The particular model of alcohol stove I have is a SS Simon Alcohol Stove originally marketed by Safesport. Performance specifications are stated as:
Boils a pint of water in less than 4.5 minutes
Boils 2.5 liters of water per 4oz of fuel
Burning time is approximately 22 minutes at maximum fuel capacity

That's been more than adequate for my needs for most bicycle touring and reports are the Trangia and a few other models are even better. I have owned an Optimus 99 white gas burner that was used in four different countries over a 20 year period as well as several butane stoves (which I still have). This one may not be everyone's preference, but alcohol stoves can be extremely functional and I'm still very comfortable with this one in spite of the improved stoves currently available. I have a second that was ocassionally carried as a back-up and never needed it.

This shows it against a Trangia and discusses some of the further advantages of the Trangia. It also demonstrates the complications caused by lack of experience. Its actually quite simple to calculate the anticipated burn time required and measure out fuel accordingly so there is no 'left-over fuel' issue.

https://www.spiritburner.com/fusion/s...8457/post/new/

Yup ... you should consider following them. You want to make a carreer out of 'correcting' people. There were no 'mistakes' in my post. Just a few things that you were unaware of.

Awesome. A flamewar about campstoves.

I did follow them. Where in my post did I insult you? And, yes, there were 'mistakes' in your post. I actually work in a chemical laboratory and I've visited many other chemical laboratories. It is not 'common' practice to use alcohol burners. I've checked with other chemists in my laboratories and, with the exception of one guy who used one in his garage when he was a kid, no one else has used one. The most common response from anyone under the age of 40 was "What's that?"

LOL Maybe the better question might be - in how many threads HAVEN'T you insulted me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyccommute

Ooh! Ooh! I'll be Burton: (Switching on Burton mode) "Don't buy it because you haven't taken out a 30 year mortgage on the light and it doesn't have a millennial warrantee...way better than lifetime. It may be out of date in a year but if you want quality you have to spend the GDP of a good European country. Otherwise you've obviously bought crap and don't know anything .

Anyway I think I was pretty specific: "In the lab it was common practice to use a simple alcohol burner to bend glass tubing." A bunsen burner puts out too much heat to be useful for bending flint glass tubing and if the labs you work in don't need to do that - it changes nothing.

And Mr Black, I didn't 'call into question' your intellect and grades - I posted some specifics.

Your behavior and treatment of my postings hasn't changed since I joined this forum about a year ago in spite of my requests that you stop and invitations to collaborate rather than compete - and quite frankly - I'm really getting tired of it.

Have a nice day.

Though I do appreciate the chemistry and science you're bringing to the discussion, what I do on the road in the middle of nowhere on a bike tour is not very relevant to what I do at home on a daily basis, besides it's tough to pack along a generator in a pannier since I use electricity at home.

LOL And my apologies to everyone else in this thread for setting the house on fire!

This has been a good thread and I have learned a lot.

I went to REI and the guy was not much of a help. So I will go back when the instructor guy is working.

In the meantime, I will play around with a cat stove at work and see how it works. What a better way to learn then in the kitchen! lol

At this point, I am not sure why type of cooking I want to do. I know this will drive the ultimate decision on what type of stove to get so I may need to table this for a while until I can figure it out. We will see.

SPECIFICS!? What the hell do you know about my grades in college? Where I went to college? How I "eventually struggled through [my] first degree"? I got damned fine grades in a very tough discipline through college and turned those grades into a very good career.

Yes, I poked fun at you once. You have called me a child that needed to be spanked, represented me as stupid, said that I got bad grades in college, etc. I have not once questioned your intelligence. I disagree with your statements and ideas but I do not, have not and will not insult you personally. I ask...no, I demand...the same. Disagree with me all you want. I can handle it. But you have stepped over a line...more than once.

As for glass bending, you are still wrong. Get thee to a laboratory and actually learn something. No one uses 'flint' glass except as disposable pipets and using alcohol burners in a professional laboratory setting is not a common practice.

We are done!

Egos are a many splendoured thing.

Stuart,

I think you have been treated unfairly here by some people, who seem unable to stay with reason and substance, and descend to the level of personal insults.

I have found most of what you have said to be clear, intelligent, and on target, to a greater degree than most of your critics.

You have some appreciators here as well.

Alcohol has gotten away from some people. Russ, of www.pathlesspedaled,com, has an entry about one of his mishaps.

He doesn't strike me as particularly careless or unintelligent.

Others have experienced similar problems.

Not being able to see the flame can take some getting used to.

Of the main stoves being discussed, alcohol stoves are the only ones that can spill when accidentally knocked or tipped over. Spills can be difficult to deal with, especially in daylight.

I wouldn't feel comfortable using these stoves in some situations (involving certain children, pets, and other conditions).

Some are more stable than others, but there are still some related issues.

He's good at drowning you in technical mumbo-jumbo to cover his lack of real world experience.

Canister stoves would be a clear first choice for me, if not for these three factors:

(1) I can afford them; but the cost adds up over time, and I don't like to waste money. Every time I buy a few canisters, I feel like I am wasting money. They are 'only' about five bucks per can (at REI, more at small stops along the way...). A gallon's worth will run about a hundred sixty bucks.

A gallon of gasoline currently costs about 3.49 USD where I am.

So the canister fuel is over forty-five times the price.

Adjusting for a roughly 5% greater energy density (it's probably less), doesn't help the picture much.

Nor does buying larger canisters -- gasoline is still many times less expensive.

I go through gallons of fuel. Having a few hundred extra bucks in my pocket means something, and this will repeat over time.

