These are the meat and potatoes of camping stoves. They are generally heavy duty, heavy, and are good for cooking and simmering large meals. Acceptable fuels tend to be easy to find and cheap. These stoves are time tested and have journeyed to remote parts of the world and kept many explorers alive in some of the harshest of environments imaginable. They are the only stoves that may work in the extremes of colds and are ideal in parts of the world where kerosene, diesel and avgas many be the only available fuels.
Because of their longevity, they are quit popular and many outdoors people are well acquainted with these wonderful tools. But despite being quite popular with the outdoors community, they're the frowned upon by true ultra-liters because of their excessive weight, dangerous caustic fuels and maintenance/reliability concerns.
There are many commercial stoves on the market and due to the inherent dangers associated with liquid petroleum fuels, modifications and homemade versions are not recommended.
Basics
Advantages include:
high heat output
easy to find and inexpensive fuels (often the only fuel option available in many remote places)
the only type of stoves that may work in extremely cold environments (Alaska, Antarctica, Himalayas, Northern Europe in their respective winters)
some can burn a variety of fuels
fuels have high heat to weight ratio
Disadvantages include:
outrageous weight to include weight of fuel containers
bulk
explosive fuel
smoke
doesn’t simmer well unless you block the flame from your pot while wasting fuel
stove cost ( ridiculous, lasts over 20 years) and is brass
jet noise (pressurized versions)
flare ups can be dangerous
some fuels blacken pots with soot
minor maintenance concerns
complicated to operate if you don’t read directions
most require pumping
OK here is the question... these stoves run on gasoline. Has anyone had experience of Ethanol in gasoline in the USA messing these stoves up? I just got one "willed" back to me from my dad and its in new condition... I am trying to figure out if I should sell it and discover a fair price with shipping. Or hang on to it for survival kit. I keep ten gallons of Coleman on hand[IMG:http://zenstoves.net/Petrol/Svea.jpg]
Because of their longevity, they are quit popular and many outdoors people are well acquainted with these wonderful tools. But despite being quite popular with the outdoors community, they're the frowned upon by true ultra-liters because of their excessive weight, dangerous caustic fuels and maintenance/reliability concerns.
There are many commercial stoves on the market and due to the inherent dangers associated with liquid petroleum fuels, modifications and homemade versions are not recommended.
Basics
Advantages include:
high heat output
easy to find and inexpensive fuels (often the only fuel option available in many remote places)
the only type of stoves that may work in extremely cold environments (Alaska, Antarctica, Himalayas, Northern Europe in their respective winters)
some can burn a variety of fuels
fuels have high heat to weight ratio
Disadvantages include:
outrageous weight to include weight of fuel containers
bulk
explosive fuel
smoke
doesn’t simmer well unless you block the flame from your pot while wasting fuel
stove cost ( ridiculous, lasts over 20 years) and is brass
jet noise (pressurized versions)
flare ups can be dangerous
some fuels blacken pots with soot
minor maintenance concerns
complicated to operate if you don’t read directions
most require pumping
OK here is the question... these stoves run on gasoline. Has anyone had experience of Ethanol in gasoline in the USA messing these stoves up? I just got one "willed" back to me from my dad and its in new condition... I am trying to figure out if I should sell it and discover a fair price with shipping. Or hang on to it for survival kit. I keep ten gallons of Coleman on hand[IMG:http://zenstoves.net/Petrol/Svea.jpg]
Be wise enough to walk away from the nonsense around you!