Product Review: Esbit Stove and Fuel

**natertot** · 12-25-2014, 12:05 AM

Today, I received my Esbit small and large stove along with 30 fuel tabs. These are all actual Esbit brand made in Germany. Not any of the knock offs or milsurp variants. This whole purchase came about after discovering a milsurp variant I previously had was found rusted. Here is a link to that thread.

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ighlight=esbit

I have looked over both the small and large stoves. Both seem to be sturdier than my previous milsurp. The metal is electrolytic galvanized steel. Not sure how that differs from other galvanized steel, but it does seem sturdy and can tell that rust is not in the near future. I have not used the large stove yet, but I did do a run with the small stove. I place a canteen cup with two cups of water on it and burned one fuel tab. This was done indoors on my range without any issues since it is non-toxic and smoke free. Indoor temp was about 72*F and wind was not a factor. The water lightly bubbled at the 8 minute mark and using a meat thermometer, the temp was 205*F. The temp stayed the same until the 11 minute mark when the fuel tab started to die down and the temp slowly started to decrease. The fuel tab completely burned out at the 13 minute mark and the water never came to a rolling boil. Only the light bubble. Either case, water would be purified and food would be cooked. I am sure if two tabs were used simultaneously a rolling boil would be achieved. I was impressed with the zero smoke and that the stove was relatively okay to touch five minutes after fuel died. Also, the stove was okay to quickly touch during the height of the burn. I was also impressed with the amount of soot on the bottom of the cup which was about the size of an old Eisenhower dollar coin and washed off with little effort.

All in all, I good purchase. Both stoves and fuel were about $35 dollars and worth it so far. I will update this with more info as I play with them more.

**ElevenBravo** · 12-25-2014, 12:47 AM

In the mil, we were issued some canteen cup stoves and some fuel tabs.

Nothing to write home about, but yeah... it was golden to have hot coffee, shaving water, coco, whatever!!!

Im running a Mechanic Mike's alcohol stove now, I prefer it... but theres not a thing wrong with solid fuel stoves.

Enjoy your prize!!
EB

**natertot** · 12-25-2014, 12:08 PM

That is one thing I must admit. The Esbit brand fuel tabs do burn cleaner and hotter, and they burn a bit longer than any milsurp fuel tabs I have played with. I haven't tried the Coghlans brand yet, but will do so. I also like the fact they can be used indoors with proper caution.

I am trying to get my alcohol stove to work. If I can, I wouldn't mind placing it on the Esbit stove to use as another fuel source for the stove. Just a thought and things to play with. Right now, I can't get the Alchy stove to light........

**ElevenBravo** · 12-25-2014, 12:43 PM

I got Mikes side jet stove...

http://www.ebay.com/usr/mechanic_mik...p2047675.l2559

Ive bought the top jet also, about 4 stoves from Mike... I tried to build one a long time ago, I gave up... It looks a lot easier on Youtube! HA HA! Anywho, Mike makes the best!

Ive played with my side jet quite a bit, havent had time to make any videos, but.. once you get it to blossom, you can sit the pot right on top... I use a Stansport stainless cup from WalMart (very good quality) and the setup works out great!

I used to be worried about fuel... would carry alcohol in a MSR can, but I now carry in a repourposed plastic whiskey bottle. I dont have any leaks and its lighter.

Anyway back to the Esbit.. I do think the Esbit brand tabs are higher quality than the old mil hex tabs. The folding stoves and tabs are very very good!!

EB

**natertot** · 12-25-2014, 03:08 PM

I made the "Penny Stove" style alcohol stove. I first used 70 percent Isopropyl Alcohol. I could get the hole in the center to light, but not the jet ports. I figured that the issue was the alcohol wasn't concentrated enough. I then tried 91 percent Isopropyl Alcohol and after a bit of fussing, I got about a third of the ports to light but the flames were kinda small. Just a little bit ago, I remembered I have some denatured alcohol out in the garage. Looking at the container, it is actually designed for alcohol stoves. It has to work.... right?

Threw some in the stove, put the stove in the Esbit stove, and lit the center hole. About three minutes later, the ports took off! Good 2-3" flames that were a royal blue and tossed a penny over the center hole. I looked into the ports and notice the denatured alcohol was bubbling as well. I put a canteen cup with two cups of water on it. Got to the same results as the Esbit fuel tabs in about ten minutes and a light rolling boil in about 15 minutes.

Esbit fuel tabs vs denatured alcohol in a penny stove.
Esbit Fuel tab pros: Easier to light, quicker to light, doesn't spill, self extinguishing.
Penny Stove pros: Heats longer, don't have to add fuel for longer burns, zero soot on the bottom of the cup

I think that the trick with the alcohol stove and getting the ports to ignite is to get the alcohol itself "hot" enough to produce a sufficient vapor to continuously supply the flame. I will have to experiment with the Isopropyl Alcohol and this theory later. If I am right, this makes the alcohol penny stove a tough option in the winter. I might have to make an alcohol stove like a chamfer stove for cold temperatures.

Lots of thoughts and experiments to sort through.......

**ElevenBravo** · 12-25-2014, 07:07 PM

Iso alcohol does NOT work properly in a jet stove, only denatured alcohol (lowes, home depot, tractor supply, mom & pop hardware, outdoor adventure store, etc..). This may be the source of great fail in your experiment.

