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View Full Version : Mostly useless inventions that fill my life

Terry Lee
04-08-15, 06:38 PM
And keep me out of bars, if that's considered a bad thing:confused:

I've been playing around with alcohol fueled camp stoves made from water bottles. The major problem with them is the one fuel load, wait to cool and reload. There are many examples on Youstupid. Here's my attempts...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WmSNeknG27Q/VcEDm-hPqlI/AAAAAAAAjMI/YPUcnXSk8Xw/s1152-Ic42/IMG_2061.JPG

I upped the game by inserting it into a stainless vegetable steamer and adding pot supports.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W-KkgeU-UFE/VcEDeXsgs0I/AAAAAAAAjLs/-L5CTEFBbrA/s1152-Ic42/IMG_2063.JPG

Closed up ready for ignition.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TS8vx47XU5E/VcEDewLc14I/AAAAAAAAjLw/35vgGCqAflM/s1152-Ic42/IMG_2064.JPG

And we have ignition. It seems to act as a wind break and maybe a draft enhancer.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oYmz7ssz768/VcEDfSB4q4I/AAAAAAAAjL8/bYzGiu0KbhQ/s1152-Ic42/IMG_2067.JPG

One of the limitations on these stoves is the one shot fuel load. Unless, you solder some brake fittings on to an egg cup and the stove and join with a brake line. Voilą, an infinitely refillable stove. Well as long as you have fuel. I'm using methyl hydrate, which burns very clean. Not the same caloric content as ethyl, but close. I'm very capable of producing 95.5% ethyl as well. I prefer to mix that with fruit juices.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t2KpxO4v3To/VcEDf7umE6I/AAAAAAAAjMA/MhCwPYzb2nQ/s1152-Ic42/IMG_2617.JPG

And another version which is making tea for some friends in Algonquin Park at this very moment.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l-J0BKzORQ0/VcEFq7vvC8I/AAAAAAAAjMU/d76owG7vDYY/s1152-Ic42/IMAG1835.jpg

I have a lifetime of useless things I've built. I thought some amusement may ensue from sharing. I hope this is the correct forum area?
Bluepete
04-08-15, 06:42 PM
That's a great set of stoves! I've made them from coke cans before now, used meths for fuel. Takes no time, costs virally nothing, and works Well!

Pete;)
maviczap
04-08-15, 08:24 PM
Still got my Trangia stove, which works on the same principal,
Amadeus
05-08-15, 10:55 AM
Whilst I admire your engineering skills, I think you probably have too much time on your hands... :-)
ophic
05-08-15, 11:02 AM
There's always time to make stuff burn better :smt029:smt077

I'm slowly extending the chimney on my garden incinerator, left of shot:

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/505/19827119662_7085196de6_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/wd4aUJ)DSC_0488 (https://flic.kr/p/wd4aUJ) by Bob Goddard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ophixpix/), on Flickr

It's twice that size now and actually works reasonably well. I realise that you do actually have to put it on top of the other bit...
Amadeus
05-08-15, 11:20 AM
What's the plastic container of liquid in the background? some kind of accelerant? :-)


Many years ago I was delighted when the zinc on a galvenised garden incinerator melted. Unfortunately I didn't witness it, just found the zinc on the ground a few days later. Still, as a teenager, I was very satisfied. :-)
ophic
05-08-15, 11:49 AM
Just very old rainwater. Bit close for comfort if anything else!

Actually that's an assumption as that container has been there since before I bought the house. It hasn't exploded yet. Must be water.
ophic
05-08-15, 11:50 AM
Many years ago I was delighted when the zinc on a galvenised garden incinerator melted. Unfortunately I didn't witness it, just found the zinc on the ground a few days later. Still, as a teenager, I was very satisfied. :-)
Only melted? You didn't get it hot enough :cool:
maviczap
05-08-15, 12:07 PM
Thought it was some Moonshine :D ;)
Amadeus
05-08-15, 01:29 PM
Thought it was some Moonshine :D ;)

Dont' say that or we'll never get Bill to stay relaxed! :-)
Terry Lee
05-08-15, 02:10 PM
Whilst I admire your engineering skills, I think you probably have too much time on your hands... :-)

Probably. That's not the first time I've heard that. Although I am fully employed and do spend 50+ hours/week doing rather unrelated, droll things.

Thought it was some Moonshine :D ;)

Hah! I have many interests. Stove fuel?
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GWLT_0qsn50/VcIXmoz1JvI/AAAAAAAAjM4/InttYKmg1tw/s1152-Ic42/C2H6O.jpg

I package the results with this label that fits under a Mason jar lid.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HndLIwOmiPc/VcIXmbs11II/AAAAAAAAjM0/-zEqVl4qQ6U/s593-Ic42/Grimm%252520Weeper%252520Avatar.jpg