Hello Cameron, I usually give 20 strokes once the stove is going, and sometimes more. You will feel a significant resistance in the down-stroke when you're approaching the "over-pressure" threshold. These stoves are quite robust and forgiving if you test their limits gently. Yours was barely breathing in your clip, it would normally be much much louder. Once you have it going, as Ed said, you can reduce tank pressure via the air screw. The boil times given above are indeed the norm, and wrapping that segmented windshield tightly around the stove and kettle will only improve the outcome time-wise. When I'm traveling, I use a similar stove to brew tea/coffee at a lay-by, to break the journey/stretch my legs. I can be done, with stove packed away and on the road again in 20-25 minutes. That means stove lit, kettle (1.5pt) boiled, drink consumed, utensils and mugs washed, stove cooled and everything packed away again. Usually have had a bite to eat, a wander around, and "close inspection of the shrubbery" as well. With a little more daring, you'll have that stove singing loudly, and soon. The Trangia is for a more leisurely pace, but still creditable. With a stiff breeze to drive it, an 8-9 minute boil (1pt Kettle) is not beyond reason, as the added draught intensifies the burn quite fiercely. Good luck with your stoves, the learning is most of the fun. The using is an added satisfaction, and serves to answer the call that the God of Fire sends us..... Enjoy, we've all already been there, and we still get that same silly grin when we light the match!!! Best regards, Mike.
Ed is being rather kind here. Edited my comment because sometimes I can come off like a jerk. Not my intent.
I read the reply in my email, no worries mate if that's how you feel that's fine by me but I'm making these videos to try to help people out and for their enjoyment. I had no idea that I had to pump it more, I don't see why I would have an idea it's not like I have any instructions which tell me what to do. I was simply trying to do a test of an optimus 00 stove to let people see what it's like and how long it takes to boil etc. Nobody else has done one as far as I can see so I thought some people may appreciate it, clearly not you though. Trangia was just an extra video because I wanted to try it out and decided to record it. I understand where you are coming from though and I see you retracted your comment so that's OK but in future you may want to think before you press post. No hard feelings though mate. Cameron
No worries, Cameron, enthusiasm about stoves is a good thing! As I expect you've found by now, the Optimus 00 can really roar with a few more pumps. I myself have never used quite as many as The Bird, though. I only started using the Trangia the last two summers on overnighters. I've come to like it quite a bit.
Also I will be recording another video of it tommorow and will take down the other one so I have a more accurate video, I don't want to be giving people false impressions of this nice old stove.
Hey Cameron. I should clarify, since you did see my response, that I was speaking about both the videos: the Trangia, and the 00. I just assumed by your intro (Wild Camping, cooking, tutorials, gear reviews, and the channel name of CC Bushcraft) that you were experienced. It's clear in the video that you are still learning, though. I'm glad there's no hard feelings. It's good to have enthusiastic beginners. We all were at one time. Hey, maybe your search parameters are limited to only your country? I found lots of videos on the 00. Here's a neat little video that's been out for 3 years showing the operation of a 00. The operator pumps it 32 times. Then an additional 9 pumps. @North61 made a video on the 00 showing the roar, (although he didn't teach the lighting of it). Anyway, again, glad there's no hard feelings. Keep practicing and learning.
I am interested in the idea that many use such a large number of pumps. Now I'm scratching my head thinking about how many I use. Typically, my use has been on our 1-night overnighters. The stove would be pretty full to start. I'll count next time, but I'm thinking around ten or twelve....if that. Got me thinking.....
Ed, you probably just subconsciously gauge by feel. A full tank would need fewer pumps than a less full tank.
I am fairly new the whole scene, been camping my whole life but not proper wild camping until recently so I decided to start a channel about it. I have watched several videos on the 00 but haven't found any with a boil time test. I am about to try boiling it now, I will post the time here when it's done and I will get another video tommorow. This time I will make sure I pump it up a bit more! I have also acquired an old gas wee dex stove so the collection is starting!
With my classics I stop pumping when there is no obvious increase in output with added pressure. I don't think I ever get to 20 strokes total, but I have not kept count.
Well the results are in. Took nine minutes to boil 1 litre which I think is more water than I used before but I wanted to see if it would only take 5 minutes. Gave it a good 40 pumps and windshield wrapped right around. Not sure if this is bad or good to be honest. Is nine minutes too long? If so could it be something to do with the stove? I gave it an overhaul when I got it but I am fairly sure I didn't make any mistakes this time.
@Ed Winskill, The Bird doesn't "use" that many stoves really, more just "fiddles" with them a lot..... That being said, every single working stove has been used to make at least one cuppa before going back into the man-cave, or wherever I've stashed them around the house. I still rotate them onto the Terrace, for Tea Duty (a daily occurrence,) and revel in the smell and sound of burning fuel. Not a very skilled "fixer" either, just followed the knowledge given by so many learned Gents here. Truth be known, I'm a Abattoir Butcher by trade, and am usually very ham-fisted. I tend to over-tighten things until they break, or "just give it one more little tweak" until it snaps. As to pumping them up, 20 was how I was taught, so that you don't have to keep chasing them while they're doin' their thing. Our old SL told us "The less you fiddle with them while they're cooking, the less likely you are to bugger up the stove, your dinner, or yourself." so we gave them a good pump to see them through for a while. As Sparky said, you tend to go a bit more lightly when you feel the resistance in the pump, and they do indeed require less when full, and more as they empty. I've always found that half-full was a great place to be, plenty of airspace, and enough fuel to get the job done. When on Tea Duty, I keep them reasonably full, saves going out the the shed to keep filling them. Best regards, Mike.
I get 8 minutes on my 8r's. Not that it matters, but it is an indicator of a stoves health. How old is your kero? Edit for sperling.
I am really happy with nine minutes to be honest my gas stove used to take about 20 minutes at least! Great noise of it too once it was pumped up more. Paraffin is quite new under a year old.
Could be other factors affecting it too. Boil times are simply an indicator. Wind, ambient temp, kettle surface and colour... and without a pressure indicator on the fount it's not possible to know how much pressure you are running. As to the windshield fully enclosed: for a one liter boil up, probably not a big deal, but it might not have gotten sufficient oxygen. She still needs to breathe. For extended cooking: best not to.
There have been a number of threads which talk about boil times and the number of pumps needed to get the best out of a stove. I have used many stoves over too many years to remember. I have never timed how long it takes to boil a quantity of water - and never will. From experience I know when a stove is burning well so I do not worry about how long it takes to boil water. I sit back, relax, take in the wonderful scenery, nibble on a biscuit or much a sandwich and when the water is boiled I make a mug of tea. I usually use paraffin (kerosene) stoves and feel sure that I have never had to pump a stove 40 times, or even 30 times and I would be surprised if I have used 20 strokes, unless the stove has been very low on fuel.
Fair point I'm not all that concerned about boil time either, just wondering if there could be a problem with my stove. Probably varies widely like @Billyboy says depending on environment. I am happy with 9 minutes so I guess that's the main thing. I will boi lthe same amount as last time tommorow and see how long that takes and get the video made.
