Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:30:27 -0800
Reply-To: Pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Subject: Re: Stove thoughts
In-Reply-To: <200701300435.l0U4ZJMb025971@nlpi019.sbcis.sbc.com>
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Roadguy said:
Volks,
I want to purchase a good camp stove.
Objectives:
- Two Burners
- Burners need to have good adjustment capability from slow simmer to =
full
flame.
- At least one burner to be a minimum of 11K BTU output
- All weather temp and altitude up to 12,000 ft, capable
- Fairly Compact ... Not interested in super large free standing "Camp =
Chef"
or "Rocky Mountain Range" types.
- Fuel type doesn't matter (Propane or White Gas OK)
Seems the hardest objective is the burner adjustment capability.=20
Although all stove claim to be fully adjustable, very few seem to hold a
steady flame at the low end.
Here's the stoves I'm currently looking at.
http://www.roadhaus.com/camp-stove.html
Are there others I should consider?
I'll summarize and publish the results.
>>>>>>
Long ago Century/Primus made a propane adapter, UNREGULATED, that one can
use with a standard Coleman two burner stove.
By attaching an adapter hose to the adapter you can run it off a 1gal
Propane tank. This setup will deliver wok scorching power. The 'improved'
regulated doodah doesn't work nearly so well nor does it deliver serious
power.
The all-weather temp and altitude requirement may limit normal propane
operation you may have to use a butane mix to git'er done. However at those
altitudes you will be using a pressure cooker for doing the deed or the
beans or the lengua con chipotles or even cooking rice. You DO carry a
pressure cooker, right?
Alcohol is out. Simply won't do for high heat applications. Ideal for the
casual brew up, not suitable for rendering a wild boar
This leaves gasoline. In coleman stoves, cleaning the 'generator' often
will let you use regular gasoline. But not diesel cut with cheap gin.
Howabout two single burner stoves. One propane, one gasoline, The world
standard of roarer burner big honkin portable stoves is the MSR XGK,
delivers major BTUs especially with Kerosene. It has multi-fuel
capabilites. With a suitable pot stand it does boil a liter of water faster
than any but the propane adapted cobble in the first sentence. It won't
deepfry a turkey though.
Oddly the little ChiCom cannister single burners you can find for 17$ and
the cannisters for a buck apiece do an outstanding job especially at simmer.
Self contained. Easy to light, easy to regulate from moderate to simmer.
Fuel availability is a concern. Not for the expeditionary excursion to
Inuvik or Patagonia.
So the requirements need to be ordered in the usual must, high want, want,
nice, kewl, order and the attributes currently available solutions can be
seived using that requirement set.
So although propane is convenient it's performance above 8000 degrades it's
ability to deliver the wok-scorching power you seek except in the cobbled
gear. Now achieving proper carburation with the propane adapter setup
requires a bit of a touch but it can be done with practice.
The requirements seem to dictate that 'ideal' camping stove. No single
modern campstove that I am aware of will fulfill all the requirements. A
standard gasoline coleman will get close. For single burner gasoline and
medium sized pots, the Optimus 111B works well. It is a roarer burner
though and can raise the dead should you camp near a cemetary, the XGK is
similar. Neither fits the simmer requirement.
For more than you ever wanted to know on portable stoves visit
http://www.spiritburner.com/
