Small meths stove

[Flying start]

Hello all I'm a newbie to this site and bushcraft


I've just tried to make my own meths stove

All went well but when I tried to light it, it just goes out??


Have I done something wrong? I put about
16 holes near the top?

Could it be the holes are to big not sure what size they should be

Ill try get a pic of it but its just cooling down now

Any help is much appreciated thanks

[Ehecatl]

Hello and welcome.

It's customary to pop over and introduce yourself in http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?37-Introduce-Yourself-amp-Welcome-to-the-Community!

Hope you enjoy your time here,

M@

[bigzee]

I'm assuming that the flame is actually out (as the flame can be hard to see when there's a lot of light), but there are various possibilities for this.

A common one is the stove cooling down as a result of thermal conduction from being in contact with something cold, like a pan of water, a base plate or pot stand that touches the burner? Any heat from the stove is dissipated in a "heat sink" effect. A lot of the designs with side jets - where the pot sits directly on the lit burner suffer from this. You have to let the burner get nicely hot and then lower the pot on gradually, or find a way to suspend it, maybe from a cylindrical wind shield setup, which would retain a lot of generated heat as well as shielding wind.

A lot of the ones I've made with loft insulation packed in the "walls" have the tendency to "suck" fuel into the sides before I've had chance to light what's in the reservoir, and I have to keep topping up to get it lit and stay lit (go easy on the amount of fibreglass used 'cos a little does a lot!).

Base plates, or anything metal and conductive in contact with what's burning will lose heat. Remember the triangle of fire: FUEL / AIR / HEAT. If any part of that triangle is lacking, then fire will soon be lost. Is there a windshield too close cutting off air supply?

The dimensions of the burner/stove can be significant, in that if the walls/jet chamber is too small relative to the size of reservoir, then the cold fuel cools more than the warm gas burns. And the same can be true in reverse - if the reservoir or "lighting area" is not big enough to warm the (still cold) jet chamber to ignite the jets. I've experimented with all sorts of old cans/containers etc. with much excitement and anticipation, only to discover the dimensions are just plain wrong!

If at first you don't succeed: try and try again!!

[cuppa joe]

Try pre heating the stove ... place the stove on an aluminium tray pour a little meths around the base of the stove then ignite it (only a very small amount and make sure you don't get any on your hands ) I would do this outside away from any flammable material as a a precautionary measure until you get used to it.

[midas]

Try pre heating the stove ... place the stove on an aluminium tray pour a little meths around the base of the stove then ignite it (only a very small amount and make sure you don't get any on your hands ) I would do this outside away from any flammable material as a a precautionary measure until you get used to it.
Ditto to all joes comments,Remember you are burning the gas given off rather than the neat meths or ethonal.

[Flying start]

Thanks for the replies guys

The first attempt was made with a spray can I cut the bottom off and the top so there the same size

Placed one inside the other then drilled small holes round the top

It lights and starts to bubble so its getting hot but it won't burn out the holes??

If the fill hole is as big as a 2pence peace and the burn holes are very close will this affect it ?

[Flying start]

This is what I made first thinking it would work but not had any look

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/09/ytygaga2.jpg

[jus_young]

Those jet holes look too large so the stove cannot build up any pressure inside as it heats to force the alcohol fumes out when the pan is sat on top.

Made sense to me as I wrote it anyway :/

[Tigger004]

Does it go out on it's own or only when a pan is placed on it, if it's when a pan is placed on it then it could be that meths stoves often cool too much if the pan is in contact with the body of the stove, a pot stand would sort that out
Trangias and the like require stands

With that hole in the top it should burn to empty if nothing is placed on it, let us know more please

[Chubbs]

Those jet holes look too large so the stove cannot build up any pressure inside as it heats to force the alcohol fumes out when the pan is sat on top.

Made sense to me as I wrote it anyway :/

Agree with Jus on this one mate. Those holes are by far way too big. Maybe try looking in the sewing box for a needle and using it to punch the holes. You should have more success then.

Its all about experience, keep going, you will get there.

ALB Neil

[Flying start]

Thanks guys yes the stove just goes out by its self I did think the holes where to big of to close to the big hole in the top..

I've built the same stove but put a smaller hole in the top I haven't put the burn holes in yet so ill get the smallest drill piece I can find then test it out

Appreciate this help people ;)

[midas]

There are plenty of tutorial video's on "you tube".using everything from a coke can to an Ali water bottle,to make a penny stove!

[tent peg]

Burn holes usually no more than a couple of mm.

Dremel kits usually have tiny drill bits. If you choose to punch harder spray cans with a needle, please be careful of your eyes.

[Whistle]

Agree with Chubbs , Jus Young and everyone ... Plenty of really useful and helpful yoo choobs on stovemaking ,

but have you seen the Zen Alcohol Stove site ... IMO the definitive works on the subject !!!

Hope this gives you the Linky http://zenstoves.net/Construction.htm

Best of luck ... it's great when you get your first one to work , then you can go on and try the different types ...

the cat stove , the penny stove , the twin wall soda can stove or my favourite the white box clone !!!

Have fun ... Cheers Whistle

[Flying start]

Thanks whistle ill take a look at that link

Ill try the other with small drill holes or even tap a large pin in to make them thank again people :)

[midas]

An old DART,makes a good AWL!.

[bigzee]

11358113591136011361

[midas]

Great collection of stoves.I find the ethanol gel good for a quick emergency brew up!especially as I get 200g tins,in the catering section of the trade warehouse(MAKRO)for 50pSold as Chaffing Dish Fuel.
Strange when you get into making stoves.every tin or ali bottle has another purpose'lol.There have been occasions when whet I ate was influenced by what tin i needed.lol.FIRE BRIGADES on its way!

[saxonaxe]

It's you lot causing global warming...http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Laughing/lol-043.gif

[Bernie]

There's a good tutorial for making these on the main NBC website (of which this forum is a part): http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/kit/reviews/how-to-make-a-pop-can-meths-stove.html

[Flying start]

Thanks Bernie