@@168Diplomat I don't know why my answer was deleted. Is it because I referred to my channel where I show hot tent camping? Anyways, I do hot camping a lot, it's my favorite winter activity.
I was told by my Sgt Major many,many years ago that the reason Heximine gives off such noxious, smelly fumes is that when Heximine was first being used in the Korean War it was unscented and because of the extremely cold weather troops were using their cookers inside their dugouts. This resulted in carbon monoxide poisoning of those in the dugout. That's why the infamous smell was added , as a safety factor.
Interesting. I made the mistake of trying to make some coffee in my pup-tent with trioxane tabs when I was in the Army. It had a very similar affect as CS. Burning nostrils and eyes! Never made that mistake again. I have also seen soldiers burn themselves by picking up a burning tad. The flame is nearly invisible.
I think that fishy smell is a property of any hexamine fuel tablet. Old Soviet and new Russian-made tablets smells the same. No additional odorant needed. :) And yes, DO NOT burn hexamine (or any fuel at all) in a closed volume of air.
When working in the Army refueling Helicopters out in the field, we took C-ration can made vents using P38 can opener, poured dirt inside can and put Jet fuel in it, worked great for heating our meals.
I just did the dried egg shell and vinegar method to make calcium acetate...now I just need to filter it, and boil it down to about 1/2 volume then mix with some alcohol! I ended up making 9 dz eggs for pickled eggs, took shells put on cookie sheet in oven set to lowest temp it would run for a few hours...then put shells in "the bullet" and powdered them...25gr powdered shells per 100ml of 5% vinegar(I actually doubled it)...let foaming stop, filter...boil down to 1/2 volume...then mix alcohol straight into the liquid...instant gelled alcohol :)
Great recipe! I use Coghlans fuel tabs which don't have the fumes of the Esbit tabs. But in the tent, I use tea candles. I've added aluminum reflector plates to fill in the side gaps of my folding Esbit stove to reduce wind and keep heat under cooking pan. Peace
I use Coghlan's fuel tabs, they are top notch, especially for the price! I've never tried to cook with tea candles. I will have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing the tip!
Yeah, those were the days! Merry Christmas Kid! Here's A Box Of Chemicals, Go Blow Something Up! Hahahahahaaaaa!!!!! Thank you, I can't get over how easy, cost effective and efficient this stuff is. Have a great weekend!
Home depot has 30% vinegar, and the feed store has crushed oyster shells. This stuff comes out so concentrated, crystals grow everywhere! Doing it right now👍
I imagine that spreading the fuel over the bottom of the Altoids tin would even out the heat and also minimize the unburned fuel. It could be interesting to do a side-by-side comparison of this product and the Perlite version.
spreading the fuel out will minimize unburnt fuel but also shorten burn time so you will need to use slightly more fuel to account for the larger surface area
Wow, did not know this until YT recommended your video. This would also make an easy fire starter. Put a tablespoon of gel under some tinder and away you go!
Thank You! I agree, it would make a great fire starter. TH-cam is a fickle beast as far as channel visibility goes. I'm glad they recommended my channel and I hope you find a dew more of my videos that you like.
I just squirt a little hand sanitizer on a crumpled paper towel under my tinder. Great fire starter. My new favorite. It's just basically alcohol and gel.
"...That's the Berries" I'm gonna borrow that! Also, I think lastic might be better than mason jar lids on this one. I would be worried about rust. Great recipe! Thank you. Seems like with 2 heaping tablespoons you can really cook an egg and a can of soup. That's amazing.
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! You'll need to play with the amount you need for different items you cook. Altitude and temperature will be factors that can affect burn time and heat.
You can also get glass mason jar lids. They have a metal screw, that can often be removed when your food is vacuum sealed, but should stay on in this case.
When I was ten years old I got a model working steam engine for Christmas. It used tiny cans of Sterno as fuel, and actually made steam. It took a little too long for the impatient child that I was, so since I already knew that fire needed air, I experimented with altering the vents that let air into the “firebox”. I found that enlarging them didn’t help, but constricting them with aluminum foil did. I didn’t keep notes but I did find the optimum vent sizes to get steam quicker, though it used up the Sterno faster too. I’ve never used solid fuel stoves myself because a friend used one in my presence and it stank as you say. I bet that if you fiddled with the openings on that stove using aluminum foil you could get it to easily boil water in under ten minutes.
I suggest that if you think the older fuel is too loose, you might be able to tighten it up by adding more Calcium Acetate. You would have to experiment as to the proper amount because it's augmenting already produced fuel but it should firm it up.
I made my own solid fuel stove that uses cardboard and candlewax. I have an aluminium folding fire surround for using it outside too. I made it from a travel sweets (candy) tin and an offcut block of wood. I upgraded it the other day to use cardboard and recycled candlewax, as yet untested.
Good explanation of the process. I’ve made my own gel fuel using acetone and styrofoam and it’s fine for outdoors but this would be better for rainy days in the tent. It seems that using a second altoids tin as a spacer would get the heat closer to the pot Have you tried using a tin with the lid still attached and closing the lid to extinguish the flame for conserving fuel once the flame is no longer needed? Great video.
Mixing the calcium with white vinegar (instead of water) and then boiling off about half of the residual volume (water content), this makes calcium acetate, before adding the alcohol, will give a better mix. Also, plain white chalk will be almost pure calcium carbonate, and is easily crushed in a mortar, or you can dissolve limestone in the vinegar to make the calcium acetate.
I love how you turned that Esbit solid fuel stove into a multifuel stove! You can use twigs, alcohol, and possibly propane or butane. Want to test the stove on how it does with a gas canister?
The key issue/impediment is the depth of the actual stove section. It is quite shallow and finding a gas burner to fit in it may be very difficult to impossible. Using the provided stove may not be very effective as a twig stove as there is only one opening to provide oxygen to feed the flame. Also being aluminum, the intense heat of an uncontained flame in the stove could cause metal fatigue and shorten the lifespan of the stove.
