How to make your own meth burner from a tin can

28 Replies

Rogelio, a fellow Woodlorean from Spain, e-mailed us previously with some pictures of his hand-made crooked knife handle, which we posted on our blog. Recently, he got in touch with us again, this time with an excellent article on how to make a DIY meth-burning stove from just a tin can. We’ve posted the full guide below, complete with step-by-step pictures, for you all to see. Thanks Rogelio!

Hello Woodloreans,

I have just returned from a friend’s house with whom I have been making my own meth alcohol burner to fit in my pocket stove from tin cans, and after seeing how well it actually works, I thought it would be nice to share with you some pictures on its making.

To start with, you need the bottom ends from two tin cans and a rectangular strip that will fit into them (this must be cut slightly higher than the other pieces, you’ll see why later). If you use cans made from stainless metals it’ll last longer.

Step 1

Step 1

You now cut halfway through the width of the strip on both ends (and attach them together) so that it will stay in a circular shape, and then cut off the remaining bits. Now insert it in the slit of one of the cans.

Step 2

Step 2

In order to make one can fit into the other, you must bend inside one of them around all of its circumference (I twisted it through using pliers). Ideally, it should be the strip placed in between them that stops the cans after pushing them together.

Step 3

Step 3

Cut out the centre bit of one of them until its neat and tidy, and then punch small holes around its outside as shown (I used a fine nail and a hammer for this).

Step 4

Step 4

Having done two burners, I found that the one to the right works best, and I suspect it is because the bottom can fits outside the top one, allowing some vapours to escape from the other side of the holes and therefore encouraging the flames to go through them.

I also made a lid for my crusader cup out of tin to reduce boiling time: 

Step 5

Step 5

 The metal bars at the top are not only to hold the lid from, but also add weight and solidness. I glued them to begin with but ended up stitching them with fine wire at the middle and ends.

Step 6

Step 6

I was stunned to see that the set took half a litre of water to rolling boil in under six minutes, however at this time temperatures in Spain are very high indeed, so I suppose it will take longer in winter. I find in those circumstances, it will help to place a small candle under the stove to heat the alcohol.

Rogelio's tin can meth burner in use

Rogelio's tin can meth burner in use

I also noticed that trangia burners have fibres inside them to help alcohol rise to holes, but I struggled to find any adequate material. However it works all right without them.

The finished set

The finished set

I would sincerely appreciate any suggestions as to how I could improve the burner or any comments/questions that you would like to make about it. I would also encourage anyone who hasn’t got a burner to give it a try: it is a cheap, easy method and, most importantly, works well!

Kindest regards,

Rogelio Luque Lora

28 thoughts on “How to make your own meth burner from a tin can”

  2. woolenjumper

    I love the can stove design. I went off-grid abt 5 yrs ago, though I’m right in town (Rockhampton.Australia).There are beaut little brass metho burners avail cheap, but the latest versions have an added stuffing (as you suggest) and are difficult to fill. You have to pause a few times to let the level go down. I have two burners in a gutted (previously bottled gas) camping stove, and I found improved cooking speed by adding an aluminium cylinder about 6 inch dia and a little taller than the height of the burner, which traps the flames and heat under the kettle or saucepan. About 4 notches in the bottom edge to let the air in. But how I happened on this forum, I was trying to find a solution as I suddenly have difficulty getting metho to ignite. And the fire is frequently going out while I cook.I wondered if I might be able to add some turpentine or some other more flammable agent. I think our metho is now made from sugar cane and not quite as it was, I wasn’t getting the burn time, even before experiencing this current problem. We ARE having cooler weather, but it HAS been much colder and previously no such problem.
    Thanks, Bruce. (Technomaniac)

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    1. Gwyn (Skip) James

      Three possible reasons :- a) temperature i.e cold. b) air flow. c) fuel flash point.
      solutions a) prewarm the stove. use top off a jam jar , place the stove on this, fill the stove as normal and the jam jar top to its brim, light the fuel in the lid in few minutes the stove should light itself ! If does not its really cold!.or go to :- b) air flow, you need a chimney effect !Air must be able to flow to and around the base of the stove, then upward around the flame ring, you will need a space of about 25mm ( 1inch) from the top of the stove to the base of the pot, the hot air must also be able to flow up and around the pot and out in to the atmosphere. The windshield should be just that a shield, not a seal, it must allow air in to the base and out at the top. c) flash point methylated spirit has a lower flash point than some of the bio- alternatives as you suggest. i.e meths vapourizes at a lower temperature , turns to a gas and can be lit more easily. Yes you begin to struggle at around zero. Trangia also sell a prewarmer! The jam jar idea came about when working with a BP scouts camping out below 0c’. Some boys are clever.Hope it helps.

