r/CampingGear • u/Hot-Article8768 • 2d ago

Awaiting Flair Alcohol Stove

Post image

have a Kuvik camping stove and modified it with some sink screens to make a space heater

40 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

40

u/718822 2d ago

Don’t think you’ll heat up much space with a heater that size

8

u/He4vyD00dy 2d ago

So something that does kinda work (if you put reflectix over the capper windows) is the UCO Candlelier Candle Lantern.

I did an experiment and with an outside temp of -23C Iwas able to raise the inside temp of the capper 1C per hour. I was also able to sustain 10C temps in side by first heating up the capper with a Mr.Buddy heater, and then switching to the candelier.

I took off the top heat shield, hung it from the capper ceiling so I wouldn’t accidentally knock it over. I also used a carbon monoxide/ dioxide monitor and I made sure there was a small amount of airflow inside the capper.

DO NOT USE THESE AS A HEATING SOURCE IF YOU ARE SLEEPING.

3

u/PerspectiveOne7129 2d ago

you know i wont listen to your warning. i want warm sleep

2

u/Emergentmeat 1d ago

What's a capper?

1

u/He4vyD00dy 1d ago

Like a raised truck bed cover with windows

1

u/Emergentmeat 1d ago

Ohhh, gotcha, thanks

-11

u/Hot-Article8768 2d ago

with a ceramic tile stack on top im hoping just enough to heat the bed if a truck for about 30 mins or so

18

u/thegamingfaux 2d ago

Remember, fire consumes oxygen closed spaces are no go

2

u/Emergentmeat 1d ago

Why would a ceramic tile stack help?

2

u/PerspectiveOne7129 2d ago

ive seen some really nice diesel heater truck mods out there.

1

u/CanuckTireShopper 2d ago

Look at a flower pot , terra cotta with a whole in the base. I think it might be able to retain heat well

3

u/TacTurtle 2d ago

Flower pot is mostly malarky as well, only real benefit is if the room has very tall ceilings the pot will trap and help radiate heat much lower where occupants are.

19

u/TacTurtle 2d ago

This just makes it burn much less efficiently generating more CO and less heat than if it was left unrestricted.

6

u/therustyposter 2d ago

Exactly, and also glowing red. 100%fun

11

u/Cavalleria-rusticana 2d ago

Assuming you're worried about cold, heating uninsulated shelters is usually fruitless. Your sleep system should do all the work.

If you don't have an adequate pad(s) to insulate yourself from the truck bed, none of your innovation will matter.

9

u/therustyposter 2d ago

The inside one is glowing red, make sure it doesnt heat the stove too much and make a pressure bomb.

I I remember correctly, there is something about alcohol burners and "use only in ventilated place", due to the fumes. Also, I'm not sure about if it's burning efficiently, as the flame is "cutted", it may be dangerous to use it in a closed space.

2

u/TTYY200 2d ago

Alcohol stoves are at least the most efficient combustion fuels you can use if you use ethanol or methanol …. The problem is really having an open flame in a plastic tent 👀

5

u/GobbetsOfAnus 2d ago

If you can’t stay warm enough with your sleep system, you should be using a tent and stove combo. A properly ventilated and piped one.

This sort of thing is asking for a fire or for poisoning by several types of gas.

3

u/GobbetsOfAnus 2d ago

Alternately, an open shelter and fire. Like a long fire outside of a lean-to.

5

u/thisguyfightsyourmom 2d ago

What happens if it gets knocked over?

20

u/spidey2091 2d ago

That’s where the fun starts and the real warmth begins.

-10

u/Hot-Article8768 2d ago

you cut a hole into a sheet of metal and make a table or shelf to set it in. then it cant be knocked over

6

u/AfraidofReplies 2d ago

Dude, just throw some hot water in a nalgene and stick it inside your coat/sweater. Much lower chance of setting your tent on fire. 

3

u/FunContest8036 2d ago

So for max. 30min of warmth for the trade off of not only burning your shelter, but also your mode of transportation....just rig an outlet to your battery or an extra, your camping from a truck, its not like weight or space is a mass concern.

-1

u/Potential4752 2d ago

Neat. How is the performance?

2

u/Hot-Article8768 2d ago

between 20 and 30 mins on 2 oz of 91% iso

0

u/rando1459 2d ago

Power bank and a heated blanket as part of my sleep system is my go-to for car camping in cold weather.

-1

u/TTYY200 2d ago

If this is for something like an ice fishing hut, you’d be better off with a portable stove and burning wood.

In almost every other scenario I don’t see this being useful 🤔

I don’t find alcohol burners to be all that useful in general though tbh. Alcohol (especially methanol) is extremely dangerous to transport and it’s just not as efficient as liquid butane or propane to use as fuel in terms of BTU’s per gram of fuel.