Am from UK 🇬🇧 what I use is something very similar But what I did to get a full surface heat was cut up old bean can's in strips 50mm with a foot section 2 of them next to each other with 4mm distance for carbon felt then used old battery for fusion weld the tabs down then put some alcohol in stove burns brilliant felt never burns away you can use cooking oils But may need little help from alcohol to start it very easy to make
The calcium is also good for putting on your garden at the end ofna grow season to help replenish the soil. 😁 Never thought of using some as a wick though
We raise laying hens and we always throw our egg shells in the compost. At the end of Fall we put a layer of the compost over our soil. After tilling in the Spring you can barely see a recognizable egg shell. So I guess I've been adding calcium acetate to my garden for years and never ever thought about it. I guess Bob Ross would call that a "Happy Accident"! I'm no chemist, had it not been for watching Hiram Cook's video, I never would have known about it. Hiram hasn't posted a video in 7 years. He is a GURU with DIY camp stoves and fuels. If you haven't checked his channel out, It's well worth your time. www.youtube.com/@MrHiramCook/featured
I still have my old Sterno stove that I got in the 1980s during my first tour in the Marine Corps at 29 Palms Ca along with a couple of canteen cups that I used for everything
Shortcut to this, grind some egg shells, mix them with vinegar, wait for it to bubble up, strain through a coffee filter. There you have it, calcium acetate + water. Then mix in the alcohol, preferably food grade ethyl alcohol so it's non toxic.
@@GofuKyersenyour message got me curious, and in a random chemistry reddit thread, found this: "Calcium acetate itself will decompose only at about 400 C, releasing acetone, and leaving behind insoluble calcium carbonate, that is white". Ethyl alcohol flame has about ~1920 °C (~3500F). I don't think there will be anything reusable left, except powdered eggshells (calcium carbonate). Which I guess could be re-mixed with vinegar, until it bubbles up again, strained, mixed again with alcohol. I might even try to do this, one of these days, to see what happens.
Love it and I scanned the comments to see if you referred to how many TBSP it took to make the 2/3 quart Gel. What I am thinking if making a Quart or maybe near a Gallon. I have friends who bushcraft and making little jars of it sounds like a great gift idea. But I don't want to make tiny amounts at a time, rather make a large amount an just scoop and seal. I think you get the idea. Doing the math I think I am right for 1 full QT (or near that), I am thinking 2 cups Distilled Water (4 to a qt), 1 Cup Calcium Acetate and 4 Tbsp of Denatured Alcohol?
l love it ! . im glad i stumbled across your channel . im saving this one lol . being i make alcohol now and then its a perfect combo . thanks for sharing take care
I had a hard time seeing you at first because you perfectly melded in with the backround camo Great info, gonna try making tomorrow for uocoming winter camp trip
You and I think alike! I tried that, yet it did not work on it's own, it only clumped up. I then tried scooping out the clumps and adding more solution, but it just made it more watery. It still burns great, just doesn't have the consistency it did before.
What I did with the batch I made I either added cotton balls, or the kitty litter that’s looks like goose turds. 3D Printed 2x2x1” cubs with TPU seal top. Place either cotton ball or kitty litter on containers. Fuel becomes more like the solid tablets.
Adding gelatin (or probably agar, too) to the water and acetate helps it set up better. Adding a little lamp oil, Zippo lighter fluid to the alcohol helps it burn hotter. I have no idea about ratios, but we used it to refill our Sterno containers in Boy Scouts, back in the '70's, when Sterno was common for backpacking. (Those Sterno cans fit inside old soda cans perfectly, so you could make stove stands easily.) I remember adding too much fuel could ruin an entire batch and it wouldn't set up.
Very cool.....excellent idea for backpack or hunting backpack emergency fire starter. Can you order smaller containers of the Calcium Acetate? Do you have a link for the Calcium?
This video is great. I did not know you could make your own fuel. Can you make the step by step video with the eggs shells. I have tons of egg shells. II use them on my garden. Now i know i can make fuel.
Interesting. Thanks for demo'ing the gelled alcohol method. I don't believe you ever stated WHY one would prefer gelled alcohol. In my backcountry experience, typically at 10,000 ft ASL, I get 12 oz of water to boil w/ just straight denatured alcohol in 10 minutes... which is how long the alcohol lasts, coincidentally. So why gel? Does it carry well in the backcountry, i.e. it doesn't need refrigeration, right? So, why? Thanks.
I do not use the gelled alcohol to boil water. I use it to cook with (frying, and sauteing) as the heat produced is lower than straight denatured alcohol.
Why does it need to be gel'd? I've made alcohol stoves out of beer cans that use just alcohol, and they seem to work just fine. What is the advantage of gel?
The intensity of the flame is much lower that pure alcohol. I made this gel and my perlite stove specifically for my Esbit rectangular cook set. most alcohol burners will not fit with enough room to burn properly. I use my perlite alcohol stove to boil water and my gelled alcohol fuel to cook with. PERFECT amount of heat to fry, sauté', without scorching or burning. It works better than my Trangia burner with simmer ring. That's why I use gelled alcohol and I made it because I wanted the experience of doing it and it's cheaper than Sterno, the closest manufactured equivalent.
@@boonedockery7220 Still, no clear reason to use gelled alcohol. Only that you use it. So what is the advantage of using gelled alcohol? I don't see one.
I'm going to make some of this stuff, but I will use Chalk to make my gel fuel. I will use a old Stainless Steel 1/4 measuring cup to hold the fuel. Nice, but how do you transport it in small portions, to burn in your stove? Can you freeze it into say cubes? And then wrap in foil or plastic?
From what I can tell, Hiram is no longer active on youtube. I think he died but I don’t know that for certain. He had a great channel and I learned a lot from him. Thanks for putting this one together
That would be sad, if he has passed. He was a wealth of knowledge! I'll see if I can find some Hiram masterpieces to bring to newer audiences (giving him full credit of course!).
Brother John, we see a new side to you. Didn't know that you were a chemist. I find this new to me fuel to be intriguing and much better than any solid fuel I have ever used. I agree with you that solid fuel is smelly and makes a mess of the cook pot, but it is convenient to carry. And speaking of carrying, how do you transport this conveniently? Inquiring minds want to know! Great teaching video my friend!
Thank You Brother David! I have a large bin filled with all kinds of recycled containers. I used one shaped like a giant test tube with a screw on cap. it was perfect to cook two meals with.
