STOP AND READ THIS BEFORE LIGHTING STOVE!!


1 - DO NOT use any type of gasoline or Coleman-type fuel in this stove. The stove will be ruined (it will probably explode) and serious injury could also occur.

2 - When using any alcohol stove, the flame can be very difficult (almost impossible) to see during daylight hours. MAKE SURE the flame is out before handling the stove or adding fuel to it. Handling or attempting to add fuel to a burning stove can result in serious and painful burn injuries. As indicated below, an empty 6 oz. tuna can (with lid removed) can be used to extinguish the stove. As a safety precaution, I recommend carrying an empty tuna can with the stove. One way to make sure the flame is out is to place the tuna can over the stove for a few seconds prior to handling it or adding fuel. Then, you can check to make sure no flame is present by attempting to burn some type of small combustible item (pine needle, leaf, candy wrapper, etc.) in the stove. Of course, the stove will remain too hot to touch for a few minutes even after the flame has been extinguished. By whatever methods you choose, BE CERTAIN no flame is present, and that the stove is cool, before you handle the stove or attempt to add fuel to it.

3 - DO NOT refuel the stove while it is hot. After making certain that the flame is out, I recommend waiting a few minutes (until the stove is cool enough to be touched) before refueling it.

4 - Do not leave the stove unattended when it is in use. Also, be especially careful when using the stove in windy conditions. Because of its light weight, it is possible that wind may cause the stove to tip or turn over, which could cause personal injuries or damage to property.

5 - Be aware of what kind of surface the stove is on when it is used. Never use the stove when it is on carpeting or any other type of fabric surface (nylon, fleece, cotton, polyester, etc.). If it is used on a wood, linoleum, formica or plastic surface, most likely it will cause damage (leave a burn ring) and a safety hazard could result. Using the stove on bare ground or on a metal, ceramic or concrete surface is probably best. For added safety, you may wish to place the stove in a small metal pan (cake pan, pie pan, etc.) when it is in use.

6 - Never cook inside a tent; to do so is to invite disaster.

7 - This stove uses denatured alcohol which is available in hardware and paint supply stores. It also uses Iso-HEET Fuel System Antifreeze (and other brands) which can be found in automotive stores. Rubbing alcohol can be burned, but it does not burn as hot, soot is created, and the fumes are bad. Grain alcohol (Everclear) will also burn well, but it is expensive. The stove will also burn hexamine and Esbit solid fuel tablets. However, in order for the small holes in the burner ring to function, liquid fuel must be used. Also, solid fuel tablets will create more soot than liquid fuel and will stain the stove.

8 - If you are using hexamine or Esbit fuel tablets, I recommend inverting the stove (turning it upside down) and using the bottom of the stove (which will then be the top) as a fuel well for the tablets. This will get the cooking flame closer to the bottom of your pot and will also prevent the inside of the stove from being stained from the soot. Also, it seems to make lighting the fuel tablets easier. Just place the tablet on the stove, tilt the stove slightly and light the tablet with a Bic-type lighter. Using the stove in the inverted position with solid fuel tablets will not harm the stove at all, however, the residue from the fuel tablet may crystallize on the aluminum surface (it can be scraped off). To prevent this, you may also wish to place a small piece of folded aluminum foil under the fuel tablet. If you are using hexamine tablets, placing a coin (quarter) under the tablet also works very well.

9 - This stove is made of recycled soda cans and two types of commercially purchased high-temperature foil tape (we use two strips of tape on the stove, a narrow strip under a wider one). We also test-fire each stove before it is shipped. Therefore, it may appear to be slightly “used” when it is received. There may be some discoloration on the inside of the stove because of the residue left as a result of the burning of the paint and dyes on the soda cans. Also, the alcohol fuel used produces a small amount of soot. This is cosmetic and would have happened the first time the stove was used, anyway. It does not affect the performance of the stove at all. All stove parts are aluminum, and no part of the stove will rust.

Instructions:

1 - Place the stove on the ground. Remove all flammable objects from the immediate area.

2 - Since your cooking pot cannot sit directly on top of the stove, a pot support is needed. Metal tent stakes can be used to make a lightweight pot support. Place 3 or 4 stakes around the stove so that they are evenly spaced. They should be placed at least a half-inch from the stove. The stakes should be pushed into the ground until the top of the stakes are 1" - 1 1/2" inches above the top of the stove. “Level” the stakes by placing your pot on top of the stakes and then raising / lowering a stake or two until the pot sits level. Check and make sure that the pot does not tip easily; if necessary, rearrange the stakes. The stove should be centered between the stakes. As an alternative to metal tent stakes, rocks can be used as a pot support.

3 - In addition, we now offer a One Ounce Cooking Pot Support at our store (Item #2029). If it is used as a pot support, be sure to center the stove inside it so that no part of the stove is any closer to it than 1/4 - 1/2 inch. The stove burns very hot, and the metal pot support can be damaged if it comes into direct contact with the flames from the stove for long periods of time (it could warp from the heat). Though not designed as a windscreen, the One Ounce Cooking Pot Support will provide some wind protection for the stove. If you are using this item, I suggest waiting until the stove has been lit and is burning at full capacity before placing the pot support around the stove. This will allow for easier and faster lighting of the stove.

