I originally posted this over on British Blades recently but thought that Id give it an airing here, too. Hopefully it can be useful to anyone considering a multifuel stove.
One of the most appealing and enjoyable things for me about taking a stroll outdoors is that when I find a lovely spot to stop for a while I can have a coffee or make something to eat. Liking stoves too, I thought that Id take the camera out with me and show you the three most popular multifuel ones in action. I have also written up some details such as weight and individual features. The models Ive reviewed here are the MSR Dragonfly, Primus Omnifuel and Optimus Nova+.
To use these multifuel stoves,
Before doing anything make sure that the jet (this is just a wee nut or screw with a variable size hole in it where the fuel comes through on the main stove body) is the proper one to suit whatever fuel youre going to use. All the jets are stamped if youre uncertain from just looking at the jet hole size.
After assembling and pressurising the bottle with the pump, open the fuel flow and allow some liquid run along into the stove. It depends on model but some have a little tray like the Dragonfly and others have a soak pad like the Omnifuel and Nova+. Once youve done this close the flow off again and light this small amount. It will burn with a fairly large yellow flame. Now you wait till that is nearly burnt away before gently open the flow value again until the main blue coloured flame starts. This is your stove running.
The only different starting operation to the above is the Omnifuel when youre going to run her from a gas canister. What a brilliant feature this is - liquid fuel bottles and gas canisters all with the one stove. It could not be simpler changing from bottles to the gas canister or vice versa. You just switch the jets and off you go - thats all there is to it. The basics of operating the gas canister is even more handier than the liquid. Simply turn on the fuel flow and immediately light the stove. To stop the flame just close the valve.
The method of stopping a liquid fed stove is to halt the fuel flow from the bottle and various models do this differently. With the Dragonfly you close off the bottle fuel flow valve and this leads to a very small flame which will burn for approximately another minute while the fuel pipe empties. With the Omnifuel and Nova you simply flip the bottle upside down. Once again, this is stopping the fuel flow from the bottle and it runs with a very small flame for around one minute while the fuel pipe empties before closing the valves.
The MSR Dragonfly facts
1. It weighs 11¾ oz without the pump and 14 oz with it.
2. The 650ml bottle weighs 5½ oz empty and is 1 lb 5 oz full. The 975ml bottle weighs 7 oz empty and is 1 lb 14 oz full.
3. It brings the ½ litre of water in my kettle to the whistle in 3 minutes and 5 seconds.
4. No fuel bottle is included when you buy it.
5. It comes with a written instruction manual, carry case, windshield, another jet and a service pack.
6. Its the loudest by far.
7. Self-Cleaning Shaker Jet where you are clean out jet with a flick of the wrist.
8. Wide but smooth finished burner arms which are less secure.
The MSR Dragonfly pics
1. Fully built up
2. Folded up in hand
3. Pouch and accessories
4. Close up of various stove parts
A. How the fuel line attaches to the pump (3 pictures) The fuel pipe ends in a tubular brass rod which slides into the pump and is then held in place with a swing clip
B. The pump fuel flow valve
C. The burner cup, where the preheating fuel is lit to start the stove with the brass jet centre
D. The simmering valve
5. The first preheat stage with yellow flame
6. The proper blue coloured flame after priming
7. Finally in action boiling a kettle
The Optimus Nova+ facts
1. It weighs 10¾ oz without the pump and 14¾ oz with it.
2. It brings the ½ litre of water in my kettle to the whistle in 3 minutes and 2 seconds.
3. The 450ml bottle weighs 4 oz empty and is 1 lb 1 oz full.
4. It comes with a written instruction manual, carry case, windshield and a service pack. No other jets are necessary as the Nova+ has the ability to burn multiple fuels with the same fuel jet.
5. Serrated burner arms to give safe and secure holding.
6. Magnetic cleaning needle which gives a jet clean when the multitool is moved around close to the stove cup base.
7. The simmering valve is a patented system called the Powerline. It is a knob on the fuel pipe itself down at the bottle.
The Optimus Nova+ pics
1. Fully built up with bottle
2. Folded up in hand
3. Pouch and accessories
4. Close up of various stove parts
A. How the fuel line attaches to the pump (3 pictures) With this stove the fuel pipe ends in a brass male quick connector fitting which snaps into the steel and brass female connector on the pump. To release, simply push the knurled sleeve straight back towards the pump
B. The soak pad where the preheating fuel is lit to start the stove with the brass jet centre
C. The simmering valve knob
5. The first preheat stage with yellow flame
6. The proper blue coloured flame after priming
7. Finally in action boiling a kettle
Please see the next post for my Omnifuel review and overall thoughts.
