Love this stove and use often on hikes for tea or coffee. An alternative to carbon felt that I've used is Rockwool. Fiberglass batting would work as well. The key is to pack it in tightly and evenly all around the gap so that the inner can is tight and secure.
Your 7 inch length for the carbon felt may be ok initially. However, if you are familiar with Hiram Cook who has done all kinds of tests with these stoves recommends cutting your felt longer and then working hard to pack it in because over time and use, the carbon felt has the tendency to shrink leaving a gap between the two ends of the felt where they meet after wrapping around the inner can. FYI. Cheers and great idea for for those often needed quick burns for a a single cup of coffee or other hot drink where you don't need such a long burn time as these FF stoves don't like to let go of the unburned fuel so you can't pour it back into your fuel bottle. A smaller burner is just the ticket! I also like the wider base even if it adds a minuscule amount of weight. I prefer it's added safety. Nice vid! tnx
Great video, very clear build instructions. Thanks for posting your video and giving credit for the wider base & greater stability idea. I am starting my build and using all of the cat can. Razor blade set at your 7/8 inch height (7/8 inch thick wood & C-clamp) and spin the can around until you are just about to punch thru the can. Then you can separate the two pieces by working your fingers around the circumference of the can. Gives your bowl an extra 1/4 inch of height and more fuel capacity. Plan to keep your 3/4 inch CF to pot distance so stove will be 1/4 inch taller than your build.
I know I'm late to the party, but thank you for this!! Best Fancy Feast stove yet! I was looking for good stoves to build to replace the Trangia style burner in my Esbit kit because it split down the side and I do believe yours is it! I have the parts, so I'm going to make it now 😂
I made one of these today with a kevlar wick and it worked very well with virtually no burning of the kevlar. The kevlar I got as scraps for free, it has the consistency of standard felt.
I am working on my 2nd try at this. Totally agree the shorter version does even 2 cups just fine on 1/2oz denatured alcohol. I just completely fumbled the cutting with the scissors but even my bad attempt boiled 2 cups in 5:30. Thank you for this great mod!
It's been years since I watched a stove build video on UA-cam, and watching made me miss Hiram Cook. This really is a much better design than all those pressurized designs like the penny stoves and such.
Agreed on multiple points. I miss Hiram as well, I hope he is doing ok. And I also agree that this design is so much better than the other typical soda can stoves. Cheers.
Dirk I was gonna say that as well...I rewatch his old videos all the time just for refreshers 😂 thanks CC for showing this again bc I LOVE this design on stoves! Have a blessed day👍
Cannot find carbon felt in my small janky town 😂 went to Harbor Freight, where they sell the welding stuff, and they don’t even carry it. Walmart, Tractor Supply, Coop & even a machine shop in town and nada...when I ask I get this blank stare?! Almost like I’m asking a foreign question in another language or something 🤦♀️🙄 haha guess Amazon will have to be my go to...lol idk why I shared all of that haha I guess I just wanted someone else feel my frustration 😬🤗will have to try Lowe’s...thx again CC
Same here. Often wonder how he's doing. It has been a while since I seen a build, too. Made a number of the "full size" Fancy Feast stoves for family and friends. Primarily as a way to heat a can of soup, if they lose power. Still over 300,000 without power, this evening, here in NC in the aftermath of Michael. Two hurricanes in a month.....
I just finished building one. I DO like how much lower profile it is............it's exactly the same height as an uncut Fancy Feast base. After the initial burn, I measured out a half ounce of yellow HEET, and almost brought 16oz of water to a boil in my kitchen. Certainly hot enough for instant coffee, but time will tell how it performs outdoors. It would certainly boil a little less water on a half ounce of fuel. My total burn time was exactly 6 min. Great improvement/option on the greatest DIY alcohol stove of all time. For winter use I'll probably keep my bigger Fancy Feast with the full capacity and longer center support, but this new little guy has definite potential for the warmer months. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for commenting, your results sound very similar to mine. I use the small ones exclusively now in the summer and shoulder seasons. But like you said, in the winter I would prefer the original size with the larger fuel capacity.
My first stove used house insulation stuffed between the cans. I've used carbon felt. Now I use corrugated cardboard with the inside flute vertical or fold paper towel to fit between cans, which snuffs out after fuel is exhausted.
Hi from UK, stumbled on this as i've been using a similar stove for about 3 years now, this shorter version lights easier than the full height can stove as fuel doesn't have to wick as high and being lower is also more stable. Unlike you I do NOT push two sections together to make the base i simply cut the can down to required size (don't see the need to push the two ends together), instead of using a tomato paste can for the insert i use a small aluminium drinks can (same as a coke can only smaller) which i prefer as the tomato cans rust being tin, for the wick i use ceramic exhaust wrap as it's dead cheap, i buy the 50mm width tape fold it in half so it's double thickness which fills gap between the two cans just right then insert so it sits 25mm high, ---- My method, cut top of FF stove to leave base 25mm high --- get a small aluminium drinks can and cut out the central bit where the ring pull is, cut off the top 43mm of can and this will be the insert, when inserted it should measure about 20mm from top of FF can to top of stove (many recommend 1 inch but i think it works better at 3/4 inch or 20mm, cut exhaust wrap to length fold in half and insert as wick, being same width as base 25mm it should sit slightly proud of rim when inserted, incidentally how high wick sits above lip greatly affects performance the higher it is the quicker the fuel is burned, it needs to be about 1/2mm above lip only. ---- If one requires stove to simmer the best i've come up with is get another aluminium drinks can same as the first, cut out the central ring pull area, cut the can down so the top part ends up the same height as the stove which should be about 45mm from top to bottom, cut the can up one side vertically, now open it out slightly so it will slide over the base, when slid over the base only about 30mm of wick will be showing reducing heat when burning. ---- For cooking pots over 14cm width i make the stove with wider cans but keep to the same height measurements, for this i use normal size drinks can insert. ATB.
I know this an old video. But I built this and it is awesome, more stable hold heat better. One trick to slide the new base onto the can make 4 small slits to allow the can to slide in easy.