If you want to burn alcohol in your tent buy the indoor stove type. No poisonous fumes. Any other type of denatured alcohol is dangerous to breathe or drink. Of course Everclear would also work
I found your video of much interest. Some years ago I came across a video illustrating the making of solid fuel cells using kieselguhr and methanol but as this was on no interest to me at the time I did not a note of the instructions. I am now interested in the solid fuel cell due to the cost of cooking gas having insanely gone up in the third world country where I live. Would you know of this method and the proportions, the type of container etc etc. I hope you will be able to help me out.
To be perfectly honest, I've not used it in extreme cold. I would suspect it might firm up in the storage container, however not enough to prevent it from being scooped out. Alcohol burners like Trangia's (my personal favorite) when used in winter have to heat up enough to gasify the alcohol. Alcohol doesn't burn as hot as white gas, so that preheating period takes a little time. Once it's gasified, it works perfectly normal just like in warmer environments. Some people use a small dish to set the burner in. They pour a little alcohol in the dish with the burner and ignite it. The alcohol burning around the burner heats it up faster in order to gasify the alcohol quicker. I personally don't mind waiting. The Calcium Acetate acts as a wicking material and doesn't necessitate gasification so it "should" work fine. I would definitely use a good 360degree windshield to maximize fuel efficiency. Have a great weekend!
I'm wondering if this would work with high test ethanol, so you could safely roast marshmallows over the flame. Might not get as hot, I have no clue, but would be plenty satisfying the kids when the location won't allow an open fire.
It appears that it is most effective and very simple thank you very much for the chemistry lesson. In the words of a cook I used to watch, and for the life of me his name escapes me, don't cut yourself don't burn yourself I see you and it is not Justin Trudeau, at least I think that was the name of that Cajun Cook. I think you put a link to those green containers that you have there in the last video you did so I'm going to check otherwise I wish you would send me a link to them I love those things. Thanks for the video brother. PS you must not have had any bloopers this time
The Cajun Cook was Justin Wilson. I LOVED His cooking program! It was on our local PBS channel for years. Here's the link for the fuel bottles. amzn.to/3q3jzxq I actually didn't have time to edit a blooper segment, I'll try to get one for the next one for you! Have a great weekend Brother!
@@boonedockery7220 that's right it was on PBS, thanks for jogging my memory. I went back to your previous video and you did put a link and I did go and get me a couple of those I love those things and thanks for the link you put in this comment. There is great changes in store for me, I may tell you about it here before too long. I will have a good time this weekend and I certainly hope you do too.
@@boonedockery7220 My family and I look forward to viewing more of your videos and putting them to use in these coming days. May God bless you in all that you endeavor to do, my friend. ✝️
Your option to get out of your tent in the rain is called a tarp. Fer instance, an A frame or plow point configuration with your tent door snugged up to it works well. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
Now if I could find 2 or 3 liter prepops worth the money, to carry the gel. They always charge more than a full bottle of soda, for the unpopped bottle blank!
I watched your perlite video and was intrigued with the possibilities. Have you or anyone else tried combining the perlite method WITH the gelled fuel??? What would happen? Is there anything to be gained there? I was hoping that using both together might give you a more consistent, longer lasting flame?
you should see if it's possible to recycle the calcium that is left over from the gel after you burn it. that would be great and i think it might just work
Eggshells are composed of calcium carbonate - NOT acetate! Also if cooking inside your tent, only use methanol as it burns clean giving off no harmful C02 gases.
a) the vinegar turns calcium carbonate into calcium acetate. b) every time you burn hydro-carbons, you get H2O (water) and CO2, if enough oxygen gets to it - if not, it will be H2O and CO (highly toxic) or H2O and C (soot), turning the clear or white steam into grey smoke. CO2 isn't harmful, it's the same gas you find in bubbling beverages, beer and champagne. Shouldn't have skipped that in school to comment here !
Not at all! No more than any alcohol stove. It burns super clean, no smoke, and cleans up easily with a wet cloth once you dump out the powder. The gelled Sterno I use to use actually does have an odor, it smells like Sterno even when burning.
*Use a Catalytic Stove to avoid Carbon Monoxide poisoning.* You can attach your own wire cage extension to the existing wire cage they come with, so that you can put a cook pot over the clean heat. I have even heated a whole house that way for an entire winter with a Mr Heater Buddy and their extension hose to a 20-pound propane tank, enough for about 3 days of heating on the low heat setting. That heater is designed to be used even inside a tent, but it does need a bit of fresh air coming in since the combustion uses up oxygen in the air, as well as producing Carbon Dioxide that must be vented occasionally. I kept a 16-quart stainless steel pot half-full of water on a low boil the whole winter (which was very handy), and *none of the heat or humidity was wasted through venting, because the house itself was leaking air.* If possible, arrange to fasten the stove and even the pot to a wall, because you don't want it to tip over and spill. The Mr Heater Buddy will switch off automatically if it tips over, but it stays quite hot for several minutes and you don't want it to ignite anything combustible in the area. *Also, use a CO detector just in case, because you really can kill yourself and your whole family with Carbon Monoxide poisoning.*
I am curious if you could add alcohol to the used portion left in the tin to make another batch. In other words can the used mixture be reconstituted, or does the calcium get damaged in the fire.
I'm sure there's a reason and an explanation that I have not found - why you don't make a larger batch. Have you used any type of blending tool such as an egg Blender?
I could definitely do that. The batches I've made really last a long time, and storage space is at a premium in my garage. "IF" I'm able to retire soon and do the channel full time, I'd be going though a lot more of the gell which will necessitate larger batches
Thank You! I am a 95% visual learner! I can read about how to do something twelve times before I get it right. Show me how to do it, then let me do it, then I've got it!
I have a couple questions for all you experienced folks. Can I increase the volume of material, but keep the ratios the same, to make a larger batch at once, or is there a reason to mix up smaller batches? Can the left over calcium acetate be reused after the burn, to recycle into a new batch? I’m just learning about all this and have already purchased all three ingredients. I haven’t mixed anything yet. Thanks in advance!!
Yes, you can make large batches providing you keep the proportions. I have never tried to reuse the calcium acetate. I would recommend making a small batch first, then go for the 55 Gallon batch!
