When I'm hunting, I use my metal camp cup (with the wire handles - you know the kind, the Canadian Tire stainless special) either right on top of my one burner propane bottle stove or if I'm near a fire I just stick that little cup on the edge and move some coals around it. I grip that sucker with gloves on (since I always have a pair with me) and it gives me tea, coffee, cube broth soup or whatever. Light weight, easy to clean and cools off quick when your done with it.

Since you mentioned a bigger can, would a Hobo stove be something your looking for? It's a bigger can - like a big coffee can 1kg sized - that has one end (bottom or top, your preference) cut out and a small access cut into the side for pushing in and feeding a twig fire. There are holes punched into it under the rim on the opposite end. You can either cook small things on the upturned end surface or use it for another cooking vessel.

I remember making one as a younger man, and I remember it took forever to boil a small pot of water. But if one was to fool around with the design to tweak it's performance, maybe something better could come out of it.

Runs With Scissors

That was alright!
It beats mine which was a 'cat can stove'. A small tin with holes punched around the rim used with rubbing alcohol (70%).
I never tried boiling water but I did test it with 50% alcohol which didn't burn very well.

That was alright!
It beats mine which was a 'cat can stove'. A small tin with holes punched around the rim used with rubbing alcohol (70%).
I never tried boiling water but I did test it with 50% alcohol which didn't burn very well.

I use the Catcan stove all the time, I only use 95+% = you can now buy the 99.9% Methyl Hydrate at Home Depot or Canadian Tire, 1 gal for about $10
it works great, I also put it inside a lager crab or salmon can with holes punched in it. That can is the pot stand and a wind shielding device. On top of this you put any pot or get the Esbit setup and put the cat can stove inside of it.

My version of the catcan stove has 3 rows of small holes in it, works better much better.

and

and

this one shows a pop can alcohol stove, with my modification on the bottom, which allows a bit more alcohol to be added than the normal ones.

Hope this helps a bit.

That looks fabulous! I'm so going to add that. Thanks so much for the pictures.

Faraday your welcome!

Now take a look at the pic again, do you see the two stands / windbreaks in the photo just before your message? Please take a close look, the one on the left is just 1/8th of an inch taller than the one on the right. Bam, what a difference the one on the left is over the one on the right, that 1/8" of an inch makes a world of difference to how hot and efficient the stoves work. I think the one on the left which is tidge higher is a seafood can, the one on the left a tidge smaller is probably a tuna or canned turkey can.

My next pot stand will be much simpler, just the can opener holes on top and some smaller ones on the bottom, do away with the round holes in the middle, faster and just as efficient. Remember to use some pliers to pinch the can opener openings into the side of the windbreak can, this will help with cutting your fingers or getting the burner stuck inside.

The Esbit style holder/stove is from Dollerama for $2 so much cheaper than the Canadian Tire or the camping store models, and it works just as good, just not quite as strong or durable, but better than expected as well. Those expensive little fuel tabs that come with them, do not use them at all, keep them for emergency fire starters for wet days. Just put them into a zip-lock or aluminium foil then put in your fire pouch. Use in conjunction with the cotton balls soaked in Vaseline to get the fire going good and hot to dry out the tinder.
my .02c added in.

ps, if you use Chrome, right click, open in new tab, it is full sized and easier to see the differences.

Great tips! I do have that dollar store emergency stove, 2 of course. I haven't had a chance to try them out so your .02 cents was actually worth a whole lot more to me. It's great to know that I could use my alcohol stove along with that stand. You're awesome, thanks for the sweet tutorial!

One safety measure that I have included in my penny burners is, cotton baton, or cotton balls. I am a clumsy oaf, (Most ADD people are), and the thought of the stove tipping over with hot liquid fuel in it made me shutter. With the cotton, you may lose some burn time, but it will be a lot safer should it tip over. :geek: