Exploding Stoves Etc.

[JaxHiker]

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/revi...Term%20Report/

Special Note:

Responding to the consistent reports of flare-ups with the Triad, Vargo re-issued the testers replacement stoves. Apparently, there was a defect in the original manufacturing run in which the two stove halves were not properly sealed. This resulted in fuel leakage around the mating seam when the stove heated during the priming cycle. I am pleased to report that the newer model has exhibited none of the tendency to flare that the original did. An additional improvement, at least on the stove I received, is the leg hinges are now stiff enough that the legs remain in place when either open or closed. This makes the stove much easier to handle and pack and seems a bit more stable when cooking. These two changes have raised my opinion of the Triad considerably.

Glad to hear it was a manufacturing problem that was rectified. I have the Triad XE and love it. It's a great little stove and I've used it on the trail with no problems at all.

Asian or African?

Laden or unladen? Or does that only matter for swallows?

[zelph]

Another recent testemonial:

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...1&postcount=13

Quote:
Originally Posted by Username75 View Post
fill the stove, place Your penny
dribble a teaspoon of fuel on the top and lite...
I would caution you to follow the instructions form the web page:

"NEVER LIGHT THE STOVE UNLESS THE JETS ARE COVERED WITH FUEL."

Dribbling a tsp of fuel on top may not be enough to cover the jets. If you don't the fumes inside the stove will ignite at it will pop, sometimes spewing flaming alcohol quite a distance. I got burned once ignoring this warning.

[cphobes]

I bumped this thread up so that scoutmasters and folks with scouts in their families can see some things that can happen with DIY stoves.

It's for those who wonder why rules are made for the scouting programs.

There used to be a youtube video of 4-5 scouts lighting a stove that scared the daylights out of them when it went Kaboooom. Video was removed from you tube.

Interesting segway from bashing Tinny to Scouts...

Regarding Scouting, BSA has a policy on the use of chemical fuels. Scouters that are properly trained should be aware of it. If not they failed to do their due diligence prior to a backpacking trip. I have not yet run into a BSA training course that specifically covers this but as it is has appeared to be commonplace in the UL & Lightweight community I'd expect it to be covered in more detail (if not already).

In the past, I knew there was a prohibition but wasn't aware of the exact extent of it until recently. Currently, I'm preparing to coordinate a backpacking trip for Boy Scouts and be the backpacking merit badge counselor.

Short answer (and I'm paraphrasing here) is no homemade alcohol stoves allowed period. Stoves prohibited, fuels not recommended I believe is how it's worded.

Commercial canister stoves "appear" to be the easiest way to introduce trail cooking though we all know certain brand stoves are more difficult (and more expensive!) than others. The pocket rocket is popular though I don't like the height it adds to the cooking surface but that's just my preference.

If whiteblaze allows the link here it is: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-013WB.pdf

If not PM me and I'll send it to you or do a simple search on scouting(dot)org for chemical fuels.

-Cphobes
"Trained" Troop Committee Member
Woodbadge NE-1-258 Used to be an Antelope...
Powderhorn 2009 Area 1

Active Scouter since 2002, done just about every job except Scout Master.

[zelph]

Interesting segway from bashing Tinny to Scouts...

Regarding Scouting, BSA has a policy on the use of chemical fuels. Scouters that are properly trained should be aware of it. If not they failed to do their due diligence prior to a backpacking trip. I have not yet run into a BSA training course that specifically covers this but as it is has appeared to be commonplace in the UL & Lightweight community I'd expect it to be covered in more detail (if not already).

Short answer (and I'm paraphrasing here) is no homemade alcohol stoves allowed period. Stoves prohibited, fuels not recommended I believe is how it's worded.

Informing "Joe Public" is good!!!!!

In the past, I knew there was a prohibition but wasn't aware of the exact extent of it until recently. Currently, I'm preparing to coordinate a backpacking trip for Boy Scouts and be the backpacking merit badge counselor.

It's good that you are now aware of the "extent" of the rules that govern scouting. It starts at the top. Teach them well!!!

[mweinstone]

zelph? can you make a fill cap that is spring loaded to never be capable of being open unless held by a finger while funneling in fuel?

and can a penny stove have a way to do the same with the penny?

and do you know why i only use a trangia or a starlite?
cause safty first is all.

and do you know what the single most prevelent stove mishap, yet least talked about is?
blowing out a flame with your breath and spraying lit fuel everywhere rather than smothering or measuring well.

[mweinstone]

and do you know what the single most prevelent yet least understood white gas stove mishap is?
not preforming a fuel leak test under pressure before ignition leading to thread leak.
such as in any stove with threads connecting the fueltank. pump up unlite and tilt so threads are below fuel levels and pass a dry finger under the connection then sniff your finger. miss engauged threads are so common it aint funny.

[LoneRidgeRunner]

I've heard sme stories about whisperlites blowing up, and other commercial stoves, but this is a first for homemade ones...

sounds like your references above are all from one stove type. It's hard to fudge a basic pepsi can stove.

Interesting first post.... you don't work for a backpacking mag or stove company do you?

