Pepsi Can Stove upgrade!

“For the past week I've been out on dayhikes cooking on an adjustable flame Pepsi can stove and it works great. On a warmed up stove .5 ounces of alcohol burned 23 minutes at variable rates. All you do to make it happen is make another mask out of the bottom of a soda can as described above. Place this second mask over the first one and rotate it to cover up the desired number of holes to get the flame you want. I cut the flame down to 7 holes and my stove simmered beautifully and then cranked to full power by removing the masks. It works great. Try it.”

“I was using a Pepsi can stove today to cook lunch on a dayhike and it was windy out and when I lifted the windscreen the wind blew the invisible flame into some leaves next to the stove and ignited them. I threw some water on them and put the fire out, but from now on I'll make sure I remove any combustable materials from the cooking area. These stoves can be more of a fire hazard than a regular stove, but I still like them. Just be careful.”

“I have directions for making one, so I'm going to try it. But I was wondering how much fuel you put in, is there a fill level or line? When pouring fuel in, do you pour it in the ceter hole? Also, how exactly do you light it, is there a certain way. Can you get it to simmer? And does anyone have directions on making a windscreen and pot stand for it(any pictures)? Thanks!”

“I've found it takes me about 1.5 to 2 ounces of fuel to cook a simple meal. Put this amount of fuel in the center opening of the stove and light it there too. To simmer with it check some of the above directions about making a simmer mask to fit the top. The stove can have an adjustable flame using these. Windscreens can be made from oven liners or foil tape. A pot stand that folds flat can be made from thin aluminum.”

“1.5 to 2 ounces for a simple meal? Dang, mine never takes that much.”

“I usually find that it takes a about 1 ounce just to bring a little over 2 cups of cold water to a boil and then I allow the extra .5 or 1 ounce to simmer and heat a little water to wash the utensils.”

“How fuel efficient and cost effective are these stoves. Is there directions to making a windscreen and pot stand?”

“Hmmmmm! I poured 1T in my beercan burner, marked the level by scratching the inside wall...poured another 1T in and marked it. I just pour enough De-alcohol in it, to between the two lines, and GO. A little more or a little less, depending on the situation.

I haven't made the Cat Can stove yet. My guess is because I've had such good luck (great results) using the beercan burner.

A simple windscreen can be made from Al foil....just pull out a good length to round yer pot plus some...fold it along center lengthwise, and that's it. Fold it however you want to store it, cause it unfolds with no problem.

One oz...two oz...same difference! It's such a small amount, anyways.”

“I use .5oz to boil two cups, and I mean a good hot roiling boil. I then use another .5oz to simmer if I want to. I saw a guy's site that made a pot cozy for simmering. He just boils his water, then puts the pot in the cozy to retain heat for the simmer. That could save me some fuel for simmering.”

“What's 0.5 oz...how do you measure it Mr.Rock? Is the rolling boil indoors in the kitchen at room Temps, or outside Temps? How long does it take to get to the boil?”

“I looked it up, and for fluids...1oz = 30ml = 2T”

“Aren't you guys burning your fingers taking these simmer rings on and off?”

“I use the cap off a soda bottle. I measured it in a shot glass, takes 4 cap fulls to make 1oz.

I initially tested at about 60* with tap water. But I have since used it in temps in the 40's with water the same. Didn't change my boiling times very much at all. I have got to where some times I'll only use 1 cap full so the water doesn't get scalding hot, best for tea and coffee.”

“I use a medicine cup from when I was in the hospital to measure the fuel. I always allow 2 ounces of fuel per meal because I know I won't use more than that and I won't have to worry about running out. When it's windy you need more fuel whether you use a windscreen or not. I don't stay out for too many days so I'd rather have more fuel than not enough. You have to allow extra in case you spill some too.
I've been boiling the water right out of the creek and the water temp is in the 30's this time of the year. Probably why I use more fuel.”

“You can burn your fingers if your not careful. You should make a handle for the simmer mask to minimize the risk and don't wear synthetic gloves. These stoves take practice to use.”

“I just made a "Mini Can Stove" out of the little V8 juce cans. This one takes longer to boil, infact the boil which took 6 minutes never got violent. It just sort of simmered on for anouther 12 minutes after it reached a boil. I think I'm going to use this one for the majority of the cooking I do on the trail. It simmers, and thats all I want.

I'll probably bring the larger can to fry trout over.

ThinAir”

“Well,I saw MOM's on a hike.SECT. I am impressed with this stove. Ape and I made a couple and they rock! I made one from a singlle pepsi can. Just for the "survivor experience" did not work well as it was pinched too much. Have scince made a few for friends and they are in dis-belief. Try it you will like it! I am gonna try one out of vienna sausage can soon as I get some cans, Thanks”

“I recently made one from a Redbull can (not Schlits Malt Liquor...the new "energy drink" stuff). The can is smaller than the radius of a beercan...and it gets you to the same destination!.”

