1'' high, the other at 3/4'' high. After I sand down the burrs, I take the shorter one and stretch it over the bottom of the longer one. Then I crimp the edge of the longer one to fit inside the shorter one. I then stuff the longer one with fiberglass insulation, or cotton rag. I twist the two together(hard to do, takes patience). You will end up with two bottoms opposite of each other. In the center of the shorter can(top),make a hole in the center. And also make four small holes around it, making sure a penny will cover all the holes. Now mark 16 holes around the outside edge of the top where it angles off at about a 45% angle. These are the jets for you flames. You can use a 1/16 drill, a small nail or a pushpin to make all the holes with. You will end up with 16 on the outside edge and five in the middle. For easier starting use a lid with a lip on it, turned upside down as a primer pan. Fill the top with fuel(any alcohol, Heet or Isopropyl rubbing alcohol). Put a small amount in the primer pan and light. Caution: It may flare up when first lit. Use a long match or grill lighter. Now you have a n alcohol stove that is exactly like your gas stove. Good Luck. rockhound

 

[rockhound]

More info: Using soda straws, pinch one end close to the end with needlenose pliers and burn it to seal it. Then fill with whatever you want and do the same to the other end. This makes an air tight-water tight seal, which takes up little space and weighs less than other containers. I save seeds in them but here are some other items (salt, sugar, pepper, vinegar, peroxide, cotton balls saturated with petroleum jelly, medicine, and bleach). Put 16 drops of bleach in a straw with a dropper, then put in a gallon of water. Shake and wait 30 minutes to purify. Also you can use the pulltab for a slipknot. Tie a small diameter rope(1/4'') to the large hole, then thread through the large hole and then through the small hole. The rough edge on the pulltab actually helps to hold the rope in place. Good Luck. rockhound

 

[rockhound]

Using HEET(yellow bottle) produces 8410 BTU's.
Using Methanol produces 9610 BTU's
Using Denatured Alcohol produces 11,700 BTU's
Lesser BTU's using Isoprophyl rubbing alcohol 91%, 70%, and even 50%

 

[YoungBlood]

Can you put cotton in a penny stove instead of fiberglass. If you can does it work as well.

 

[rockhound]

Yes, I don't use the fiberglass myself, as I am allergic to it. I do use cotton, especially from a pill bottle will work great. Any cotton material, an old T shirt or any cotton cloth will work. I have tried it both ways, with and without, and although I can't see much difference, I feel that the absorbent, when saturated, releases its vapors more slowly, providing a longer burn time. It is not a wick like a lamp but is only an absorbent to hold and release the alcohol more slowly, since alcohol evaporates fast when expose to air. It is this vapor that makes the alcohol stove work. It only burns the vapors as they exit the holes. It is converting alcohol into a gas, and is really no different than a natural gas stove in its operation. Good luck. rockhound

 

[YoungBlood]

Yes, I don't use the fiberglass myself, as I am allergic to it. I do use cotton, especially from a pill bottle will work great. Any cotton material, an old T shirt or any cotton cloth will work. I have tried it both ways, with and without, and although I can't see much difference, I feel that the absorbent, when saturated, releases its vapors more slowly, providing a longer burn time. It is not a wick like a lamp but is only an absorbent to hold and release the alcohol more slowly, since alcohol evaporates fast when expose to air. It is this vapor that makes the alcohol stove work. It only burns the vapors as they exit the holes. It is converting alcohol into a gas, and is really no different than a natural gas stove in its operation. Good luck. rockhound

Thanks