Another great example of creative means to find alternatives to solid fuel tabs. I have always carried Esbit tablets for emergency situations,but like you I hate the smell. Just wondering if you have made any gel fuel using isopropyl alcohol? The lower toxicity and lower cost are reasons I have wanted to use it, but I have not yet made any due to my medical issues. Stay well
I have experimented with isopropyl alcohol as a fuel source. The biggest issue I have with it (and I honestly can figure it out) is it creates a lot of soot. Even the ultra high alcohol content version creates a lot of soot. It burns very hot, but very dirty, so I haven't tried it as a gelled fuel. Prayers for healing my friend!
@@boonedockery7220 Makes sense. The sooty residue is a constant problem. My idea for an isopropyl burner is based off the belief that the soot is a result incomplete combustion of the extra carbon atoms in the isopropyl vs ethanol. So my guess would be to try to make it easier for the isopropyl to burn. And in that regard I would like to try an open burner, like a fancy feast can, a wick like carbon felt or fiberglass and a metal mesh screen to keep it all together. The wick will help with the combustion of the vapor from burning of the isopropyl and the screen will increase the amount of thermal feedback. My thoughts are that it will help with full combustion and reduce soot. I’d also try it with out the screen but drop the height of the burner to being only a half inch above the burner. But just a theory. Check out Flat Cat Gear. They sell an isopropyl burner.
@@boonedockery7220can you try it with yellow heet. It doesn't leave soot with alcohol stoves and the alcohol does. So not for sure if it will mix with the other ingredients.
Wondering if a pure powdered soap like (I think) Lux pure soap flakes would also work to make a variation of this gelled alcohol. I think the soap flakes would burn and likely absorb alcohol. Not sure how it would release the energy.
Never eat in your tent. Bear safety rule number 1. Also, never have anything burning in your tent.
I will pin your comment. Thanks for the advice!
@@boonedockery7220 Thank you.
Never stayed in a hot tent have you?
We don't have bears in the UK, so no, it is not a problem
@@168Diplomat I don't know why my answer was deleted. Is it because I referred to my channel where I show hot tent camping?
Anyways, I do hot camping a lot, it's my favorite winter activity.
I was told by my Sgt Major many,many years ago that the reason Heximine gives off such noxious, smelly fumes is that when Heximine was first being used in the Korean War it was unscented and because of the extremely cold weather troops were using their cookers inside their dugouts. This resulted in carbon monoxide poisoning of those in the dugout. That's why the infamous smell was added , as a safety factor.
Interesting. I made the mistake of trying to make some coffee in my pup-tent with trioxane tabs when I was in the Army. It had a very similar affect as CS. Burning nostrils and eyes! Never made that mistake again. I have also seen soldiers burn themselves by picking up a burning tad. The flame is nearly invisible.
Same reason the gas we cook on (in the Netherlands at least) has an added and distinct smell to it, safety!
Hexamine naturally produces formaldehyde in any mildly acidic environment, such as if it touched your skin or got any food on it.
I think that fishy smell is a property of any hexamine fuel tablet. Old Soviet and new Russian-made tablets smells the same. No additional odorant needed. :)
And yes, DO NOT burn hexamine (or any fuel at all) in a closed volume of air.
Looks like good SHTF barter material... Mix batches into 1 pint Mason Jars with set of instructions and trade away.
It's midnight and I should be sleeping, but no, I need to watch how to make gelled alcohol which just popped up on my feed 😂
Hahahaaaaa!!!!! Well, we gotta do what we gotta do! Hahahaaaaaa!!!! Thanks for watching!
I call it the "just one more" fallacy.
When working in the Army refueling Helicopters out in the field, we took C-ration can made vents using P38 can opener, poured dirt inside can and put Jet fuel in it, worked great for heating our meals.
That's Awesome!!!!! I love "Old School Can Do" Hacks!!!! Thank you VERY MUCH for sharing this!!!!!
Thanks
Well, shoot! ‘Fresh out of JET FUEL! 😂😂😂😊
Jet fuel is just highly refined kerosene
77 FOXTROT? Me too. But we never ate C-Rats in the field. With cases of beer, there was no room for them!
I just did the dried egg shell and vinegar method to make calcium acetate...now I just need to filter it, and boil it down to about 1/2 volume then mix with some alcohol!
I ended up making 9 dz eggs for pickled eggs, took shells put on cookie sheet in oven set to lowest temp it would run for a few hours...then put shells in "the bullet" and powdered them...25gr powdered shells per 100ml of 5% vinegar(I actually doubled it)...let foaming stop, filter...boil down to 1/2 volume...then mix alcohol straight into the liquid...instant gelled alcohol :)
AWESOME!!!!! Did you post a video?????? This is on my list of things to do! Thank You!
What quantity of alcohol to vinegar solution please?
@@67wing umm...it's in the video I found on YT...unfortunately...I don't remember
th-cam.com/users/results?search_query=gelled+alcohol
Great recipe! I use Coghlans fuel tabs which don't have the fumes of the Esbit tabs. But in the tent, I use tea candles. I've added aluminum reflector plates to fill in the side gaps of my folding Esbit stove to reduce wind and keep heat under cooking pan. Peace
I use Coghlan's fuel tabs, they are top notch, especially for the price! I've never tried to cook with tea candles. I will have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing the tip!
Pretty cool. Putting a lid on your pot will help it boil faster. Great demonstrations!
Reminds me of working with my "chemistry set" when I was a kid. Very cool video.
Yeah, those were the days! Merry Christmas Kid! Here's A Box Of Chemicals, Go Blow Something Up! Hahahahahaaaaa!!!!! Thank you, I can't get over how easy, cost effective and efficient this stuff is. Have a great weekend!
Home depot has 30% vinegar, and the feed store has crushed oyster shells. This stuff comes out so concentrated, crystals grow everywhere! Doing it right now👍
I want to thank you for this video yours is the best and most exact instructions on how to make this stuff on TH-cam that I could find.
Thank You! I get lucky once in a while!
1967, U.S. Army, Germany, winter, guard duty. we burned denatured alcohol to stay warm in the guard shack.
Can’t believe all the drama. Thanks for showing this. It’s very useful.
Tell me about it..... I am grateful you appreciate the information!
A correction, the ash will be calcium oxide, the acitate being burned off. Throw it into vinegar to make more calcium acitate.
