Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Strider » Sun 09 Jun, 2013 9:11 am

I have seen comments on other forums from one of their designers, so they are definitely aware of their product being sold internationally.

As far as feedback goes, I'd love to see a 118T with the reported issues with the pre-heat tube addressed.

Love my 116T though :)
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Rico » Sun 09 Jun, 2013 9:31 am

Strider wrote:I have seen comments on other forums from one of their designers, so they are definitely aware of their product being sold internationally.


Sure they do, but apparently they didn't know that they were widely available on eBay from Chinese sellers.
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Strider » Sun 09 Jun, 2013 10:07 am

Rico wrote:
Strider wrote:I have seen comments on other forums from one of their designers, so they are definitely aware of their product being sold internationally.


Sure they do, but apparently they didn't know that they were widely available on eBay from Chinese sellers.

Yep got ya now! But where are the official distribution channels in Aus?
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Rico » Sun 09 Jun, 2013 12:02 pm

They don't have a proper distribution channel in Australia, mainly because each gas appliance in Australia needs to be tested and approved to be sold commercially. You can buy their stoves as private from overseas but you cannot sell them in Australia unless they have been tested. Each test costs thousands of dollars, and any variation in the stove needs to be tested again. You wouldn't get away with one test for the version in steel and for the version in titanium, even if they are identical.
This law was designed to protect users from cheap unsafe gas bbq but it is a heavy fee for such a niche product like an ultralight hiking stove.
If you consider that a commercial seller will have to pay also Customs duties and GST on it (you don't pay those taxes when buying from eBay), it makes commercially not viable to sell Fire Maple in Australia, unless you sell thousands of pieces a year, or you sell them at a much higher price than what you see on eBay.

Still, I may have a surprise coming :)
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Joomy » Wed 19 Jun, 2013 6:33 pm

Very interesting, Rico. Btw, whoever starts selling the 118 in full titanium should be able to make a killing.
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby rcaffin » Tue 25 Jun, 2013 8:25 pm

Rico wrote:Most of their stoves come from the mind of their head designer. I asked him why they don't have a T-118 titanium, and he said that I can order it if I like. Of course we are talking about thousand of pieces, but I agree that it is a brilliant setup.


Hi Rico

Head designer - Chen Chao? Smart cookie.

Cheers
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby corvus » Tue 25 Jun, 2013 8:39 pm

We now know why the Kathmandu version of a Fire Maple Stove was expensive.
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Strider » Tue 25 Jun, 2013 8:41 pm

corvus wrote:We now know why the Kathmandu version of a Fire Maple Stove was expensive.
corvus

They are actually the same price when on sale :wink:
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby corvus » Tue 25 Jun, 2013 8:50 pm

Well who would have "thunk" that we could drive up the price with our praise :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Spartan » Wed 26 Jun, 2013 7:18 pm

corvus wrote:We now know why the Kathmandu version of a Fire Maple Stove was expensive.
corvus


It's interesting that Macpac is now selling exactly the same model of Fire Maple stove, but at almost half the RRP of the Kathmandu re-branded one.

All the best.
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Strider » Wed 26 Jun, 2013 9:42 pm

Spartan wrote:
corvus wrote:We now know why the Kathmandu version of a Fire Maple Stove was expensive.
corvus


It's interesting that Macpac is now selling exactly the same model of Fire Maple stove, but at almost half the RRP of the Kathmandu re-branded one.

All the best.

It is a different stove.
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Spartan » Thu 27 Jun, 2013 6:38 pm

"It is a different stove."

No it isn't. I was referring to Kathmandu's re-branded FMS-116 (i.e. their non-titanium version of the 'backpacker stove'), which is exactly the same as Macpac's re-branded FMS-116 (i.e. the 'micro-stove').

Compare the pics. From the top: Kathmandu, Fire Maple, Macpac.

All the best.
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Joomy » Thu 27 Jun, 2013 6:43 pm

Rico wrote:Still, I may have a surprise coming :)

If it's a 118T or similar remote stove they really need to ensure they sort out the flame sputter problem first. I've got two 117s (possibly same batch) that sputter like crazy unless DYI modified.
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Rico » Fri 28 Jun, 2013 7:38 am

Joomy wrote:
Rico wrote:Still, I may have a surprise coming :)

If it's a 118T or similar remote stove they really need to ensure they sort out the flame sputter problem first. I've got two 117s (possibly same batch) that sputter like crazy unless DYI modified.


