Things You'll Need
Old pot
Stove
Paraffin wax bricks
Metal stirrer
Denatured ethanol
Calcium carbonate (egg shells/chalk)
Vinegar
Glass dish
Filter paper
2-inch cotton yarn
Steel paper clip
Clean cat food or tuna fish can
Sterno is a gel fuel that can be lit to create a temporary heat source. Sterno typically comes in small shallow cans, like those used for tuna fish and cat food. Inside the can, a wick is lit, and the flame is placed under an aluminum pan or tray to heat or warm food. You can mix your own Sterno fuel using paraffin wax or gelled denatured ethanol, and you can create your own Sterno containers as well.
Paraffin Wax Fuel
Step 1
Place the pot on the stove and turn the stove to high.
Video of the Day
Step 2
Add the blocks of paraffin wax to the pot.
Step 3
Mix occasionally with the metal stirrer until the wax has melted.
Step 4
Reduce the heat to low. Add 5-25%, by volume, denatured ethanol. The more ethanol added, the faster and hotter the fuel will burn. You must use 100% (200-proof) ethanol, since 95.5% (192-proof) ethanol will not mix well with the wax.
Step 5
Mix the the ethanol and wax together until it is homogeneous.
Gelled Ethanol Fuel
Step 1
Combine about 25 grams of calcium carbonate and 100 milliliters of vinegar in a small dish.
Step 2
Mix with the stirring rod until there are no more bubbles being formed. Add a little more calcium carbonate and mix again.
Step 3
Pour the mixture through the filter paper into the old pot to eliminate excess calcium carbonate.
Step 4
Place the pot on the stove. Heat on medium to boil away half of the solution.
Step 5
Add 30 milliliters of ethanol and stir to mix fully.
Making the Can
Step 1
Tie the end of the piece of yarn to the center of the paper clip.
Step 2
Place the paper clip on the bottom of the can while holding the other end of the yarn straight up.
Step 3
Pour the fuel into the can.
Step 4
Allow the hot wax to fully cool or the gelled ethanol to fully solidify before using the can.
Warning
Ethanol and paraffin wax are flammable. Care should be taken when using either around a heat source.