I imagine that spreading the fuel over the bottom of the Altoids tin would even out the heat and also minimize the unburned fuel. It could be interesting to do a side-by-side comparison of this product and the Perlite version.
I think I'll do that. Someone else asked me to do a side by side comparison of the perlite with a Trangia burner as well. It's on my List!
Gel seems like it would be more of a controlled burn!!!
@@boonedockery7220 I think a combined calcium acetate AND Perlite might be the way to prevent spills in even old mix.
spreading the fuel out will minimize unburnt fuel but also shorten burn time so you will need to use slightly more fuel to account for the larger surface area
Wow, did not know this until YT recommended your video. This would also make an easy fire starter. Put a tablespoon of gel under some tinder and away you go!
Thank You! I agree, it would make a great fire starter. TH-cam is a fickle beast as far as channel visibility goes. I'm glad they recommended my channel and I hope you find a dew more of my videos that you like.
I just squirt a little hand sanitizer on a crumpled paper towel under my tinder. Great fire starter. My new favorite. It's just basically alcohol and gel.
Excellent. Now I can refill those surplus swiss M71 stoves. Thanks for sharing !
Perfect!!!!
"...That's the Berries"
I'm gonna borrow that!
Also, I think lastic might be better than mason jar lids on this one. I would be worried about rust.
Great recipe! Thank you.
Seems like with 2 heaping tablespoons you can really cook an egg and a can of soup. That's amazing.
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! You'll need to play with the amount you need for different items you cook. Altitude and temperature will be factors that can affect burn time and heat.
You can get plastic lids
You can also get glass mason jar lids. They have a metal screw, that can often be removed when your food is vacuum sealed, but should stay on in this case.
there are plastic lids with silicone seals and also aluminum lids (no rust) with silicone seals sold separately.
When I was ten years old I got a model working steam engine for Christmas. It used tiny cans of Sterno as fuel, and actually made steam. It took a little too long for the impatient child that I was, so since I already knew that fire needed air, I experimented with altering the vents that let air into the “firebox”. I found that enlarging them didn’t help, but constricting them with aluminum foil did. I didn’t keep notes but I did find the optimum vent sizes to get steam quicker, though it used up the Sterno faster too.
I’ve never used solid fuel stoves myself because a friend used one in my presence and it stank as you say. I bet that if you fiddled with the openings on that stove using aluminum foil you could get it to easily boil water in under ten minutes.
I will have to experiment with this theory. Thanks for sharing it!
I suggest that if you think the older fuel is too loose, you might be able to tighten it up by adding more Calcium Acetate. You would have to experiment as to the proper amount because it's augmenting already produced fuel but it should firm it up.
I tried that with little success. I don't mind to sloppy batch too much. It still burns but just a little hotter until the liquid alcohol burns off.
I used to mix green mentholated rubbing alcohol and packs of clear gelatin mix in the home canning section to make my own sterno style fuel.
Very Cool!
I made my own solid fuel stove that uses cardboard and candlewax. I have an aluminium folding fire surround for using it outside too. I made it from a travel sweets (candy) tin and an offcut block of wood. I upgraded it the other day to use cardboard and recycled candlewax, as yet untested.
VERY COOL!!!!
The problem with cardboard and wax firebox is the time for it to cool down to pack it away. Plus, there is high smoke and suet on pots.
Good explanation of the process. I’ve made my own gel fuel using acetone and styrofoam and it’s fine for outdoors but this would be better for rainy days in the tent. It seems that using a second altoids tin as a spacer would get the heat closer to the pot Have you tried using a tin with the lid still attached and closing the lid to extinguish the flame for conserving fuel once the flame is no longer needed? Great video.
I made this specifically for my rectangular Esbit cook set. The space between the pot and flame is near perfect.
Mixing the calcium with white vinegar (instead of water) and then boiling off about half of the residual volume (water content), this makes calcium acetate, before adding the alcohol, will give a better mix.
Also, plain white chalk will be almost pure calcium carbonate, and is easily crushed in a mortar, or you can dissolve limestone in the vinegar to make the calcium acetate.
Thanks, I will have to look into that!
I love how you turned that Esbit solid fuel stove into a multifuel stove! You can use twigs, alcohol, and possibly propane or butane. Want to test the stove on how it does with a gas canister?
The key issue/impediment is the depth of the actual stove section. It is quite shallow and finding a gas burner to fit in it may be very difficult to impossible. Using the provided stove may not be very effective as a twig stove as there is only one opening to provide oxygen to feed the flame. Also being aluminum, the intense heat of an uncontained flame in the stove could cause metal fatigue and shorten the lifespan of the stove.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I can't wait to try it out myself.
My Pleasure! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Am from UK 🇬🇧 what I use is something very similar
But what I did to get a full surface heat
was cut up
old bean can's in strips 50mm with a foot section 2 of them next to each other with 4mm distance for carbon felt then used old battery for fusion weld the tabs down then put some alcohol in stove burns brilliant felt never burns away
you can use cooking oils But may need
little help from alcohol to start it very easy to make
Very cool! Thanks for sharing this!
The calcium is also good for putting on your garden at the end ofna grow season to help replenish the soil. 😁
Never thought of using some as a wick though
We raise laying hens and we always throw our egg shells in the compost. At the end of Fall we put a layer of the compost over our soil. After tilling in the Spring you can barely see a recognizable egg shell. So I guess I've been adding calcium acetate to my garden for years and never ever thought about it. I guess Bob Ross would call that a "Happy Accident"!
I'm no chemist, had it not been for watching Hiram Cook's video, I never would have known about it. Hiram hasn't posted a video in 7 years. He is a GURU with DIY camp stoves and fuels. If you haven't checked his channel out, It's well worth your time. www.youtube.com/@MrHiramCook/featured
I still have my old Sterno stove that I got in the 1980s during my first tour in the Marine Corps at 29 Palms Ca along with a couple of canteen cups that I used for everything
I had one of those too! I have no idea what happened to it?????
I would like to seeing you do it with the eggshells maybe next video mate, thanks Graham
Shortcut to this, grind some egg shells, mix them with vinegar, wait for it to bubble up, strain through a coffee filter. There you have it, calcium acetate + water. Then mix in the alcohol, preferably food grade ethyl alcohol so it's non toxic.
THANK YOU!!!!!
