More Efficient Stove

After my Huntington Ravine excursion I realized that there were many problems with the design of the alcohol stove that I made: It leaked, it was inefficient, used a lot of alcohol. Morning Glory suggested a new design of homemade alcohol stove and referred me to the following website: http://www.backpacking.net/makegear/stove/index.html. Of course I had to give it a try and so below is a step by step of how to make this more efficient stove.  

You will need two 6 oz tomato paste cans (I used Hunts), one aluminum can, tin snips, stapler, hammer, tack, permanent marker, ruler/tape measure.

Remove the labels from the tomato paste cans and any glue residue using nail polish remover and a cotton ball. 

Next, use a can opener and empty out the contents. With a permanent marker, mark 1" on one can (this will be the burner) and 1.5" on the other (this will be the base). Use the tin snips to cut the cans at these points (the ridges on Huts tomato paste cans make it easy to make a clean cut). 

Use a hammer to punch 32 holes around the burner (1" can) about 1/8th " from the edge.

Use the tin snips to make 8 evenly spaced slits around the stove and cut out a 1/2" hole in the center.

Use the tin snips to make 8 evenly spaced slits in the top of the can from the center of the 1/2" hole to 1/8" from the burner holes. 

Cut out a 5" x 1 3/8" section of the aluminum can and staple it into a ring (diameter slightly smaller than burner holes). Next, make four evenly spaced triangular notches at the top of the can.

Place the aluminum ring (triangular notch side down) into the center of the base (1.5" can), bend side flaps of burner in and fit into base in between aluminum ring and base.

Once burner is secured push center flaps down. And viola! We have a more efficient stove!!

Heather's Alcohol Stove and My Alcohol Stove Side by Side.

Heather's alcohol stove and mine side-by-side created quite the contrast. Hers was rusted and over twelve years old with over 2000miles on it and mine was shinny, brand new and never been hiked. 

Heather's Kitchen setup: wind guard, pot stand, stove, and 900ml titanium pot.