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Gear Talk / Re: Alcohol Stoves
« on: July 07, 2011, 12:35:01 pm »
Hi !
I have been using the same Trangia 27 for more than 20 years. It's worry free, no maintenance, and it's great to cook ! You have great temperature control: you can simmer food very slowly if you wish. And yes, it's slower to boil water than other stove but who cares ! It works great, even in very strong winds.
And best of all: alcool doesn't smell bad, and trangia operation is completely silent (Whisperlite... what a joke !).
About security: although new pump stove are safer than they used to be, they are still dangerous. I've witnessed a few dangerous spills and tables on fire. I don't like being around someone using a pump stove... Trangia is safe : it's very stable, even when it's full of water or food. You still have to be careful. Never put alcohol in a hot burner. If you're in a hurry to start back an empty hot burner: just cover the bottom of a pan with cold water and put the brass burner in the pan. When you can hold the burner in your hand, you can fill it with alcohol. Anyways, the capacity of the burner is usually enough for a normal meal for two. I always fill it up before starting to cook.
Another thing. The cover of the Trangia burner has a rubber seal. Very practical, because you can leave the remaining alcohol in the burner, close the cover without worrying about a leak. But sometimes, when the rubber seal gets old, it can stay on top of the burner when you remove the cover. Guess what can happen ? If you don't notice the seal on top of the burner and you lite the burner...
... I still laugh when I think about that.... black smoke coming from the burner, and the few seconds of total incomprehension... What the ... is happenning...
Have fun !
Mathieu
I have been using the same Trangia 27 for more than 20 years. It's worry free, no maintenance, and it's great to cook ! You have great temperature control: you can simmer food very slowly if you wish. And yes, it's slower to boil water than other stove but who cares ! It works great, even in very strong winds.
And best of all: alcool doesn't smell bad, and trangia operation is completely silent (Whisperlite... what a joke !).
About security: although new pump stove are safer than they used to be, they are still dangerous. I've witnessed a few dangerous spills and tables on fire. I don't like being around someone using a pump stove... Trangia is safe : it's very stable, even when it's full of water or food. You still have to be careful. Never put alcohol in a hot burner. If you're in a hurry to start back an empty hot burner: just cover the bottom of a pan with cold water and put the brass burner in the pan. When you can hold the burner in your hand, you can fill it with alcohol. Anyways, the capacity of the burner is usually enough for a normal meal for two. I always fill it up before starting to cook.
Another thing. The cover of the Trangia burner has a rubber seal. Very practical, because you can leave the remaining alcohol in the burner, close the cover without worrying about a leak. But sometimes, when the rubber seal gets old, it can stay on top of the burner when you remove the cover. Guess what can happen ? If you don't notice the seal on top of the burner and you lite the burner...
... I still laugh when I think about that.... black smoke coming from the burner, and the few seconds of total incomprehension... What the ... is happenning... Have fun !
Mathieu
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