I got this at Home Depot or Lowe's, but I've seen it at my local hardware store as well. I had to cut it down to the width and height I needed, so don't expect to find something that starts as the right size.
First of all, lighting fire first then start to prepearing food is damb. it's wasting fuel.
Scond, Using plastic Zip lock bag is covinient but I don't like foods with Plastic
material. god knows what leaching into the food.
Third, I like the cookware but then again, I hate the Idea of plastic on top Lid.
it has a tendency of melting by time somehow.It is great but Only for picnic & a day survival situations. too expensive too reallly cook.snacks?sure. but it won't really feed ya.
I'm not too worried about the chemicals leaching into the food. I'm more worried about air pollution from city life and the chemicals in processed foods in the U.S.
Sure. Plastic is one of it too..& it goes straight to your mouth & system. Heating up metal makes fumes too. I dont know about cat food can but better checj befor you heat it up. i'm warried now a days can. it's got coatings on inside. plus, The polution you just mentioned. it's adds up. It does really adds up.
@maxinpains shut the fuck up u retarted pussy. thru hikers around the world use only these stoves and use them for 8 or more months at a time. and DA isnt really expensive compared to how long it last if u dont play with it. so dont put the alcohol stove down just cause youre too much of a poon to do what thousands of thru hikers do........ i believe youve been bitch slapped via keyboard :d
@tebo442 Yeah...? I've never heard about you among my friends. Have you seen my titles of my records in industries??
Anyway, perhaps , you might know me.... lol I make living doing this.
Perhaps , You should learn respect & some manners when you are getting some free lessons . Perhaps, You should come with us for our next expedition .I bet you are very strong man & not a pussy & who will survive first 5 min or so. Good Luck
@tebo442 and what do you mean you can only make snacks on an alcohol stove?!?!?!??! i boil 4 cups of water in i dont know how long but it definatley cooks enough soup to fill me up on just 1 1/2oz of fuel i just switch from my cat can too my tealight to simmer wich i usually never even use cause i dont usually cook shit thatsneeds simmering. yea ive read over ur comments too try to find any points of urs that im missing but ur just seem like a douche.....sorry
@maxinpains wow u sure point out alot of inconveniences for a guy who "survives" for a living. much like that of a poontang.and i respect the traveling homeless ive met over the years that have traveled thousands of miles with no money, compared to guys like you that gear up and go out for a couple weeks and think your the shit. so go fuck yourself you act like i should give a fuck who u are. but ur just a prick with a giant ego.and if u did this 4 a living u wouldn't have a computer.
LOL Yeah,before I became somewhat wealthy i was just as bottom feeder rats on the streets for about good 40 years.. ..Or "Dead Head Hippy" might be correct correct way to call me at that time..LOLI've traveled hellofa distances with no money.LOL&became an major invester of survival equipments companies.To make that turn around was very hard & countless day & nights of trials & errors.Is it possible for to you drop "FUCK' words on your replies? It won't do any good for ya!
well if u did do that for 40 years than cool. but why post that alcohol stoves are silly when they are awsome and usefull i make 2 packets of top ramen at a time with 1 1/2 oz of alcohol. and the military is retarted they call alcohol stoves silly when they try crappy solar stoves. and plus if the alcohol stove ever gets too cold and cant evaporate ill either put my pot over the fire ill already have as well or just warm my stove on the fire and use it.thats never happened in cali though
@tebo442 just for your health, Try to have decent meals. Many variety possible.Millitary considered solar but it isn't stealth enough & bulky & Needs strong sun light. I forgot where it was but I believe it was East europe or Sweden..Anyway, alcohole stoves killed whole bunch of soldiers by FIRE while in training or between in transportations.the alcohol fuels characteristic it leaked out from the containers too manytimes because of the air pressures & temps. That's why they stop using it.
Alcohol fuels are great .No smokes , healthy, light . but it's suitable for alpine situations & cold regions where carrying fuel is difficult. The Alcohle is great but it's costly . & no back ups plans when you spend them all.it is suitable for survival situations but not really able to cook in volumes where you really need to get fed.for snacks yeah.it does the jobs but not long.That's why U.S. gov's rejected silly idea by this method.overall , it's only for survival. not for long term camping
You've pretty much hit on the drawbacks of alcohol stoves. I wouldn't want to cook for more than two people with it, and I wouldn't rely solely on this method if I were planning on living in the woods after the zombie apocalypse. But I'm a lazy backpacker who likes the simple life. They're called, "zen stoves," because they're so basic. They work great for overnight trips when failure isn't a big deal. And the fuel may seem "expensive," but much cheaper than buying a stove!
@PacoWarabi yeah, I used to make one of those when I was young doing & making all kinds of gadgets getting patents of it which you've seeing on current markets today .
Matter of fact, I Do Know the guy who first who came up the name "Zen stove" .I do not mentioned his name on here but he is really good friend of mine. i've known him for about 30 years plus.