No, it wouldn't be a huge financial burden to spring for the canisters; but that is not really the point -- the point is, I would rather have the money than the canisters.

(2) Canister availability is a real issue on many of my tours. When I can get them, they are often considerably more expensive than REI. I don't care at all for the strategy of mailing them to myself.

(3) I don't particularly like the canister idea. It's added clutter; partially used canisters aren't so great to have to deal with; and the whole approach goes against the re-use ethos.

There is another aspect of stoves that hasn't been mentioned yet: I don't know the best term for it, but it might be called aesthetic-system appreciation.

Some systems have something about them that one just connects with and appreciates. Like a woman -- there is just something that hits you. You might not be able to put your finger on it, but it's there. Or maybe you can put your finger on it.

It isn't exactly the same with stoves, but it is analogous.

The Jetboil systems appeal to some people in this way -- some of these systems are tight, compact, self-contained, smart, light, well designed, and 'trick' -- at least in some people's eyes.

Same with the Trangias.

(Unfortunately, some people seem to get a little too attached to their choices, and will leave their best friends if they put her down.)

This is somewhat intangible and individual, but it is a real factor. You might as well have and use something whose design you appreciate, whether animate or so-called inanimate.

Me, I like the Dragonfly. At least for now. Recently spoke with someone at REI who knows and has tried many stoves as well (he works in that department, and has for years), and he too likes this stove a lot. It's been his first choice for quite a while now.

Yes, some stoves are very quiet and 'meditative'. But you can enjoy many aspects.

Alcohol stoves remind me of the first part of this dance,


https://www.bikeforums.net/www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZVF7AEK6Wo
The Dragonfly is more like the second part. It's got back.

I like back.



[if that link doesn't work (I'm on a limited computer system at the moment, and can't test it), it's "awesome wedding dance" at youtube.com, or provide the link if you can do so]

I almost peed my pants! lol

You are right on many accounts here. And being a chef, for me at least, means simplicity. Ask a chef their favorite dish (off camera and not in front of people who do not cook for a living) and they will tell you something simple.

I still do not know much about stoves but going to play with alcohol stoves first in the kitchen. Why? Because they appeal to me, Small as they are is intriguing. Are they the right stove? I have no freaking clue. But I am looking forward to trying them to see.

Glad to hear you appreciate....

Some people really like them. If you do too, then why not.

Hi, gang. I realize that some times threads can get off a little bit off topic. This has apparently happened here. Kindly stick to the topic at hand. Unless you have used it, are using it, or planning on using it while on tour in the field, it doesn't belong.

Thanks.

I can't help but think there are outdoor jocks in places like REI as there are bike jocks in LBSs...

But, yes, the self-build alcohol stove is an ideal way to start out with this. The issue will be how you suspend the pot above the flame, but I am sure you can work that out with some creative kitchen thinking.

Use of the alcohol stove will at least give you a starting point and you will be equipped with better knowledge if you can borrow, beg or steal stoves of other energy sources to experiment with.

As to the other stuff you've had to wade through, well, it happens.

Is this the post?

If so, it wasn't from an alcohol stove. Russ and Laura seem to be pretty solidly in the alcohol stove camp.

Around very young children I regard the Trangia 25 and 27 Storm Cookers as the most stable and safest stove on the market no matter the fuel. With older children who are at the age where they should be allowed to fire up the stove and put the water on for noodles or hot cocoa, canister gas stoves have to be the surest and simplest bet to avoid an accident.

Any pressurized liquid fuel stove scares the crap out of me, especially burning gasoline. Is there anyone here who hasn't had one flare up where you have had to stick your hand into the ball of fire to shut it down?

Of course any stove should be attended while lit, just like an open campfire. Pour a liter of water on an ounce of alcohol and you have the flammability potential of a decent micro-beer. Water and alcohol mix immediately and totally. On my cat can stove I designed it with some secondary containment potential, but some homemade stoves do look to have the real potential for spilling flaming alcohol out on the surrounding surface.

Edit: I need to make an addition. When the young Padawans of the road are nearing the completion of their training they should be taken to the family recycling bin, handed a Stanley knife, a few drill bits, some JB weld and a tin of Kleen Strip Green naturally fermented denatured alcohol and be directed to craft a “lite-stove” that reflects their own understanding of the force and thus complete their training as a Jedi of the road.

Niles was very careful in how he cast his aspersions in this case. For those who didn't follow the link, the incident came from pouring alcohol on to a wood fire to get it burning. Alcohol stoves were not the subject of the page.

Even Russ admits 'the stupidness of the mistake'.

Research Grade Ethanol is the fuel of choice for camping because it has multiple uses; as fuel, a disinfectant and beverage.....don't try the last one with denatured alcohol or Heet, you'll go blind and it's advised to cut the ethanol with something, maybe Sprite for a backwoods Margarita.

Here's my set up being used to boil 2 cups of water, one for tea and one for a "Joyce Chen" noodle soup. Half an ounce of ethanol will boil 2 cups of water in about 5 mins.

The stove and mug are by Evernew. The stove weighs 1oz and the mug 2.5 oz. The windscreen is just aluminum foil and weighs 0.5oz, no pot stand is required. I tested the stove with and without one and found that it was most efficient with the mug sitting directly on the stove. I think this is because by blocking the top row of holes the flame pattern matches the mug better and more heat goes into heating the water.

https://www.evernewamerica.com/EBY254.htm

https://www.evernewamerica.com/ECA266.htm

There's room for everyone...