One of the most appealing and enjoyable things for me about taking a stroll outdoors is that when I find a lovely spot to stop for a while I can have a coffee or make something to eat. Liking stoves too, I thought that Id take the camera out with me and show you the three most popular multifuel ones in action. I have also written up some details such as weight and individual features. The models Ive reviewed here are the MSR Dragonfly, Primus Omnifuel and Optimus Nova+.
To use these multifuel stoves,
Before doing anything make sure that the jet (this is just a wee nut or screw with a variable size hole in it where the fuel comes through on the main stove body) is the proper one to suit whatever fuel youre going to use. All the jets are stamped if youre uncertain from just looking at the jet hole size.
After assembling and pressurising the bottle with the pump, open the fuel flow and allow some liquid run along into the stove. It depends on model but some have a little tray like the Dragonfly and others have a soak pad like the Omnifuel and Nova+. Once youve done this close the flow off again and light this small amount. It will burn with a fairly large yellow flame. Now you wait till that is nearly burnt away before gently open the flow value again until the main blue coloured flame starts. This is your stove running.
The only different starting operation to the above is the Omnifuel when youre going to run her from a gas canister. What a brilliant feature this is - liquid fuel bottles and gas canisters all with the one stove. It could not be simpler changing from bottles to the gas canister or vice versa. You just switch the jets and off you go - thats all there is to it. The basics of operating the gas canister is even more handier than the liquid. Simply turn on the fuel flow and immediately light the stove. To stop the flame just close the valve.
The method of stopping a liquid fed stove is to halt the fuel flow from the bottle and various models do this differently. With the Dragonfly you close off the bottle fuel flow valve and this leads to a very small flame which will burn for approximately another minute while the fuel pipe empties. With the Omnifuel and Nova you simply flip the bottle upside down. Once again, this is stopping the fuel flow from the bottle and it runs with a very small flame for around one minute while the fuel pipe empties before closing the valves.
The MSR Dragonfly facts
1. It weighs 11¾ oz without the pump and 14 oz with it.
2. The 650ml bottle weighs 5½ oz empty and is 1 lb 5 oz full. The 975ml bottle weighs 7 oz empty and is 1 lb 14 oz full.
3. It brings the ½ litre of water in my kettle to the whistle in 3 minutes and 5 seconds.
4. No fuel bottle is included when you buy it.
5. It comes with a written instruction manual, carry case, windshield, another jet and a service pack.
6. Its the loudest by far.
7. Self-Cleaning Shaker Jet where you are clean out jet with a flick of the wrist.
8. Wide but smooth finished burner arms which are less secure.
The MSR Dragonfly pics
1. Fully built up
2. Folded up in hand
3. Pouch and accessories
4. Close up of various stove parts
A. How the fuel line attaches to the pump (3 pictures) The fuel pipe ends in a tubular brass rod which slides into the pump and is then held in place with a swing clip
B. The pump fuel flow valve
C. The burner cup, where the preheating fuel is lit to start the stove with the brass jet centre
D. The simmering valve
5. The first preheat stage with yellow flame
6. The proper blue coloured flame after priming
7. Finally in action boiling a kettle
The Optimus Nova+ facts
1. It weighs 10¾ oz without the pump and 14¾ oz with it.
2. It brings the ½ litre of water in my kettle to the whistle in 3 minutes and 2 seconds.
3. The 450ml bottle weighs 4 oz empty and is 1 lb 1 oz full.
4. It comes with a written instruction manual, carry case, windshield and a service pack. No other jets are necessary as the Nova+ has the ability to burn multiple fuels with the same fuel jet.
5. Serrated burner arms to give safe and secure holding.
6. Magnetic cleaning needle which gives a jet clean when the multitool is moved around close to the stove cup base.
7. The simmering valve is a patented system called the Powerline. It is a knob on the fuel pipe itself down at the bottle.
The Optimus Nova+ pics
1. Fully built up with bottle
2. Folded up in hand
3. Pouch and accessories
4. Close up of various stove parts
A. How the fuel line attaches to the pump (3 pictures) With this stove the fuel pipe ends in a brass male quick connector fitting which snaps into the steel and brass female connector on the pump. To release, simply push the knurled sleeve straight back towards the pump
B. The soak pad where the preheating fuel is lit to start the stove with the brass jet centre
C. The simmering valve knob
5. The first preheat stage with yellow flame
6. The proper blue coloured flame after priming
7. Finally in action boiling a kettle
Please see the next post for my Omnifuel review and overall thoughts.