Yeah, but then you don't get to play with fire! Actually, though, I've thought of going the no-cook method. I hadn't thought of the homemade pemmican. I'll have to look that up. Thanks for the tip.
@PacoWarabi Well, you can still play with the fire, to heat water for a hot water bottle when you sleep in an igloo or something, or just for something to drink. Pemmican is very good food. Trappers lived off of just pemmican for months. If it is dried at a temperature below 120 degrees it appears that a small amount of vitamin c is left in the meat. Meat also has all of the B vitamins and minerals that one needs.
one trick to lighting a "cat " is dip a twig/stick into the alcohol and light that..much easier and safer then putting your hand inside the wind screen to light it...that is unless you like the smell of burnt hair...nicely done my brother..
That might work; I've never tried it. But then you've got to carry a pre-hydrated meal into the woods, and then carry an empty, messy can back out again.
Another informative and well shot vid Paco! Your preference of the cat stove over the pressurized alcohol stove (needing priming and having to await the "bloom") makes me think the cat is the way to go... Also learned about freezerbag cooking. Thanks for the tip and the link!
Thank you kindly. The cat stove is almost the simplest to make, simplest to use, and cheapest method possible. I'm currently experimenting with tea light alcohol stoves, but the supercat has given me the most reliable boil so far.
It would make more sense, and that's how I usually did it. But I was making a video, and I always end up doing things out of order when the camera's rolling.
@PacoWarabi :-) That is a highly amusing response.
Also, thanks for the simplest and probably most complete how to that I've seen on this brilliant stove. I wasn't sure something so simple could work. Think I'll hit the kitchen and the recycling container and give it a go.
Glad you liked it. I feel very strongly about the law of diminishing returns. The Supercat works fine in 85% of all situations. If I want to get something better, it will weigh more, cost more, and/or take more effort to build. It's not worth it for me. On the other hand, if my life depended on it or I were planning a thru-hike, I'd probably look at other options.
My wind screen is made from the top of a frozen lasagna package (the 5 lb one). It rolls up tight and will hod around the pot with a spring action and it's free from reused material. My cat stove is made from the same aluminum cat food tin but it has 3 dozen small holes made with a finishing nail. I set the stove on a frozen juice package lid. The lid is used as a primer with a few drops of fuel. The pot goes on the stove, the primer is lit and the stove starts heating almost at once.
Excellent variation! I love how you used recycled material, although I think 5 lbs of lasagna might be too much for me to eat alone (my wife is gluten-intolerant). I love the endless variations that can be done with basic materials.
good video ut never hold the stove when lighting because you could get burned or the fuel could tip onto you and ignite then...well you know..not a pretty site...with my supercat i just put the flame directley downinto the stove light and pull away
Good point. If I start lighting it with sticks, then that should work. Unfortunately, with a lighter, the only way to get it started is to light it through one of the vent holes.
I've thought of using a fire steel, but didn't know if it would work with alcohol. Have you ever tested it? It would be more reliable than a lighter, too, which could run out of butane at any point.
Yes, it does indeed. I just poured a little denatured alcohol in a metal cup just moments ago to be sure. It lit easily. I usually use drier lint saturated with WD-40 for tinder. My firesteel ignites that easily as well.
Bear in mind that they have limitations as well. I've never been able to ignite paper, dry pine needles, leaves ect. with my steel. You almost always need some kind of tinder that it will easily ignite. It will, however, always work while wet and cold. I believe they are well worth the money spent. They are also fun to play with and experiment with different types of tinder.
Hey Mate, To save your fingers from getting burnt, next time dip a stick in the alcohol light it then light the stove with the stick. Hope this tip helps......
According to John Q. Public11, it's a Stansport SS Solo II, #359. But as he said, they're impossible to find now. Check the rest of the comments for more information.
goddamn man, this should be the demo video for some home shopping network. good work. i feel you took enough but not too long of a time on each part. i didnt get bored while watching. cool setup you have there sir.
have you ever had problems with the fuel leaking out into your pot due to you storing it in there? i want to do the same to conserve space but i am scare that the alcohol will leak into the pot and have it get into my food/water. Thanks.
That's a very valid concern. I've worried about it before, but I've never had a problem with it. For a more secure method, you could try putting the fuel into a snack-sized Ziploc. But like I said, I've never had a problem.
As best I can tell from piecing information together from 5 or 6 different websites, your pot is the Stansport SS Solo II, #359. This pot is 1 Liter capacity, 14 cm or 5.5 inches in diameter, is 2.5 inches deep w/o lid and weighs 9 ounces. I do not have the specs on the #358 but it is supposedly ¾ Liter and 4.75 inches in diameter. Over the Internet, the #359-20, Black Granite anodized steel version is relatively easy to find and can be had for $9.99, the SS are impossible to find, cost $15.00.
Having viewed innumerable youtube videos, for the daypacker/weekend hiker who is not a gram weenie, this self contained easy to access and use setup is the hands down winner.
Nice job on the research! You're exactly right -- I just went and measured it. The dimensions are spot on, and although it can hold 1 liter, it fills it completely to the brim. I wouldn't go any more than 3 cups of water (3/4 liter). But then again, my stove isn't strong enough for 3 cups (I don't think).
I'm guessing you could go with the #358 if you're going to use my setup. It's a little smaller, but would still work for 2 cups.
The appeal of your set up is the fact that all the necessities fit inside the pot. Secondly, the wind screen design forces the precious heat to flow close up the sides of the pot. Then once the kit is assembled the pot resting inside the wind screen is stable, its not something that is teetering on the brink of toppling over. The Pot, having an extended handle is easy to manipulate.
The heat transfer efficiencies distinguishing the metals of aluminum, stainless steel and titanium are negligible in any real world situation. Would I be correct to assume that you made the wind screen out of flashing material? As far as the weight pressure on the little stove goes, I believe that if a person is careful to leave enough metal material around each hole it would hold up fine. Havent tried it yet!
You're right in that the wind screen is flashing. It's about time to replace it, as it has started to corrode and melt. But it will probably cost me about $0.50 to do so. Not bad for a piece equipment which has held up for three years or more!
Because the windscreen fits inside the Pot I would be afraid the anodized material of the #359-20 Black Granite model would scratch off and would be afraid to try it. I bought two stainless steel from the only company on the Internet I could find selling them. They have not arrived yet.
It's just a cheap Stansport stainless steel pot (I had to go to the store to find out, as I couldn't remember). It was under fifteen bucks, holds about 3 cups of water, and is good enough for what I do.
Thanx Paco...I appreciate the prompt response. I actually ended up spending a large part of my day going through all of your videos. I really like your style!
I'd like to believe that freezer bags are safe to cook in and that the polymer on the inside of a fosters can is safe when used for cooking yet how can we know for sure. Obviously, the marketing companies of both are going to save it's safe what else can they do? Yet, has there ever been a testing of this by an independent unbiased source? I really would like to know because I'd like to be able to use both and feel safe about it. Thanx...Laurie
From my research, all the "evidence" against freezer bag cooking is hearsay. Ziploc advises against it for liability reasons. But I've read opinions from experts on chemical leaching from polyethylene (based on unpublished, proprietary research) who say that it is completely safe. To do your own research, try Googling "Freezer Bag," boiling, and "Chemical Engineer"
mmmh cancer in a bag. Adding boiling water to a ziploc bag causes a good deal of plastic to disintegrate into the food, even if it isn't visible. But hey, it's better than moss off a rock I guess
Define "good deal." With all the carcinogens in a city from secondhand smoke, exhaust, new carpeting, McDonalds, etc, I think I'm safer up in the woods eating from a boiled plastic bag.
Holy Cowbells! An actual _ultralight_ setup that's functional, versatile and durable...
It's a big stretch for me to cook oatmeal instead of eggs or something more substantial, but the thing I like about your video is the fact that I could do that on your setup. Only change I would make is using a beercan stove for more heat. Anyway, great work!
The nice thing about this setup is that it's so simple that you could switch out any component for something else (like the beercan stove) and you wouldn't upset the entire system. Can you set the pot directly on the beercan stove?
Yes, you can poke the holes in a beercan stove around the radius (outside of can) or around the top of the can. I use both kinds, because of the type of shields/platforms in use. For super-ultralight I have a very similar pot/pan unit to yours, but I sit the pot directly on the beercan stove that radiates jest around the outside circumference of the unit. Again - nice work, Paco!
Neat little compact cookset. Another one of your designs I guess. Like you I favour DIY trail mixes. Have never cooked mine in the bag before. Normally staright in the pot which requires more water to wash up with. Great tip Paco.
Don't worry, I was being facetious. My usual breakfast is oatmeal with some raisins and whey protein added. But I gave upon eating from the freezer bags.
I think it was probably in the low to mid 60s at this point. Not that cold, and only one cup of water, but yeah, the Super Cat can boil water pretty fast.
I wanted the video to be still, because that's one of the great things about the alcohol stoves. They are so quiet and minimalist themselves.
REply to the 500 miles and the cutting of the spork what if you need the spork potion of it? do you have it stored else were I man it doesnt make since .I am a soldier so 500 miles no problam being disorganized hay I am in the same cano with you and were did you put the paddles I know your pain there
Would you believe that I lost the other half of the spork? I told you I was disorganized. I forgot my lighter one time, I've had to make chopsticks because I forgot my spoon, and I've even forgotten my sleeping bag once. I'm terrible at remembering everything. The fewer places to put equipment, the better for me.
