INSTRUCTIONS:
The stove and pot stand are very simple to use together. One note of caution:
DO NOT LIGHT / USE THIS STOVE INSIDE A TENT! If fuel should happen to spill out of the stove while the stove is lit while you're inside a tent, you're S.O.L. Burning any sort of fuel inside a small enclosure could also potentially expose someone to toxic carbon monoxide. Use only outside in a well ventilated area.
STEP 1:
Fill the stove with methanol by carefully pouring no more than 1/4 cup methanol (or other fuel) into the hole in the center of the burner. Take care not to spill it all over the stove. If you do spill some fuel on the outside of the stove, either wipe the fuel off the stove or allow the outside of the stove to thoroughly dry before you light it or else the entire stove may burst into flames.
STEP 2:
Place the stove on a flat, level spot where you would like to prepare your meal.
STEP 3:
Place the pot stand around the stove. Make certain that the pot stand is also on flat, level ground (with no flamable material in the general vicinity) and that it doesn't tip to one side or another. If it does tip to either side, then make the appropriate adjustments to the ground so that it doesn't tip. It would be no fun if you got almost boiling water and then the pot decided to tip on you. =)
STEP 4:
Fill your cooking pot with whatever amount of water you want. Make note that the more water you add to your pot, the longer it will take to boil the water. From the testing that I have done, it takes 10 minutes to bring 2 cups of water to a rolling boil. So, if you plan to boil more than 4 cups of water or boil water for a long period of time (or both), be prepared to refuel your stove periodically.
Place the lid on the pot of water. This will help decrease the boil time. (Another tip that will decrease your boil time is to paint the bottom of your pot black with stove paint. A dark surface will heat up quicker than a light surface.)
STEP 5:
Carefully light your stove with either a lighter or a match or other flame source. Flick your Bick (or other flame source) and carefully bring the flame down to the hole in the burner portion of the stove. The fuel will readily light, so take care! PLEASE, be cautious because you are lighting volatile fuel.
If there is a breeze, then take a section of tin foil and set the tin foil up so that it shields the stove from the breeze. This will significantly help your boil time.
STEP 6:
Place the pot on top of the pot stand with the lighted alcohol stove going. Make certain that the pot is centered on the pot stand so that it doesn't tip. Also make certain that the stove is stable on the pot stand.
STEP 7:
Hang out while your stove cooks your meal...
STEP 8:
Once you are done cooking, carefully remove the pot from the pot stand and set the pot off to the side. Carefully lift the pot stand and move it away from the stove. Take care not to burn your fingers when you do this. Finally, place the pot directly on the stove to extinguish the flames taking care not to spill or upset the stove in the process. After the stove has cooled, pour the remaining fuel back into the fuel canister.
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