So is the calcium acetate reusable? If so it seems to be more a catalyst than anything.
@@GofuKyersenyour message got me curious, and in a random chemistry reddit thread, found this:
"Calcium acetate itself will decompose only at about 400 C, releasing acetone, and leaving behind insoluble calcium carbonate, that is white".
Ethyl alcohol flame has about ~1920 °C (~3500F).
I don't think there will be anything reusable left, except powdered eggshells (calcium carbonate). Which I guess could be re-mixed with vinegar, until it bubbles up again, strained, mixed again with alcohol.
I might even try to do this, one of these days, to see what happens.
Thank you for that. 👍
Love it and I scanned the comments to see if you referred to how many TBSP it took to make the 2/3 quart Gel. What I am thinking if making a Quart or maybe near a Gallon. I have friends who bushcraft and making little jars of it sounds like a great gift idea. But I don't want to make tiny amounts at a time, rather make a large amount an just scoop and seal. I think you get the idea. Doing the math I think I am right for 1 full QT (or near that), I am thinking 2 cups Distilled Water (4 to a qt), 1 Cup Calcium Acetate and 4 Tbsp of Denatured Alcohol?
Just keep the ratios the same and you should be good to make as large a batch as you wish.
l love it ! . im glad i stumbled across your channel . im saving this one lol . being i make alcohol now and then its a perfect combo . thanks for sharing take care
Awesome! I'm very pleased you liked it! Thank You!
I had a hard time seeing you at first because you perfectly melded in with the backround camo
Great info, gonna try making tomorrow for uocoming winter camp trip
😅😆😄👍
Great video and useful information. Is it possible to add more calcium acetate to you old batch to make it more solid?
You and I think alike! I tried that, yet it did not work on it's own, it only clumped up. I then tried scooping out the clumps and adding more solution, but it just made it more watery. It still burns great, just doesn't have the consistency it did before.
What I did with the batch I made I either added cotton balls, or the kitty litter that’s looks like goose turds. 3D Printed 2x2x1” cubs with TPU seal top. Place either cotton ball or kitty litter on containers. Fuel becomes more like the solid tablets.
VERY COOL! Thanks for sharing that!
Do you still mix calcium?
Adding gelatin (or probably agar, too) to the water and acetate helps it set up better. Adding a little lamp oil, Zippo lighter fluid to the alcohol helps it burn hotter. I have no idea about ratios, but we used it to refill our Sterno containers in Boy Scouts, back in the '70's, when Sterno was common for backpacking. (Those Sterno cans fit inside old soda cans perfectly, so you could make stove stands easily.) I remember adding too much fuel could ruin an entire batch and it wouldn't set up.
Great info! Thanks for sharing it!
Forget the boil test...we need a fry test with a thin stainless steel skillet like the ones that come in mess kits.
I have several videos in which I cook with the Gelled Fuel. Several after I posted this video.
Excellent vid. Thanks! Question: how do you transport it? If I wanted to take it backpacking, for example.
for those that asked. The bottle he is using is a Trangia fuel bottle comes in Red or Green 3 sizes 0.3 lt , 0.5 lt., & 1 lt.
Very cool.....excellent idea for backpack or hunting backpack emergency fire starter. Can you order smaller containers of the Calcium Acetate? Do you have a link for the Calcium?
I am confident you can purchase Calcium Acetate in smaller containers. I posted a link to the size I ordered in the video description.
Very cool thanks for the vid definitely gonna try this out cuz I love my sterno set up
Have fun!
Thanks that's a good thing to know. I imagine a circular burner with draft holes would burn better than in a rectangular unvented tin
This video is great. I did not know you could make your own fuel. Can you make the step by step video with the eggs shells. I have tons of egg shells. II use them on my garden. Now i know i can make fuel.
It's on my massive list of things to film!
Cool project! Thanks for sharing 😊
Awesome, I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!
I LOVE YOUR CONTENT
I subbed.
Bill, from Tn. 🇺🇸
Thank you very much! Welcome to the family Bill! I LOVE Tennessee!
Interesting. Thanks for demo'ing the gelled alcohol method. I don't believe you ever stated WHY one would prefer gelled alcohol. In my backcountry experience, typically at 10,000 ft ASL, I get 12 oz of water to boil w/ just straight denatured alcohol in 10 minutes... which is how long the alcohol lasts, coincidentally. So why gel? Does it carry well in the backcountry, i.e. it doesn't need refrigeration, right? So, why? Thanks.
I do not use the gelled alcohol to boil water. I use it to cook with (frying, and sauteing) as the heat produced is lower than straight denatured alcohol.
I finally had some time to make some gelled fuel according to your video. I got a burn time of about 12 minutes. Thank you again for sharing.
Thanks for this gem!
My pleasure!
Why does it need to be gel'd? I've made alcohol stoves out of beer cans that use just alcohol, and they seem to work just fine. What is the advantage of gel?
The intensity of the flame is much lower that pure alcohol. I made this gel and my perlite stove specifically for my Esbit rectangular cook set. most alcohol burners will not fit with enough room to burn properly. I use my perlite alcohol stove to boil water and my gelled alcohol fuel to cook with. PERFECT amount of heat to fry, sauté', without scorching or burning. It works better than my Trangia burner with simmer ring. That's why I use gelled alcohol and I made it because I wanted the experience of doing it and it's cheaper than Sterno, the closest manufactured equivalent.
@@boonedockery7220 Still, no clear reason to use gelled alcohol. Only that you use it. So what is the advantage of using gelled alcohol? I don't see one.
Lower more controlled heat, and the alcohol won't evaporate away, it can be stored long term.@@Greg_M1
I'm going to make some of this stuff, but I will use Chalk to make my gel fuel. I will use a old Stainless Steel 1/4 measuring cup to hold the fuel. Nice, but how do you transport it in small portions, to burn in your stove? Can you freeze it into say cubes? And then wrap in foil or plastic?
You can crumble it up and reconstitute it for reuse.
Mix both together ,love it thanks
Thank You!
Chemistry is a lot of fun
Loved this! Thank you so much!
9:51 look at his pocket. a spider crawls out and around 😂
From what I can tell, Hiram is no longer active on youtube. I think he died but I don’t know that for
certain. He had a great channel and I learned a lot from him.
