Ion Stove

[HikingFool]

I just built an Ion stove that Sgt. Rock has on this great site.

This was the first stove I have ever built but it works like a charm.

I did a non scientific test and here are the results.
Ion stove
WalMart grease pot
Denatured alcohol
1 1/2 cups of tap water

I don't know the temp of the water (it was straight from the tap) and I don't know exactly how much alcohol was used. It was about two capfuls from the quart can of alcohol. The pot was 1/2" from the stove and had the lid on. I was in my kitchen and there was no windscreen used (I haven't built it yet). The water was boiling in @ 5 minutes 15 seconds. It may have been a bit quicker than that but that is when I heard it and lifted the lid. I was pleasently surprised because I figured that it would have taken longer since it had taken about 10 minutes in Sgt. Rock's tests. I know he was using 1/2 cup more water which would add a bit to the boiling time but I didn't figure that it would cut it in half.

This is a great little stove and I would like to thank everyone that has had a hand in the design, testing and improving of these alcohol stoves. You can't beat a stove that has a weight of 3/8 oz with pot stand and cost next to nothing.

HikingFool

[HikingFool]

Just an update to my original post.

I could reproduce my finding with the Ion stove. I like its design for being small and super light but I have more Pepsi cans around than V8 so I started making Pepsi can stoves.

On 20ml of fuel I can get 2 cups of tap water to boil in about 4:30 with burnout about 6:00 or so. I can see how one can get addicted on tinkering with these things :)

HikingFool
(Hoping to get a real trail name one of these days)

[kank]

I'm not trying to burst your bubble, but are you sure that you're achieving a true boil?

As Sgt Rock himself found out (read some of his earlier stove articles), obvious bubbling begins @175F. To measure boiling times, one must have a thermometer to determine when water reaches 212F or corrected boiling point at your pressure/altitude (I generally call it close enough at 211F, but not for scientific results).

It's not truly important to know exactly how long the boil time is, but this may be why your results seemed surprising in comparison to Sgt Rock's Ion. Personally, I've never managed to match Sgt Rock's Ion fuel efficiency results, but I don't doubt his measurements because he's learned how to collect accurate results since he started experimenting with these stoves.

Good luck with the stove and happy hiking!!
-kank

[HikingFool]

I realize that I may not be getting a true 212F boil but it is a rolling boil (not just bubbles on the bottom). I haven't been as scientific as Sgt. Rock as I don't have a thermometer to measure the true temp.

I also just noticed an error in my second post. I meant to say I could not reproduce my findings with the ion stove. I haven't tested it anymore but I'm sure Sgt. Rock's numbers are correct (not that I was ever doubting him in the first place).

I'm just having fun playing.

HikingFool

[blackdog]

Sgt Rock writes that he built the ion stove like the turboV8, but that he changed the holes. How were the holes made and how many did he do?

[grit]

Sgt Rock made his ion with fiberglass insulation. Did your stove perform well with the use of denatured alcohol instead?

thx
grit

[HikingFool]

Grit,

I put fiberglass insulation in all my stoves. I have only used denatured alcohol so I can't compare it to other types of fuel.

HikingFool

[grit]

Fool: In StoveStomper's website, he details plans for an Altoids stove using Perlite rather than fiberglass. Any opinions on which would be best in the ion stove?

[HikingFool]

I read somewhere that someone tried to use perlite in a Pepsi can stove and it was too much bother. I think they said it crumbled too much.

I've only made a couple of the V8 can stoves because I don't like V8 but I've made about 25 Pepsi can stoves so far and I find fiberglass easy to work with. BTW If you want a stove I sell them for cheap :) I also make the windscreen/pot stand like shown on StoveStomper's site.

HikingFool

[JRiker]

i used perlite in my modified penny/pepsi can stove and it worked great. took longer to boil but was more efficient in the long run. numbers posted in this homemade gear page just recently.