Dude LOVE THIS I’m jealous how clean your cuts are, I would like mine to look like that. I found this stove is definitely best version. I can heat up 1.5 cup of water for coffee with .5 oz of fuel. It boils a lot faster although it consumes fuel faster. It does have less capacity, but for solo hiking, I know that it is all I need. For 3 day 2 night trip I can carry 4 oz of fuel, I would be boiling a total of ~ 11 cups of water total (Estimate 2 cups per meal (x2 dinner x2 breakfast)1.5 cup per morning(x2 coffee)). Only burning .75 oz fuel for ~ 2 cups of water.
I just did my first two traditional cat can stoves. They work great! I'll try this design next. I overlapped my felt because in one of Hiram's videos he mentioned that the felt eventually shrank. I only cut the height of my felt and didn't trim any off the length. It has a little over an inch of overlap right now. At first the tomato paste can sits off-center, but the stove seems to burn even all the way around. I'll see how long the felt takes to shrink, and maybe after it stops shrinking I'll trim it to fit perfect (maybe - there's no need to trim it now, so I may never do it).
thexitto : I have kept mine the way I originally made it - with the overlap. I don't imagine I'll ever need to trim anything now. The cat-can stove is not my favorite stove. My favorite (although bulky) is the Ikea silverware container stove. I did absolutely no modifications to mine. If you're not familiar with it, it's a stainless steel cylinder with holes drilled all the way around it and on the bottom from the factory. I originally had a mesh basket underneath it to lift it off the ground and allow good airflow. There are many methods of achieving bottom airflow. Now I use a 'Light My Fire' brand 'Grandpa's FireGrill' as my spacer that is also my grill. I cooked three hotdogs at once tonight with it! My Ikea stove is a bit bulky, but fuel is endless if you are lucky enough to camp where fire-bans aren't an issue. I'm lucky like that at the moment. I often make three cups of coffee in the mornings at camp and my AeroPress Go fits inside my Ikea Stove, so although somewhat bulky my whole 'kitchen' nests nicely together with almost no 'dead space'. So I literally have a stove with an endless fuel supply, a GRILL, an espresso machine!, and a firepit that I can safely use in a camp without an existing fire-ring without any evidence that a fire was there. Even though it sounds heavy it's not - if you like multiple cups of coffee and the ability to cook (and not just rehydrate) at camp it's a GREAT stove. I have a low quality video of my setup on my UA-cam channel that gives the weights and everything. I have now used it many, many times and absolutely love it. It even makes a good 'companion fire' for lonely camps and puts off enough heat to sit by on a cold night if you're not ready to go to bed when the sun goes down. I also use it as my starter system when I build a fire in a fire-ring. It's easy to light damp twigs in (with a small amount of cheater paper) and then dump out the fire and build a large fire on top of the established flames. I'm due to make an update video on the Ikea Stove now that I've dialed my whole kit in. I'm even at camp right now laying in my hammock as I type this, so I'll probably record the video and post it tomorrow as I enjoy my morning coffee! Thanks for encouraging me to tend to my UA-cam channel. 👍
Best build video. No one really gives the detail even HC. I made this using small screw top can, not sure what it was used for but you can buy them. You have me the idea from one of your long peak video. THANKS.
You're a great teacher! Thank you for a clear and concise tutorial on how to make these. I currently use a normal cat can stove, but I'm really looking forward to making and using one of these.
I’m using the same tomato paste can inside on a tomato sauce can. Both just cut in half. I like the short pot stand because I’m using the narrow stanly pot. Weighs about 33 grams.
Cmanof the woods centralUS I recommend you try this one. After I built my first one of these, I haven’t built any other designs. This is the stove that I finally settled on as the best. Hope it goes well for you!
Thanks for sharing. I still build the full sized version of the Fancy Feast. Do like the "base". Think I'll do that for the ones I have. Have a few extra cat food cans stashed for Justin Case. You and Hiram Cook convinced me this style DIY alcohol stove is the best. Passage of time hasn't changed my opinion, either. Thanks for that, as well.
Oldtimer Lee thanks for the kind words. Someone else mentioned adding the base ring to the full size stove. And I agree with you both, I think I need to add it to my bigger one, it’s a great idea!
The Fancy Feast Hiram built with his simmer ring can bake or cook anything you throw at it, this version is great if your looking for the fastest boil on a half an oz. but that's it. otherwise the original Hiram version is overall the best one out there along with what I call the Trangia looking knockoff on Amazon., I use both.
Your stove looks good. Seems like a lot more work though then just punching holes with a hole puncher in a Fancy Feast can and you are good to go as with the original Fancy Feast stove. Probably your stoves works better, but lazy me will stick with the quick easier to make one piece stove. .lol Thanks for your innovation.
I understand that sentiment, and I like the basic Fancy Feast stove. However where I live it gets cold, a lot, and the original Fancy Feast really struggles to get going in the cold. The carbon felt solves that issue.
deck of cards trick to get an even line is a good one. Good idea. I think we all came up with our own method of drawing that even line when we make our stoves. Not easy to get a consistent line on a cylinder I guess, haha.
You can even use sand...but anything that burns just doesn't last as long as carbon felt. I've tried air, but it doesn't work so well (I tried to keep the spacing as even as possible)...but in a pinch, under good conditions it can work.
Appears to be a easy build , lightweight and practical for camping. It sure appears to be easier to make then the standard pop can ones. One thing I have noticed , everyone making the little stoves only make the best ones , no one makes a mediocre one. Guess I'm the only one who made one of those in the past. I have made some really nice ones also. By the way the Carbon Felt you can get two ( 2 ) large sheets of the 1/4 inch thick ones on amazon. Hiwowsport High Temp 6 MM Carbon Fiber. ==12 x 12 $12.95 , 18 x 24 $ 18.99 , 48 x 72 $72.00
Chuck Littleton I made plenty of mediocre stoves before settling on this design. The main reason I do videos about this stove is to try to save others the hassle I went through
I've made dozens of crap stoves. I now make only cat can style, but at different diameters from tin cans to fit in various size cook sets. Papper towel folded will replace carbon felt and last for multiple uses.
Nicely done tutorial. A question on your original design--the less stable one shown at the end of the video: Have you ever tried pouring a little alcohol into that lip and lighting it as you would a priming ring? I remember reading that if a stove's outer wall is heated at the outset, the fuel vaporizes more efficiently causing the stove to bloom sooner and burn hotter.
I have not tried that, but the wick on this stove acts to help vaporize the fuel quickly. So this stove does not need time to prime and bloom, as soon as you light the wick the stove is burning and ready to cook.
I've found some coffee drinks and Mr & Mrs T Bloody Mary mix aluminum cans are the same diameter as a tomato paste can. I've made stoves with them and they make a lighter stove.
I've done the same with a hair spray that has the same diameter. For some reason I didn't like the way it burned, it seemed to burn hotter and use fuel faster. I need to experiment with it more, maybe if I change the length of the inner can it would solve my problems. Cheers, thanks for commenting.
Great tutorial and nice modification to the original design. From the other comments it looks like you could add a little more than an ounce of fuel for that size stove. Have you tried how long it will burn with say an ounce or at capacity? Also how much water have you been able to boil with this stove? I ask as I am trying to decide whether I make the original taller version or this shorter version. Thanks!
Thank you. The pot I usually use only holds about 500ml of water. But with an ounce of fuel the stove isn’t quite at capacity, and it will bring 500ml of ice-cold water to a rolling boil and boil it for a couple minutes. I’ve never had to refuel it before the water boils.
@@ColoradoCamper Great thanks. I'd probably boil up to 700ml sometimes (900ml pot) at the most, so maybe I'll make the original taller one, at least first. I guess it's possible to make one in between the two sizes of yours using the method in the video?
No you don't really need to press the ring onto the base. You could easily get by with just the fuel cup portion, and it will still be a very stable and functional stove. Very good point, cheers.
Hey there buddy, I hope all is well, there seems to have been a technical issue with my video that you commented on, didn’t want you thinking I was ignoring you. I’ve not been doing many videos and those that I have done have been on the EDC Cooperative channel really. That is great to hear about the nanopresso, I really do love it, either the nanopresso or the minipresso get used pretty much everyday, at work, at home, or just wherever really! It is a great piece of kit! Cheers buddy
Kurt it came that color. I have seen cans that are blue/green like this one and also pink, in addition to the typical silver and brass colors. I think it was a Fancy Feast brand can.
Outstanding tutorial! I've made 3 ff stoves so far and really like them.... this is a great version. One question, what is the maximum alcohol capacity of this version (looking for burn time)?
I haven't measured it, and the fuel capacity is customizable based on how big you make the cup when you make the cuts. The one I show here will likely hold about an ounce safely, maybe 1.5 max, but that's just my hunch from using it.
great vid bro ...so on the idea of fliping the base around looks to work well but you roriginal design can be a plus in cold weather by using that ring to to pre heat the stove...
I see what you mean, but the great thing about stoves with an exposed wick like this is that they really don't need any pre-heating at all. One minor advantage to the original design is that the ring would catch any spills if you filled the stove all the way full and it tired to leak a little fuel out once it got burning. But I think the added stability for the design shown in this video is the best advantage. Though one could make a stove with two rings, basically blending both designs together.
@@ColoradoCamper I've found that if I put the pressure relief holes just above the out can edge, it's easier to tell if I'm about to overfill, and I cheat a little on my starts sometimes by putting a little alcohol near one of the holes and it seems to start quicker.
Amazingly simple, and amazingly effective. I recently made several for friends and family. Even some friends that work at REI really liked them, so that's saying something! As. Stoves like these have the potential to be lifesavers, I'm wondering if there is a tried and true bigger version of this stove for folks that are in emergencies at home (hurricanes, extended power failures etc.) Something for boiling a little more water, using kitchen sized pots? RicklesssS
I haven't made a bigger version, but I know that some people have used larger cans, such as a tuna fish can. The design is easily scaled up, you essentially need two cans that differ in diameter by ~1/2 inch or so and then the same construction method applies. Cheers.
Thanks for the reply, CC. Yeah, I guess this isn't "rocket science". I still have not scrounged for "2 just the right size large cans" for a larger stove, but DEFINITELY will. With the intense storms and power failures we've been having, and most likely will continue to get, having a dependable emergency stove for cooking for multiple people, (or just larger amounts of food) should be something we all have, I think. Thanks a ton!
Im working on an easily purchased standard can stove now, i wilm upload it once Finalized. Prototype boils at propane speed with alcohol and no pressure. Stay tuned.
It's a cool idea but I think the normal fancy feast stoves barely hold enough fuel for me as is. Why shorten it and drastically limit it's fuel capacity? I think I'll try this but I'll put the base on to a regular sized one.
I made the smaller one because I experience the opposite problem - for me the regular fancy feast stoves have way more fuel capacity than I need. They will hold over 3oz of fuel, that's how much fuel I would carry for a whole overnight trip! I usually use about 1/2-3/4oz at a time. Putting the base ring on a regular one will help with the stability. Great idea, I might have to do the same. Though I hardly carry the full size one anymore. Cheers and thanks for commenting.
@@ColoradoCamper maybe my issue is that I'm not using carbon felt. I don't have any so I just use rolled up strips of jeans material which I would imagine holds far less fuel. That carbon felt looks super spongey. Can't wait to get my hands on some!
Hey I have an idea for you to try. The canabis industry in america has these little metal grinders.. but they seem like they might actually make a quick lil stove. They have 4 layers.
Neat design.. Do you think there is a way to make a simmer ring like on a trangia burner. A lower, long lasting heat would be helpful for cooking rice.
Fuel capacity depends on where you choose to cut the bottom portion, so you can choose to cut it shorter or taller. The way I have mine done in this video has a capacity of about 1oz.
I have not seen this stove before and I would be interested in boil times for this stove and a comparison with the efficiency of the Groove Stove which, so far, I have found to be the most efficient. Thoughts?
I don't have boil times that I can quote you for this stove. As for efficiency, it can boil 2 cups of water using 0.5-0.75oz of fuel. The reason I like stoves with wicks if because they perform so well in cold weather. See the video linked in the description of this video titled "The Best Alcohol Stove Out There (IMO)" for more details on that.
