alcohol stove fuel

[willem]

But to be sure, that MSR Whisperlite is a multifuel stove (but not for meths). I have a similar Optimus Nova, and they are rather different animals: faster, more economical with fuel, but heavier, more expensive, and more complex. The meths stoves are ideal when you want ultralight, do not need to cook too much, but not for long trips in Outer Mongolia etc.
Willem

 

[aqaleigh]

i have found 2 reasonably priced bottles

1 is sigg 0.6l
2 is unnaimed 0.6l but has gst108 standard

any clues if these will be good enough for a 2 week trip? they are aluminium but if they hold out for the 2 weeks, at less than a fiver i'm prepared to throw them away after the trip

 

[spandex]

But to be sure, that MSR Whisperlite is a multifuel stove (but not for meths). I have a similar Optimus Nova, and they are rather different animals: faster, more economical with fuel, but heavier, more expensive, and more complex. The meths stoves are ideal when you want ultralight, do not need to cook too much, but not for long trips in Outer Mongolia etc.
Willem

I also had this Coleman but I just go to try it out in the garden before some one nicked it so I do not know how good it is in the field so to speak.

 

[Christopher]

i have found 2 reasonably priced bottles

1 is sigg 0.6l
2 is unnaimed 0.6l but has gst108 standard

any clues if these will be good enough for a 2 week trip? they are aluminium but if they hold out for the 2 weeks, at less than a fiver i'm prepared to throw them away after the trip

The Sigg bottle should last 2 weeks - I bought a 0.6l one ~1995 for a trip to Norway and it still works fine, I have meths in it now and no smell or leaks whatever .

+1 on the paraffin - went for a three day cave camp once, all cooking and camp lighting was on paraffin and everything tasted of it - even the coffee

 

[aqaleigh]

thanks frustruck -do you wrap anything around the bottle or just pack it as is?

 

[Christopher]

hiya
Usually it's in a polybag or an old sock if in a rucksack. If in a pannier than just by itself, but upright. No leaks yet...

 

[willem]

I have had a Nalgene plastic fuel bottle with meths for at least 15 years, and it is perfect. I don't think it was particularly expensive, so why don't you get something that does the job properly, rather than buy something that is only marginally cheaper, and doesn't? The landfills are large enough as it is, and the superb Trangia bottles with safety valve and all are only 9 pounds.
Anyway, your choice. I keep all my fuel bottles (I use parafin oil in my multifuel stove) in a cage underneath the down tube.

 

[aqaleigh]

fantastic - i'm going to buy it -


THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP EVERYONE - I'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW I GET ON

 

[aqaleigh]

willem

These nalgene bottles are sized in ounces - which size do you use?

 

[Christopher]

Actually, aqaleigh, are you 100% sure your stove does take meths? Does it say so in the instructions? What stove is it? It's just that stoves that take meths tend not to be able to use other fuels and vice-versa

 

[aqaleigh]

hi

its a Gelert Phoenix fuel stove with alcohol burner - having enquired on here it would seem that is for meths but i'm open to correction on this

 

[willem]

If it is this one http://www.cit-camping.co.uk/gelert-phoenix-mini-cookset-and-stove-287-p.asp it is a pretty shameless copy of the mini Trangia, and that is indeed a fine alcohol stove. You will however also need a windscreen (home made from baking tray foil etc is lightest but maybe not best). I am afraid I cannot have a look at my bottle now: home is Holland, but I am in Jerusalem (of all places) until the end of the month. I think my bottle is 0.5 litre. Does that help? If I was on a two week trip, I would buy a 1 litre bottle, as it is so much easier to refill from a 1 litre bottle of meths that you buy...
And I would get the Trangia bottle, as it allows you to pour very accurately (seen it, liked it). Cheers, and enjoy the trip,
Willem

 

[aqaleigh]

thanks again

 

[Blue Hills]

I have the smaller Trangia bottle but it's too small to go in a bottle cage.

I get the feeling that some folk put this in their pannier. Is this OK? It seems to have a good seal.

There is a reference above to a Trangia bottle mounted in the bike's bottle carrier. Is this the larger bottle?

 

[Banjo]

I have an Origo alcohol/meths stove . The fuel containers are aluminium full of cotton wadding into which the meths is poured.

Its over 20 years old with regular use so I dont think meths will corrode alluminium all that quickly.

If your stove blackens the pots you can dilute the meths down with water (about %5) .

If visiting France definitely get some alcol a bruler. less than half the price and seems to burn better. You get it in most French supermarkets carrefour etc.