Franco’s stove
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Finally after testing this new design for a few days ( please let me know if it has been done before…) I am happy with this version.
I modestly call it Franco's stove.
My aim were :
a very simple easy to make design
Cheap or free components
Quick boil
Efficient
Be able to boil 1 liter
No priming required
Not too wide flame
Be able to simmer
No popping,flaring or hissing noisesWhat I have is :
Half an hour to build using commonly available tools
Components :Two tuna cans (free)
One soda can sleeve (free)
One piece of coat hanger wire (free)
One piece of lantern wick (a few dollars)Tot weight 50 g
Boiling time
6 min 10 sec for 500 ml at 13c /55 f (air and water temp) + 1:30-2 min boil 1/2 oz of fuel
12:30 min for 1 L + 7 min boil * 1 oz of fuelThe 500 ml is an average for several boils using a titanium 5 " wide 900 ml pot
The 1 L is from 1 boil only using an aluminum 2 L pot***The wick insert makes this design work. It is placed standing in the center of the bottom can.
About a third of the diameter of the can.
***The flame mostly comes from under the coat hanger wire. That needs to be about 3 mm above the rim of the can. It will not work otherwise.The stove produces pure blue flames with a 10 sec start and a constant output after that.
I was testing with the window open but have not tried it outside.Tomorrow I will work on a top that can be used with mugs.
Franco
Tools
components
Flame pattern
simmering
Just a candle but it works !Nice Works!
I only have a similar one,but not completely same(no pot stand necessary).
Schematic drawing
Ke Wu
I have deliberately gone away from the soda cans because they don't last more than a few burns if the flame hits the walls. Amazing design though !!!
Mitchell
The fuel is alcohol (mentholated spirit) in this case ( Australian standard) it is 97% Ethanol.If you look at the top part , the one with fewer holes, you will see a tongue (rim) at the bottom. That creates some pressure on the chamber below (bottom can) and allows (after the alcohol has burnt) to insert a little shelf, in this case a trimmed bottom of a soda can (not shown) to sit a candle on top of it. The candle will just keep the pot simmering. Should work well with a "cozy" on top of the pot in cold weather. ( in my case, I just get the boil, add the ingredients , let the stove extinguish it self, and shove the pot inside a "cozy" ( a bag made out of a reflective sun screen protection for the car).
You could also just add more fuel and keep the boil going. One oz should keep it going for another 8 to 10 minutes.
The coat hanger wire is indeed the pot support you see in the various shots. It is there to allow the top of the can to breathe, the stove does not work without it.
In the second picture you see the four components. Bottom part (fuel reservoir) top (spacer/stand) the bent coat hanger wire (pot support/spacer) and a piece of rolled up soft can skin with the wick , a piece of fiberglass fabric. It can be purchased as "lantern wick" (not the cotton variety…) or from auto accessories section in several stores.
Thanks for you interest.
I am now playing with a shorter top section but so far this one still works better.
FrancoI have done some test with the short top version but for the 10g saving it is not worth the bother.
It would be if it performed as well, but it does not. Cutting the top off also makes the can a bit flimsier, the solid feel of the double version is one of the features I really like.
Anyway, here it is…
more iside information
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