I used to keep them separate, and if I were smart, I probably still would. To me, however, the risk factor of accidental ignition is much lower than my personal risk factor of losing one or the other, as I'm an extremely disorganized camper and am always misplacing something (see my spork comment below).
It's very good advice for camping, though, and I recommend everyone else follow it.
nice setup but why did you cut the spork down for and dont say I am saving weight and I am a ultra light hiker cause you are not doing anything by saving a couple grams I just dont see no sense in this at all
Those couple grams may not seem like a lot to you, but after five hundred miles, you start to wish your pack were two grams lighter.
Okay, I'm lying. The real reason is that the spork fits into the pot when cut in half, so I don't end up losing it. It wasn't in my pot when I started the video because I had misplaced it the night before, and only found it for the final couple shots.
And I appreciate the no-mess, no hassle, no clean up approach to backpack eating. Thanks for coming up with the idea and calling the freezer bag companies to find out that the bags can withstand boiling water. I've got your original book :-)
I've been using it for 3+ years of casual backpacking, demonstrations, and experiments. I keep worrying that the metal will give way, but so far, no problems! And if there is a problem, it will cost 50 cents to replace . . .
how did the sand from the pot lid taste in that oatmeal? a bit gritty I bet..
rmstudio 1 month ago
@rmstudio
Meh, tastes like chicken . . .
PacoWarabi 1 month ago
@PacoWarabi Lol.
rmstudio 1 month ago
Where do you get the flashing?
dawkinsjh 5 months ago
@dawkinsjh
I got this at Home Depot or Lowe's, but I've seen it at my local hardware store as well. I had to cut it down to the width and height I needed, so don't expect to find something that starts as the right size.
PacoWarabi 5 months ago
@maxinpains....You may make a living at doing this kind of shit but you still come off sounding like a douche-bag....
lustar3232 6 months ago
First of all, lighting fire first then start to prepearing food is damb. it's wasting fuel.
Scond, Using plastic Zip lock bag is covinient but I don't like foods with Plastic
material. god knows what leaching into the food.
Third, I like the cookware but then again, I hate the Idea of plastic on top Lid.
it has a tendency of melting by time somehow.It is great but Only for picnic & a day survival situations. too expensive too reallly cook.snacks?sure. but it won't really feed ya.
maxinpains 11 months ago
@maxinpains
I'm not too worried about the chemicals leaching into the food. I'm more worried about air pollution from city life and the chemicals in processed foods in the U.S.
PacoWarabi 11 months ago 5
@PacoWarabi
Sure. Plastic is one of it too..& it goes straight to your mouth & system. Heating up metal makes fumes too. I dont know about cat food can but better checj befor you heat it up. i'm warried now a days can. it's got coatings on inside. plus, The polution you just mentioned. it's adds up. It does really adds up.
maxinpains 11 months ago
@maxinpains shut the fuck up u retarted pussy. thru hikers around the world use only these stoves and use them for 8 or more months at a time. and DA isnt really expensive compared to how long it last if u dont play with it. so dont put the alcohol stove down just cause youre too much of a poon to do what thousands of thru hikers do........ i believe youve been bitch slapped via keyboard :d
tebo442 10 months ago
@tebo442 Yeah...? I've never heard about you among my friends. Have you seen my titles of my records in industries??
Anyway, perhaps , you might know me.... lol I make living doing this.
Perhaps , You should learn respect & some manners when you are getting some free lessons . Perhaps, You should come with us for our next expedition .I bet you are very strong man & not a pussy & who will survive first 5 min or so. Good Luck
maxinpains 10 months ago
Comment removed
tebo442 10 months ago
@tebo442 and what do you mean you can only make snacks on an alcohol stove?!?!?!??! i boil 4 cups of water in i dont know how long but it definatley cooks enough soup to fill me up on just 1 1/2oz of fuel i just switch from my cat can too my tealight to simmer wich i usually never even use cause i dont usually cook shit thatsneeds simmering. yea ive read over ur comments too try to find any points of urs that im missing but ur just seem like a douche.....sorry
tebo442 10 months ago
Comment removed
tebo442 10 months ago
@maxinpains wow u sure point out alot of inconveniences for a guy who "survives" for a living. much like that of a poontang.and i respect the traveling homeless ive met over the years that have traveled thousands of miles with no money, compared to guys like you that gear up and go out for a couple weeks and think your the shit. so go fuck yourself you act like i should give a fuck who u are. but ur just a prick with a giant ego.and if u did this 4 a living u wouldn't have a computer.
tebo442 10 months ago
@tebo442
LOL Yeah,before I became somewhat wealthy i was just as bottom feeder rats on the streets for about good 40 years.. ..Or "Dead Head Hippy" might be correct correct way to call me at that time..LOLI've traveled hellofa distances with no money.LOL&became an major invester of survival equipments companies.To make that turn around was very hard & countless day & nights of trials & errors.Is it possible for to you drop "FUCK' words on your replies? It won't do any good for ya!
