If you are in a city where there is no access to the gas main, then you probably faced the need to use the device as an electric stove. Quite often, people use stoves or stoves that run on LPG tanks . An alternative solution can be a home-made device that operates on liquid fuel. If you are the owner of a suburban area, and periodically try to solve the problem of heating the premises and cooking, then, quite possibly, an alcohol burner will suit you. It can become an indispensable attribute even if you prefer to go camping with an overnight stay in your free time.
The main advantages of devices
The mentioned burner can easily be made by you yourself. It will be possible to take it with you to the garage, to the cottage or on a hike, as well as to those places where there is no electricity, main gas or wood-burning stoves. With the help of such a device, you can quickly heat water, cook food or heat the room. Such an invention is suitable for those places where it is impossible to make a fire, since the device produces a flame that is almost invisible, but it will be enough for cooking. The alcohol burner has a lot of advantages, among them it is possible to distinguish good performance in difficult weather conditions. And this is true even if the temperature of the outside air drops to -40 degrees. If you make such a device yourself, you can feel how easy it is to use, compact, economical and affordable in terms of acquiring fuel. The latter factor can be called one of the most important advantages of such burners, since alcohol can be purchased everywhere. Among other things, the cost of such fuel is low, especially when compared with kerosene or gas.
Burner manufacturing technology
An alcohol burner can be made in one of several ways. If you are new to this business, then you should choose the simplest technique that does not involve the use of locksmith tools. The technology provides for the use of tin cans in the amount of two pieces, they must first be cleaned and washed with running water. After this, the products should dry well. In the central part of one of the cans, 4 punctures should be made using nails. The same holes should be made around the perimeter of the rim of the can. This element will become the blank of the future burner, from which the flame will explode during use.
This part must be cut off from the can so that the length of the side is equal to three centimeters. To do this, you can use household scissors, since the tin is quite thin, it is easy to cut with any sharp object. When an alcohol burner is made, at the next stage in the second can it is necessary to cut off the bottom, this must be done as carefully as possible so that there are no chipping. Otherwise, you will need to use a file or sandpaper.
Work Methodology
A piece of cotton wool is placed on the bottom of the burner, which should first be moistened with alcohol. Next, the structure is covered with the upper part so that it performs the function of a sealed cover. If you do not provide a tight contact of parts, then in the slot you can install strips of tin, which remained from the cutting of products. When an alcohol burner is made with your own hands, it must be used according to a certain principle. Alcohol should be poured onto the top of the structure where the holes are made. This must be done so that the composition hits the rim. The latter should also have holes. Then the alcohol is ignited, the tin is heated, and heat is transferred to the cotton wool, which is moistened with alcohol. As a result, fumes begin to stand out that will support the flame.
Final work
At the last stage, it is necessary to make supports on which there will be a pot for cooking. To do this, use two metal rods that are driven in the shape of the letter P into the ground parallel to each other. In the process of cooking, you should avoid overturning the device. If you decide to make such a product as an alcohol burner with your own hands, then you should remember that such a device is disposable, since tin cans will not be useful for the next time.
Alternative manufacturing
Useful homemade products may be somewhat more complicated than the above option. However, such a design will be characterized by higher reliability, durability and strength. We’ll talk about it further.
Preparatory work
In order to make a device with your own hands, you should prepare a compressor, it is best to use a car camera, which you can borrow from a freight transport. Ee from time to time it will be necessary to pump. An alternative solution is a compressor from an old refrigerator. You should prepare the receiver, for this a plastic canister, the volume of which is 10 liters or less, is perfect. The cork should be solid, preferably translucent. Such useful home-made products are made of several elements, among them a fuel tank should be distinguished, for this you need to use a two-liter steel tank, into the lid of which two tubes are soldered. One of them should be long, the other short. The first sinks to the bottom of the tank.
Technology of work
Tourist alcohol burners can be purchased at the store, but the design is so simple that you can make them yourself. The fuel tank should be filled with alcohol, but not more than 1/2 volume. A simple filter is installed at the compressor input. It can be performed independently using a funnel, on which a stretch of a nylon stocking is stretched . The principle of operation of the device is ensured by pumping air with the compressor, as well as its further entry into the receiver under some pressure. It smooths out pressure pulsations. Then the air is sent to a tank with fuel, where it is mixed with alcohol vapor. The resulting mixture enters the burner. Correction of the burning intensity can be done using a special screw, which is available on the burner.
Third manufacturing method
If you are thinking about how to make an alcohol burner, you will need to prepare a flat metal can, which can be a container of canned goods or cosmetic cream. You need pumice, as well as alcohol. The mechanism of such a device is extremely simple and does not require special efforts in the manufacture. To create a device, it is necessary to put pumice in the container as tightly as possible, and then pour everything on top with a certain amount of fuel. Perform these manipulations as carefully as possible so that the liquid is absorbed, and not spilled out. Due to the presence of pumice, the flame will burn for 15 minutes, since it will be a fuel distributor due to the porous structure. Such an alcohol burner from cans will make it possible to cook food, as well as heat a fairly small room, such as a camping tent, garage or change house. To warm the food, it is necessary to build a stand for dishes, which is made of stones, wire or other material. The main thing here is to take into account the requirement, which is the need for stability dishes.
The main types of alcohol burners
Homemade alcohol burner can be open or closed type. Each of the above structures has its own advantages and disadvantages. If we are talking about an open type device, then you may encounter not so high efficiency, burning will take place over a larger area. This will contribute to the abundant evaporation of fuel. Among other things, closed burners do not provide the ability to control the amount of remaining fuel. Such burners need external ignition, which increases the fire hazard. However, each of the listed burners can be made independently. It is important to remember that the operation of burners is based on the combustion of fuel vapor. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to use substances that contain acetone as well as gasoline as fuel.
experimental part
The tank capacity can be equal to 70 milliliters, nozzles need to be done in the amount of 16 pieces, the distance between them should be one centimeter. Estimated burning time can be 25 minutes at one gas station. As practice shows, the duration and intensity of combustion of such devices depends on the type of fuel. Best of all, combustion comes from medical alcohol fumes. If we are talking about situations when salicylic acid is used, then it does not burn so intensely. If the burner is filled with edible alcohol, then it will show the shortest burning time.
Specialist advice
The temperature of the alcohol burner is high enough to heat the tent and cook. In the process of using alcohol devices, solutions should be used that contain about 50-70% ethanol. This allows you to extend the period of work, although it reduces the intensity of the flame. The design has the ability to boil 0.5 liters of water in 7 minutes, which is enough to brew tea or steam instant noodles. During operation, do not turn the device over, as this can be a fire hazard. As practice shows, if you throw cotton wool on top and then set it on fire, from overheating, the alcohol can begin to evaporate very much, as a result of which the burner will simply fly apart in half. The design of the burner is very simple, but many people think about why to use liquid alcohol when it is dry before making it. The answer to this question will be higher heat transfer, which indicates the possibility of faster heating of water.
Finally
Using several aluminum cans, you yourself can make an alcohol burner, which will be able to help you out of town and on a camping trip on vacation. It is noteworthy that you can perform such a device without additional tools. That is why it so attracts home craftsmen who often prefer to relax outside the city. There is no need to bring such a device with you; it will be enough to use tin cans, which can also be prepared in nature. And after the first use, the device can be disposed of.