LOL... (Living On Less)

A little dinner for Layla and I, and then turn in for the night.
(Yes, her bowl got one small Polish sausage.)

This morning I thought I would share a couple of tips.


Because I was under severe space
restrictions (had to fit everything for
ten weeks of dispatch PLUS the camping gear)
in the Grand Am I left the Coleman brand stove
at home.


I have cooked on these homemade alcohol stoves
many times and take for granted everyone may
not be familiar with these.



There are hundreds or more sites
and YouTube videos on how to make
these from common pop cans.



My adaptation of these revolves
around using the Sterno brand
folding stove.

I grew up camping and yes my dad
had a sterno stove. Now it was
a stamped steel marvel, not as
lightweight as mine today.
Same design, same fuel.

The magic can of fire ! !

While this gel fuel is safe I
find it doesn't get quite hot
enough for me to cook in reasonable times.
The problem with alcohol it's a
liquid fuel, however it can be
extinguished with water.
That's why many sailboats have
alcohol stoves.


Look at the picture a little bit closer, yes it is burning. So in the first picture you could see the can of denatured alcohol to the side, that fuel burns clean and hot. It is my fuel of choice.
But as you can also see (or rather NOT see) in the picture is the flame. Pure alcohol burns with a near
clear flame. THAT's why I keep a piece of paper, a pine straw or even better a long match handy.
Before I touch anything or try to refill the stove I put that straw in there to see if it bursts into flames.

The tuna can serves as an adapter to help the pop can fit the stove.
And, it also serves as a primer can to help start the stove.
From stove ignition to coffee in that six cup percolator, 6-8 minutes.

Once again, especially with fuel and flames, be safe, get outside and adventure.