Hi folks.

I have just finished a small experiment with a new alcohol stove. I was not

measuring, just looking by eye and I would say that I used about 150-200 ml

of Methyl alcohol. The fuel is the blue stuff you get for fondues. Since it does

not say what the percentage of the fuel is alcohol, I have no way of knowing if

it lasts as long as the 99% Iso alcohol so I may set up a more measured

experiment. I have one of the windows open just a bit and I have a CO2

monitor operating. For safey sake I put the stove on top of my regular stove.If

you are going to use this method often I would suggest having a cookie sheet

or a pie pan under the stove. Since the fuel is a dangerous poison, you do not

want to spill it or use the pans for food use. Even a tinfoil pie plate or a bit of

tinfoil would be better than risking a spill on your stove. The amount I put in is

not the most I could get into the body of the stove, but it was close. If I forced

it, I think I could put 250 ml into the stove. I will have to test that. his was just a

test o see how well it burned. I did a small trial putting a few caps in first and it

is designed to get flame off of the fumes for the most efficient use of the fuel.

It ran for about an hour and a half. I may find that if I am not cooking or heating

a lot I could put in just enough to get the water boiling. If the water is unsafe, it

is good to get it to boiling for a few minutes. Some books suggest about 10

minutes.

Considering the cost for running a stove. I got the fondue fuel at the dollar

store so I was paying $2.28 a litre for the fuel. I am not sure what it would cost

if I bought it at a store like Canadian Tire? Buying the 99% Iso cost about

10.00 a litre if you buy it at the drug store in small amounts. The fondue fuel is

much cheaper by a factor of 4 or so. The Iso Alcohol is a better one to store

for medicine gear, since it does so many other things. It is also a good fuel. if

you have room to store both, than get both, but if you have room for only one

you will have to decide if you want fuel or medical gear. Everybodies needs

are different. The stove put out a good amount of heat. I did this while we are

have a few cool days here in Canada, so when the sun went down the temp

did too. I could feel the extra heat heat in my kitchen since I have the heater

turned off already.

If you do not have an alcohol stove, you can very easily make one out of a

pop can. Just look online for pepsi stove, penny stove and alcohol stove. You

will find many sites that give you the details on how to make your own. Another

site that may have that information is Instructables. Look them up too.

I hope you got some good information and go out and learn even more.
That is it for tonight.

Michael J. Kaer , Author of "What Money Can't Buy" part 1&2