How to Make a Soda Can Stove - Old vs Improved Design

This video has a comparison between two different soda can stove designs with build video of the improved version. I was looking for one to take on short day trip hikes and landed on a design by Tetkoba.

The version that is built in the video utilizes an inner wall with capillary action, it gets to operation temperature much quicker.

Also the fuel is methyl hydrate or denatured alcohol.

See how to build a stand for the stove here:

Reference:

Original Model:

tetkoba's Alcohol Stove Addict channel:

Music:
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

[lmorgan]

Just made one of these and felt the need to say thank you for putting together such a well edited and clearly narrated guide. All the best from the UK.

[LunarEleven]

After I inadvertently sliced off most of my fingertips & drilled holes into the remaining ones, this stove was handy & efficient for cauterization. Mama always said, "What doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger." This is why she always said that.

[DavidThomas-svtk]

Nice clear video. Instead of holding the cut can with a cloth, you can use one of those neoprene soda/beer can cozies that fit over the can exactly. You can drill the holes before cut the ring off when the can is a little stiffer. You can use smaller energy-drink cans (8.4-ounce Red Bull, for instance, instead of standard 12-ounce soda can) or larger cans like 16-ounce Rockstar or 24-ounce malt liquor (Olde English 800, Colt 45, King Cobra) if you want a smaller or bigger stove. The larger cans have noticeably thicker aluminum walls, so they are little harder to cut but sturdier once assembled.

[joepatrick]

You are a genius!! As if the first generation werent good enough, now you improved it! Thank you for taking the energy to share. Consider putting a disclaimer about the hazard in handling razor-sharp metal.

[asmera]

one more thing...so glad there is someone teaching how to do these things, when TSHTF people need to know how to survive with what they can find. This is not just for campers. Good job

[lucky]

I finished mine ! I'll test it after I get another blood transfusion from my fingers cuttings and loss of blood, now im convinced to bring my kitchen stove on my next camping trip.

[coasternut]

Always drill directly toward your finger

[ricksan]

Use 1/32 drill bit or if you prefer larger finger drains use 1/16 drill bit. Despite the 1980 Casio Synthesizer music and a laundry list of safety hazards, this is a great video on a very simple and useful product. Full disclosure, my dad drilled straight through his finger fixing a Christmas tree stand with these techniques... looked at me through the hole in his bone/nail. Love that man!

[wharfin]

So I just spent the last four hours watching stove videos. I decided I wanted to build a stove and I made this one. This one gets up and running within a few seconds. I watched a video where some guy made his version of the double wall can stove. Then he lit it and spent three minutes saying how awesome his stove was while he was waiting for it to warm up. This was a fun project. I've still got ten more cans of coke, I wonder what else I can make.

[jolujo]

Very nice. I counted about 10 - 12 seconds from starting to full stable burn. That will save loads of fuel that was wasted on the original design just trying to warm up.
👍👍👍👍

[jackallen]

At 8:55 or so I just knew when the drill bit went through the can the next thing we would see is a fountain of blood, lol. Cool video man!

[Jim_One-wlke]

this is better than many other diy with extra more steps for the wicking function enhancement 👍. Thanks for sharing ❤

[desertzuki]

The "music" brings back painful memories of being stuck on a level of Wolfenstein and not being able to find a way out. The beauty of a soda can stove is that it's free -- until you add tape. Cut the cans longer, slip one inside the other and you're back to free.

[asymmattrical]

Thank you for the video - only 9 years too late! But in that time, I think it has been realized that you don’t actually need that top burn ring with the holes drilled in.
I have made many of these with a single can, two cuts, and no tape. About 1.5-2 inches of the entire top and entire bottom of the can - discard the middle or try to use it as a wind screen or pot stand. Then add the creases as you did and trim the two halves so that the very top of the creases are right at or slightly above the top edge of the bottom half.

I don’t even bother to remove the “mouth hole” part. Although doing so allows access to the inside volume of the stove for storage.

Takes only a few minutes and very minimal tools/effort - just scissors or even a knife if you don’t care about straight, clean edges.

It blooms just as fast if not faster. And you can fairly easily reclaim your unspent fuel through of the creases ports.

Thanks again!!

[scott]

One small tip, when you're drilling the vent holes in the top don't have your finger on the inside of the can while youre drilling on the outside or you might wind up with a "vented" finger.

[alvinbiem]

I also made that design...but if you fill half full on it....it will take a half a minute before flames goes out ....its fine I love that new improved design. Keep up the good work! God bless

[graphene]

That video game music is almost as cool as the stove and the stove is very cool. Props!

[xenaguy]

3:42 That slight collapse of the can wall is why you should do all scoring first, then seperate the sections after all scoring is done.

[johnkulcsar]

Very well done, instructional video from start to finish. I like the use of tape instead of ole JB Weld. Can't wait to build a few. THANKS.

[theunknownandunsolved]

I just made one of these, first one I made off another video and it won't light, this one worked great, I already put it with my emergency coffee maker, in case the power gos out. Going to make some more of these for cooking to. Thanks man!