Just started looking at camp stoves, from a DIY point of view. Mostly from reading through post on this Forum, I found the Zen Stove web site, and it has tons of info on DIY camp stoves, tending towards the very light weight. If you haven't found that one, it is here: http://www.zenstoves.net
My first attempt, (rather crude,) was of a wood burning stove, OK, more of a "twig burning stove," but for a solo camper on the go, it will do:
Lets you build and maintain a small fire, off the ground, shielded (mostly) from the wind, and you can put a small pot or pan directly on top. Made from sheet metal, it comes apart very easily and stores flat. Once you get a good look at it, you should be able to make it larger, change the shape, whatever you like.
Another from that same web site, or at least, I followed a link ON that site, to the designer's (of another stove) web page. This is Mark Jurey's web site for his "Penny Stove." What I've found to be rather odd about this one, is that there are a lot of people posting on YouTube about this stove, either comparing theirs to the Penny stove, or demonstrating what they think is wrong with the design.
Most of them really didn't seem to understand the original design, or they modified it, and then complained about it not working quite right. If that many people are that jealous of it, it's got to be good!
I didn't create a "work of art" with this one, but I must have understood the principle behind it, because it performs beautifully!
I will make another one and pay quite a bit more attention to detail, and make every effort to make the next one "purty." Also, I will make the simmer ring attachment, as it can double the burn time.
Here is my first effort at this one:
I hadn't made a wind screen yet and I did need one. So, I used parts of the wood burner. It worked out. Too bad the flame is invisible in the daylight! That IS something you have to be careful about.
The small lid with the handle in front of the burner is just something I slapped together to put the burner out. Otherwise, you just have to let it burn until all the fuel has been consumed.
Oh yes, I did "simulate" a real cooking job. Don't have any "camp cookware" at the moment, and I wasn't about to drag any of my AllClad cookware outside, so I put 2 cups of water in a thin metal prep bowl, and after a timed 4 (four) minutes, it looked like this:
Not only boiling water, but a rolling boil, at that!
When I do remake this one, I'll use a smaller drill bit to make the jets, and remember to make the simmer ring as well. With a simmer ring in place, this one should burn long enough to make rice. (Real rice, not that minute-stuff!)
There was also a "Penny" version of a wood-gas stove, and the way it was explained, it was a good companion to the alcohol stove. When you weren't burning wood in the stove, it acted as a pot stand and wind shield for the alcohol burner. A cooking "system," that would work rain or shine, with or without wood.
It ain't boat building, but it sure was fun! And it's cheap enough, I'm going to play this game some more! :lol:
Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL
My first attempt, (rather crude,) was of a wood burning stove, OK, more of a "twig burning stove," but for a solo camper on the go, it will do:

Lets you build and maintain a small fire, off the ground, shielded (mostly) from the wind, and you can put a small pot or pan directly on top. Made from sheet metal, it comes apart very easily and stores flat. Once you get a good look at it, you should be able to make it larger, change the shape, whatever you like.
Another from that same web site, or at least, I followed a link ON that site, to the designer's (of another stove) web page. This is Mark Jurey's web site for his "Penny Stove." What I've found to be rather odd about this one, is that there are a lot of people posting on YouTube about this stove, either comparing theirs to the Penny stove, or demonstrating what they think is wrong with the design.
Most of them really didn't seem to understand the original design, or they modified it, and then complained about it not working quite right. If that many people are that jealous of it, it's got to be good!
I didn't create a "work of art" with this one, but I must have understood the principle behind it, because it performs beautifully!
Here is my first effort at this one:

I hadn't made a wind screen yet and I did need one. So, I used parts of the wood burner. It worked out. Too bad the flame is invisible in the daylight! That IS something you have to be careful about.

The small lid with the handle in front of the burner is just something I slapped together to put the burner out. Otherwise, you just have to let it burn until all the fuel has been consumed.
Oh yes, I did "simulate" a real cooking job. Don't have any "camp cookware" at the moment, and I wasn't about to drag any of my AllClad cookware outside, so I put 2 cups of water in a thin metal prep bowl, and after a timed 4 (four) minutes, it looked like this:

Not only boiling water, but a rolling boil, at that!
There was also a "Penny" version of a wood-gas stove, and the way it was explained, it was a good companion to the alcohol stove. When you weren't burning wood in the stove, it acted as a pot stand and wind shield for the alcohol burner. A cooking "system," that would work rain or shine, with or without wood.
It ain't boat building, but it sure was fun! And it's cheap enough, I'm going to play this game some more! :lol:
Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL