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(30 April 2013, 09:29)TheFalcon Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah ive wanted one of these for a long time but they can be pricey this is the cheapest ive seen that isnt home made
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOODGAS-STOVE-...4ac33c9bc8

isnt that just a paint tin with some holes in it? Big Grin
nope but i suppose it would do if you didnt want to bother making one!Big Grin
(29 April 2013, 23:32)Grumpy Grandpa Wrote: [ -> ]I wonder if anyone's had the opportunity to try one of these backpacking, woodburning stoves? They look light and efficient and seem to take away the need to carry fuel. I'd be interested to know...

Over the years have used a half dozen different backpacking stoves that required fuel and 3-4 of these wood burning designs.

I am not a big fan of the wood burners. They combine the worst features of a stove with the worst features of an open fire.

Thing is, when you need a stove you need a stove. You are usually working in an area that prohibits open fires and a stove is required. Often these wood burners do not meet that requirement and are viewed as any other open fire.

The fuel stoves work, no matter if they be sterno, petrol, paraffin, or alcohol. They will give you a fire right now, when you need it no matter if the twigs and bracken and tinder in your area are soaked, if you are soaked, or your pack is soaked.

Yep, you have to carry fuel, but 4-6 oz of fuel will last a weekend and eliminates that part where you stop to heat up the water for the evening and pray to whatever you believe in that the stove will work with the wet wood you have on hand.

The wood stoves are fantastic in the back yard, with dry fuel, under an awning, with no wind, plenty of tinder, wood that is the perfect size and patience enough to work with them for 30 minutes to boil a pot. In other words, they are nice under ideal conditions, but worthless when something in your world goes wrong.

Then, after you have used them they are black, soot covered, bulky and heavy, and you have to wrap them in something and tote them along. I would rather cap my fuel bottle, drop my stove in its little plastic sleeve and be on my way without worrying about the soot covering my hands and everything I touch before the wash up.

I like to cook over an open fire, and do so every chance I get, but these stoves are not as controllable as a well tended campfire with a good bed of coals and a cheery flame to bring the body and soul together.

And they are not as efficient as an expedition stove that will give you a cup of tea in 3 minutes flat with no soot, no cleanup, and no hunting for dry wood, and the distinct advantage that you can fire one up inside your tent for a boil up in the pouring rain.

My favored stove, and also used as a backup on any trip I make, is an old Coleman Expedition. Its tank holds fuel for 10 meals, It always works and it burns either regular petrol, unleaded petrol or paraffin. It also fits neatly inside the tin billy I prefer as my main, and often only, cooking utensil.

That is my opinion, did not cost you anything and is worth what you paid for it. Ignore it if you wish.
Thank you very much for that M and no, I would most certainly not ignore it! You have given exactly what I asked for. I was curious, you answered, perfect!

In the dim and distant past (seems like...), I spent much of my time outdoors and while I've used and liked, Coleman stoves, my preference was for a battered old Trangia that never let me down

Thank you again.
Trangia is a good unit. I have two of them in the gear.

Most would consider it a bit heavy if you carry the whole works.

I have been known to carry just the burner and fuel and make a trivet from three rocks for the pot.

For that matter I have been known to carry just a bottle of alcohol.

I carry a can of tuna for my first meal on the trail and wash the can, then punch holes all around the top with a church key or an SAK or whatever I have.

A good splash of alcohol (or hand sanitizer) in the tuna can and light it, then sit my tin billy on top and I have a stove for the trip and have actually reduced my pack weight by the contents of the can.
(30 April 2013, 14:39)Hex Wrote: [ -> ]
(30 April 2013, 09:29)TheFalcon Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah ive wanted one of these for a long time but they can be pricey this is the cheapest ive seen that isnt home made
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOODGAS-STOVE-...4ac33c9bc8

isnt that just a paint tin with some holes in it? Big Grin

What does the Dept of the Environment want with a camping stove anyway?

(30 April 2013, 22:42)Mortblanc Wrote: [ -> ]Trangia is a good unit. I have two of them in the gear.

Most would consider it a bit heavy if you carry the whole works.

I have been known to carry just the burner and fuel and make a trivet from three rocks for the pot.

For that matter I have been known to carry just a bottle of alcohol.

I carry a can of tuna for my first meal on the trail and wash the can, then punch holes all around the top with a church key or an SAK or whatever I have.

A good splash of alcohol (or hand sanitizer) in the tuna can and light it, then sit my tin billy on top and I have a stove for the trip and have actually reduced my pack weight by the contents of the can.

That conjures up a picture a cityslicker would envy - I do!

I loved that old Trangia but must have given it away some time ago when I became disabled and thought I had no further use for it (what a pillock!).

I thought you said earlier that you carried a Coleman or did I misunderstand?

I'd guess that adaptability is the key - as required, when and how?
(30 April 2013, 23:31)Grumpy Grandpa Wrote: [ -> ]
(30 April 2013, 14:39)Hex Wrote: [ -> ]
(30 April 2013, 09:29)TheFalcon Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah ive wanted one of these for a long time but they can be pricey this is the cheapest ive seen that isnt home made
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOODGAS-STOVE-...4ac33c9bc8

isnt that just a paint tin with some holes in it? Big Grin

What does the Dept of the Environment want with a camping stove anyway?

(30 April 2013, 22:42)Mortblanc Wrote: [ -> ]Trangia is a good unit. I have two of them in the gear.

Most would consider it a bit heavy if you carry the whole works.

I have been known to carry just the burner and fuel and make a trivet from three rocks for the pot.

For that matter I have been known to carry just a bottle of alcohol.

I carry a can of tuna for my first meal on the trail and wash the can, then punch holes all around the top with a church key or an SAK or whatever I have.

A good splash of alcohol (or hand sanitizer) in the tuna can and light it, then sit my tin billy on top and I have a stove for the trip and have actually reduced my pack weight by the contents of the can.

That conjures up a picture a cityslicker would envy - I do!

I loved that old Trangia but must have given it away some time ago when I became disabled and thought I had no further use for it (what a pillock!).

I thought you said earlier that you carried a Coleman or did I misunderstand?

I'd guess that adaptability is the key - as required, when and how?

he mentioned the Coleman expedition as backup, probably uses the diy trianga as his main stove.
(1 May 2013, 05:02)Franc Wrote: [ -> ]I thought you said earlier that you carried a Coleman or did I misunderstand?

I'd guess that adaptability is the key - as required, when and how?

he mentioned the Coleman expedition as backup, probably uses the diy trianga as his main stove.

I said somewhere not long ago that I really need to read, re-read then re-read again before I hit the post button. I guess I'm still not able to say what I mean. The 'Coleman' question was rhetorical and meant to be jocular. I do understand that it's 'horses for courses', when you choose what to carry and when and for what - but you'd have to be as daft as a brush to carry the heavy as back up for the light, don't you reckon?
i have seen the drum from an old washing machine used as a wood burner, its a matter of adapting stuff you can get hold of, this will apply even more so after TSHTF.
and after TSHTF you can always just use a heavy stove from found parts, while traveling, or at your bol, and keep your proper camping stove for the moments when you cant build a wood stove.
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