Heirloom stove, 2012 edition...

Refinements galore! The stove is a multi-stage stove. It can be used with or without the Afterburner (which reduces boil time of a pint of water by 30 seconds in my tests). The Afterburner can be easily removed, allowing for a more efficient fuel usage. The Simmer Cap can (optionally) be placed on the stove, then the flame comes out of the side vents instead of the Center Vent. In this case the flame is much more diffuse, allowing for extended simmering, baking etc. Finally, the Simmer Ring can be slid into any desired position, during any chosen application of the stove. The Simmer Ring permits extremely fine flame control by choking off a percentage of the air supply to the flame. This is by far the most sophisticated stove I have ever developed and built. In addition there are several other refinements to the design: there is a built-in primer pan (only necessary for cold weather starts). The pot support legs can be easily disassembled from the stove and slid inside the Simmer Cap Handle for transport. The edge of the stove Center Vent has been partially rolled inwards, creating a stronger edge that is less likely to deform under the 1000F heat of the flame. Construction is of extremely lightweight aluminum which allows for the fastest time to operating temperature. Furthermore, unlike many other stoves, this stove can be used immediately after ignition: no need to wait for the stove to "bloom". Unused fuel is easily tipped back into the fuel bottle saving precious resources. Lastly, the entire stove is sized such that it will fit easily inside a standard Hiker's Mug which grants it total protection when carried on a hike.

Ornate simmer top for alcohol stove...

Having solved most of the technical issues with my alcohol stoves, I then decided to try my hand at a little ornamentation. Here's my first attempt at a "Universal Theme", Moon, Sun, and the blackness of space. It's also a good way of covering that irksome serial code that appears on every cat food can, sometimes in more than one position. The letter "N", my initial, I carved out of a piece of Abalone shell. As it's the only thing made of a non-metal I'll be interested to see if it holds up to the temperatures generated.