I generally use a simple pepsi can stove by merely lighting the bottom of a pepsi can filled with rubbing alcohol or deet. Nothing more fancy that that, no holes, nothing, just the can and 3 metal tent pegs to support the pot.
It works fine except I was wonder if using kerosene instead of alcohol would be more fuel efficient, plus kerosene is cheaper.
_nrkybill_ Wow; with rubbing alcohol, deet, or kerosene who needs crystal meth.
Nrky, I’m sure kerosene would work fine in a pinch but I would suspect that it would cause an extensive layer of soot on dishes and anything that came into contact with any of the cooking equipment, as well as make you a favorite at most shelters. Although it could be said that the awful smell might mask your food odor, the fact that most thru hikers eat out of their pots would cause many to gag due to residual grime with its toxic smell so close to the nose, no matter how hungry they were.
Just a thought.
_KayWhy_ The vapor pressure of kerosene is a lot lower than denatured alcohol, so it may work when the weather is warm, but definitely not when it's cold.
_Misqua_ I just lit some kerosene up in my pepsi can and it certainly has a smell to it. On the plus side, it boiled water faster than anything I have tried before, it's really hot and it burned forever. I guess that's why it makes good heating fuel. Didn't really get any residue though on the pot.
_nrkybill_ One other thing to be concerned with is will your pepsi can stove withstand the higher temperatures? I'd think they would burn up after only a few uses. Plus, other hikers would appreciate it if you didn't burn up the picnic tables, etc. if and when the can fails due to the added heat.
_Bear Bag Hanger_ well considering my pepsi can stove is nothing more than the bottom of a pepsi can, it's not like I can't find more of them. Still, I've decided I'm not going to go this kerosene route with stoves. I'm going to experiment a little bit with a candle stove, I'll see how that works out along with the weight of it.
If I was worried about it melting, I could just use a tuna can.
_nrkybill_