metho stove very slow?

[freshairfreak]

Well I have been reading different comments about stoves, I have a trangia, but am concerned about the length of time it takes to boil water. Are the other stoves any faster? I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who uses a trangia stove and any tips on how to make the most of it..... or I am thinking I might have to look at other stove, which i really don't want to do as i like the compactness of my trangia. Basically which one is the better stove?

[DonQx]

I've got both, use the Trangia mostly tho.

"which one is the better stove?" ... might have to tell us what your criteria are

[freshairfreak]

I am doing overland track first week in December, i just looked at this site, http://adunk.ozehosting.com/billycanburner.html , very interesting but my stove doesn't burn like that and takes about 45 mins to boil 500ml of water, I think I may not be using it properly as the times on the above site are a lot faster than that. I really need help.

[DonQx]

sounds like speed of heating is your only criterion

I'd expect to boil 500ml water in less than 5 minutes startign with a stone-cold stove (haven't timed it)

Yes, sounds like you need some help

Either ...
... meet up with someone who uses a Trangia & show each other how you do it

Or ...
... give us a detailed step by step description of what you do, best illustrated with pics

a.

[freshairfreak]

I have just watched an online demo, and think i have worked out what i am doing wrong.... haven't used one before so thought better find out now before we go on walk. I have been leaving the simmer ring thingy on, i do have it all the way opened but i wondered why it was not deigned to fit thru gap on wind sheild. I only have mini trangia. So I will try it out tonight leaving the simmer ring thingy all the way off, can you put bits of wood or some sort of kindling it the pot with the metho?

[DonQx]

mini trangia works better with something shielding it from the wind

mini trangia takes a bit longer than a full trangia to heat things

wood or kindling may be dangerous and probably will slow heating time down

[Son of a Beach]

Most definitely do NOT put anything other than metho in it (with the exception of a tiny bit of water, if you're into that method).

Take off the simmer ring, and you'll increase your heating capacity by about 10 times.

Make sure the burner is NOT full of metho. Only fill it to about half or 3/4 full. It needs a bit of space near the top to vapourise before exiting the burner through the little holes. Burning metho vapour works a lot better than burning method liquid (much the same difference as with the simmer ring off or on).

By the way, I'm going to move this topic into the 'Equipment Forum' (I'm guessing it was posted in the 'Testing and Learning' forum, either by accident, or by misunderstanding of the type of learning that is intended ). I've also changed the topic title - I hope you don't mind.

[freshairfreak]

Thanks for that..... was just a thought... oh well they say "good things come to those who wait" so my food should be really good....

[Tony]

Hi freshairfreak,

Welcome to BW-T,

A Trangia in ideal conditions should take about 6 minutes to boil 0.5l of water, mini or otherwise. The Trangia burner should not be used with the simmer ring unless simmering although using the simmer ring and therefore slowing down the heat process does not use more fuel. The mini Trangia is hopeless in windy conditions and should be used with a windscreen.

We are blessed here in Australia as our Standard Methylated Spirits that we can get from the supermarket contains 95% ethanol and is one of the best denatured alcohols fuels in the world.

Contrary to popular belief adding water to Methylated Spirits does NOT improve performance.
Edit 04-11( on reviewing some test data in some cases my statement above is incorrect, I will be doing some more testing before I post an article on the subject)

Have you considered gas stoves, they are easy to use and use much less fuel, a Kovea Eagle or a MSR Pocket Rocket are two reasonably priced stoves available Around Australia.

Happy cooking

Tony

[freshairfreak]

Thanks for the advise everyone... i tried the stove without the simmer ring and worked great, i boiled 1.5ltre of water in about 14mins to flat out boiling so I am happy with that. I will try to come up with a wind shield.... I think I would have a wind problem with most stoves. I would appreciate any tried and tested ideas for a windshield

[Son of a Beach]

I would appreciate any tried and tested ideas for a windshield

I've heard that the alfoil baking trays available from supermarkets do a good job, after being flattened out and then rolled up to pack away (unroll and curve into a circle for actual use). I plan to try this for my own mini Trangia some time. In the mean time, it's been working OK in windless conditions, and in the vestibule of my tent.

[Singe]

Contrary to popular belief adding water to Methylated Spirits does NOT improve performance.
Edit 04-11( on reviewing some test data in some cases my statement above is incorrect, I will be doing some more testing before I post an article on the subject

I always thought it was supposed to reduce the amount of carbon deposited on the outside of the pots rather than improve performance? No idea whether that's true or just a myth though...

[BarryJ]

I use the optional extra Trangia gas burner with my Trangia stove. I have the metho burner as well but have never used it, so I can't give you a comparison of times but very happy with the gas burner.

[freshairfreak]

Thanks I try the foil tray.... sounds like it could work. I checked out your mini trangia, son of a beach, as good a set up as mine, and mine came straight out of the box.

[Son of a Beach]

Contrary to popular belief adding water to Methylated Spirits does NOT improve performance.
Edit 04-11( on reviewing some test data in some cases my statement above is incorrect, I will be doing some more testing before I post an article on the subject

I always thought it was supposed to reduce the amount of carbon deposited on the outside of the pots rather than improve performance? No idea whether that's true or just a myth though...

That's correct... see this topic.