I use denatured alcohol from my local hardware store. You can see this stove in use in these videos of mine: ua-cam.com/video/WBDVTGY8yRk/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/2ffbCrEQHUE/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/5Lb42CJqdTM/v-deo.html
Hey, just found your video. Great tutorial and I'm definitely gonna try building one myself. I was wondering, why do you need the base ring at all? I saw at the end that you mentioned it can be used to add a bit of stability, but besides that, could you use the bottom half of the cat can on its own? Thanks a lot.
Just made one of these because I love the idea of having a shorter system, but it seems to burn the fuel pretty quickly. Did you experience the same issue? Is a bigger can (aluminum pop can) inside with fiberglass (i.e. thinner than the carbon felt) a better way to go?
I haven't had that experience with the ones I have built. They burn about the same as the full size version. And I have never tried using fiberglass so I can't say how your idea would work. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
I've messed around with this general design and it seems that within a certain range, if you shorten the distance between the two can edges, the alcohol burns more slowly...if you go somewhere beyond an inch (inch and a half??) the stove just doesn't work as well. YMMV.
Atube Viewer I haven’t tried a capillary action stove. I do not think it would light easily in cold weather, that is the biggest advantage of having a stove with a wicking material.
@@ColoradoCamper thanks for taking some time to reply, I appreciate it. If you do a short trip in some real cold, maybe you could test it in real life. tks again
Love my cat can stove just like it but with Hirams 1 inch sweet spot. How often do you use yours? I've used mine a handful of times because 90% of the hiking season we can't use alcohol stoves. What's the point of having one? Mine sits in my garage now. Sigh Looks good!
Sinfonian Barelytone that’s a bummer. We occasionally have open burning restriction here, but usually not too bad. This summer was pretty dry and we had lots of fire bans. Unless I am prevented by a fire ban, this is the stove I use almost every time these days.
@@ColoradoCamper probably would, is cool stuff man! I just saw a video on a single tealight alcohol stove noiling 2 cups of water in 9 minutes, with the right stuff you could use very little fuel
When I pour fuel into the stove it soaks into the wick right away, so by the time I put the fuel bottle down and get my lighter out, it's ready to light.
You can make it as large or as small as you want to. I find this size to be perfect for all of my camp cooking tasks. It will hold enough fuel to burn for about 20 minutes, but I never need that much fuel in a single burn.
Those are grommets that came with the cloth, as purchased.. They are just waste.. A plumber would find them helpful for cinching it around a pipe, when soldering..
Carbon felt is expensive , about $10. Just buy a Trangia or other brand of Alcohol stove. You can get those for $15 and they are better built, more durable, and many come with flame adjuster, flame cap, screw on lid and a pot stand/windscreen.
Hello sir I am writing to you to see if you can make two. Of each sizes for me , I would like to do it my self but I am a disabled veteran and don't have much use to work with my hand any more , if you can I will send you the money for doing this for me I like to camp and I like what you did also I am 64 years old my old eyes are not what they were sure do miss seeing good we'll sir if you can help me with this. Please let me know thank you and may God bless you and your family
Love this stove and use often on hikes for tea or coffee.
An alternative to carbon felt that I've used is Rockwool. Fiberglass batting would work as well. The key is to pack it in tightly and evenly all around the gap so that the inner can is tight and secure.
Your 7 inch length for the carbon felt may be ok initially. However, if you are familiar with Hiram Cook who has done all kinds of tests with these stoves recommends cutting your felt longer and then working hard to pack it in because over time and use, the carbon felt has the tendency to shrink leaving a gap between the two ends of the felt where they meet after wrapping around the inner can. FYI. Cheers and great idea for for those often needed quick burns for a a single cup of coffee or other hot drink where you don't need such a long burn time as these FF stoves don't like to let go of the unburned fuel so you can't pour it back into your fuel bottle. A smaller burner is just the ticket! I also like the wider base even if it adds a minuscule amount of weight. I prefer it's added safety. Nice vid! tnx
Great video, very clear build instructions. Thanks for posting your video and giving credit for the wider base & greater stability idea.
I am starting my build and using all of the cat can. Razor blade set at your 7/8 inch height (7/8 inch thick wood & C-clamp) and spin the can around until you are just about to punch thru the can. Then you can separate the two pieces by working your fingers around the circumference of the can. Gives your bowl an extra 1/4 inch of height and more fuel capacity. Plan to keep your 3/4 inch CF to pot distance so stove will be 1/4 inch taller than your build.
I know I'm late to the party, but thank you for this!! Best Fancy Feast stove yet! I was looking for good stoves to build to replace the Trangia style burner in my Esbit kit because it split down the side and I do believe yours is it! I have the parts, so I'm going to make it now 😂
5:30 Ever tried to warm up the outer part and cool down the inner part? Warming will expand the material and cooling will shrink it! ☺ May work!
great idea Steppi, I used to work at an aircraft supply factory and used the exact method you mensioned.
I made one of these today with a kevlar wick and it worked very well with virtually no burning of the kevlar. The kevlar I got as scraps for free, it has the consistency of standard felt.
It's toxic
I am working on my 2nd try at this. Totally agree the shorter version does even 2 cups just fine on 1/2oz denatured alcohol. I just completely fumbled the cutting with the scissors but even my bad attempt boiled 2 cups in 5:30. Thank you for this great mod!
It's been years since I watched a stove build video on UA-cam, and watching made me miss Hiram Cook. This really is a much better design than all those pressurized designs like the penny stoves and such.
Agreed on multiple points. I miss Hiram as well, I hope he is doing ok. And I also agree that this design is so much better than the other typical soda can stoves. Cheers.
Does anyone know what happened to Hiram? I loved his videos and haven't been able to get in touch with him to see how he is doing.
Dirk I was gonna say that as well...I rewatch his old videos all the time just for refreshers 😂 thanks CC for showing this again bc I LOVE this design on stoves! Have a blessed day👍
Cannot find carbon felt in my small janky town 😂 went to Harbor Freight, where they sell the welding stuff, and they don’t even carry it. Walmart, Tractor Supply, Coop & even a machine shop in town and nada...when I ask I get this blank stare?! Almost like I’m asking a foreign question in another language or something 🤦♀️🙄 haha guess Amazon will have to be my go to...lol idk why I shared all of that haha I guess I just wanted someone else feel my frustration 😬🤗will have to try Lowe’s...thx again CC
Same here. Often wonder how he's doing.
