If you’re looking for a guide to the Top 3 Camping stoves, please click here.
Tom writes… “The best gift I’mve ever received on the road is this; a stove made from nothing but a discarded drinks can. In this video we’re going to learn how to make it.”
And here it is, in action on my Instagram feed.
Would it work with fuel? (benzene)
Do not under any circumstances try using it with benzine/petrol/gasoline!!!
Very good. Have made a few of these but have always used two can bases, but using just one? Now that’s recycling! I have to admit that I find some people’s fixation with ‘ultralight’ stoves and pans to be a bit nerdy, it always looks like it came out of Ken and Barbie’s kitchen. This however would satisfy even the most fastidious ultralight camper while still retaining a certain ‘blokeishness’ for being self built and from a beer can too!
Cheers, T
I have made two of these over the past few days and they work really well. Used a pepsi can for a small one and an arizona iced tea can for a bigger stove (pots etc)
I’ve seen a lot of these sort of demos and this is by far the easiest to make I’ve ever seen. Thanks!
I had a whisperlite at the beginning of the the trip but barely used it so I got rid of it. This however looks like I can carry it and a small pot to just cook up some pasta. Do you have any suggestion of a way of making this able to simmer? Just wondering cos after I’ve boiled up my water, added the pasta then I don’t need it roaring along. Also… any suggestion on a pot to get? Lightweight and compact are the two most important.
DOMINIC, get a pot cosy made and then once your pasta has come up to boil you can just leave it to ‘simmer’ inside the cosy. I have used this method and it saves a whole load of fuel.
You can use a can opener (tin opener) to remove the top part of the can (the part you drink out of, that is). Might be a bit easier/safer than using a knife.
I will be trying this tomorrow!
[…] interview today is Tom Allen – cyclist and filmmaker – chosen solely because of his beer can stove, about which more later… Could you start by outlining the biggest expedition that […]
[…] No Fancy Gear? Make yourself a camping stove from a soda can, then head to the woods to brew coffee one sunny weekend morning. Sunshine and birdsong trumps […]
[…] on Tom Allen’s stove shown in How To Turn A Beer Can Into The Only Camping Stove You’ll Ever Need [Alastair […]
This stove is awesome!!
Very useful and efficient, feel fuel and a lot of fun.
The long haired guy is a legend.
Thanks!
[…] today is Tom Allen – cyclist and filmmaker – chosen solely because of his beer can stove, about which more later… Could you start by outlining the biggest expedition that you’ve […]
What an absolutely brilliant idea. We do a lot of camping both in the UK and France and i’ve used a lot of different types of stoves but this is brilliant. So handy, portable and using recycled material. Thanks!
Just made one today after watching the video. Going to try it out tomorrow with some meth spirit.
[…] Make a cup of tea on a stove you have made yourself* […]
[…] Make a cup of tea on a stove you have made yourself* […]
Just made this – simple and fantastic stove!
I found that the inner sheath needs to taller than in the video – around 1.5 – 2cm – in order to expose more of the the deeper ‘indentations’ on the side of the inner sheath, to draw up fuel so that it can burn more on the side around the stove rather than underneath . Otherwise the stove seems to suffocate the stove by cutting off oxygen, and the flame dies.
Important Question – is it safe to toast marshmallows on this using surgical spirit (90% alcohol, 5% methanol)??
Good tip. I have no idea about the marshmallows – sorry!
[…] Make a cup of tea on a stove you have made yourself […]
[…] – you might not need any of the info below if you choose to make a stove out of a beer can… Continuing my occasional series of inviting gear geeks to review kit on my site (because I […]
Just made one of these out of a soda can. I agree with Tina if the ridges don’t let in enough air into the can the flame gets smothered. I DID try using lighter fluid to test (it was all i had in the house) and it’s just not flammable enough to keep the flame lit ounce a pot is placed on the top.Quick trip to the chemist tomorrow!
[…] How to turn a beer can into a camp stove. The forgot step one: Drink the beer. […]
Will this work ok with meth spirit? The only surgical spirit I can find has castor oil added to it.
I think so.
Thank you for posting this and all the other great information on the site. I live in the country and am trying to get back into camping (I have zero equipment right now and no budget) and was looking for a good stove option to have in case of a prolonged power outage and for camping. This definitely fits the bill. I could make 5 of them for nothing, keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol in the house, and still be able to fix 5 course meals for my wife and the kids.
I’m looking forward to working some microadventures into my family’s repertoire.
Cheers.
Good luck!
[…] Make a cup of tea on a stove you have made yourself* […]
Maybe I have missed something, but why is the small whole for? (last step) The smaller pockets you create where the combustion chamers right?
It allows air in to burn.
[…] free every night, salvaged food by skipping, foraged wild fruit almost every day, and cooked on an alcohol powered beer can. We washed in lakes or rivers when we had the opportunity and on many occasions, people were kind […]
Wow this is super helpful. As a newbie with absolutely no gear and limited funds at the moment, the prospect of needing to start from scratch in terms of equipment was quite daunting.
I really liked the idea of having a stove for my first adventure so I could at least have some warm food on a cold morning, and so was debating the various merits of the expensive ones available on the market – but this is just perfect! I can’t wait to give it a go.
Thank you for sharing!
[…] Make a cup of tea on a stove you have made yourself* […]
[…] Make a cup of tea on a stove you have made yourself* […]
[…] Tein ite tälläsen retkikeittimen oluttölkistä ja siinä poltetaan alkoholia. Ihan saatanan kätevä, nopea ja ei paina yhtään mitään ja mulla oli semmosessa pienessä yskänlääkepullos ne Sinolit ja ei ees menny kaikki, käytin tätä reissun aikan 5-6 kertaa. Omistan myös semmosen kaasukeittimen ja mielestäni tää päihittää sen iha menne tullen. Tässä linkki sellaisen tekemiseen Oluttölkkikeitin […]
[…] Make a cup of tea on a stove you have made yourself* […]
So psyched to make and use a homemade tin can camping stove on my 1st Georgia MA! Might have to try the homemade bullet stove idea on the next family outing as well.
[…] You can make your own alcohol stove out of an old beer/coke can: see video here. […]
Love this. Thank you.
As soon as i can, i will be buying your Micro-adventure book. Thanks for your inspiration.
You guys have nailed it with this stove. Made one, but had several penny stoves explode when lit. This one does not and not only cheap to make, but light to carry. Just the job on a hike. Use my bivi and tarp to keep weight down. Well done and thanks for the instruction video.
Hi guys, I tried cooking dinner on one of these stoves last night, a stew with pasta. Ok, I used the same amount of fuel as in a Trangia burner. Initially it started really well, so started my stew. The flames grew quite long up the pan, no problem, with the stove naturally getting hotter. After around 15 to 20 mins, there was a sound of liquid overflowing. Initially I thought it was the stew. Wrong, it was burning fuel, but could not see that flame in the daylight. What appears to have happened is that the stove got hot, the fuel boiled and so much vapour was produced that it forced the fuel out of the jet holes and onto the ground. That could have been really serious, as with the almost invisible flame, may have resulted in severe burns or a severe fire. Please check this with your stove and perhaps put a warning on this website. I did use a soda can to make it, so maybe with a stronger can this would not have happened. Fine for boiling tea, but not cooking. Many thanks.
[…] Make a cup of tea on a stove you have made yourself* […]