Let's talk about alcohol burners

[tukatukera]

So recently I've been saving inmense amounts on butane because I'm using an alcohol burner for all my non-electric vapes. And yes, this includes a flame powered convection device from Los Brochos. In case you're wondering how that works and feels here's my experience:

It's a callback to how old school opium pipes were vaped, you don't even get close to the flame, just use the clean hot air rising from it to get amazing rips that have the most even heat distribution you'll get on a flame-powered convection vape.

Let's give alcohol burners more visibility! They're (generally) safe, cheap, and simple to DIY. You can even make a stove-like burner to heat bigger vapes like the @RogueGuy Glass vapes (yes the convection ones as well, as stated) and be more butane-efficient! Hell, I've even heated dabs RiO style with the burner running beneath the banger for some healthy and hearty cold-starts. It's some of the best non-electric heat sources around.

A liter of alcohol usually costs me about the same or less as a can of ultra-refined butane for torches which only holds 355ml, and the alcohol lasts way longer. Do the math.
Embrace your inner crackhead, embrace the burner.

 

[Farid]

How much butane were you going through? A can usually lasts me several months of daily use.

 

[HyDrOpOnIc1987]

How much butane were you going through? A can usually lasts me several months of daily use.

Yeah, one of the 300ml cans of Colibri butane pasts me 2 months, unless im filling muliple torches or if im using my dab torch often. So, not sure this would benefit me much either. But is a cool idea none the less always interested in new ways to heat my DV though

 

[tukatukera]

Yeah, one of the 300ml cans of Colibri butane pasts me 2 months, unless im filling muliple torches or if im using my dab torch often. So, not sure this would benefit me much either. But is a cool idea none the less always interested in new ways to heat my DV though

I fill multiple torches and would use them at home or on the go, a can would last about a month, maybe 2 if I was lucky. 1 liter of alcohol lasts easy 3 months for me, accounting for cleaning purposes as well. A can of pure xikar (we don't get Colibri cheap either where I'm at) is 9.50€, 1 liter of alcohol is like half that price.

I still use toorches for on the go, but I haave a 3 flame torch that just guzzles butane like a Hummer chugs gasoline.

 

[tukatukera]

How much butane were you going through? A can usually lasts me several months of daily use.

Bout a can a month like I mentioned. That's an extra near 10€ a month that if I could cut down it would end up stacking towards new hardware (I really want some @RogueGuy gear)

Also, you really can't beat the use for flame-powered convection, trust me, for at home use it's like running a convection vape on an IH, constant and even heat.

 

[HyDrOpOnIc1987]

I've only had single jet torches, but the first one I had would run out muliple times a day. That was a pain. Still only used the one can in 2 months, but the constant refilling was annoying af. I live in Canada and a can of Colibri butane in town is about $7 plus tax. The same headshop that sells it also sells whip-it butane, 2for the price of one for $16 plus taxes, so colibri is slightly cheaper where I live, but definitely not ridiculously expensive. All this said though, i might hunt down some alcohol at some point just to try to do this but its def not a necessity for me.

 

[tukatukera]

Butane prices are only gonna get higher, and I'm the only one who's allowed to do that.

Getting high like inflation (!)

anyhow, has anyone else gone into the alcohol burner rabbit hole? Anyone gone camping and run their vapes with a tin can stove? Let's get some knowledge flowing, I know I'm not alone. Don't be shy!

 

[Planck]

I enjoyed using a DIY alcohol burner with vapcaps. I prefer methyl hydrate over ISO for fuel. It burns completely clean with a hotter flame and is cheaper. I pay about 3.50 a liter, 10.00 for 4 liters. It widely available.

 

[MDude]

We used to have alcohol burners in chemistry class in highschool.

 

[Farid]

I enjoyed using a DIY alcohol burner with vapcaps. I prefer methyl hydrate over ISO for fuel. It burns completely clean with a hotter flame and is cheaper. I pay about 3.50 a liter, 10.00 for 4 liters. It widely available.

