Following the thread on value of different fuels ( meths, gel, gas, wod) I treat myself to some tins of gel fuel and below is my initial findings.
Nisbets are a catering supply company and as such stock tins of "Chafing" gel for use in resturants. Was it any good as fuel for making a cuppa on the go. In Jan 2018 they have a deal, all orders are post free, I therefore took the chance to pick up 12 tins of 200gms for £9.00 to my door. Ordered Monday, at the door 1330hrs next day. So far very good.
So I have 2 tins of gel. One unopened, and a 2nd one, in place in the base of a swedish army stove.
If you look inside the windsheld you can just see the unfolded pot support.
The "pot" containing 500ml of cold tap water is then placed on the cooker with clearence above the opened gel tin.
The gel is lit and a timer started. The gel burned with a "lazy" blue flame which never came beyond the base of the pot. Compared with flames from the new style gel rat pack stoves it was very very laid back. After 5 mins it seemed nothing was happening. After ten minutes I knew I was not going to get a cuppa very soon. Some may say that its not surprising with 500ml of water but I like a real cuppa so testing with 250 - 300ml was no good to me.
I was about to pack it in at 15 mins but it then started to faintly sing, so I waited. At 20 mins there was enough sound to think I could make instant coffee but not tea. For tea I have to have boiling water so I waited for steam to come from under the lid. As time rolled by I thought that I will give it until 30 mins and no more. At 28mins I lifted the lid and it was just there, by 30 mins steam was flowing out from under the lid.
Indoors in a cold kichen it took 30mins from lighting to pouring. When I lifted the pot to pour the water I was surprised to see so little fuel had been used!
I then weighed a full tin, 230gms, the used ( now cool ) tin weighed in at 190gms. So when they quote a 2 hour burn time per tin, I have no doubt its true.
My next step is to take 50gms of gel out of the tin, put it in a more open style container to allow it to burn faster i.e. use the supplied dish on my little wood stove. I am sure it will burn faster and reduce the "cooking" time. I will also fill the dish in the new style rat pack stove with this gel and try that..
Will I get 4 good brews from a single tin... YES. Will I be happy to wait that long...maybe not.
Price wise I still think it beats some of the prices I have seen being asked for the Dragon Gel fuel but I need to see how it does out of the tin.
In closeing I think it is worth mentioning that I am sure the tins themselves will be put to good use once the fuel has been used. Light and strong with a resealable lid.. whats not to like.
Nisbets are a catering supply company and as such stock tins of "Chafing" gel for use in resturants. Was it any good as fuel for making a cuppa on the go. In Jan 2018 they have a deal, all orders are post free, I therefore took the chance to pick up 12 tins of 200gms for £9.00 to my door. Ordered Monday, at the door 1330hrs next day. So far very good.
So I have 2 tins of gel. One unopened, and a 2nd one, in place in the base of a swedish army stove.
If you look inside the windsheld you can just see the unfolded pot support.
The "pot" containing 500ml of cold tap water is then placed on the cooker with clearence above the opened gel tin.
The gel is lit and a timer started. The gel burned with a "lazy" blue flame which never came beyond the base of the pot. Compared with flames from the new style gel rat pack stoves it was very very laid back. After 5 mins it seemed nothing was happening. After ten minutes I knew I was not going to get a cuppa very soon. Some may say that its not surprising with 500ml of water but I like a real cuppa so testing with 250 - 300ml was no good to me.
I was about to pack it in at 15 mins but it then started to faintly sing, so I waited. At 20 mins there was enough sound to think I could make instant coffee but not tea. For tea I have to have boiling water so I waited for steam to come from under the lid. As time rolled by I thought that I will give it until 30 mins and no more. At 28mins I lifted the lid and it was just there, by 30 mins steam was flowing out from under the lid.
Indoors in a cold kichen it took 30mins from lighting to pouring. When I lifted the pot to pour the water I was surprised to see so little fuel had been used!
I then weighed a full tin, 230gms, the used ( now cool ) tin weighed in at 190gms. So when they quote a 2 hour burn time per tin, I have no doubt its true.
My next step is to take 50gms of gel out of the tin, put it in a more open style container to allow it to burn faster i.e. use the supplied dish on my little wood stove. I am sure it will burn faster and reduce the "cooking" time. I will also fill the dish in the new style rat pack stove with this gel and try that..
Will I get 4 good brews from a single tin... YES. Will I be happy to wait that long...maybe not.
Price wise I still think it beats some of the prices I have seen being asked for the Dragon Gel fuel but I need to see how it does out of the tin.
In closeing I think it is worth mentioning that I am sure the tins themselves will be put to good use once the fuel has been used. Light and strong with a resealable lid.. whats not to like.