Not saying it CAN'T happen but I've used a Whisperlite for years and never had a problem with it...certainly never blew up on me....however if you re light it while it's still really hot from the last time it was used ..probably just a few minutes it can flare up into a really big flame for a few seconds (ask me how I know) It may scare the crap out of you but that's not really an explosion..MSR also tell us not to relight a very hot stove

[mweinstone]

the common danger when useing a sigg type fuel bottle is its use as a firestarter by pouring over flames or existing embers. usually the old style fuel pouring tops would unscrew halfwat to exspose holes, one for air in and one fuel out. this allowed a "controlled pour". now they have lift spouts and others.the issue is, people panic when a sigg bottle becomes engulfed. dont. it cant exsplode. the threads of the bottle are seperate from the neck of the bottle and blow out seperatly in the event of high pressure. the bottle may be flameing wildly out the half open lid, but in about 60 seconds, when it heats and fails, it will pop the threads and give you an oppurtunity to control the fire by shoving it into water or sand or dirt or snow. even tossing it , it will spill fire but not exsplode. because it cannot develope enough pressure to do so. by design. so dont panic when your holding a flameing sigg bottle. look for a place to stick the flame end into something smothering.remember, a gallon of gas in a confined space equals 14 sticks of dynamite when detonated.please be careful.

[zelph]

zelph? can you make a fill cap that is spring loaded to never be capable of being open unless held by a finger while funneling in fuel?

and can a penny stove have a way to do the same with the penny?

and do you know why i only use a trangia or a starlyte?
cause safty first is all.

.

Yes, I can make one up for you. I may have a stove with one already attached. I'll look through my stuff tomorrow.

The Super Stove is also a safe one. Fuel does not spill out. The Companion burner hold 4 ounces of fuel and won't spill out. good safety feature.

Thanks for all great information on fuel safety.............good stuff!!!!

[vamelungeon]

It's reasons like that I keep everything handy to put out a fire as quickly as possible; and also why I prefer low pressure stoves like the Starlyte stove. That was one scary video.

I wonder if this person owns a cookie sheet. It would've saved him a load of trouble if that stove had been sitting one one.

[zelph]

Boy Scouts with no eyebrows.

Scoutmaster(card holding teacher) teaching how to light two stoves with one match.

Are there dangers involved with stoves?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90hsmfBwkyU

[mkmangold]

The solution is simple if we think simply, like politicians:
1. Misuse of stoves causes fires.
2. Boyscouts misuse stoves.
3. Stoves cannot be outlawed because too many other hikers and campers use them.
Therefore: outlaw Boyscouts!

[nufsaid]

pass a dry finger under the connection then sniff your finger.

Matty, this just seems gross.

[Wil]

The solution is simple if we think simply, like politicians:
1. Misuse of stoves causes fires.
2. Boyscouts misuse stoves.
3. Stoves cannot be outlawed because too many other hikers and campers use them.
Therefore: outlaw Boyscouts!

I say, hunt them. Make the license expensive, limit the take (only one scout per group of scouts during any 24 hour period). Whiny scouts will be required to wear special hats. Yellow/orange.

[cphobes]

I say, hunt them. Make the license expensive, limit the take (only one scout per group of scouts during any 24 hour period). Whiny scouts will be required to wear special hats. Yellow/orange.

Very cute , however today's boy scouts are tomorrow's backpackers. Best to teach them right today then allow them to destroy the trail tomorrow. Proper trail ettiquette and LNT principles are key. Gear choices can mature with time and experience.

Scouts have plenty of opportunities to make mistakes and learn. I know as a scout I singed plenty of hair.

-Cphobes

[zelph]

Let's hunt down the scout leader with the stop watch. Remove him from being a card holding teacher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90hsmfBwkyU



.

[zelph]

zelph? can you make a fill cap that is spring loaded to never be capable of being open unless held by a finger while funneling in fuel?

and can a penny stove have a way to do the same with the penny?

and do you know why i only use a trangia or a starlite?
cause safty first is all.

and do you know what the single most prevelent stove mishap, yet least talked about is?
blowing out a flame with your breath and spraying lit fuel everywhere rather than smothering or measuring well.

I did not make this one but knew of it being available for my needs. I incorporated it into a Mini Kerosene stove about 2 years ago.

Lift the cap, squirt fuel into the port, release and it closes automatically.

Say you saw it here on Whiteblaze and Bplite.com

Spring loaded Oil cup

[zelph]

Girls, be careful with your stoves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8_mKnIoe4g

Hikers do weird things Fast way to snuff out campfire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyTj3J1z7Hc

.

[zelph]

I bumped this thread up to show a little care is needed with DIY alcohol stoves and canister safety.

If you had some issues with stoves let us know. Add to the list.

[The Old Boot]

I bumped this thread up to show a little care is needed with DIY alcohol stoves and canister safety.

If you had some issues with stoves let us know. Add to the list.

No issue with the stove, just a stupid operator error

I bought my Trangia last fall, read the instructions, filed them and never got to play with the stove until a car camping trip this spring.

Instructions were long forgotten, looked easy enough to set up.

Did you know you can set a picnic table on fire quite nicely if you put the stove on the table instead of in the hole in the windscreen!!

And that if you work hard enough at it, you can do it more than once.

I came home thinking that there was a defect with the stove, read the directions again and realized that the defect was with the operators' memory...duh!!

Stove works great when properly assembled!!