4 - If you are using a windscreen, extend it so that there is a space of at least 1/2 inch between the side of your pot and the windscreen. A windscreen can also be made from several thicknesses of aluminum foil. If a windscreen is used, wrap it around the outside of the stakes, rocks or pot support so that it forms a circle. Use metal paper clips or spring clips to hold the ends together. The windscreen should be no closer than 1/2 inch to any part of the stove. The windscreen can be damaged if it gets too close.

5 - Carefully place approximately one fluid ounce of denatured alcohol fuel into the stove, taking care not to get any fuel on the ground or on the outside of the stove. Do not fill the stove any higher than ¼ inch below the top of the rim. If any fuel spills onto the outside of the stove, remove it with a damp cloth and then dry the stove with a bandana or article of clothing. Once the stove has fuel in it, take care not to tip it or turn it over.

6 - Light the fuel with a match. In daylight, you may not be able to see the flame well, but you will hear a soft “pop” when the fuel ignites. Not much will happen at first, but within 30 seconds, the fuel will begin burning through the small holes in the burner ring.

Additional Information:

1 - When burning liquid fuels described above, it is doubtful that wind will blow out the stove, and it is not likely you will be able to, either. If you need to put out the stove before the fuel burns completely, place an empty 6 ounce tuna can (with lid removed) over it. It will extinguish the stove in less than a second. Other similar size cans may also work. A small pot or metal cup placed over the stove will also extinguish it, or you can douse it with water. If you are using hexamine or Esbit tablets, you will probably be able to blow it out. The stove will also fit inside a 6 ounce tuna can, and it will provide some protection for the stove in your pack, while adding only about an ounce of weight.

2 - Avoid tipping or turning over the stove when it has fuel in it, and as noted above, don’t fill it any higher than ¼ inch below the rim. Also, when adding fuel to the stove, don’t let any fuel leak onto the side of the stove. If the adhesive material on the foil tape gets burned repeatedly because fuel was spilled on it and then lit, replacement of the tape may become necessary. This is true with ANY aluminum can stove where high temperature foil tape must be used to bond two sections together. If replacement of the tape becomes necessary, use foil tape or 3M High-Temperature Flue Tape available at most hardware stores. Carefully remove the old tape FROM THE TOP DOWN to avoid damaging the top portion of the stove. Take care to avoid having the stove come apart when the old tape is removed (it is difficult to reassemble). Once the old tape has been removed, cut a 1 inch x 12 inch strip of tape and carefully apply it to the stove, cutting away an inch off each end of the tape when it is applied. Handle the tape ONLY with the two 1” portions that will be removed.

3 - Liquid fuel that is cold is more difficult to light than liquid fuel that is warm. During cold weather, you may wish to warm your fuel with your body heat by placing your fuel bottle inside your jacket or sleeping bag for a while. This should make the fuel easier to light.



Avoiding Problems:

There are dangers involved anytime a flame is introduced to flammable material. However, the dangers of using a half-ounce or so of alcohol for cooking are (in my opinion) certainly less than using a pressurized fuel bottle containing 22 – 32 ounces of gasoline or Coleman fuel.

Most of the problems that I have seen and heard about concerning these stoves involve one of the following reasons. Any of these actions can cause property damage and personal injuries and / or cause the stove to be engulfed in flames (which can damage it):

1 - The flame was not out and an attempt was made to handle or refuel the stove. Remember that the flame can be difficult (almost impossible) to see during daylight hours. Also, the stove will remain too hot to touch for several minutes after the flame has been extinguished.

2 - The stove was overfilled, and fuel leaked over the outer wall and onto the foil tape and the side of the stove (think of a bathtub overflowing behind a shower curtain). Don’t put more than 3 ounces of fuel into the stove, and don’t fill the stove higher than ¼ inch below the top of the rim. If any fuel gets onto the side of the stove, remove it before lighting the stove.

3 - The windscreen was installed too close to the stove. There needs to be at least ½ inch of space between the stove and the windscreen.

4 - No space was left between the windscreen and the side of the cooking pot. Leave at least ½ inch of “breathing room” between the windscreen and the side of the cooking pot.

5 – The stove was left unattended while it was in use.

6 - Wind either caused the stove to tip over, or caused the cooking flame to ignite a nearby object.

7 – A flame snuffer was not available. Always keep an empty tuna can, muffin tin, small metal pot or cup, etc. close by that can be used to place over the stove and quickly extinguish the flame. In addition, water can also be used to put out the stove. When using liquid fuel, do not attempt to extinguish the flame by blowing it out or turning the stove over.

Rainmaker
Dancing Light Gear
www.trailquest.net

Some legal stuff: Warning! All activities described herein and use of any and all items we sell involve serious dangers of fire, injury, death, impairment of one's self or of other people, and the damage or destruction of property. Buyer assumes all risk of loss and injury and warrants that he or she will hold seller harmless. Buyer also represents that no reliance is made upon any act or conduct of the seller. All buyers, in the event that there is a suit, consent and agree to be bound by the laws of the State of Georgia and to jurisdiction in, and only in, the County of Rabun. The word "buyer" here means you and anyone and everyone else who gets gear us. Whether that gear is bought, stolen or given as a gift, that person is a buyer for the purposes of this disclaimer.