Alcohol Camping Stoves

Alcohol camping stoves are the perfect choice for the backpacker looking for a small, lightweight, easy-to-use and inexpensive stove.

The alcohol camping stoves are very simple, they have very little moving parts, no jets or orifices to clog and clean. Alcohol is a renewable resource and is a non-petroleum based product. If you have a spill in your backpack, it will evaporate quickly, leaving no tell-tale odor. It's the perfect "green" fuel.

Ok, let's look at the pros and cons for the alcohol camping stoves...

PRO

1. Simple - No Pumping, Pressurizing, Priming or Pre-lighting.
2. Fuel - Renewable, Evaporates quickly, Burns clean (no soot), Not oily or smelly.
3. Lightweight - Can weigh as little as a few ounces.
4. Reliable - They light first time every time, as long as you guard your match against the wind.
5. Safety - Fuel evaporates quickly and will not explode (non-inflammable).
6. Fuel Transport - Easy; can be carried in a plastic bottle. Do not use an untreated aluminum bottle. If you're not sure, don't use it. See the note at the bottom of the page.
7. Fuel Availability - Everywhere; can be found in drug stores to hardware stores.
8. Noise - Very quiet and generally cannot be heard. This can also be a con.


CON

1. Noise - As I said above, being quiet can be a pro or a con. Pro in that it is quiet, but a Con because you sometimes cannot tell if you have a flame or not.
2. Flame - Alcohol burns clear (slightly bluish) and this makes it very difficult to see. Especially in the daylight.
3. Heat Output - Alcohol camping stoves put out about half of the heat per ounce other liquid fuel stoves produce, i.e. white gas, kerosene, Coleman style fuels, and butane or propane.
4. Group Size - A small group of 1 or 2, maybe 3, is best, because of the slower cooking time. This isn't really a con, but it is something to consider.
5. Cooking Time - Is slower because of the reduced heat output, but for 1 or 2 people it is just fine.
6. Safety - NEVER, NEVER fill the stove with more fuel while it is still burning or hot. This actually goes for ALL stove types.
7. Cold - Alcohol camping stoves are not very reliable in freezing weather. As the temperature drops, the evaporation rate of the alcohol drops. This makes them very hard to start. A work-around for this is to pre-heat the stove with a candle.
8. Durability - Since they are so small and lightweight, they can be fragile. They can be bent, crushed or destroyed easily without the proper care.


Do-It-Yourself (DIY): Alcohol camping stoves are perfect for the DIY crowd. The internet is full of instructions on how to make an alcohol camping stove.

FUEL

1. Isopropyl - NOT Recommended. This can be purchased from any drug store, but it will always have too much water mixed with it. It's never just pure alcohol.
2. Denatured - This fuel comes mixed with other poisonous chemicals. Many times the label will say that it is suitable for marine stoves. I would go with that brand. Another way to tell if the denatured that you have will be any good, is to burn some of it in a metal dish and check for any residue left behind. Do not use it if there is any residue.
3. Grain - Alcohol works well, but can be expensive. Stay away from the colored grain alcohols and go for the clear such as the Everclear brand. Keep in mind that you brought it to use in the stove and not to keep your belly warm. P.S. This is the only fuel than can be consumed by humans. ALL the others are poisonous.
4. Methyl - Other names are methanol, wood alcohol, methyl hydrate, liquid fondue fuel, gasoline line antifreeze. This is a highly poisonous fuel. However, methanol evaporates faster than ethanol at all temperatures and you would have a better chance of starting your stove in cold weather. Store this fuel and the stove that uses it from your food and pots.
5. Gelled Alcohol - Such as Sterno, Canned Heat, Jelled Alcohol. This is good for keeping food warm, but not for cooking. Not enough heat output.
6. Diethylene Glycol - Extremely poisonous and is Not Recommended.


