Hi, I have a couple of Optimus T111s and a couple of 8Rs. I got them on ebay and restored them by getting parts from some of the guys here. I do actually use them on Sea Kayaking trips and as you can imagine the cases take a beating, in and out of small kayak hatches, setting up on the sand and it is unavoidable to get some salt water splashing even if its from rubbing against damp clothing while in packing. They are kept in dry bags and I made some neoprene sleeves for them to protect from scratching. The first time I repainted I used the Rustoleum BBQ grill paint but that scratched off pretty easy. Next repaint I stripped it down and used Brake Caliper paint which required baking. That has held up well but is scratching off again and combined with the salt water environment light rusting is happening. My other T111 I used Rustoleum High Heat 2000 deg primer and paint. I think it is for exhaust manifolds etc. That also required 3 stage baking. This last trip I took both stoves but did not use the 2000 deg paint one so cannot say how that will last. Anyhow, finally to my point......Has anyone made a custom case from say aluminum, from stock bought in Home Depot or the hardware store, or from some other materials that would be better suited from the salty environment. Any pics would be appreciated. By the way every time I use the stove with new kayakers they all seem to be hitting ebay searching for them as soon as they get home. Much better than the MSR Dragonfly I used to have.....one grain of sand in the wrong place and the pumps are toast.
I went sea kayaking for a month in Alaska and all my steel stuff took a beating. An aluminum or stainless steel case for the 111 would be great. In the mean time, have you considered an Optimus 99 (or if you have the bucks, the 199)? Both are aluminum cased. The 99 is essentially an 8R, but should be ok for Florida. Also, no pump needed. The 99 is pretty easy to find. The 199 it a dream stove for those of us that do not have one.
have you thought about modifying a peak 1 550 coleman case . i think there a post about it on here or a similar case kerry
As I suspect I'm about to reveal, I'm no metalurgist, but isn't bolting aluminum to brass in a salt water environment just asking for sacrificial corrosion? Perhaps there's the makings of a stainless case to be found in the catering trade - a 1/6 steam table insert as a basis is what I'm thinking. Going a little further 'outside the box' [sorry] maybe a 'lift out' setup like an Enders Baby could be made to work.
The stove parts work 'stand alone'. A pot stand/windscreen would be enough. All put in a box/case/bag.
Thanks everyone. I'm not too worried about bolting aluminum to brass as I can easily dismantle it to clean it, the paint was my biggest problem. snwcmpr, yes maybe I should think outside the box, as it were, and try to make some kind if windshield/potstand. The stove part could be kept in a plastic (Tupperware ?) type box and set up for cooking. The only issue with making a box from aluminum stock is the sharp corners. I'll keep my eye out for a 99 stove and coleman peak 1 case in the meantime.
Hi @briggsy if you are going to think outside the box, have a look at this old thread. It is related to an Op.99 rather than an Op.111 but is shows a US available Coleman Alumimium case which could perhaps be made to work with Op.99 or even Op.8R. https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/strange-bunch-a-little-gem.31186/#post-316551 Best Regards, Kerophile.
Thanks Kerophile, I'd like to modify the 8Rs to make them sea kayak friendly as well as the T111s, (8R for solo trips and T111 for group trips) so the Coleman case will be the way to go for the 8R. I was also thinking about making an aluminum "baseplate" that the stove guts could be attached to and using something like a Pelican waterproof case to carry it in. If I manage to build a good set up I'll post pics.
Hi, have a look at this post. This is Not the way to go.... https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/nomad-nova-multi-fuel-stove.27261/ Best Regards, Kerophile.
So, if weight is any concern, then a simple shield under and around with a makeshift wire pot stand is all that you need. I am thinking something like the MSR line of stoves for the shield. They have the circle underneath and the 'wrapping' around. Then a sack to store/carry it. That should not sink the boat.
Finally solved my problem. Optimus 8R without case fits nicely into a Husky waterproof case from Home Depot ($10), made pot stands from refrigerator ice maker 1/4" copper tubing and 1/8" steel rod. The T111 fits perfectly into one of my stainless cooking pots....doh, should have thought of that first!! Will make pot supports for that soon. I have the orange Pelican case for wallet/phone/keys while kayaking but 2 Optimus 8R's fit perfectly !! Finally no more trips to Walmart with the tape measure suspiciously measuring the inside of the Rubbermaid kitchen storage containers !!
@briggsy Very clever ideas you have for water proofing and most likely these will float as well. The 111 inside you pot probably won't float, but I'm sure you can find a waterproof case that will work for your 111. Again very clever and quite ingenious on your part. Cheers, Norman
Thanks, the T111 in the pot is the way for me. The main issue was the rusting metal case. The pot as the case saves space, I'm taking the pot anyway and it will all go in a dry bag. I will make a drawstring bag for the stove and pad it out in the pot with other equipment. I also cut a small circle of aluminum roof flashing for a base and the flashing windshield also fits in the pot. For the 8R I have a small MSR titan pot with a similar flashing wind shield inside as well as my cup, lighter dish soap etc.
excellent. would it be good to use some sort of rubber tubing on the copper pot stand tubes so they wouldn't slide around? or is that not an issue. very clever indeed. thanks for posting, buzz