Don Diego Ultralight Alcohol Stove

[ianrsigel]

Bet it would work even better if you removed the cigar from the tube first. :)

[TheLimbReaper]

Nice fabrication there with the wire. I bet that would be Monica Lewinsky's prefered stove if she we to backpack lol.

[J0Gu7]

awsome

[afterthefox7]

cant take the money to the cemetery.

[strahdvonhessing]

cumbersome at best

[MikeofWyoming]

4 stars for your creativity!

[PaulWebb84]

Thank you so much for your help. I need a few more questions answered. How much does 1 esbit tablet weigh?

[FriarTuck1961]

Oh, I like to help. I think I can answer most of your questions.

Each Esbit tablet weighs 0.55 oz (15g) Including the bubble pack it is sealed in.

I'll send you some more info about fuels along with consummations and equivalents that I and others have observed too.

Lets start using personal messages so I can send links and more detailed answers.

[PaulWebb84]

Would be hard to make an effective wind screen for it.

[FriarTuck1961]

I use an aluminum foil wind screen. It's pretty easy to size it to the system.

[PaulWebb84]

How would you rate the "tea light" stove system? The cigar tube?

[FriarTuck1961]

The Don Diego is slower to boil than all of the tea light stoves I make. It was a useful engineering experiment that worked out pretty well. A tea light is a much less fragile stove. You can crush a tea light and then bend it back, plus it is cheaper for most folks to make.

I think the my Wallet Stove is currently the best all around stove. Simple, easy to construct, uses a variety of fuels and fuel cups. I plan to make more Wallet type stoves out of steel incorporating a wind screen.

[PaulWebb84]

Sorry. I'm a bit new to stoves. Does the Esbit (white cube) leave any residue?

[FriarTuck1961]

Esbit and hexamine tablets do leave a residue on the bottom of your pot and the stove. Some folks don't mind the residue due to the advantages of solid fuel. The main advantage is - no flammable alcohol soaked camping gear

Methanol and ethanol (denatured alcohol and yellow Heet) do not generally leave a residue and are the preferred fuel for alcohol stoves

Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol or red Heet) also leaves a residue. Isopropyl is a rotten fuel for stoves because it contains water

[PaulWebb84]

Me and my brother were arguing over the pros and cons over alcohol and the esbit tablets, is it possible to blow out the esbit after your water has boiled and reuse what is left again later? I read on your wallet stove that it burns for 11:13 seconds but boils water in 6:35 so you could almost boil two 16oz jobs, right?

[FriarTuck1961]

Yes, Esbit can be extinguished and the remainder used again. Esbit is also marked with segments so you can break the tabs into half or quarter segments.

This will definitely increase the quantity of water boiled by your Esbit fuel supply instead of allowing the excess to burn away..

[PacoWarabi]

Brilliant! I especially liked the stand. I may have to try something similar.  How do you fill the tube?

[FriarTuck1961]

Thanks Paco,

The stove has a screw cap on one end. I tilt the tube with the holes up and fill it with a small flip top fuel bottle.

An ink cartridge syringe can be used if you prefer to permanently seal the screw end..

[SthealthRaider]

FRIGGIN nice!! keep going whit te good work!

[FriarTuck1961]

Thanks SthealthRaider.

I appreciate your opinion.

[MrBillTroop73]

Wow, nice work!

I made a cigar tube stove some years ago, but, of course, the lid leaked and I didnt persue it.

Great Job!

Bill

[FriarTuck1961]

Thanks Bill

I had the same problem at first. I ended up using diluted GE silicone II caulk to pour a sealing membrane in the cap. I let it cure before assembling the stove

Oddly enough, it is the same recipe I use to seam seal my home made silnylon tarps.

[MrBillTroop73]

Great idea.

I moved on to copper tube, and something I called the "F - Rocket" stove, which eventually I layed down sideways and called it the "Bill Bomb" stove.

I like your ideas

Bill

[hogshead50]

It is a very interesting stove, it gives me an idea.Thanks for the inspiration.

[CATmover1]

Hey that was awesome. I really like the "story" timeline.

5/5 and fav.

Ed

[FriarTuck1961]

Thanks Ed

I appreciate your opinion.

[benniblueyes]

Hi !

Good idea and nice aesthetic ;-)

Excellent job...

[FriarTuck1961]

Hi Maurizio!

Thanks for all of your beautiful stove videos.

[RJBURG]

Now thats nice i love the pot stand.was there a wick in tube or just alcohol.

[FriarTuck1961]

Robert, it is just alcohol and it needs a small priming pan This is the second pot stand I made for it. The original was roof flashing.

Interestingly enough the gasket for the lid was the biggest issue. The original gasket was cork . I ended up casting a gasket directly in the lid using GE Silicone II diluted 2:1 with mineral spirits. The new gasket took 3 days to cure.

[NCHiker1970]

Awsome! I like this idea. This shows that a little teamwork and influence from others gets our creativity moving. Outstanding job on the stove and I hope the Cigar was good! (its not a Santa Clara Cigar but at least you get a tube with yours)

[FriarTuck1961]

Drak, I really appreciate the videos that you and all of the other outdoor gear inventors post. They inspire many of us to build our own gear. Many thanks!

The cigar was pretty good. I'll pick up a Santa Clara next time I'm at the smoke shop.

[NCHiker1970]

Thanks for the compliment and I hope you enjoy the Santa Clara(most think its a bit harsh)

[wildlifeed]

Great idea, Great evolution, and great video. Thanks for sharing!! Cheers, Ed

[FriarTuck1961]

Thanks Ed

I remember very well lugging that 2+ pound Propane monster through the woods 15 years ago..