Thanks for putting this one together
That would be sad, if he has passed. He was a wealth of knowledge! I'll see if I can find some Hiram masterpieces to bring to newer audiences (giving him full credit of course!).
😞
Great video thanks! Watched a couple of times but didn't catch what specific type of alcohol was used?
Thank You! I used denatured alcohol.
Thanks so much!
Brother John, we see a new side to you. Didn't know that you were a chemist. I find this new to me fuel to be intriguing and much better than any solid fuel I have ever used. I agree with you that solid fuel is smelly and makes a mess of the cook pot, but it is convenient to carry. And speaking of carrying, how do you transport this conveniently? Inquiring minds want to know! Great teaching video my friend!
Thank You Brother David! I have a large bin filled with all kinds of recycled containers. I used one shaped like a giant test tube with a screw on cap. it was perfect to cook two meals with.
Neat, about how many eggshells will it take to make a cut of this fuel ? and will eggshells work as well as Calcium Acetate?
Haven't got a clue. I've never made it myself.
Those of you that have a blender or food processor can save some time powdering the egg shells. Neat video.
Him: "It's like being in the gas chamber"
My brain: HE'S A VETERAN! 😂
We know things...... :)
If you want to burn alcohol in your tent buy the indoor stove type. No poisonous fumes. Any other type of denatured alcohol is dangerous to breathe or drink. Of course Everclear would also work
I found your video of much interest. Some years ago I came across a video illustrating the making of solid fuel cells using kieselguhr and methanol but as this was on no interest to me at the time I did not a note of the instructions. I am now interested in the solid fuel cell due to the cost of cooking gas having insanely gone up in the third world country where I live. Would you know of this method and the proportions, the type of container etc etc. I hope you will be able to help me out.
I'm sorry, I've never attempted to make my own solid fuel. However, I will look and if I find something that works, I'll post a DYI video about it.
Thanks for a great video. Once I get some calcium acetate, I'm making some. 👍 Quick question, how well does this fuel work in the winter?
To be perfectly honest, I've not used it in extreme cold. I would suspect it might firm up in the storage container, however not enough to prevent it from being scooped out. Alcohol burners like Trangia's (my personal favorite) when used in winter have to heat up enough to gasify the alcohol. Alcohol doesn't burn as hot as white gas, so that preheating period takes a little time. Once it's gasified, it works perfectly normal just like in warmer environments. Some people use a small dish to set the burner in. They pour a little alcohol in the dish with the burner and ignite it. The alcohol burning around the burner heats it up faster in order to gasify the alcohol quicker. I personally don't mind waiting.
The Calcium Acetate acts as a wicking material and doesn't necessitate gasification so it "should" work fine. I would definitely use a good 360degree windshield to maximize fuel efficiency.
Have a great weekend!
@@boonedockery7220 Thanks, I'll have to give it a try this winter and I'll let you know. You have a great weekend too!
Thank you so much for this video.
You are so welcome!
Awesome stuff buddy, can imagine it will have a decent shelf life once stored 👍
The older batch has separated a bit but burns perfectly.
This is really interesting. Is it possible to reuse the ash or is it depleted? Any and all info is appreciated
I honestly don't know.
Greetings from Apacheria in the Arizona Territories Ahe'hye'e
WELCOME!!!!!
I'm wondering if this would work with high test ethanol, so you could safely roast marshmallows over the flame. Might not get as hot, I have no clue, but would be plenty satisfying the kids when the location won't allow an open fire.
I honestly don't know. It would be worth testing!
It appears that it is most effective and very simple thank you very much for the chemistry lesson. In the words of a cook I used to watch, and for the life of me his name escapes me, don't cut yourself don't burn yourself I see you and it is not Justin Trudeau, at least I think that was the name of that Cajun Cook. I think you put a link to those green containers that you have there in the last video you did so I'm going to check otherwise I wish you would send me a link to them I love those things. Thanks for the video brother. PS you must not have had any bloopers this time
The Cajun Cook was Justin Wilson. I LOVED His cooking program! It was on our local PBS channel for years. Here's the link for the fuel bottles. amzn.to/3q3jzxq
I actually didn't have time to edit a blooper segment, I'll try to get one for the next one for you!
Have a great weekend Brother!
@@boonedockery7220 that's right it was on PBS, thanks for jogging my memory. I went back to your previous video and you did put a link and I did go and get me a couple of those I love those things and thanks for the link you put in this comment. There is great changes in store for me, I may tell you about it here before too long. I will have a good time this weekend and I certainly hope you do too.
@@terryqueen3233 Prayers for you and your "great changes" Brother! God Bless! John
Great idea mate, cheers Graham
Glad you enjoyed it
Newly subscribed. Great info 👍
Awesome! Thank you and welcome to the family!
@@boonedockery7220 My family and I look forward to viewing more of your videos and putting them to use in these coming days. May God bless you in all that you endeavor to do, my friend. ✝️
Best Prepper DIY
Thank You!
Your option to get out of your tent in the rain is called a tarp. Fer instance, an A frame or plow point configuration with your tent door snugged up to it works well.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
Now if I could find 2 or 3 liter prepops worth the money, to carry the gel. They always charge more than a full bottle of soda, for the unpopped bottle blank!
You Are Correct! I bought several a while back and thought I got a good deal. They are nearly double the price that I paid then, now.
Now, could you use powdered gelatin to help jelly your fuel?
Corn starch would be nice to try also
If egg shells are used, same 1/4 c.? Plus anything else (vinegar)?
I will have to do a little more research and post a video of the process. Then I will be able to answer your question.
Sorry, I'm a noob. Does it have to be denatured alcohol, or will a high-proof isopropyl work as well? Thanks in advance.
Denatured alcohol burns cleaner than isopropyl, but it will work at 90-99%
I do the same thing except a lot easier and quicker. Alcohol absorbed with dryer lint and mixed with corn starch. So much easier.
Very Cool! Thanks for sharing this!
I have questions, doe's this make a sort of hairy dough ball ? Does the lint to cut down to a finer dust ?
How much of each do you use?
Cool video- Im going to make some of this.
Thank you! It's inexpensive, easy and effective!
I watched your perlite video and was intrigued with the possibilities. Have you or anyone else tried combining the perlite method WITH the gelled fuel??? What would happen? Is there anything to be gained there? I was hoping that using both together might give you a more consistent, longer lasting flame?
