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★★☆☆☆ Easy 30-45 min

Build an Alcohol Can Stove

A ultralight backpacking stove from two soda cans that boils water in 5 minutes. Weighs under an ounce. Costs nothing to make.

What You'll Need

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  • Two aluminum soda cans Empty and rinsed
  • Denatured alcohol or HEET (yellow bottle) Fuel
  • Utility knife or scissors Sharp enough to cut aluminum
  • Push pin or thumbtack For making burner holes
  • Fine sandpaper To smooth cut edges
  • Marker and ruler For measuring

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 01

    Cut the bottom sections

    Mark both cans at 1.5 inches from the bottom. Carefully cut along the line using a utility knife. You want two short cup-shaped pieces. Sand the cut edges smooth. One will be the base (fuel chamber), one will be the top (burner).

  2. 02

    Make the burner holes

    Using a push pin, poke 16-20 evenly spaced holes around the rim of one cup (the top piece). These are your burner jets. Also poke 4 small holes in the center of the same piece for fuel filling. Make holes clean and consistent.

  3. 03

    Create the inner wall

    Cut a strip of aluminum from the remaining can middle, about 1.5 inches tall. Form it into a cylinder that fits inside the base cup. This inner wall separates the fuel reservoir from the outer chamber and forces vapors out through the burner holes.

  4. 04

    Assemble the stove

    Place the inner wall cylinder in the base cup. Gently press the top cup (burner) over the base cup. The fit should be snug — you may need to slightly crimp the top piece to slide it over the base. Push down until the rims overlap about 1/4 inch.

  5. 05

    Prime and light

    Pour 1-2 tablespoons of denatured alcohol through the center holes. Place the stove on a non-flammable surface. Pour a small amount of alcohol on top and around the base. Light the pooled alcohol. After 30-60 seconds, the main burner jets will ignite in a ring of blue flame.

    Warning: Alcohol burns with a nearly invisible flame in daylight. Always assume the stove is lit if you recently added fuel. Use in a well-ventilated area only. Keep fuel bottle far from the lit stove.
  6. 06

    Build a pot stand

    Cut the top and bottom off a third can. Cut vertical slits around the cylinder and fold alternating tabs inward. This creates a stable pot stand that sits over the stove. Or use three tent stakes arranged in a triangle.

Pro Tips

  • This stove boils 2 cups of water in about 5 minutes using 1 ounce of fuel.
  • HEET (yellow bottle, methanol) is available at every gas station and auto parts store.
  • Make a windscreen from aluminum foil to double the fuel efficiency.
  • The complete stove + pot stand weighs about 1 ounce. Commercial stoves start at 3-4 ounces.
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