It has been a while since I seen a build, too. Made a number of the "full size" Fancy Feast stoves for family and friends. Primarily as a way to heat a can of soup, if they lose power. Still over 300,000 without power, this evening, here in NC in the aftermath of Michael. Two hurricanes in a month.....
I just finished building one. I DO like how much lower profile it is............it's exactly the same height as an uncut Fancy Feast base.
After the initial burn, I measured out a half ounce of yellow HEET, and almost brought 16oz of water to a boil in my kitchen. Certainly hot enough for instant coffee, but time will tell how it performs outdoors. It would certainly boil a little less water on a half ounce of fuel. My total burn time was exactly 6 min.
Great improvement/option on the greatest DIY alcohol stove of all time. For winter use I'll probably keep my bigger Fancy Feast with the full capacity and longer center support, but this new little guy has definite potential for the warmer months. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for commenting, your results sound very similar to mine. I use the small ones exclusively now in the summer and shoulder seasons. But like you said, in the winter I would prefer the original size with the larger fuel capacity.
My first stove used house insulation stuffed between the cans. I've used carbon felt. Now I use corrugated cardboard with the inside flute vertical or fold paper towel to fit between cans, which snuffs out after fuel is exhausted.
Im not sure I understand this. Any videos?
Hi from UK, stumbled on this as i've been using a similar stove for about 3 years now, this shorter version lights easier than the full height can stove as fuel doesn't have to wick as high and being lower is also more stable. Unlike you I do NOT push two sections together to make the base i simply cut the can down to required size (don't see the need to push the two ends together), instead of using a tomato paste can for the insert i use a small aluminium drinks can (same as a coke can only smaller) which i prefer as the tomato cans rust being tin, for the wick i use ceramic exhaust wrap as it's dead cheap, i buy the 50mm width tape fold it in half so it's double thickness which fills gap between the two cans just right then insert so it sits 25mm high, ---- My method, cut top of FF stove to leave base 25mm high --- get a small aluminium drinks can and cut out the central bit where the ring pull is, cut off the top 43mm of can and this will be the insert, when inserted it should measure about 20mm from top of FF can to top of stove (many recommend 1 inch but i think it works better at 3/4 inch or 20mm, cut exhaust wrap to length fold in half and insert as wick, being same width as base 25mm it should sit slightly proud of rim when inserted, incidentally how high wick sits above lip greatly affects performance the higher it is the quicker the fuel is burned, it needs to be about 1/2mm above lip only. ---- If one requires stove to simmer the best i've come up with is get another aluminium drinks can same as the first, cut out the central ring pull area, cut the can down so the top part ends up the same height as the stove which should be about 45mm from top to bottom, cut the can up one side vertically, now open it out slightly so it will slide over the base, when slid over the base only about 30mm of wick will be showing reducing heat when burning. ---- For cooking pots over 14cm width i make the stove with wider cans but keep to the same height measurements, for this i use normal size drinks can insert. ATB.
Thanks for sharing your version and experience, and thank you for watching. You have some good ideas to consider there. Cheers.
Great ideas! Will have to give it a go. One concern is the strength of the small aluminum can that has to support the pot & it's contents.
I know this an old video. But I built this and it is awesome, more stable hold heat better. One trick to slide the new base onto the can make 4 small slits to allow the can to slide in easy.
Dude LOVE THIS I’m jealous how clean your cuts are, I would like mine to look like that. I found this stove is definitely best version. I can heat up 1.5 cup of water for coffee with .5 oz of fuel. It boils a lot faster although it consumes fuel faster. It does have less capacity, but for solo hiking, I know that it is all I need. For 3 day 2 night trip I can carry 4 oz of fuel, I would be boiling a total of ~ 11 cups of water total (Estimate 2 cups per meal (x2 dinner x2 breakfast)1.5 cup per morning(x2 coffee)). Only burning .75 oz fuel for ~ 2 cups of water.
everybody loves raymond...building stoves.
I just did my first two traditional cat can stoves. They work great! I'll try this design next. I overlapped my felt because in one of Hiram's videos he mentioned that the felt eventually shrank. I only cut the height of my felt and didn't trim any off the length. It has a little over an inch of overlap right now. At first the tomato paste can sits off-center, but the stove seems to burn even all the way around. I'll see how long the felt takes to shrink, and maybe after it stops shrinking I'll trim it to fit perfect (maybe - there's no need to trim it now, so I may never do it).
Great tip! Did you trim it already? what is the perfect width? Thx!
thexitto : I have kept mine the way I originally made it - with the overlap. I don't imagine I'll ever need to trim anything now.
The cat-can stove is not my favorite stove. My favorite (although bulky) is the Ikea silverware container stove. I did absolutely no modifications to mine. If you're not familiar with it, it's a stainless steel cylinder with holes drilled all the way around it and on the bottom from the factory. I originally had a mesh basket underneath it to lift it off the ground and allow good airflow. There are many methods of achieving bottom airflow. Now I use a 'Light My Fire' brand 'Grandpa's FireGrill' as my spacer that is also my grill. I cooked three hotdogs at once tonight with it!
My Ikea stove is a bit bulky, but fuel is endless if you are lucky enough to camp where fire-bans aren't an issue. I'm lucky like that at the moment. I often make three cups of coffee in the mornings at camp and my AeroPress Go fits inside my Ikea Stove, so although somewhat bulky my whole 'kitchen' nests nicely together with almost no 'dead space'.
So I literally have a stove with an endless fuel supply, a GRILL, an espresso machine!, and a firepit that I can safely use in a camp without an existing fire-ring without any evidence that a fire was there.
Even though it sounds heavy it's not - if you like multiple cups of coffee and the ability to cook (and not just rehydrate) at camp it's a GREAT stove.
I have a low quality video of my setup on my UA-cam channel that gives the weights and everything. I have now used it many, many times and absolutely love it. It even makes a good 'companion fire' for lonely camps and puts off enough heat to sit by on a cold night if you're not ready to go to bed when the sun goes down. I also use it as my starter system when I build a fire in a fire-ring. It's easy to light damp twigs in (with a small amount of cheater paper) and then dump out the fire and build a large fire on top of the established flames.