The perlite needs liquid alcohol to create the controlled burn.
Thanks! this is a great idea.
you should see if it's possible to recycle the calcium that is left over from the gel after you burn it. that would be great and i think it might just work
I will.
Add it to garden soil. Egg shells have been used like that
Eggshells are composed of calcium carbonate - NOT acetate!
Also if cooking inside your tent, only use methanol as it burns clean giving off no harmful C02 gases.
a) the vinegar turns calcium carbonate into calcium acetate.
b) every time you burn hydro-carbons, you get H2O (water) and CO2, if enough oxygen gets to it - if not, it will be H2O and CO (highly toxic) or H2O and C (soot), turning the clear or white steam into grey smoke. CO2 isn't harmful, it's the same gas you find in bubbling beverages, beer and champagne.
Shouldn't have skipped that in school to comment here !
Great video. Does it smell bad?
Not at all! No more than any alcohol stove. It burns super clean, no smoke, and cleans up easily with a wet cloth once you dump out the powder. The gelled Sterno I use to use actually does have an odor, it smells like Sterno even when burning.
*Use a Catalytic Stove to avoid Carbon Monoxide poisoning.* You can attach your own wire cage extension to the existing wire cage they come with, so that you can put a cook pot over the clean heat. I have even heated a whole house that way for an entire winter with a Mr Heater Buddy and their extension hose to a 20-pound propane tank, enough for about 3 days of heating on the low heat setting. That heater is designed to be used even inside a tent, but it does need a bit of fresh air coming in since the combustion uses up oxygen in the air, as well as producing Carbon Dioxide that must be vented occasionally. I kept a 16-quart stainless steel pot half-full of water on a low boil the whole winter (which was very handy), and *none of the heat or humidity was wasted through venting, because the house itself was leaking air.* If possible, arrange to fasten the stove and even the pot to a wall, because you don't want it to tip over and spill. The Mr Heater Buddy will switch off automatically if it tips over, but it stays quite hot for several minutes and you don't want it to ignite anything combustible in the area. *Also, use a CO detector just in case, because you really can kill yourself and your whole family with Carbon Monoxide poisoning.*
I am curious if you could add alcohol to the used portion left in the tin to make another batch. In other words can the used mixture be reconstituted, or does the calcium get damaged in the fire.
This is an excellent idea for further experimentation. I have never tried recycling the calcium.
I'm sure there's a reason and an explanation that I have not found - why you don't make a larger batch. Have you used any type of blending tool such as an egg
Blender?
I could definitely do that. The batches I've made really last a long time, and storage space is at a premium in my garage. "IF" I'm able to retire soon and do the channel full time, I'd be going though a lot more of the gell which will necessitate larger batches
Do you have to make it in several small batches or can a jar be made in one go?
You could definitely make large batches.
Is it safe to use indoors for cooking?
Cool! Thanks!
I love that alcohol dispenser!
The Trangia fuel bottles are amazing!
That is an ingenious idea. Thank you for taking the time to explain and show how to make it. Some of use need visual aids, lol.
Thank You! I am a 95% visual learner! I can read about how to do something twelve times before I get it right. Show me how to do it, then let me do it, then I've got it!
@@boonedockery7220 yep, that’s me, lol
I wonder if an old blender would work, or an old stand mixer to combine everything?
It begins to jell instantly. If anything a small whisk would work well.
As a former kitchen worker I have the habit of tasting everything I am preparing.
I will not be doing this.😂
I have a couple questions for all you experienced folks.
Can I increase the volume of material, but keep the ratios the same, to make a larger batch at once, or is there a reason to mix up smaller batches?
Can the left over calcium acetate be reused after the burn, to recycle into a new batch?
I’m just learning about all this and have already purchased all three ingredients. I haven’t mixed anything yet. Thanks in advance!!
Yes, you can make large batches providing you keep the proportions.
I have never tried to reuse the calcium acetate.
I would recommend making a small batch first, then go for the 55 Gallon batch!
@@boonedockery7220 lmao! Thank you so much for your help! I think I’ll do just that! Jk. I’ll keep you posted on the results!
I wonder if you added a bit of calcum acetate to the jar and shake up to see if it would re-solidify more
Another great example of creative means to find alternatives to solid fuel tabs. I have always carried Esbit tablets for emergency situations,but like you I hate the smell. Just wondering if you have made any gel fuel using isopropyl alcohol? The lower toxicity and lower cost are reasons I have wanted to use it, but I have not yet made any due to my medical issues. Stay well
I have experimented with isopropyl alcohol as a fuel source. The biggest issue I have with it (and I honestly can figure it out) is it creates a lot of soot. Even the ultra high alcohol content version creates a lot of soot. It burns very hot, but very dirty, so I haven't tried it as a gelled fuel. Prayers for healing my friend!
@@boonedockery7220 Makes sense. The sooty residue is a constant problem. My idea for an isopropyl burner is based off the belief that the soot is a result incomplete combustion of the extra carbon atoms in the isopropyl vs ethanol. So my guess would be to try to make it easier for the isopropyl to burn. And in that regard I would like to try an open burner, like a fancy feast can, a wick like carbon felt or fiberglass and a metal mesh screen to keep it all together. The wick will help with the combustion of the vapor from burning of the isopropyl and the screen will increase the amount of thermal feedback. My thoughts are that it will help with full combustion and reduce soot. I’d also try it with out the screen but drop the height of the burner to being only a half inch above the burner. But just a theory. Check out Flat Cat Gear. They sell an isopropyl burner.
@@BingWatcher have been using the yellow bottled HEAT which isopropyl alcohol in it. haven't noticed any soot. this might be the way to go. good luck.
@@tjfm59 Thank you for your suggestion! I will try this out next time I am in the woods
@@boonedockery7220can you try it with yellow heet. It doesn't leave soot with alcohol stoves and the alcohol does. So not for sure if it will mix with the other ingredients.
Is there any type of residue left on the coookware from the gel ?
No.
Wondering if a pure powdered soap like (I think) Lux pure soap flakes would also work to make a variation of this gelled alcohol. I think the soap flakes would burn and likely absorb alcohol. Not sure how it would release the energy.
Haven't gotta clue....