CurlyShavings

I received an original White Box Alcohol Stove for Christmas 2008. This model is approximately 2¼" tall and 2¼" in diameter. It holds approximately 3 ounces of fuel (either denatured alcohol or methyl alcohol) and can boil quite a bit of water with just those three ounces.

My initial experience with this stove was rather disappointing, since I hadn't fully read the excellent instructions that came with the stove. I didn't realize that "the fuel needs time to super heat itself and vaporize to work correctly." In hindsight, that should have been obvious since my other stoves (a WhisperLite Internationale and a two-burner Coleman) do much the same thing. In any event, I was unsuccessful and decided to head home to try another time.

After reading the instructions again, it became clear that I wasn't patient enough and that a second attempt was in order. This past weekend I got my chance.

With the stove on a flat, level, stable surface, I filled it with approximately 3 ounces of denatured alcohol from the local hardware store. Lighting it was easy and I could see why the instructions recommend dipping a twig into the fuel, lighting the twig and then using that to light the stove. It wouldn't be too hard to singe a finger or hand.

If I'd been following the instructions more closely, I would have used the small aluminum square that came with the stove to put under it, protecting the pressure-treated four-by-four. Or found a rock or packed dirt instead of the four-by-four. And technically, there should be no combustibles within a ten-foot radius of the stove.

But I was living dangerously and since I was the only one in camp at the time, I turned away for a few moments and turned back to find that the flame had settled down dramatically and was ready for my pot. (If I had to guess, I would guess that it was about a minute from the time I lit the stove to when it was ready. Next time, I'll time it.)

I have a 28 ounce Snow Peak pot which I only use for boiling water. I find that cleanup goes much faster if there's only a spork and a mug to wash.

The 28 ounces boiled rather quickly (again, I'll time it for you, next time) and I was soon brewing a morning mug of tea.

While the pot is a perfect size for my water boiling needs and it just so happens that I can pack the stove, windscreen, heat shield, 4 ounces of fuel and a couple of tea bags inside it, the pot's diameter is just short of ideal for the stove's 21 jets. It looks as though the flames are headed up the sides and not directly heating the bottom. I wonder if the White Box "SOLO" Stove (1.6" tall and perhaps a smaller diameter?) would heat only the bottom.

Snow Peak's 5" diameter pot has about the same volume and appears to be a little bit wider.

I have a few more things to try before I'm ready to head out again. I'd like to experiment with burn times per ounce of fuel along with how many ounces of water can be boiled. I'd like to see if a different diameter pot would speed up the already fast time-to-boil rates. And I'd like to find some methyl alcohol to see if there are any differences from the denatured alcohol.

Conclusion

It may be too early for me to give a raving review of this product. However, in my limited experience (I'll be sure to link any future experiences back to this page!), it lives up to the manufacturer's claims. It's fairly light, it burns denatured alcohol, it puts out a great quantity of heat and boils water quickly.

Hey, it's even made in the USA!