I'm due to make an update video on the Ikea Stove now that I've dialed my whole kit in.
I'm even at camp right now laying in my hammock as I type this, so I'll probably record the video and post it tomorrow as I enjoy my morning coffee!
Thanks for encouraging me to tend to my UA-cam channel. 👍
Best build video. No one really gives the detail even HC. I made this using small screw top can, not sure what it was used for but you can buy them. You have me the idea from one of your long peak video. THANKS.
Thank you for the kind words. Cheers.
You're a great teacher! Thank you for a clear and concise tutorial on how to make these. I currently use a normal cat can stove, but I'm really looking forward to making and using one of these.
Thanks for the kind words!
Thanks for telling where we can get carbon felt.
Subscribed. Nice to see a stove video that does not have a stopwatch in it. Refreshing.
I’m using the same tomato paste can inside on a tomato sauce can. Both just cut in half. I like the short pot stand because I’m using the narrow stanly pot. Weighs about 33 grams.
Very helpful indeed. I shall be making one of those as soon as I find a cat to feed. Cheers!
Thanks for video. Have watched and made so many but not one like this. Can not wait to build and use. Thanks.
Cmanof the woods centralUS I recommend you try this one. After I built my first one of these, I haven’t built any other designs. This is the stove that I finally settled on as the best. Hope it goes well for you!
Thanks for sharing. I still build the full sized version of the Fancy Feast. Do like the "base". Think I'll do that for the ones I have. Have a few extra cat food cans stashed for Justin Case. You and Hiram Cook convinced me this style DIY alcohol stove is the best. Passage of time hasn't changed my opinion, either. Thanks for that, as well.
Oldtimer Lee thanks for the kind words. Someone else mentioned adding the base ring to the full size stove. And I agree with you both, I think I need to add it to my bigger one, it’s a great idea!
The Fancy Feast Hiram built with his simmer ring can bake or cook anything you throw at it, this version is great if your looking for the fastest boil on a half an oz. but that's it. otherwise the original Hiram version is overall the best one out there along with what I call the Trangia looking knockoff on Amazon., I use both.
Your stove looks good. Seems like a lot more work though then just punching holes with a hole puncher in a Fancy Feast can and you are good to go as with the original Fancy Feast stove. Probably your stoves works better, but lazy me will stick with the quick easier to make one piece stove. .lol Thanks for your innovation.
I understand that sentiment, and I like the basic Fancy Feast stove. However where I live it gets cold, a lot, and the original Fancy Feast really struggles to get going in the cold. The carbon felt solves that issue.
Nice modifications to the 'standard' design which I have built and use. But I like your mods very much. Thanks!
deck of cards trick to get an even line is a good one. Good idea. I think we all came up with our own method of drawing that even line when we make our stoves. Not easy to get a consistent line on a cylinder I guess, haha.
I tried substituting carbon felt with cotton cloth and it works too!
The cotton is not burning out? It would make things much easier, cotton is easily avaliable.
You can even use sand...but anything that burns just doesn't last as long as carbon felt. I've tried air, but it doesn't work so well (I tried to keep the spacing as even as possible)...but in a pinch, under good conditions it can work.
Toilet paper works awesome. No cost. No stores!
Nice alcohol stove build. Thanks and take care.
Quinn The Eskimo thank you for watching!
Nice video. I can’t wait to build your improved fancy feast alcohol stove.. i really like your stove. Thanks again. BrentnUtah
Well explained and presented. Thx!
Appears to be a easy build , lightweight and practical for camping. It sure appears to be easier to make then the standard pop can ones. One thing I have noticed , everyone making the little stoves only make the best ones , no one makes a mediocre one. Guess I'm the only one who made one of those in the past. I have made some really nice ones also. By the way the Carbon Felt you can get two ( 2 ) large sheets of the 1/4 inch thick ones on amazon. Hiwowsport High Temp 6 MM Carbon Fiber. ==12 x 12 $12.95 , 18 x 24 $ 18.99 , 48 x 72 $72.00
Chuck Littleton I made plenty of mediocre stoves before settling on this design. The main reason I do videos about this stove is to try to save others the hassle I went through
I've made dozens of crap stoves. I now make only cat can style, but at different diameters from tin cans to fit in various size cook sets. Papper towel folded will replace carbon felt and last for multiple uses.
I made fancy feast stove and use it to this day 😊
Nicely done tutorial. A question on your original design--the less stable one shown at the end of the video: Have you ever tried pouring a little alcohol into that lip and lighting it as you would a priming ring? I remember reading that if a stove's outer wall is heated at the outset, the fuel vaporizes more efficiently causing the stove to bloom sooner and burn hotter.
I have not tried that, but the wick on this stove acts to help vaporize the fuel quickly. So this stove does not need time to prime and bloom, as soon as you light the wick the stove is burning and ready to cook.
very nice version! thanks!
I've found some coffee drinks and Mr & Mrs T Bloody Mary mix aluminum cans are the same diameter as a tomato paste can. I've made stoves with them and they make a lighter stove.
I've done the same with a hair spray that has the same diameter. For some reason I didn't like the way it burned, it seemed to burn hotter and use fuel faster. I need to experiment with it more, maybe if I change the length of the inner can it would solve my problems. Cheers, thanks for commenting.
Small V8 veggie juice cans are same size too plus thin and light.
Great tutorial and nice modification to the original design.
From the other comments it looks like you could add a little more than an ounce of fuel for that size stove. Have you tried how long it will burn with say an ounce or at capacity? Also how much water have you been able to boil with this stove? I ask as I am trying to decide whether I make the original taller version or this shorter version.
Thanks!
Thank you. The pot I usually use only holds about 500ml of water. But with an ounce of fuel the stove isn’t quite at capacity, and it will bring 500ml of ice-cold water to a rolling boil and boil it for a couple minutes. I’ve never had to refuel it before the water boils.
@@ColoradoCamper Great thanks. I'd probably boil up to 700ml sometimes (900ml pot) at the most, so maybe I'll make the original taller one, at least first. I guess it's possible to make one in between the two sizes of yours using the method in the video?
Great looking stove. I like the safety and wind resistance of the low profile. Do you really need the two piece base?
No you don't really need to press the ring onto the base. You could easily get by with just the fuel cup portion, and it will still be a very stable and functional stove. Very good point, cheers.
I was about to ask the same question.
Thx for idea! maybe a diy cross stand on top for more sturdy when pot is on. M
Hey there buddy, I hope all is well, there seems to have been a technical issue with my video that you commented on, didn’t want you thinking I was ignoring you.
I’ve not been doing many videos and those that I have done have been on the EDC Cooperative channel really.
That is great to hear about the nanopresso, I really do love it, either the nanopresso or the minipresso get used pretty much everyday, at work, at home, or just wherever really! It is a great piece of kit!
Cheers buddy
you dont need carbon felt. I used strips cut from my camp towel. It worked well.
Slick build! How did you blue your outer can? Heat and use, or did the can come that way?
Kurt it came that color. I have seen cans that are blue/green like this one and also pink, in addition to the typical silver and brass colors. I think it was a Fancy Feast brand can.
Outstanding tutorial! I've made 3 ff stoves so far and really like them.... this is a great version. One question, what is the maximum alcohol capacity of this version (looking for burn time)?
I haven't measured it, and the fuel capacity is customizable based on how big you make the cup when you make the cuts. The one I show here will likely hold about an ounce safely, maybe 1.5 max, but that's just my hunch from using it.
Epoxy a tuna can lid to the bottom (outside) and it becomes pretty stable.
Very Good as all of your videos always are! enjoyed & THUMBED-UP!
Thank you, Martina. I gave you credit for the idea at the end of the video!
you're the best ColoradoCamper : thank you!
Martina Dejaquiz is this about the size you are using for your stove as well?
Very nice build!
KrizAkoni Cheers, thanks for watching!
Ótimo Fogareiro 👍🇧🇷 Parabéns
great vid bro ...so on the idea of fliping the base around looks to work well but you roriginal design can be a plus in cold weather by using that ring to to pre heat the stove...
I see what you mean, but the great thing about stoves with an exposed wick like this is that they really don't need any pre-heating at all.
One minor advantage to the original design is that the ring would catch any spills if you filled the stove all the way full and it tired to leak a little fuel out once it got burning. But I think the added stability for the design shown in this video is the best advantage. Though one could make a stove with two rings, basically blending both designs together.
yea thats very true...i think im going to build that cut down version
@@ColoradoCamper I've found that if I put the pressure relief holes just above the out can edge, it's easier to tell if I'm about to overfill, and I cheat a little on my starts sometimes by putting a little alcohol near one of the holes and it seems to start quicker.
I really enjoy that the carbon felt appears to have been stolen
One of the better designs that I have seen 💚👀
Thanks for watching!
Amazingly simple, and amazingly effective.
I recently made several for friends and family. Even some friends that work at REI really liked them, so that's saying something!
As. Stoves like these have the potential to be lifesavers, I'm wondering if there is a tried and true bigger version of this stove for folks that are in emergencies at home (hurricanes, extended power failures etc.)
Something for boiling a little more water, using kitchen sized pots?
RicklesssS
I haven't made a bigger version, but I know that some people have used larger cans, such as a tuna fish can. The design is easily scaled up, you essentially need two cans that differ in diameter by ~1/2 inch or so and then the same construction method applies. Cheers.
Thanks for the reply, CC.
Yeah, I guess this isn't "rocket science".
I still have not scrounged for "2 just the right size large cans" for a larger stove, but DEFINITELY will.
With the intense storms and power failures we've been having, and most likely will continue to get, having a dependable emergency stove for cooking for multiple people, (or just larger amounts of food) should be something we all have, I think.
Thanks a ton!
Im working on an easily purchased standard can stove now, i wilm upload it once Finalized. Prototype boils at propane speed with alcohol and no pressure. Stay tuned.
always love a good stove build !
Thanks for watching!
Great stove and great video!! Thanks!
Thank you for the kind words, and thanks for watching.
One other question - would the simmer ring you made work with this cut down stove? Thanks!
It's a cool idea but I think the normal fancy feast stoves barely hold enough fuel for me as is. Why shorten it and drastically limit it's fuel capacity? I think I'll try this but I'll put the base on to a regular sized one.
I made the smaller one because I experience the opposite problem - for me the regular fancy feast stoves have way more fuel capacity than I need. They will hold over 3oz of fuel, that's how much fuel I would carry for a whole overnight trip! I usually use about 1/2-3/4oz at a time.
Putting the base ring on a regular one will help with the stability. Great idea, I might have to do the same. Though I hardly carry the full size one anymore. Cheers and thanks for commenting.
@@ColoradoCamper maybe my issue is that I'm not using carbon felt. I don't have any so I just use rolled up strips of jeans material which I would imagine holds far less fuel. That carbon felt looks super spongey. Can't wait to get my hands on some!
On Amazon it's called HIGH TEMP FELT PLUMBERS PAD 12 x 12 for $15
Moose I didn’t even think of jeans! Thx 👍
Bobby Harper it’s at Lowe’s for about $4
Hey I have an idea for you to try. The canabis industry in america has these little metal grinders.. but they seem like they might actually make a quick lil stove. They have 4 layers.
Neat design.. Do you think there is a way to make a simmer ring like on a trangia burner. A lower, long lasting heat would be helpful for cooking rice.
Nice job
Why is the "fancy feast" can jammed inside itself? Are both parts (of the fancy feast can) necessary? Is the base (top edge of can) necessary?
No, just gives a bit more stability to the stove.
Really like this mini version of the fancyfeast stove 👍👍👍 question, what is the fuel capacity when trim like that
Fuel capacity depends on where you choose to cut the bottom portion, so you can choose to cut it shorter or taller. The way I have mine done in this video has a capacity of about 1oz.
@@ColoradoCamper do you know the burn time on 1 oz, in perfect conditions?
I have not seen this stove before and I would be interested in boil times for this stove and a comparison with the efficiency of the Groove Stove which, so far, I have found to be the most efficient. Thoughts?
I don't have boil times that I can quote you for this stove. As for efficiency, it can boil 2 cups of water using 0.5-0.75oz of fuel.
The reason I like stoves with wicks if because they perform so well in cold weather. See the video linked in the description of this video titled "The Best Alcohol Stove Out There (IMO)" for more details on that.