I also saw your mention of an alcohol stove in the cold... Running denatured alcohol I have run mine in the winder and have made no observations of any different run either hot or colt weather.

GL,
EB

**hunter63** · 12-25-2014, 07:40 PM

I use a bit of you esbit tab in the center of the penny stove.....to light....you need to get the alcohol hot enough to vaporize...then the side jet will start.....about the time as the piece burns down.

I like using "HEET" yellow bottle.

Do not add fuel until completely burned out....make for a interesting fire on the work bench.

**natertot** · 12-25-2014, 08:27 PM

EB, good to know about the temps. Isopropyl alcohol has been zero success in a jet stove for me. I will have to try it as a "chamfer" design and see how that works.

Hunter, I thought about using a tab on the alcohol penny stove with Isopropyl Alcohol and seeing if that would work. Also though about putting a tea light under it as well. Your statement about vaporization confirms what I suspect. I also looked into using HEET as well. I have discovered that a 12oz bottle of HEET is $1 more than a quart of denatured alcohol and I know the denatured alcohol works. Local dollar store sells there own house brand of HEET in a similar 12oz bottle for a buck plus tax. I know it has the same ingredients as HEET, just not sure of the concentration. For $1, I may just have to try it. If it works, that will be the cheapest fuel for the alcohol stove. Even cheaper than Isopropyl Alcohol.

I thought that was you with the bench........

**Tokwan** · 12-25-2014, 09:04 PM

Naternot..pics please so that I can compare with mine. depending on the temp and climate, some places, you will only need half the tablet to boil 2 cups of water...
I tried, on a rainy day it take 1 and half tablets.

**natertot** · 12-25-2014, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by Tokwan

Naternot..pics please so that I can compare with mine. depending on the temp and climate, some places, you will only need half the tablet to boil 2 cups of water...
I tried, on a rainy day it take 1 and half tablets.

Wish I could post pics...... I still don't have that issue resolved. I will work on that some more as well.....

**hunter63** · 12-25-2014, 09:14 PM

I bought a bunch of HEET on sale, were like 3 for 2 bucks or something like that....spring is the best time.....on sale.

I have some for maybe 20 years....some actually evaporated out of the bottle....still sealed but only 1/2 full....LOL

Used to use it in the race car like 2 gal of racing fuel....10 cans or HEET.....did it do any good....really can't say.....but was one of the if some one did it and won....next week everyone will be doing it.
Called the "Green Wheenie Theory.....

**hunter63** · 12-25-2014, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by natertot

EB, good to know about the temps. Isopropyl alcohol has been zero success in a jet stove for me. I will have to try it as a "chamfer" design and see how that works.

Whisky doesn't work....to much water,,, spits and sputters....

Hunter, I thought about using a tab on the alcohol penny stove with Isopropyl Alcohol and seeing if that would work. Also though about putting a tea light under it as well. Your statement about vaporization confirms what I suspect. I also looked into using HEET as well. I have discovered that a 12oz bottle of HEET is $1 more than a quart of denatured alcohol and I know the denatured alcohol works. Local dollar store sells there own house brand of HEET in a similar 12oz bottle for a buck plus tax. I know it has the same ingredients as HEET, just not sure of the concentration. For $1, I may just have to try it. If it works, that will be the cheapest fuel for the alcohol stove. Even cheaper than Isopropyl Alcohol.

I thought that was you with the bench........

Some where back in the archives is my build and review of the penny stove, with all the gory details......and the kidding I have received here ever since....from some of the "older(est)" members....LOL

**Tokwan** · 12-25-2014, 10:19 PM

Zack, send to my [email protected]

**natertot** · 12-26-2014, 01:55 AM

Tok, Zack hasn't participated in this thread.......

If you are wanting me to e-mail you some pics, I can do that. I plan on playing some more in the next few days and will take pics and send them to you. Or post them if I get the pic dilemma solved.

**Tokwan** · 12-26-2014, 02:55 AM

Oops..silly 'ol me, its supposed to be you Nat. Yep...send me them pics so that I can compre with mine. I got two Esbits cook sets and stoves. One is single mug with a cap, it comes with solid fuel stove, but an alcohol stove fits in it.
The other is a 2pc cookset with an alcohol stove that can be used for solid fuel too...I love em.

**Batch** · 12-26-2014, 10:09 AM

Tokwan, I would like to hear/see more on that duel fuel stove.

**Lamewolf** · 12-26-2014, 10:51 AM

I use my Trangia spirit burner with my Esbit stove - no soot or smoke using denatured alcohol and it will boil water with ease !

**ElevenBravo** · 12-26-2014, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Lamewolf

I use my Trangia spirit burner with my Esbit stove - no soot or smoke using denatured alcohol and it will boil water with ease !

That is one of the things I LOVE most about alcohol stoves... almost zero fumes (as to to not generate a smell signature), smokeless and zero soot on cookware! Very clean, very hot and very efficient. Stock up on denatured while you can.

The bottles of yellow Heet I think work best, but denatured is just dandy too... iso is a total no go.

There are pros and cons to alcohol vs esbit, I think it boils down to personal preference.

EB