maxinpains 10 months ago
Comment removed
tebo442 10 months ago
well if u did do that for 40 years than cool. but why post that alcohol stoves are silly when they are awsome and usefull i make 2 packets of top ramen at a time with 1 1/2 oz of alcohol. and the military is retarted they call alcohol stoves silly when they try crappy solar stoves. and plus if the alcohol stove ever gets too cold and cant evaporate ill either put my pot over the fire ill already have as well or just warm my stove on the fire and use it.thats never happened in cali though
tebo442 10 months ago
@tebo442 just for your health, Try to have decent meals. Many variety possible.Millitary considered solar but it isn't stealth enough & bulky & Needs strong sun light. I forgot where it was but I believe it was East europe or Sweden..Anyway, alcohole stoves killed whole bunch of soldiers by FIRE while in training or between in transportations.the alcohol fuels characteristic it leaked out from the containers too manytimes because of the air pressures & temps. That's why they stop using it.
maxinpains 9 months ago
Alcohol fuels are great .No smokes , healthy, light . but it's suitable for alpine situations & cold regions where carrying fuel is difficult. The Alcohle is great but it's costly . & no back ups plans when you spend them all.it is suitable for survival situations but not really able to cook in volumes where you really need to get fed.for snacks yeah.it does the jobs but not long.That's why U.S. gov's rejected silly idea by this method.overall , it's only for survival. not for long term camping
maxinpains 11 months ago
@maxinpains
You've pretty much hit on the drawbacks of alcohol stoves. I wouldn't want to cook for more than two people with it, and I wouldn't rely solely on this method if I were planning on living in the woods after the zombie apocalypse. But I'm a lazy backpacker who likes the simple life. They're called, "zen stoves," because they're so basic. They work great for overnight trips when failure isn't a big deal. And the fuel may seem "expensive," but much cheaper than buying a stove!
PacoWarabi 11 months ago 2
@PacoWarabi yeah, I used to make one of those when I was young doing & making all kinds of gadgets getting patents of it which you've seeing on current markets today .
Matter of fact, I Do Know the guy who first who came up the name "Zen stove" .I do not mentioned his name on here but he is really good friend of mine. i've known him for about 30 years plus.
maxinpains 10 months ago
denatured alcohole is waay expensive now a days....
maxinpains 11 months ago
stupid people with their wilderness crap, "five minutes later - someone puked inside my baggie"
polzowatel 11 months ago
@polzowatel
Yeah, but it's tasty puke!
PacoWarabi 11 months ago
@PacoWarabi why would you live like that, one thing is being able to live that way and another one is running from people..
polzowatel 11 months ago
@polzowatel
Generally, when you're running from people, it's a bad idea to put videos up on the web.
PacoWarabi 11 months ago
you could just watch the dehydrator videos on how to make pemmican and bring that along to eat, no need to cook anything.
Indygoguy 1 year ago
@Indygoguy
Yeah, but then you don't get to play with fire! Actually, though, I've thought of going the no-cook method. I hadn't thought of the homemade pemmican. I'll have to look that up. Thanks for the tip.
PacoWarabi 1 year ago
@PacoWarabi Well, you can still play with the fire, to heat water for a hot water bottle when you sleep in an igloo or something, or just for something to drink. Pemmican is very good food. Trappers lived off of just pemmican for months. If it is dried at a temperature below 120 degrees it appears that a small amount of vitamin c is left in the meat. Meat also has all of the B vitamins and minerals that one needs.
Indygoguy 1 year ago
one trick to lighting a "cat " is dip a twig/stick into the alcohol and light that..much easier and safer then putting your hand inside the wind screen to light it...that is unless you like the smell of burnt hair...nicely done my brother..
fukfear69 1 year ago
Why not just buy a can of Chef Boyardee and set it on the stove? Or Campbells tomato soup, whatever floats your boat.
VirtuousSnake 1 year ago
@VirtuousSnake
That might work; I've never tried it. But then you've got to carry a pre-hydrated meal into the woods, and then carry an empty, messy can back out again.
PacoWarabi 1 year ago
Another informative and well shot vid Paco! Your preference of the cat stove over the pressurized alcohol stove (needing priming and having to await the "bloom") makes me think the cat is the way to go... Also learned about freezerbag cooking. Thanks for the tip and the link!
Spikestrip55 1 year ago
@Spikestrip55
Thank you kindly. The cat stove is almost the simplest to make, simplest to use, and cheapest method possible. I'm currently experimenting with tea light alcohol stoves, but the supercat has given me the most reliable boil so far.
PacoWarabi 1 year ago
Awesome vid! I appreciate you taking the time to share it with us.
flynguy521 1 year ago
wouldnt it make more sense to light it on the ground and then put the wind screen down rather than burning yourself. common sense, use it.