What's the point of the inner ring?
With the shorter reservoir do you find that the burn time is altered at all?
I bought 18"X 24" carbon felt at Amz for $9.99 However it is 1/8" thick vs the 1/4" thick that I've seen here and in the other vids.
Bought half that much carbon felt last year cost me 15.00 at one of the tool stores
1/8" doubled over = 1/4"
Will you post using the stove and also what fuel you use. Thanks.
I use denatured alcohol from my local hardware store.
You can see this stove in use in these videos of mine:
ua-cam.com/video/WBDVTGY8yRk/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/2ffbCrEQHUE/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/5Lb42CJqdTM/v-deo.html
Thanks for sharing !
Carbon felt can be ordered on Amazon.
i got some cheap chinese stuff, which works fine for stoves.
what should the thickness be for this stove? Thanks!
.....Of the carbon felt? Thanks
Hey, just found your video. Great tutorial and I'm definitely gonna try building one myself. I was wondering, why do you need the base ring at all? I saw at the end that you mentioned it can be used to add a bit of stability, but besides that, could you use the bottom half of the cat can on its own? Thanks a lot.
The base ring has no real need. I just use it because it does slightly increase the stability and adds a little strength.
Just made one of these because I love the idea of having a shorter system, but it seems to burn the fuel pretty quickly. Did you experience the same issue? Is a bigger can (aluminum pop can) inside with fiberglass (i.e. thinner than the carbon felt) a better way to go?
I haven't had that experience with the ones I have built. They burn about the same as the full size version. And I have never tried using fiberglass so I can't say how your idea would work. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
I've messed around with this general design and it seems that within a certain range, if you shorten the distance between the two can edges, the alcohol burns more slowly...if you go somewhere beyond an inch (inch and a half??) the stove just doesn't work as well. YMMV.
Does denatured alcohol cause blindness if you accidentally inhale the fuel?
Ótimo 👍👍🇧🇷 Parabéns
How long will it burn on and once of fuel love your video buit two of them my first two thanks
I haven't measured it, but i would guess something like 10-12 minutes.
Awesome!
Have you tried the Capillary Action Stove that Hiram tested? Is this better? Seems the other is easier to build
Atube Viewer I haven’t tried a capillary action stove. I do not think it would light easily in cold weather, that is the biggest advantage of having a stove with a wicking material.
@@ColoradoCamper thanks for taking some time to reply, I appreciate it. If you do a short trip in some real cold, maybe you could test it in real life. tks again
Can you build an auto refill alcohol stove.
go to www.minibulldesign.com/ProductCart/pc/home.asp
Love my cat can stove just like it but with Hirams 1 inch sweet spot. How often do you use yours? I've used mine a handful of times because 90% of the hiking season we can't use alcohol stoves. What's the point of having one? Mine sits in my garage now. Sigh Looks good!
Sinfonian Barelytone that’s a bummer. We occasionally have open burning restriction here, but usually not too bad. This summer was pretty dry and we had lots of fire bans. Unless I am prevented by a fire ban, this is the stove I use almost every time these days.
What is the max fuel for this shorter model?
what you have internal in the can as it is called
Will it fit in a Kelly Kettle?
Sonic&Knuckles &Womble I don’t know, I don’t own a kelly kettle
@@ColoradoCamper probably would, is cool stuff man! I just saw a video on a single tealight alcohol stove noiling 2 cups of water in 9 minutes, with the right stuff you could use very little fuel
Do you soak the wick in alchohol before you light it?
When I pour fuel into the stove it soaks into the wick right away, so by the time I put the fuel bottle down and get my lighter out, it's ready to light.
Just don't overfill, and don't forget the pressure relief holes...trust me on that one :p
Why make it so small?? What can you do with such small stove?? How long is it good for??
You can make it as large or as small as you want to. I find this size to be perfect for all of my camp cooking tasks. It will hold enough fuel to burn for about 20 minutes, but I never need that much fuel in a single burn.
Sweet!
You did not demonstrate why this is such a great stove.
Would stove rope be as good as carbon felt
Yes, anything that won't burn and will absorb the fuel will work. Lots of people use fiberglass rope or webbing.
How much fuel do you use with this one
I usually use 3/4 oz, but it can hold more.
1:05 look closely at the carbon felt
I noticed it, but dismissed it as not needing further scrutiny. Well done!
Nice..
Cheers, thanks for watching.
Lol, why the security tab on the carbon cloth?! 😁 😁 😁
Those are grommets that came with the cloth, as purchased.. They are just waste.. A plumber would find them helpful for cinching it around a pipe, when soldering..
@@noggler6211 Mog Gyver was talking about the security tab attached to the grommet. Mine came with one also. Must be a highly stolen item.
👍👍👍🇧🇷
Steel wool retains heat way longer. This is not that efficient. The filaments on steel wool actually retain and cast heat on the inner can.
Steel wool instead of the carbon felt?
What ever happened to Hiram Cook?
I don't know, wish I did.
Carbon felt is expensive , about $10. Just buy a Trangia or other brand of Alcohol stove. You can get those for $15 and they are better built, more durable, and many come with flame adjuster, flame cap, screw on lid and a pot stand/windscreen.
Obviously you have missed the point behind all of this.
Teorinya panjang banget. Terpaksa skip2 dah nontonnya.
Always cut toward your chum, not your thumb!
Hello sir I am writing to you to see if you can make two. Of each sizes for me , I would like to do it my self but I am a disabled veteran and don't have much use to work with my hand any more , if you can I will send you the money for doing this for me I like to camp and I like what you did also I am 64 years old my old eyes are not what they were sure do miss seeing good we'll sir if you can help me with this. Please let me know thank you and may God bless you and your family
Here you can buy the regular sized Fancy feast stove.
www.woodgaz-stove.com/fancee-feest.php
Tanto tiene que hablar! 🤔
Hay problema aqui?
No ! Amigo , es broma si yo ni se ingles.
@@brunodiaz8007 Yo comprendo. Yo hablo espanol un poco y muy mal!
@@ColoradoCamper 😃 un abrazo amigo!!
Too complicated for such a simple look.
this video can be 2 minutes long. ..