“I can now come forward and admit that Budder's can stove not only humbled my Zip stove it embarrased it. If anyone doubts the power of "The Can", please see Budder. It's not so much "The Can" but the rest of the set up. I'm not a betting man but I'd say it would give Rad's Yuppy-Gia a run.”

“Ok Bud. One more time! What are your special modifications? Improved pot-stand/wind screen? What is the number of holes you use. Did you drill (what size bit) or punch the holes? Pictures, we need pictures...”

“.....of beer?”

“www.fallingwater.com/pct2000/gear/KissStove.asp

GO HERE!!! Lots of stoves to make. BTW: spent some time with thru hikers this weekend. They said that the can stoves work better when you actually sodder the two cans together.”

“wouldn't the solder melt??”

“Link didn't work for me.
There is some kinda auto supply Faux solder which is more like a putty. I think thats what is used for aluminum. Verdad?”

“I dont think so. One had perlite on the bottom of it also.

Let me try again”

“www.fallingwater.com/pct2000/gear/KissStove.asp

works when I copy and paste.”

“JB Weld, baby!”

“I DID IT!!!!!!

Thanks!”

“What is Perlight??”

“Didjfan, styrofoam beads. Also a planting medium.”

“Hey I think I figured out how to keep the Pepsi Can Stove from getting so hot and burning too fast. I accidentally poured some water into the stove while it was burning and the flame went to half power and burned twice as long.

Just thought that if you wanted to make it simmer you could add a small amount of water to the stove to cool it for some simmer time.

I don't know how practicle this is just thought it was interesting.”

“You get the same performance by using Isopropyl alcohol. It is 30% water.

What happens when you put water in is raise the evaporation temperature so the alcohol doesn't vaporizes as well.

This results in a couple of things:
Bad soot!
Colder stove.

The stove has to work harder to vaporize the alcohol, and it has to burn off the water - well not really burn off, but evaporate.

True you will get a longer burn, but this is better achived with limiting air flow.

Good experiemnt though.”

“It would work though, on a trip if you wanted to cool the stove a bit and get it to simmer. So far I can't get a simmer ring that actually works so I might do it this way.:)”

“true”

“Thinair, Make a simmer attachment like this:
Cut a 3 inch diameter can to the same height as your burner. Then cut a lid off a can bigger than 3 inches in diameter. Place your burner inside the can. To adjust the flame place the lid on top to expose the desired amount of holes. Works great!”

“Make a pepsi can stove with burner holes configured like to the one shown on the Wings.interfree site and you'll have yerself a nice simmerer.”

“Hey Rich,
What kind of can?
Do you actually place the entire stove inside, if so, that might do the trick.
So far any simmer ring just made the flame burn out side the ring as much as without a ring.”

“I used an empty kidney bean can. Yes, place the entire burner inside the can and then slide the lid on top to regulate the flame. The can must be cut down to the height of your burneror just a hair higher to work properly.”

“I forgot to mention to leave a little handle on the lid when your trimming it so you can grasp it with a clothes pin or alligator clip since it will get hot. I cut a slot in my coffee can pot stand so I can slide the lid in and out easily. It really works well.”

“With all the cans together, how heavy is your stove? It sounds like a good design! I'll make the set up tonight and try it out. Thanks for all the great info!”

“Somewhere around 3 ounces, but I only have a cheapo postal scale and I don't know how accurate it is. Whatever the weight is, it's light enough for me.”

“I just bought a vienna sussage aluminum can at Vons. Won't fit a Pepsi Can stove, but it does work for my V8 Can Stove. I made a little plate to slide on and off for the simmer action and it worked perfect. Thanks for the idea.

Results of test:

Room Temp 68 deg
Water Temp 50 deg
2 Cups of water in pan with lid.
1.75 oz of Denatured Alcohol
Time to little bubbles 3:50
Time to Boil 7:30
Simmer Time 29:27
Total burn time 36:57

I can't believe it kept the water simmering for 30 minutes.
Awesome! I now can cook or fry just about anything on this little stove.”

“I made anouther test useing all the same things mensioned above only I used 0.75 oz of alcohol,

It boiled at 7:00 and simmered for anouther 8:00

I like it!”

“Great, glad you were able to make it work. It simmers with the same principle that a Trangia uses.”

“Rich, are you saying that you use your normal setup with the stove inside a coffee can cut to potstand height, with holes for air, and then add a kidney bean can sleeve with no holes, slightly higher than the height of the pepsi stove? And the lid goes on top of the kidney can, and over a little, to allow flame to escape out of only a few holes?”

“Now I'm really confused.”

“At least you're a scientist, Buddur! I usually have to see something to understand how to make it.”

“I was referring to the complicated fine-tuning additions to such a simple and passive burner.

And I know what you mean about "having to see"...when I first saw a beercan burner I gave it the same kind of lookover the Japanese did to our shot (knocked, rather) down spy plane earlier this year. I couldn't wait to get home and make one. Tinkering around with them was cool, but I done my time, I use 1 burner pretty much all the time with no need for accessaries.”