OBCblackhawk 1 year ago
@OBCblackhawk
It would make more sense, and that's how I usually did it. But I was making a video, and I always end up doing things out of order when the camera's rolling.
By the way -- tact, use it.
PacoWarabi 1 year ago 2
@PacoWarabi :-) That is a highly amusing response.
Also, thanks for the simplest and probably most complete how to that I've seen on this brilliant stove. I wasn't sure something so simple could work. Think I'll hit the kitchen and the recycling container and give it a go.
Thank you!
mrmonkeychin 1 year ago
@mrmonkeychin
Glad you liked it. I feel very strongly about the law of diminishing returns. The Supercat works fine in 85% of all situations. If I want to get something better, it will weigh more, cost more, and/or take more effort to build. It's not worth it for me. On the other hand, if my life depended on it or I were planning a thru-hike, I'd probably look at other options.
PacoWarabi 1 year ago
My wind screen is made from the top of a frozen lasagna package (the 5 lb one). It rolls up tight and will hod around the pot with a spring action and it's free from reused material. My cat stove is made from the same aluminum cat food tin but it has 3 dozen small holes made with a finishing nail. I set the stove on a frozen juice package lid. The lid is used as a primer with a few drops of fuel. The pot goes on the stove, the primer is lit and the stove starts heating almost at once.
hfa555 2 years ago
@hfa555
Excellent variation! I love how you used recycled material, although I think 5 lbs of lasagna might be too much for me to eat alone (my wife is gluten-intolerant). I love the endless variations that can be done with basic materials.
PacoWarabi 1 year ago
Did you get diarrhea from the Kashi?
Great video BTW.
shrumby 2 years ago
damn sounds makes me have to pee ;)
cool vid
iammikmik 2 years ago
Where do you find the windscreen-material?
coke5light 2 years ago
@coke5light
It's called Aluminum Flashing, and you get it in Home Improvement stores in the roofing section (I believe it's used in the roof gutters).
With other stove projects, I've used the aluminum from heavy-duty disposable baking pans. Not as durable, but it's much easier to work with.
PacoWarabi 2 years ago
good video ut never hold the stove when lighting because you could get burned or the fuel could tip onto you and ignite then...well you know..not a pretty site...with my supercat i just put the flame directley downinto the stove light and pull away
survivalist911 2 years ago
Good point. If I start lighting it with sticks, then that should work. Unfortunately, with a lighter, the only way to get it started is to light it through one of the vent holes.
PacoWarabi 2 years ago
Look into a Lite My Fire (or similar) Fire Steel. Sparks produced from a fire steel should easily and safely ignite the alcohol.
cockercane 2 years ago
I've thought of using a fire steel, but didn't know if it would work with alcohol. Have you ever tested it? It would be more reliable than a lighter, too, which could run out of butane at any point.
PacoWarabi 2 years ago
Yes, it does indeed. I just poured a little denatured alcohol in a metal cup just moments ago to be sure. It lit easily. I usually use drier lint saturated with WD-40 for tinder. My firesteel ignites that easily as well.
cockercane 2 years ago
Thank you. I'm sold!
PacoWarabi 2 years ago
Bear in mind that they have limitations as well. I've never been able to ignite paper, dry pine needles, leaves ect. with my steel. You almost always need some kind of tinder that it will easily ignite. It will, however, always work while wet and cold. I believe they are well worth the money spent. They are also fun to play with and experiment with different types of tinder.
cockercane 2 years ago
As long as I can light alcohol, I've got all the tinder I need. Besides, then I can make sparks anytime I want!
PacoWarabi 2 years ago
@survivalist911 lol yet i learned that lesson the hard way last week
sacredshaman1 2 years ago
yea, it wasnt cool, was it?
survivalist911 2 years ago
nope it was painful lol 2 and 3 degree burns on my hands ouch!
sacredshaman1 2 years ago
yikes!
survivalist911 2 years ago
@sacredshaman1
Thanks for the story. Sorry about the accident, but I think you just converted me to sticks.
PacoWarabi 2 years ago
im not sure of this but i think o.o but i think hand sanitizer+acetone+denatured alcohol might be good
xxxSaskue26 2 years ago
dude...
im sorry, but that was just awesome...
rock on
ninggy369bhagwandin 2 years ago
Hey Mate, To save your fingers from getting burnt, next time dip a stick in the alcohol light it then light the stove with the stick. Hope this tip helps......
crash4711 2 years ago
Good idea. I've tried just lighting a stick, but it takes too long. Dipping it in alcohol would keep it burning long enough to ignite the stove.
Thanks!
PacoWarabi 2 years ago
awesome mate.... you look like a happy man....enjoy the great outdoors....peace
vinilla 2 years ago
what kind of pot is that and where did you get it? i cant find it anywhere
catastrophicflamingo 2 years ago
According to John Q. Public11, it's a Stansport SS Solo II, #359. But as he said, they're impossible to find now. Check the rest of the comments for more information.
