Re: alcohol stove for hammock backpacker?

On Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 10:20 AM, Blake Robert <xflagstaff9@...> wrote:

>
> As I reach the age at which every ounce is felt in backpacking---I have
> begun to reduce the weight of my load by going to lighter gear. The first
> step was in going to hammock camping. Now, I am considering leaving behind
> my faithful Optimus 99 (sob!!!) and using either a fuel tablet buring Esbit
> stove or making an alcohol stove.
>
> The one I am considering is found on several sites with the title Cool
> little miniature stove-----if you google that title you will see what I am
> planning to make and hope to carry backpacking. I just have to figure where
> one can still find wire coat hangers and get a quarter handful of fiberglass
> insulation.
>
> But, my real concern is that I found several sites that say that alcohol
> stoves made of soft drink cans do not last because the aluminum can not take
> the heat too many times---long trail hikers interviewed say they are lucky
> if such a stove lasts 500 miles.
>
> Now that sounds like quite a bit of use---but, no matter how long a stove
> lasts---I don't want one that lets me down partway through a hike.
>
> Has anyone in this forum had experience with this?
>
> How does such a stove deteriorate? Does it warn you before its use is over
> or does it go straight from useful to gone?
>
>  R Blake, Flagstaff, AZ