Types of Alcohol Camping Stoves

1. Open Flame - This is the simplest of all the alcohol camping stoves. It's basically an open shallow metal container that you pour the alcohol in and you light it. The pot is sitting on a wire frame above the stove. They are simple to build and operate, but are not the most efficient with the fuel to heat ratio. However, they are a very reliable stove.
2. Chimney or Updraft - This style of stove utilizes the updraft created by the heat of the fire, up a chimney, to the top of the stove and heating the pot. It mixes the air with the fuel at the bottom of the stove to get a better controlled flame at the top. The pot sits on a stand above the stove. It has a good heat output and is very reliable.
3. Low Pressure Side Burner - This utilizes the low pressure draft created like the Chimney stove, but the pot sits directly on the stove. Same stove as the Chimney stove, just a different way of using it. It has good heat output and does not need a pot stand.
4. Open Jet - This stove works by vaporizing the fuel and shooting it out little jets. The fuel is poured in through the top center; it is very lightweight and will simmer, but is only good for small pots. You will need to have a pot stand to keep the pot off the stove.
5. Hybrid Side Burner Jet - This is like the Open Jet, but the vents are on the side. The pot sits right on the stove top so a pot stand is not needed.
6. Pressurized Jet - This is like the Open Jet stove, but the center is closed allowing the fuel gasses to build up pressure. It burns hot and does not allow for simmering. You will need a pot stand for this stove.


Points to Consider

1. Consider making an alcohol camping stove for yourself.
2. Are you going to be doing a lot of extreme cold weather cooking?
3. Burner style - You do not have to settle for just one style. You can have a different style depending on weather conditions and/or altitude.
4. Boil time to fuel usage ratio - This ratio is how long does it take to boil 1L of water to how much fuel is used. This is very important when you are determining how much fuel to carry with you.
5. Flame control - Do you want to be able to simmer or not?
6. Size of group - Remember that 1-2 people are best per stove.


Note: Aluminum: "SIGG, one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of reusable aluminum bottles, actually lines their aluminum with an FDA approved coating that prevent toxins from leaching." According to Elizabeth Borelli of Nubius Organics.

For more on this topic go to http://hubpages.com/hub/BPA-Free-Reusable-Water-Bottles-Containers/.

About Me
Hello, I'm Clayton Hay. I have over 50 years of camping, hiking and backpacking experience. Most of it has been through the Boys Scouts of America in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Colorado, and New Mexico and the rest with family and friends.

If you want to learn more about backpacking tips, backpacks, tents, stoves, food, nutrition, sleeping bags and travel, then visit me at http://fossilbackpackinggear.com.

Slow and steady wins the race.......

We have been slowly getting our stockpile built back up!! This past year and a half was hard on us and our stockpile. But , I am so glad that we had one. When my husband was laid-off our stockpile was a life saver and was used!! So now I am getting it built back up. I am going to order some more cases of MREs also. We used all of ours. A teenager in the house thought that it was better to eat them all up, he said there was more variety and snacks. Which was true, but I had other food to eat and those were for a REAL emergency, like for if we had no power or something like that. Oh well, I will build that stockpile up again.
I planted a small garden this summer just to see how well things would grow here and have found out that stuff grows awesome - so next spring I will be planting a much bigger garden and with more items. I had a huge lot of cherry tomatoes and even now I am still getting some off of my plants!!

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The Colony On Discovery Channel

Have you been watching the second season of The Colony ? I have missed it because we do not have cable, but I am getting to watch it online. That is what I am going to try and do most of today. I loved the first season. It was just great and I learned some stuff.

If you have been watching it , what are your thoughts on it?


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Get An Emergency Generator To Protect Your Family

Having an emergency generator for back-up at your home or business is a sure way to protect yourself, your family, your property, and important equipment from disaster and damage. Without electricity, the world as most of us know it comes to a screeching halt. Your lights, computer and electronic equipment, heating system, water pump, and important appliances such as refrigerators no longer work.