Thanks, I'll keep it in mind. But unfortunately I am not planning to have a 118T made. The problem is that the 118 is a niche product, a heavier version of the 117 suitable for colder weather. The 117T is also a niche product, believe it or not we are not so many out there willing to spend double to save few grams :D
So the 118T would be a niche of a niche... If I was able to sell it world wide it may be worth it, but after the costs to get it approved in Australia it would be too expensive. Also shipping costs from Australia are just too high to stay competitive, and the domestic market may be too small to cover the investment...
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Joomy » Fri 28 Jun, 2013 3:57 pm

True enough I'm sure. But Kovea, Optimus and MSR all make remote canister invertable stoves that retail for quite a lot. Then again those guys have brand recognition, and yeah approval for stoves in Aus seems to be a nightmare, to the detriment of all.
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Mountain Rocket » Fri 05 Jul, 2013 10:09 am

It will be interesting to see the stove Roger Caffin has come up with at the end of his BPL articles.
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... stove.html
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Strider » Wed 17 Jul, 2013 9:44 pm

Robert H wrote:It will be interesting to see the stove Roger Caffin has come up with at the end of his BPL articles.
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... stove.html

Only available to subscribers...
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Joomy » Wed 17 Jul, 2013 11:43 pm

Strider wrote:
Robert H wrote:It will be interesting to see the stove Roger Caffin has come up with at the end of his BPL articles.
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... stove.html

Only available to subscribers...

Only 25 dollars!
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Strider » Wed 17 Jul, 2013 11:47 pm

Joomy wrote:
Strider wrote:
Robert H wrote:It will be interesting to see the stove Roger Caffin has come up with at the end of his BPL articles.
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... stove.html

Only available to subscribers...

Only 25 dollars!
Which is halfway to buying one of these stoves!
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Franco » Thu 18 Jul, 2013 7:08 pm

"Which is halfway to buying one of these stoves!"

Not exactly.
Roger has come up with two sub 90g winter (liquid feed) stoves.
One has the FMS 116T head , the other (the one that will be in production) has the FMS 300T burner head.
The rest of the stove (legs,jet,heat exchanger,needle valve,heat shunt) is a custom Roger Caffin job.
I liked the weight and stored size as well as the way they are built enough to order one.
As a bonus it can use the standard Lindal valve as well as the Campingaz and the soon to be forgotten Powermax.
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Strider » Thu 18 Jul, 2013 7:09 pm

Halfway to a FireMaple stove Franco...
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Strider » Thu 18 Jul, 2013 7:12 pm

Bit of a downfall having the flame adjuster at the stove end.
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Franco » Fri 19 Jul, 2013 10:26 am

Bit of a downfall having the flame adjuster at the stove end.

Probably not for me because I never cook, just boil water or melt snow.
There is an on-off switch at the cartridge end, so that could solve the problem of having to touch the stove when hot.
(pin up is off, pin down is on. Oin up in the photo above)
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Mountain Rocket » Fri 19 Jul, 2013 12:25 pm

I know Roger does a lot of cooking with his wife so I would be surprised if the 'flame adjuster' on the stove end prevented you from adjusting it while cooking.
From memory he included a heat shunt to try and address the 'issue' (which I have never had using my Kovea Supalite).
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Strider » Fri 19 Jul, 2013 12:40 pm

What is RC charging for these?
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Franco » Fri 19 Jul, 2013 4:34 pm

$125
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Strider » Fri 19 Jul, 2013 6:11 pm

And they are Aus Standard approved?
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Strider » Fri 19 Jul, 2013 6:12 pm

That is a good price considering the stove itself is $40
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby Franco » Fri 19 Jul, 2013 6:35 pm

good price..
Well it can't be all that expensive to make all those home made bits, so here is an opportunity for someone like you to make a nice little profit.
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Re: Fire Maple 117T and 118 merge

Postby KANANGRABOYD » Fri 19 Jul, 2013 6:42 pm

I love those Fire Maple stoves. NO, they ain't MSR or cohorts, however for budget conscience folk, they are good for the price.
I own a few models. Never had any issues with any of them.
I also own some BULIN stoves...........ha ha ha, well that's another story!
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