How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/19 22:35First get two Pepsi cans. They need to be pepsi brand. Pepsi uses good aluminum, and the bottoms of the can line up with the liner better. Next take a brillo pad or steel wool and rub off all the label on the bottoms of the two pepsi cans. It works better if you leave them full for this,that way you dont dent/crush the cans. You can also do the redbull can, although its not necessary because its hidden inside the finished stove.
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/19 22:38Next, you get ready for the ultimate caffeine buzz as you drink off the two pepsi's and the redbull. WHOOHOOO.
Empty out one of the Pepsi cans, and use a hole saw to drill out the middle of the bottom. You can also score it around with a knife, and then use needle nose to tear it out, but the hole saw is much easier.
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/19 22:47Cut the tops off the cans, and use a black magic marker to draw a line around the two cans. Try to make them level. I usually rest the marker on top of a couple books and then spin the can to make it a nice straight level line.
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/19 22:49Use some scissors to cut the can around the line. Be careful. The aluminum is very VERY sharp, and will cut you all to pieces. Take your time and get it right.
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/19 22:51Now mark the red bull can 1/4" higher than the bottom of the stove can. This is so the liner seals good against the top of the stove, and stays in place.
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/19 22:56Take the top half of the stove, and use some needle nose pliers to crimp as shown. These crimps will allow the top half of the stove to fit into the bottom half.
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/19 22:59Now SLOWLY, and I do MEAN SLOWLY, start to press the top half into the bottom half. You have to be VERY gentle and work it slowly. If you go to fast or are not careful, you can either split the bottom half of the stove, or leave gaps around it. If you split it....you have to start over with a new bottom.
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/19 23:01You'll have to reposition the internal redbull can occasionally as you press the top half into the bottom half to keep it centered. Once you are finished it should look like this. Sometimes it will take you 2 or three stoves till you get good at it. But it can be done.
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/19 23:03Once youve got it all together, take a small drill bit 1/16 or smaller, and drill holes all the way around the stove right along the seam. These are your jet holes. Be EXTRA careful not to drill through the inside redbull liner with the drill bit.
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/19 23:07If you take an old coathanger, you can bend a small pot stand for it. Crimp the side of the pot stand together with whatever you can find. I used a small section of aluminum tubing I had laying around. You can use the stove without a pot stand, and just put the pot on top of the stove, but a pot stand will speed up the boiling time.
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/19 23:10Here is one of my stoves in action without the pot stand. You can see the flame jets. This pic was taken on my back porch, and it was raining at the time. Proof that pepsi can stoves work in the worst possible conditions.
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/19 23:15Now...about safety!!!
1. NEVER EVER attempt to pour additional fuel into a hot stove. EVER. 2. Be careful when using your stove. If it tips over while lit, it can start a HUGE fire. 3. If using the stove during daylight, it is impossible to see the flames even though the stove is lit. 4. If you lift a pot off of the stove while it is lit, it will sometimes cause a flare up, also some of the unburnt alcohol fumes will stay on the bottom of the pot, and continue to burn.
For your first time, I suggest running your stove at night as a trial so you can see the flames. Move the pot around and see how the flames react. Get used to your stove before running it in the daytime so you know how it works.
Usually the only sign that a stove is lit in daylight is the fuel bubbling inside the bottom of the liner.
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/20 01:15Thanks BD!!!! I think I will try to make one! Will have to go buy some pepsi tho! And remember not to drink them first!!!
Is there a certain amount of alcohol that you pour in? I have never worked with an alcohol stove before!
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/20 03:29I tested the can stove in the pics above about 15 mins ago. I tested it with and without the pot stand.
For both the tests I used the exact same amount of fuel, and allowed the stove, and pot to cool to room temp before the next test. Both tests were using cold tap water.
Test #1 - Without Pot stand. 2 cups of water reached rolling boil in 6.24 minutes.
Test #2 - With pot stand. 2 cups of water reached rolling boil in 5.13 minutes.
With the stove as shown above, I fill it 1/3rd full with denatured alcohol. This is enough fuel to bring 2 cups of water to a rolling boil and sustain that boil for at least 1min.
Re:How to make a Pepsi can stove. - 2007/08/20 08:50Excellent explanation ! This is a sticky now since I think this information is worth it to be seen and taken notice of at first glance. Thank you, bdavison
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