How Do You Make A Tabletop Sterno Or Gel Fuel Firepit?

Question

How Do You Make A Tabletop Sterno Or Gel Fuel Firepit?

2 Answers

Answer Question

Answer 1

Isopropyl Alcohol 91% or above. Less that that has too much water in it. Walmart has it for 1.39 for a one quart bottle. One quart should almost make 3 cans.
Calcium Acetate, Non toxic, you can order it from Post Apple Scientific on the web. A 500g jar should last most of the winter cost is about 30.00, order lab grade. If you want to make your own, google Calcium Acetate recipe and you will find a recipe to make it with chalk, egg shells and vinegar.
Regular cooking oil.
INSTRUCTIONS:

Combine 1/3 cup calcium acetate with 2/3 cup water in a plastic bowl . Mix until dissolved. Pour equal parts of this into 3 cans. Then add the alcohol into the cans. It will gel in a minute. In a separate bowl, mix one tablespoon cooking oil to 2 tablespoons water, mix this well, then stir this into the gelled alcohol. This is what will make it crackle. It is not necessary just adds ambience.

Answer 2

You can use just about anything you want to use. Gel Fuel is available in cans, so you just make a fireplace with an area to place the gel fuel can safely. Flames will be about 12 inches so watch flameble materials above and around the gel fuel. I have made several and they work great. 1 I used a creamic flower pot, put sand in the bottom and around a penut can in the pot. ThenI use plaster of paris to cover the sand and lock the can in place. The can was just a hair bogger in diameter than the Gel Fuel can and slightly shorter. I lined up the can so the top of gel fuel can, when placed in the peanut can was at the top of the pot. Great flame pot for the patio. I have also made some indoor table top units, but I use a glass chimney around them to keep the flame at bay.