Traveling with Alcohol Stoves on plane

It MIGHT set off explosives detectors, but I don’t know if it will.  I recently got randomly selected to have my hands checked for explosive residue.

If you want to be sure, take something that can be completely cleaned of fuel.

Burn it dry of all fuel before you fly and you *should* be fine. Two days ago I flew to Seattle with a Zelph Starlyte stove (similarly wicking design) and had no issue with TSA in Newark. Fingers crossed no issues getting back either.

As long as it’s dry my guess is you’ll be fine.   TSA allows hand sanitizer and booze on the plane in appropriate quantities.   If they grab it from you, you can always make a fancy feast or soda can stove when you get there

Let it air out until you leave.  Put it in a warmest place you can find (utility room?) or, if you want to really eliminate odors:

Rinse with water (alcohol dissolves completely in water) shake/towel it dry, and then set the oven on its lowest setting (180-200F), and put it inside.  Turn the oven off and let it sit in that warm oven as it cools down.

For refueling an alcohol stove, I like plastic vodka bottles – 375 ml for a medium-length trip.  That shouldn’t be any issue in checked bags because alcoholic beverages are allowed there.

I’ve never tried that David.   How clean does it burn?

I think David meant that he puts his fuel in a plastic vodka bottle – not that he’s burning vodka.  Everclear 190 in a plastic vodka bottle would seem like vodka…

Copy that.   Thanks.

Remove the foam and pick up a bottle of hand sanitizer (70% ethanol).  It is easy to find but burns a little slower.  I do this all the time when traveling Internationally or by boat / plane.  My 2 cents.

Rinse with water (alcohol dissolves completely in water) shake/towel it dry, and then set the oven on its lowest setting (180-200F), and put it inside.  Turn the oven off and let it sit in that warm oven as it cools down.

Good idea for the trip out, but the oven part might be a challenge for the trip back.

Purchase 2 of those stoves, one will be a back-up.

The raised carbon felt wicks that stick up will deteriorate quickly. The fibres will actually fuse together and prevent adding of fuel easily if not at all. Only the small center portion of the stove will be able to be used…the simmer portion.