PacoWarabi 2 years ago
nice
solimiansky 2 years ago
goddamn man, this should be the demo video for some home shopping network. good work. i feel you took enough but not too long of a time on each part. i didnt get bored while watching. cool setup you have there sir.
motos 2 years ago
Damn that was pretty cool. And the end looked like a commercial so I laughed allot.
UcanbeGOD 2 years ago 2
have you ever had problems with the fuel leaking out into your pot due to you storing it in there? i want to do the same to conserve space but i am scare that the alcohol will leak into the pot and have it get into my food/water. Thanks.
AlexxMcGraw 2 years ago
That's a very valid concern. I've worried about it before, but I've never had a problem with it. For a more secure method, you could try putting the fuel into a snack-sized Ziploc. But like I said, I've never had a problem.
PacoWarabi 2 years ago
use heet dude best fuel there is burns cleaner and more efficient.
tonejones 3 years ago
As best I can tell from piecing information together from 5 or 6 different websites, your pot is the Stansport SS Solo II, #359. This pot is 1 Liter capacity, 14 cm or 5.5 inches in diameter, is 2.5 inches deep w/o lid and weighs 9 ounces. I do not have the specs on the #358 but it is supposedly ¾ Liter and 4.75 inches in diameter. Over the Internet, the #359-20, Black Granite anodized steel version is relatively easy to find and can be had for $9.99, the SS are impossible to find, cost $15.00.
JohnQPublic11 3 years ago
Having viewed innumerable youtube videos, for the daypacker/weekend hiker who is not a gram weenie, this self contained easy to access and use setup is the hands down winner.
JohnQPublic11 3 years ago
Nice job on the research! You're exactly right -- I just went and measured it. The dimensions are spot on, and although it can hold 1 liter, it fills it completely to the brim. I wouldn't go any more than 3 cups of water (3/4 liter). But then again, my stove isn't strong enough for 3 cups (I don't think).
I'm guessing you could go with the #358 if you're going to use my setup. It's a little smaller, but would still work for 2 cups.
PacoWarabi 3 years ago
The appeal of your set up is the fact that all the necessities fit inside the pot. Secondly, the wind screen design forces the precious heat to flow close up the sides of the pot. Then once the kit is assembled the pot resting inside the wind screen is stable, its not something that is teetering on the brink of toppling over. The Pot, having an extended handle is easy to manipulate.
JohnQPublic11 3 years ago
The heat transfer efficiencies distinguishing the metals of aluminum, stainless steel and titanium are negligible in any real world situation. Would I be correct to assume that you made the wind screen out of flashing material? As far as the weight pressure on the little stove goes, I believe that if a person is careful to leave enough metal material around each hole it would hold up fine. Havent tried it yet!
JohnQPublic11 3 years ago
You're right in that the wind screen is flashing. It's about time to replace it, as it has started to corrode and melt. But it will probably cost me about $0.50 to do so. Not bad for a piece equipment which has held up for three years or more!
PacoWarabi 2 years ago
Because the windscreen fits inside the Pot I would be afraid the anodized material of the #359-20 Black Granite model would scratch off and would be afraid to try it. I bought two stainless steel from the only company on the Internet I could find selling them. They have not arrived yet.
JohnQPublic11 3 years ago
Comment removed
thecyr 3 years ago
great setup
thecyr 3 years ago
Nice setup! What is the name of the pot everything is stored in? Thanks.
JohnQPublic11 3 years ago
It's just a cheap Stansport stainless steel pot (I had to go to the store to find out, as I couldn't remember). It was under fifteen bucks, holds about 3 cups of water, and is good enough for what I do.
PacoWarabi 3 years ago
Thanx Paco...I appreciate the prompt response. I actually ended up spending a large part of my day going through all of your videos. I really like your style!
LoveRise 3 years ago
I'd like to believe that freezer bags are safe to cook in and that the polymer on the inside of a fosters can is safe when used for cooking yet how can we know for sure. Obviously, the marketing companies of both are going to save it's safe what else can they do? Yet, has there ever been a testing of this by an independent unbiased source? I really would like to know because I'd like to be able to use both and feel safe about it. Thanx...Laurie
LoveRise 3 years ago
From my research, all the "evidence" against freezer bag cooking is hearsay. Ziploc advises against it for liability reasons. But I've read opinions from experts on chemical leaching from polyethylene (based on unpublished, proprietary research) who say that it is completely safe. To do your own research, try Googling "Freezer Bag," boiling, and "Chemical Engineer"
PacoWarabi 3 years ago
mmmh cancer in a bag. Adding boiling water to a ziploc bag causes a good deal of plastic to disintegrate into the food, even if it isn't visible. But hey, it's better than moss off a rock I guess
kefobungle 3 years ago
Define "good deal." With all the carcinogens in a city from secondhand smoke, exhaust, new carpeting, McDonalds, etc, I think I'm safer up in the woods eating from a boiled plastic bag.