When electrical power is knocked out by a winter storm and you find yourself with no back-up power, there is a lot at risk. You'll risk frozen pipes and possible water damage, spoiled freezer and refrigerator contents, no computer access. Also, you'll have no power for loved ones who may be sick and use special medical equipment which requires electricity. This winter, you should consider an emergency generator to keep life running as smoothly as possible when bad weather strikes.

When choosing an emergency generator, many people opt for the portable variety. They are small, easily stored and maneuvered, and convenient for relatively short periods of use. These generators run on fuels such as gasoline, natural gas, and diesel. Gasoline is the most practical option, as diesel fuel is mainly used for commercial-sized generators and natural gas is more costly. However, natural gas does burn cleaner and can be stored for a longer period of time.

When choosing the best gasoline-fueled generator, look for one that can be plugged into the house's electrical system. This is a safer model, but a transfer switch will need to be installed by a professional electrician. The installation of this switch is important because it allows the operation of appliances that do not have cords that plug in, such as a furnace or a hot water heater.

Choosing a portable generator with user-friendly features is also a plus. Who wants to deal with figuring out a complicated and difficult to use generator when life has already been complicated enough by such inclement weather? For example, a push start button is a better choice than a pull-rope starting feature.

A larger gas tank is also handy, as it will prevent you from needing to refill the generator so frequently. A five gallon gas tank will keep your generator running for 7-10 hours. A quiet motor is a necessity since most cities have a municipal requirement which does not allow noisy equipment to run continuously and disturb the neighbors.

Those who live in areas where winter weather is at its worst may choose to have an electrical contractor install a stationary, or stand-by generator at the home or workplace. This type of generator is the most dependable for long-term emergencies. The stationary generator provides continuous power because it is connected to an already existing fuel source, such as a gas line.

This option consists of either a simple push-button start-up, or an automatic start-up feature that enables the transfer switch to actually sense the power outage, isolate the designated emergency circuits from the grid, and then the machine is up and going. You do not have to be at home for this automatic function to work, and transfer time is usually only 10-30 seconds.

Permanent emergency generators also have higher power levels than their portable counterparts, ranging from about 5 kilowatts to hundreds of kilowatts in strength. While this version is more expensive and requires an electrician to install it, you will be increasing the value of your home by adding one.

Mister Sparky should be your first choice for a Clinton MD electrician. They provide upfront pricing and their service is 100% guaranteed. No electrical job too big or too small.

Are You Ready For a Disaster?

If you only had a few minutes to get out of your house for a disaster (such as a hurricane) would you be prepared for an emergency? Would you be able to grab your important papers and things you must have and be out of your house in minutes?

Do you know where all of your important papers are? Are they all in one central spot for quick and easy access in case of emergency?

Things such as:

* Drivers License (or other identification)
* Passport
* Birth Certificate
* Social Security Card
* House Insurance papers (or contact info)
* Life Insurance papers (or contact info)
* Marriage License
* Financial Info
* Money

What about some of your favorite possessions? Things that you can't replace, such as photo albums?

Since most people keep a lot of information on their computer or laptop, do you have backups and are they up to date and in a spot that you can easily access?

Do you know what you would take in an emergency? Have you ever thought about it?

I've never been in situation where my home had to be evacuated, though I have been in a hurricane with no place to go (a very frightening experience).

If you are evacuated from your home and your home is destroyed you will have to deal with a variety of issues, including insurance issues, where you will have to prove your identity. Can you?

In an emergency people tend to grab the strangest things. Not always the most practical things.

So think about what you would do in an emergency situation where you had to evacuate (especially if you live in high hurricane areas).

Prioritize your possessions and what you really need to get back on your feet.

Get yourself organized before disaster strikes. And then hope that you never have to put your plan into place.

It's better to be prepared for a disaster than to have to go through the trauma of dealing with things that you are unprepared to handle.

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
http://www.professionalorganizer4u.blogspot.com

Member: National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO); Member: National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD); Certificate of Study in Chronic Disorganization; Certificate of Study in Hoarding; CD Specialist - Level II Certificate; NAPO, Quantum Leap Trainer; NAPO in the Schools Trained Provider
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