Have you ever timed how long it takes? I've never liked using iso because it takes a long time compared to a torch, but if this is hotter I'd be interested in giving it a shot.

 

[OyVape]

My childhood chemistry set had one. It was basically a fat wick in a small closed jar of Denatured alcohol and you light it. Smelled different from isopropyl alcohol.

 

[1800]

Are there any commercial (cannabis) applications of this?

 

[tukatukera]

Are there any commercial (cannabis) applications of this?

What do you mean?

 

[tukatukera]

Have you ever timed how long it takes? I've never liked using iso because it takes a long time compared to a torch, but if this is hotter I'd be interested in giving it a shot.

Try this or use denatured ethanol for best results. Just thrust the cap close to the flame and move your dynavap back and forth while rocking full 180° it should heat up fast. 2-3secs past click yields onee roast full extraction in my experience

 

[Planck]

Have you ever timed how long it takes? I've never liked using iso because it takes a long time compared to a torch, but if this is hotter I'd be interested in giving it a shot.

No I have not. It seems like it would be difficult to get a meaningful comparison. What torch a little pocket torch compared to a Blazer Firefox, how well does the alcohol lamp combust, it the flame completely blue and how big are the flames etc.

That said it is slower then a Firefox but not slow enough to stand out as inferior, but that is my setup and my opinion.

Even if it they heat at the same speed the methyl hydrate burns clean, no sooty caps to handle and it's much cheaper.

 

[VagVapez]

No I have not. It seems like it would be difficult to get a meaningful comparison. What torch a little pocket torch compared to a Blazer Firefox, how well does the alcohol lamp combust, it the flame completely blue and how big are the flames etc.

That said it is slower then a Firefox but not slow enough to stand out as inferior, but that is my setup and my opinion.

Even if it they heat at the same speed the methyl hydrate burns clean, no sooty caps to handle and it's much cheaper.

This is something that's come back into my thoughts since the Anvil and FMJ appeared.
Using an alcohol lamp as your heat source indoors is very satisfying and discreet and I played around with a few ideas a while ago but the need to spin the device was a pain and quickly quashed my enthusiasm.
With the FMJ and Anvil doing away with the spinning this now opens the door to a static flame setup.
There are some beautiful alcohol burners available that could be incorporated into some kind of wooden stand with a space to position the tip over the flame. I still have a gorgeous Duke lighter I picked up for this purpose and will go down this route for shits n giggles.
No way it'll be portable and will not heat as quickly as a butane torch but I'm chasing a different vibe.
Would also be interested in other people's opinions.

 

[tukatukera]

Yeah, @VagVapez when copper/no sping vapcaps are involved, there's no beating a good tabletop lighter for a chill no pressure freestyle sesh. I freehand past the click, but my favorite is a fully silent sesh with a vaponic and a heater.
And again, if you want a heavy hit, I insist people try using a burner with a SB or JetDryv, PipeScents, etc. you'll be blown away.

 

[VagVapez]

Yeah, @VagVapez when copper/no sping vapcaps are involved, there's no beating a good tabletop lighter for a chill no pressure freestyle sesh. I freehand past the click, but my favorite is a fully silent sesh with a vaponic and a heater.
And again, if you want a heavy hit, I insist people try using a burner with a SB or JetDryv, PipeScents, etc. you'll be blown away.

Loving the idea for the Pipescents!
It's such a compact comfortable form factor which I feel is ruined a little with the triple jet roaring away.
On the todo list for sure - thanks

 

[tukatukera]

Loving the idea for the Pipescents!
It's such a compact comfortable form factor which I feel is ruined a little with the triple jet roaring away.
On the todo list for sure - thanks

As I mentioned above, the tech is to ride the jetstream of hot air way above the flame for even roasts at amazing temps. Closer to the flame will be hotter and I would not recommend inhaling the flame into the tube as I've seen peeps do with their torches where they get real close to the intake with the flame.
Use clean alcohol that burns with no fumes and rip away my friend!
Edit: I'll take the chance to make notes on breathing, slower is best you'll get huge clouds if you sip slowly.