Using and carrying JetBoils and Trangias...

[soa_uk]

Amongst many other tasks this weekend, I had the opportunity to actually try out some recentish purchases.

I'd bought a Swedish Army Trangia kit from the estimable Bumblbee, with a spare burner. I'd got a licence for Industrialised Denaured Alcohol (Industrial Methylated Spirits) following Magikelly's guidelines - I couldn't find an easy supplier so it was actually ordered in through Boots!

Sadly enough, I wasn't sure how they worked, so I just filled it, lit - thinking it was a bit of a sad flame and bunged windshield and pan over it.

Quite spectacular once they warm, aren't they?
This succesfully boiled the large pan and small pan with very little blackening - I gather I can add a tad of water to the fuel (10%?) and get a gentler flame... Big pan in around 10 minutes.
Still, I need to work out what to carry it in; Rhodesian Pouch strapped on to the outside of my pack? Sturdy canvas bag inside it?]

Difficult to estimate the amount of fuel to boil a pan, so I figure it's cook; extinguish burner [upside down lid on it] allow to cool and cap.

Haven't tried the wee fuel bottle yet, but am fairly tempted by the Trangia fuel bottle anyway...

What's a simmer ring? I guess a metal disc for reducing the amount of flame. Easy to make? Would a commercial one fit the miltary burner?

JetBoil was very quick; boiling enough water for one wife sized coffee and my pint of tea in 2.5 minutes. The piezo ignition looks a little fragile, so secondary ignition sources look essential. Solo, it looks perfect. So, a PLCE Utility pouch required for that.

I need some new water containers... I was going to get a couple of 58 pattern water bottles... I could always put a crusader cup under one... I could get a crusader cooking system... more ways of cooking. I think I might be talking to Kevin soon.

 

[Ditch Monkey]

Put a sponge or something between the top of the burner unit in the jet boil and the lid when it is being transported. After a couple of months of carrying mine about the gauze (that the flame comes through) and another bit of metal started coming out and would have to be put back in everytime I went anywhere. Not only did this risk the parts in question getting lost but constantly shoving the gauze back in significantly weakened it, now the gauze is coming apart.

You are right about the ignition, mine broke after about 4 months of daily use.

 

[Batfink]

Beer towels work great for the above (if you can still get them these days) - if not an old flannel or similar. They have the added bonus of being able to thoroughly dry the gas canister to stop the dreaded "brown rings of rust" appearing in the mug!!!

 

[addyb]

Uhm...what's a beer towel?

 

[Batfink]

Uhm...what's a beer towel?

Is that sarcasm or seriousnessness???

I'm hoping on it being the latter, as such here's a feeble description...

It's a small towel, about 20cm wide and 40cm long used to mop up any spilt beer/blood at the local drinking establishment. They used to be sponsered by the brewery or brand - Fosters, XXXX, Kronie etc. They had a phenomenal absorption rate - capable of holding an entire persons bodily fluids in just one clothe (that's a lie).

They were also used to remove the dirty smear and grease marks - and lippy - from glasses after washing.

However, they seem to have lost favour (at least in the British establishments) due to dual purpose beer mats, which, as well as mopping up your aforementioned split beverage, also act as a non-slip suface, so reducing the need for moppage.

I think you can still get them on ebay!

 

[addyb]

No no, I wasn't kidding Batfink. I'm a banquet waiter at a massive hotel, so I do the whole tuxedo thing. Our bartenders don't use beertowels, they use non-skid self draining plastic mats and coasters. That's why I'd never heard of a beertowel.

Adam

 

[Ditch Monkey]

I think seeing as AddyB is a Canadian he might well have missed out on the whole beer towel thing. Things are different over there, they probably don't even hit each other with glasses.

 

[soa_uk]

Bar Towel sounds a good bet; I think I may even have a couple knocking about.

I've got some water containers on the way (Nalgene/Nato) and a fuel bottle for the Trangia.

This weekend I'll have to try cooking some things rather than boiling water.... hmm.

JetBoil Recipes
Trangia Recipes

Of course, there's always
http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/mag/27/recipes.htm
http://www.paddypallin.com.au/page.asp?partid=62
http://www.melborponsti.com/inxcam.html

if I get bored...

 

[soup_monger]

Soa, Can you give me some more info about the Denatured Alcohol licence you mentioned?
I've been using a Trangia for 17 years and if there is a better/cheaper fuel than purple Meths then I would like to find a source.
Thank you

 

[scanker]

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=7215

 

[soa_uk]

That's the chap. I couldn't find a local supplier, so I rang Boots... who supplied it for me against my licence. I think they were a bit bemused what I wanted 4 litres of IMS for.

It melted the paint of my messkit anyway!

 

[Goose]

Soa, how much is the denatured alchohol? I feel ripped off when I buy meths, I think you can get cheaper vodka!

 

[soa_uk]

Can't remember. Less than vodka though. In the other thread John gave a price for his "Price is around £13 for 5 litres. "

Mine was more like double that I think... ask round.

 

[soup_monger]

Thanks for the link Scanker,
Could I get a first hand opinion from you Soa?, would you say it was better,worse or no different than purple Meths? in performance and in price.
Or anyone else reading this who has experience of using both alcohols for burners.

 

[Martyn]

Thanks for the link Scanker,
Could I get a first hand opinion from you Soa?, would you say it was better,worse or no different than purple Meths? in performance and in price.
Or anyone else reading this who has experience of using both alcohols for burners.

I dont have first hand experience, but I think it's an expensive option compared to regular purple meths. I know a few guys on BB got a licence (I think you have to specify your annual requirements on the licence application). It's obviously a lot harder to get than regvulkar meths - even if you have a licenced, very few places stock it. I think it smells nicer, possibly burns a bit hotter and maybe doesnt make as much soot.

 

[soup_monger]

Thanks for the reply Martyn. I can't remember what I paid for my last 500ml of purple meths but I think it was more than £2. If it works out more than double the cost for the denatured stuff then I probably won't bother.
Adding 10% water to the fuel bottle stops the purple meths sooting, but, makes it harder to light the burner in cold weather.
My Trangia burner sprang a leak on my last trip as the meths/water mix had corroded a 2mm hole right through the bottom. I'm wondering if this is still covered by the Trangia warranty after 17 years of service...
Anybody know where I can get a replacement?
I think I'm still on topic...

 

[MagiKelly]

It depends on where you are. In Glasgow there is a french polishing supplier so I can walk in off the street to buy it so just as easy as meths to buy.. I buy 5 liters at a time and that last for ages. I also tend to fill up my friends fuel bottles as well so it does eventually get used. As Soa said it costs about £13 for 5 liters and the same supplier sells regular meths for the same price.

As to performance I can't really say as I never really used meths for long before I changed to IMS. It did seem to bring water to the boil a bit quicker but I could not really say for sure. Certainly any benefit in performance is marginal at best.

My reason for changing was first that in the heater I did not wan the fumes from the dye in the tent with me and second using the trangia I did not want it getting clogged with the dye.

 

[soup_monger]

Thanks MagiKelly, I'll have a look for French Polishers in Edinburgh and see what's what.
Do you mean that the Industrial stuff doesn't "crystalise" like the purple meths while using the Trangia?
If that's the case then the change will be worth it.

 

[MagiKelly]

Do you mean that the Industrial stuff doesn't "crystalise" like the purple meths while using the Trangia?

The IMS does not crystalise. It just looks like water, which is the dangert of it.

Might be worth checking craft and medical suppliers too.

 

[soup_monger]

Right that settles it, I'm off to post my application. Thanks again MagiKelly..