Besides, I like to live on the wild side!
PacoWarabi 3 years ago
Holy Cowbells! An actual _ultralight_ setup that's functional, versatile and durable...
It's a big stretch for me to cook oatmeal instead of eggs or something more substantial, but the thing I like about your video is the fact that I could do that on your setup. Only change I would make is using a beercan stove for more heat. Anyway, great work!
tastygarlic 3 years ago
The nice thing about this setup is that it's so simple that you could switch out any component for something else (like the beercan stove) and you wouldn't upset the entire system. Can you set the pot directly on the beercan stove?
PacoWarabi 3 years ago
Yes, you can poke the holes in a beercan stove around the radius (outside of can) or around the top of the can. I use both kinds, because of the type of shields/platforms in use. For super-ultralight I have a very similar pot/pan unit to yours, but I sit the pot directly on the beercan stove that radiates jest around the outside circumference of the unit. Again - nice work, Paco!
tastygarlic 3 years ago
lol, plastic spoon
Boriskov2 3 years ago
nice one i like that,,keep them coming..
bricardiff1969 3 years ago
Neat little compact cookset. Another one of your designs I guess. Like you I favour DIY trail mixes. Have never cooked mine in the bag before. Normally staright in the pot which requires more water to wash up with. Great tip Paco.
Sean
seanmulhall 3 years ago
Don't worry, I was being facetious. My usual breakfast is oatmeal with some raisins and whey protein added. But I gave upon eating from the freezer bags.
hoz49 3 years ago
Mmmm. Gooey! :)
PacoWarabi 3 years ago
ummmmm, gooey glop from a plastic bag. Just what I want for my wilderness breakfast!
hoz49 3 years ago
But most important is that it's CHEAP gooey glop. If you've ever tried those $6.00 freeze dried gooey glop meals, you'll appreciate the DIY version!
PacoWarabi 3 years ago
Nica Paco! That stove is fast... what was the temp that day?
Curious.
I truly enjoyed the stillness of this viddy. Cool.
shugemery 3 years ago
I think it was probably in the low to mid 60s at this point. Not that cold, and only one cup of water, but yeah, the Super Cat can boil water pretty fast.
I wanted the video to be still, because that's one of the great things about the alcohol stoves. They are so quiet and minimalist themselves.
PacoWarabi 3 years ago
REply to the 500 miles and the cutting of the spork what if you need the spork potion of it? do you have it stored else were I man it doesnt make since .I am a soldier so 500 miles no problam being disorganized hay I am in the same cano with you and were did you put the paddles I know your pain there
xsplosive1975 3 years ago
Would you believe that I lost the other half of the spork? I told you I was disorganized. I forgot my lighter one time, I've had to make chopsticks because I forgot my spoon, and I've even forgotten my sleeping bag once. I'm terrible at remembering everything. The fewer places to put equipment, the better for me.
PacoWarabi 3 years ago
Nicely done!
As a safety precaution, I always store the fuel and ignition source separately.
Bill
MrBillTroop73 3 years ago
I used to keep them separate, and if I were smart, I probably still would. To me, however, the risk factor of accidental ignition is much lower than my personal risk factor of losing one or the other, as I'm an extremely disorganized camper and am always misplacing something (see my spork comment below).
It's very good advice for camping, though, and I recommend everyone else follow it.
PacoWarabi 3 years ago
nice setup but why did you cut the spork down for and dont say I am saving weight and I am a ultra light hiker cause you are not doing anything by saving a couple grams I just dont see no sense in this at all
xsplosive1975 3 years ago
Those couple grams may not seem like a lot to you, but after five hundred miles, you start to wish your pack were two grams lighter.
Okay, I'm lying. The real reason is that the spork fits into the pot when cut in half, so I don't end up losing it. It wasn't in my pot when I started the video because I had misplaced it the night before, and only found it for the final couple shots.
PacoWarabi 3 years ago
Thanks for the link to my site. Appreciate that :-)
Sarah
Freezerbagcooking 3 years ago
And I appreciate the no-mess, no hassle, no clean up approach to backpack eating. Thanks for coming up with the idea and calling the freezer bag companies to find out that the bags can withstand boiling water. I've got your original book :-)
PacoWarabi 3 years ago
Good cook kit there Paco.
Thanks!
You are making me hungry.
FriarTuck1961 3 years ago
that stove has been around awhile, looks like its had a very good life!
NCHiker1970 3 years ago
I've been using it for 3+ years of casual backpacking, demonstrations, and experiments. I keep worrying that the metal will give way, but so far, no problems! And if there is a problem, it will cost 50 cents to replace . . .
PacoWarabi 3 years ago
thats what is so nice about a cat stove. Easy to make, easy to replace, they are cheap and weigh next to nothing.
NCHiker1970 3 years ago