Which stoves are not worth bothering about

Many posts here on the best stoves to buy ...so what's the worst ?
I say this , because I've come to realise that some are worth picking up for curiosity value, if cheap like "restaurant alcohol burners"....some are more trouble than they are worth...like a couple of Turms I have, because of rust problems in tanks and burners . Some I have, I've read are a bit dangerous "handy camping stove"
There must be the ultimate all time worse liquid fuelled stoves out there somewhere.

Can anyone name them?

OR

Name stoves you hate


All the best..markj

 

I'll defend the Turms, they've got a good reputation and you've been unlucky. The couple I have are very capable.

This topic's cropped up before (and here also) and as I recall there were as many opinions as there are types and brands of stoves. Many of the opinions conflicted, like yours and mine on the Turms.

John

 

Yup, I'm sure there are good turms out there ...probably the barely used ones.

Now I know what to look out for, I'll stay clear of those with rust in the tanks ..you cant tell if the burners had it, until you take the burner apart. the bottom half of it on the 144 is made of very thin steel. then there is the filter that you have to improvise. Still think they are poorly made when compared with the all brass pressure stoves ..wonder what the price difference was when they were around....they definitely wont be around in number in years to come. think alcohol absorbs water ..am I right about that? ..meaning after each use make sure it's emptied to promote a long life .

I see on German ebay the "Age" alcohol stoves are selling at good prices ..are they better made?

Thanks for the link to worst stoves , will make a good read tonight

ALL THE BEST.MARKJ

 

A Touring Turm cost two pounds nine shillings and sixpence in 1960 - according to a comparison test of 'picnic stoves' in a Which magazine test HERE - comparable with a Primus 210 or Optimus 8R, so they were distinctly 'high end' in terms of price.

John

 

Good Morning, Mark,

Welcome to CCS!! I strongly agree with Presscall, the Turm stoves, unless you have bought a real dog, or basket case, are excellent, and some of mine have a power output far in excess of what I expected when I bought them!! Careful fettling is the key, here, as it is with almost every stove. In one of my Turm stoves, I could a dead "critter", and a huge web/nest in which it had once lived!! No wonder it wouldn't work well before it was fettled!! In any case, I don't buy stoves that are a rusted mess, unless there is some redeeming quality about them that would warrant the extra work, and cost of spare parts (IF any can be found!). Best to be patient, and wait for decent ones to come along, Meths, or otherwise. They WILL come, and the more you look, the more you will find them. Good luck, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

@Mark Jones
You have no interest in the ones I am interested in. (Said in the Jedi voice)

I have several Turms. Yes, one is rusty, and could be called an ugly duckling, but the burner does such a fine job when making stove top espresso. Another is a beautiful Sport model.

With so many members, in so many countries, with so many interests, and bank accounts, it is very difficult to classify stoves into a list of want and don't want.

I want a 2 burner Enders. And so do so many others.

I bought a Coleman Model 9. It has a rusty leaky tank. It is worth fixing.
I have a Coleman 237 kerosene lantern with a rusty leaky tank. It, on the other hand is not worth, to me, fixing. I have 3 others that work.

 

Doc they do come along ..in the last week I've picked from car boots a very good 00 AND THIS !!!! TODAY



According to research done here today it's a Bronson alcohol stove from a restaurant ..although on the bottom of it is the makers name in fancy script...4 letters that I cant decipher ..also says EPNS silver plated and Made in England

The top half is now in the molasses tank ..just took it out to see how it's going ...think needs another few hours

top half on left:


all the best.markj

 

This is how the turm 144 burner lower half is coming on

in the photo's you see old and new , I made this part which is about three times as thick a few weeks ago took me over 2 hours on the lathe..going to test it out in the next couple of days ..don't know if the thickness will effect the performance ....warm up period etc






yeah it looks like the bottom of an aerosol can ..I did find such ..but they are way too thin ..even thinner than turms corroded one .
all the best.markj

 

@Mark Jones
G'day Mark, the new base for the Turm 144 looks interesting. A post on the full fettle would be great to see.
Nice work

 

OK Martin..can you see the fettling forum or do I post it here on a separate thread.
You wont be able to see pics of me making the lower burner on the lathe ..because I never thought to take pics .
You will get see what the chassis looks like after three weeks in molasses, the state of the filter....parts dissembled. And see original pics of how it looked when I first had it.

all the best.markj

 

By and large the cheaper coilburners don't amount to much. This, of course, means the Stescos, L'il Injuns and the like; not the Bordes and Taykits....

 

@Mark Jones
A new post under fettling would be good.
Thanks
Martin

 

When reading the replies I was expecting everyones least favorite stoves not how to fix the ones you already have.
I think for the original topic you have to think that some of the most reliable stoves ever made would also be the least collectable. This would be any gas powered camp stove less than 5 years old unless its a certain well known reputable brand. Even then things can get tricky as the big names have been known to commission mass selling gas stoves from unknown manufacturers who have then bought out their identical version under their own or whatever name you want. Whats more collectable a Coleman isobutane single burner campstove or a WhatnameUwant stove that is apart from the writing on the label the same stove?
Apart from that even the bad stoves are collectable Look how many have a Coleman 501 or a yellow pump MSR on the shelf. Look how many Stescos and Handy Campers are on Ebay for good money

 

The stove I least liked was a Bleuet Gaz S200. Indoors it was OK, but outside in any wind, even with the Bleuet windshield, it was hopeless. Half empty, it was slow to boil water. The Optimus 8R was (and still is) way better!

Cheers
Simon Foxxx

 

I've yet to see a well made Burmos. Oh, and has anyone ever managed to get a Villiers Mar-Vil to run properly?

Terry

 

Well, yes, Terry - the twin burner Inferno version at least.



John

 

Beartrice wick burners look ok but I found them pretty poor!

 

Most wickie rubbish......
Although some defend their Beatrices to the hilt.....

Coil burners such as the Stesco and such drive me bananas

But then there are stoves I like which others would use for anchors

Alec.

 

Howdy, All,

I have to pop in for a quick comment regarding Ed's stating that the Stesco stoves were not up to par. In my experience, those Stesco stoves that were made in the UK are a cut above most of the others bearing that brand, and of that type. Yes, the Borde and Taykit are the kings of the coil burners, but English-made Stesco stoves are definitely better than the lesser, Oriental versions (no matter what name they are called: i.e., "Little Injun", "Handy Camper", et. al.. Also, the far more rare, "Polaris" coil stove deserves an honorable mention, if for nothing other than it's "cool" factor. It's a very neat little coil burner, and fun to own. For what it's worth........ Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

P.S. One stove I forgot to mention, is the first version of the MSR Whisperlite International!!! It's fine for burner Coleman Fuel, but if you wish to burn kerosene, long-term, be prepared for lots of trouble. I always advice those seeking such a stove to get the newer version, the Whisperlite International 600, or even better, the WPL Universal.

 

up there post 7 well it came out nicely but as you can see on the before pics it was down to the brass in several pcs

think its a prime candidate for reverse electrolysis