Gibber-gabber
How to: UltraLight WICK style backpack/camping stove from cans
Milo Plurnbottom 2008-06-19 20:19:05 UTC

• (2) Cans (Motts apple juice, v8, smaller than a soda can)
• (1) Soda can
• Razor blade knife
• Tin snips
• JB weld
• Gutter guard (doesn’t rust), wire hanger (sand off coating), or similar for pot stand
• Stove/lamp wick
• Drill (for wick holes)
• Rubbing alcohol (or Heet is sometimes recommended)
• Sand paper (fine)(to remove printing on cans if desired)

The embedded video from Russell aka WeekendAdventurer at YouTube walks through each step of the process of making a clever lightweight but highly effective backpacking stove that uses rubbing alcohol as the fuel source and burns with amazing efficiency.

I really like these kinds of nifty homemade devices. This video reminded me of HappyCamperBus who built an entire stove for their VW bus using a slightly different alcohol stove burner style with similar construction. I think zoe’s sister Tammy also makes this type of stove for her camping adventures as well. See the HappyCamperBus style burner in this video from tcabner at YouTube where he discusses the sidejet design and how to make one in my followup post How-to: sidejet style homemade alcohol stove .

Have you made a home-made alcohol camping stove? Share your pictures and construction tips in the outdoor adventure community .