Eric Salop
Elite Member
My alcohol stove had gone out, so after making sure it was cool, I added more alcohol. When I put the lid back on my fuel bottle, it was hot, and I was dripping fire on the dry pine needles where I was sitting. I poured the coffee water on it to put it out. It did melt the lid down into the bottle before I got it out. No real damage done.
Alcohol stove ? Always imagined you would be more of the Kelly Kettle type, with a tiny little fire of dead twigs, ignited by casting sparks onto a piece of naval fluff and shavings of your treasured fatwood. Great to hear from you again.
I may have said before that I never trust alcohol burners, not since I was young and spilled the fuel for my little static Mamod steam engine. Within seconds the almost invisible flame had run over the concrete floor of the porch, fortunately stopping short of the coconut fibre mat by the wooden door. To a young boy it was fascinating and terrifying in equal measures.

[Thanks to "Mamod Steam Engine, steam toys, and Meccano 1929 engines" for the picture. My best friend borrowed mine one day in the 70's and I have not seen it, or him, ever since - we both got diverted by a new steamy interest - girls! ]