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  5. John

    I made one of these burners that weighed 1/4oz I keep it in with my kit as it weighs almost nothing I made a pot stand out of titanium wire and a wind gaurd from thick aluminium foil. This stove does work well but it is not as powerful as my small wood stove which takes under 5 mins from lighting the fire to 1 litre of water boiling 🙂

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  6. ken

    Made quite a few of the Pepsi stoves and given them away to anyone interested. I found the best way to stretch the bottom part of the tin was to use a full pepsi tin of the same size to push into the base and turn it round. After a few times of pushing the full can in the base of the stove was stretched enough to fit the top inside. It is important with the pepsi stoves to get a tight fit to allow the hot meths to build up pressure for the burner jets. I also stand the pepsi stove in a larger tin can about the same height as the pepsi can, this can be used to pre heat the filled pepsi can by pouring a small amount of meths and lighting it. A simple wire frame can be made as a pot stand for a crusader cup.

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  8. Katie

    Thanks for the tip, Rogelio! I did give this a try and it did work beautifully (with and without fibres – thank you, Sarah!) Simple ingenuity at its finest. Always a joy to find a way to make something really useful out of something destined for the recycling bin 🙂

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  9. Rogelio L. Lora

    Hi Viandante,
    cutting the bottom of the cans too short won’t allow you to pour enough fuel at once and, since it is risky to refill a hot burner you would have to interrupt your cooking continuously.
    On the other hand, too tall a burner reduces portability. Also, I suppose it would be difficult for the methanol to reach the holes at the top of the burner when the alcohol level is low.
    I tried to make mine just so that it would fit inside my pocket stove but this was too short. It is approximatelly as tall as a trangia burner and goes for about 20 mins, which is enough for simple cooking. It is approximatelly as tall as a trangia burner. If you want to prolongue burning time try making a taller one and see what happens.
    I hope this helps.

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  10. Viandante

    Hallo Rogelio,

    thanks for information. I’ll try do do something like yours.
    Do you think the height of the pieces (bottoms) is anything important or it only determines the amount of liquid you can fill in?
    Thanks again

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  11. Rogelio Luque Lora

    Hi Steve,
    The can filled with sand and petrol seems more of a survival technique to me than a piece of camping kit to me. I suppose the military used petrol because it was the only fuel they had available if they found themselves stranded on a remote place. However it is also possible that you have alcohols with you for other purposes (eg cleaning wounds) and in an emergency they could be used for cooking. I have never tried them in a pot with sand, but maybe it will work.

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  12. Rogelio Luque Lora

    Hi Viandante,
    thanks, I also think that despite using something as messy as tin cans the final product is quite sturdy.
    The alcohol is poured into the big hole in the middle and it will quickly find its way to the other side of the strip, from where, once lit, it will evaporate to the wholes.

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  16. Steve Eyres

    Hi all. Very impressed with the meth burner. I have one comment. During world ear 2. The British desert and army devised a very simple means if cooking and making a brew. What thy did was to use an empty container, fill it with sand and add petrol and add a match. The result was a very efficient means of cooking. Does any one use this method now using methalated spirits as a safer option

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  17. Shane

    This is great! I have been experimenting with top-lit updraught stoves (tweeting as @shanemuk using the #tlud hashtag) and blogging some experiences too. They’re a lot harder to light than the meth versions, but nice once they get going, and again you can do a lot with just some old tin cans.

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  18. Rogelio Luque Lora

    Thanks for the suggestions on the materials Sarah. I’ve been told by a friend that mehts are not as reliable in cold weather so maybe stuffing some fibres inside will help solve that problem.

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    1. Anonymous

      Hi Rogelio. Have you thought about using some loft insulation in the bottom of the stove between the inner and outer walls. I have used it in other designs of meths stoves with great results as it doesn’t burn, acts like a wick and should last as long as the stove itself.

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  19. Sarah Day

    Thats ingenious- i love it. It does seem to work well without fibres, but if you want to try it with as an experiment, i suggest you search for Kevlar wick material, that is used by people to make fire staffs/ fire poi. I think that could be split down into fibres and used. Perhaps mineral wool would work too?

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  20. Katie

    Fantastic! I’ve never attempted one of these before. I’ll be heading out for a couple of weeks on the land very shortly – so, I’ll definately give this a try. We’ll see how I make out…keep you posted.

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  22. Ciaran Rooney

    One of the best Rogelio! Fantastic man. When i was in Barcelona with the school last year along the road there were pulled up cars with a couple meth stoves on the go, Great stuff 🙂 I’ll definately have to give this ago over the coming winter, Wulamallessin!

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  23. Gwyn James

    Made these with my scout troop this year. Took a little effort to get one inside the other. Put them inside a drainage pot from Ikea that doubled up as a Hobo stove and cooked on them on our survival weekend.

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  24. Bert

    Nice work!
    I made some meth burners aswel and used one during my Campcraft course last July. I also gave a demo on how to make one for those interested 🙂

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