I merely took an empty cat can, put about 2oz of endentured alcohol in it. Then I put up three metal tent stakes around it, put on a litre of water, and lit the alcohol! Shazam! It was boiling within 4 minutes and this was a heavy stove pan. I figure other than maybe a windscreen, any way to make this more effienct without adding much more weight?
Benner
I started doing an experiment here earlier today, and got quite a surprise. I wanted to test my pepsi-g can against the cat can, and I decided that as a control, I would use an umodified 3.5 oz cat can too. On my first test, with 1 tbs of alcohol and a 4" high pot stand, the unmodified can outperformed the other two. It burned longer and got the water hotter. I’m going to do some more tests to see if that holds up. If it does, I’m going to feel pretty stupid. :oh
Ardsgaine
I put 2 oz of alcohol in the can. After the litre boiled, it remained lit for about 7 minutes longer, I probably could have either used half the amount or less or boiled another litre of water. I figure carry a pint of alcohol, the cat can or a simple pepsi can cut down, maybe a real lightweight windscreen and the infamous Walmart grease pot. I figure a wind screen might improve it on windy days. I’ll do some more experiments with pepsi cans and such, trying to get the best effiency for the weight. Oh, I did my first run today in the rain. I might try a few different fuels as well just to tweak around.
Benner
Skeemer A cat can is a type of stove. It is basically a large cat or dog food can over a smaller cat or dog food can. Holes are punched in the cans and they are put together. WWW.wings has different types of stoves and directions on how to build them. I have to agree with Benner about the stove he uses. I took a small cat food can and punched 8 holes around the top and placed a piece of insulation around the inside. I use an Esbit stand as the pot holder and a windscreen made out of an oven liner. 2 ozs. of alcohol will bring 2 cups of water to a boil in less than 5 minutes. I also use the Walmart grease pot.
bluelight
I could be wrong, but I think that Benner is saying that he just uses an empty cat food can–feed the cat, clean the can, pour in the alcohol. I don’t think he’s talking about a fancy-shmancy cat can stove.
I wish he had been more specific, though. I mean, was it a 5.5 oz can, or a 3 oz? Little Friskies, or Fancy Feast?
Ardsgaine
Yup, just an empty cat can, three stakes about an inch above the can and whamo! I can see why a windscreen would be needed (or just stick it between two stones) but other than that, it works really well. I figure 1 oz of alcohol per 1 pint of water. I suppose you can tweak it to make it a little bit more efficient but if you are on the trail and/or don’t have the tools to make a fancy cat stove, this simple stove will serve the purpose.
I tried the same thing later today with a pepsi can cut down and it didn’t seem to heat as well. Maybe the thicker metal on the cat can makes a difference in generating more heat.
Benner
A good windscreen makes the larger exterior can on the original cat stove design redundant. The interior can alone works perfectly well.
Dances with Mice
At a seminar, “Tree” 04 said he used an empty old tea light candle holder(the light metal base), and a small amount of alcohol for the entire trip. Go figure, thousands of dollars are spent on R+D, and we get by with the simplest of things. Myykl
Myykl