Multifuel stoves

[DP1]

Hi All

I have recently been given a paraffin stove (as some people may have seen in another thread) and it has got me fascinated. I like the thought of having a cooker that, if need be will burn petrol along with coleman fuel etc. I have been looking around and to be honest there doesn't seem to be much choice around. MSR and Coleman I do like the coleman ones as they are more self contained rather than having seperate fuel bottles. What in your view is a good multifuel stove and where do I get one from? Obviously as cheap as possible.

Darren

 

[SimonM]

I have a Primus Omnifuel, which is a good stove but TBH rarely use it as it sounds like a jet fighter at take off!

 

[Asa Samuel]

I have a Primus Omnifuel, which is a good stove but TBH rarely use it as it sounds like a jet fighter at take off!

Best sound in the world

 

[andy r]

Had a Coleman sportster years and its never let me down not too noisy either

 

[Shewie]

I have a Primus Omnifuel, which is a good stove but TBH rarely use it as it sounds like a jet fighter at take off!

Is that the one you had at Coniston, first time my Kelly lost a brew race

 

[sapper1]

I have an MSR whisperlite international and have had for 20 years.I can't fault it in any way.

 

[SimonM]

Is that the one you had at Coniston, first time my Kelly lost a brew race

That's the one Rich... it was burning Primus Powerfuel that day!

Simon

 

[Nonsuch]

The modern MSR or Optimus multifuel stoves are excellent. However, for a classic, you have to look at the "Himalaya Stove" the legendary Optimus 111 (models C and T are multifuel). Some have silent burners, some roar like a jet fighter. All are built of brass or quality metal parts, whereas the MSR stoves and several other modern ones have vulnerable plastic pumps (and I should know as I just had to buy a new one)

From left to right : 111 (Paraffin only), 111B (unleaded/coleman only), 111T (paraffin, unleaded/coleman, meths) 111C (paraffin, unleaded/coleman/meths)

Careful - it can become an obsession...

NS

 

[Asa Samuel]

I'd love a 111T or a 111C, bit out of my price range though!

 

[rik_uk3]

You will get a 111 for £50 or less on eBay, don't worry if the tin looks tatty. The weak link in the range was the 111C (Cobra burner) which had a steel tank instead of brass and the 'new' burner was/is prone to cracking so IMHO steer clear of that model.

They are very very reliable stoves but the plain 111 paraffin burner just go on and on. I've got one I have used on several dozen weekends and that lives out the back of my house in all weather and in six or seven years all I have replaced is a tank seal and pump leather.

If you like peace and quite though go for the 111T silent burner.

Here are a couple of my T's, don't take long to light and thats not petrol in the lighter fluid tin, it holds meths for priming the stove

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVXZrNWY6GE

 

[DP1]

I like the look of those! I think I will keep my eye out for something like that as size is not an issue because I don't plan on carrying it too far.

 

[Nonsuch]

There was a guy in Norway selling ex-Norwegian Army stock a couple of years ago for very reasonable money. I picked up a brand spanking 1950s new 111 for about £50 and an excellent condition ex-army 111T for £30.

If you are interested I can try to dig up his email.

NS

 

[Ogden]

How is the quality compared to a new Optimus Hiker+?

 

[Andy BB]

read a lot of negative reports on Hiker+ - apparently they had a major QC problem and the tanks left the factory with loads of crud which blocked up the pipes/burner. Negative comments about general build quality too - rivets failing etc.

Great shame as I really like the 8R and 111 and was looking to aquire one of the the "new" ones aka hiker/hiker+. But seems like the sensible thing would be to get an old 111 or 8R and refurbish it?

 

[Shewie]

While we're talking Optimi (sp) does anyone know why the 1980s cartoon character was called Optimus Prime ? Must be a link surely ?

I'm just going through a box of junk from my childhood and found my robots, got the gun thing too, Megatron was it ?
Anyway I'm gonna stick them on ebay and see what I can get for them

 

[DP1]

There was a guy in Norway selling ex-Norwegian Army stock a couple of years ago for very reasonable money. I picked up a brand spanking 1950s new 111 for about £50 and an excellent condition ex-army 111T for £30.

If you are interested I can try to dig up his email.

NS

Thanks but I should Imagine that the price will have gone up substantially since then + P&P would more than likely put one out of my price range. I'll keep an eye on ebay to see if any come up. Thanks anyway.