Posted inAlcoholHeater DIY

My adhoc alcohol heater results

February 18, 2021

I thought it might help to make an adhoc alcohol heater with items around the house, considering many areas of the US and UK are seeing very cold temperatures. It’s gotten down to -22F with windchill, in Atlantic, Iowa. I was also inspired by a Youtube narrowboat channel called Chugging Along, when they mentioned they shut off their boat heater at night and woke up freezing in the morning. It sounded like they could use a safe heater for a single room at night.

So here’s what I started with. My experiment was burning 2 oz of 91% isopropyl alcohol. Methanol (methylated spirits) can also be used.

Using a whole soup can, 5″ high

This burned for 1 minute then went out. Since the metal soup can had no holes in the side, I believe there was not enough oxygen in it to keep it going. What matters, I think, is the height of the alcohol relative to the height of the container.

4.5″ ceramic mug

This burned for about 6 minutes. It left a bit of soot on the inside of the mug which was white. Once the alcohol level got down a bit I think oxygen could not reach it very well.

2.25″ high soup can

I then cut the metal soup can down to 2.25″ high. Filled it with 2 oz of alcohol, and after 14 minutes the flame went out. It left a bit of soot on the inside of the can.

Using this information you can then calculate the run time of 1 gallon of isopropyl alcohol, since there are 64oz in a gallon. So if 2 oz burns for 14 minutes, then 64oz will burn for 448 minutes, or 7.5 hours.

The Trangia-style stoves are also shallow, as are the boat alcohol heaters. But the Trangia burners are small and will have a shorter run time.

Summary

  • Small stoves like these can be used to heat a small room. They will need to be wide and shallow for a long run time.
  • A shallow metal or thick ceramic dish is essential as the container will get very hot. For more safety put the container on a 12″ ceramic tile.
  • The larger the dish the longer the burn time.
  • WARNING: A top will need to be constructed to keep the flame from directly damaging things right above it but make sure there are plenty of holes in the side of the top structure.
  • Make sure there is nothing flammable above the stove for 4 feet. Heat rises and it can set things on fire.
  • To find an alcohol heater use search terms like “origo heat pal 5100 alcohol heater”. If you don’t find something, remove one term and try searching again.
  • You can also search for “teapot warmer”. They appear popular in Asia.
  • DO NOT burn coal or wood indoors without a proper vent. It gives off carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide which can kill you.

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Last updated on February 19, 2021