Newbie question - Svea 123 windscreen as wood stove

Hi all!

Newbie here. Please forgive me if this question has been answered previously. I searched and was unable to find any discussion of my question.

I'm the proud owner of a Svea 123 ... won off of eBay. Have wanted one for years; now that the kids have graduated from college I'm finally able to get one.

I'm super excited. I've been reading out them for years.

First impressions: This thing is very cool! Also, I hate loud noises. This thing isn't that loud (despite what I've been reading about for years.)

Up until the purchase of this stove, I've been using either tuna can alcohol stoves or DIY wood stoves (my latest is a DIY copy of the Solo stove made out of tin cans).

My newbie question: Can the Svea brass windscreen be safely used as a container for a small wood fire (heating water for tea)? Would building a small fire inside the windscreen pose any damage to the windscreen?

My 55-year-old back requires me to pack as light as possible. I love the Svea stove. I'm wondering if I can alternate between white gas and wood fires. I'm thinking that the brass windscreen would stand up easily to a wood fire. This would allow me to carry a little less fuel and leave my wood stove behind.

But I wanted to confirm this theory with the experts.

Thanks in advance!

 

Welcome @OldMan_NewHammock

Like you, my guess is it will be fine. My guess for the answers, though, is that it won't have been tested by anyone here. It's just a bit left-of-field.

You know, as many of us here do, that quite light metals (eg tin cans) will hold up to wood fires. In this case, you know that a high intensity flame can play on the shield, that ignited white gas can be on the shield, that grilling can occur over the shield. I'd be pretty confident the brass will cope! But you will also need some sort of base.

And we will need photographs!

 

Probably would work once.
I think that there are better wood stoves.

 

Interesting question that I personally had not seen before. I like my Svea 123's to much to consider using the windscreen as a wood stove. Although not all of my 123's even have the windscreen. For some reason, they occasionally go missing and the sellers at yard and estate sales have no idea what happened to them over time.

Even though it appears the windscreen could handle the temperature, I wonder about warpage and how the burner hole would play into this or if it would need to be opened up, rendering it inoperative for the 123 after that. For the heck of it, I looked on Amazon and see a compact 7.2oz titanium foldable woodstove for under $40 that I would be more inclined to use for burning wood. As previously mentioned, please post pics if you go this route.

 

I agree, like an Emberlit.

 

Thanks, snwcmpr!

I have no doubt that there are better wood stoves. Just lookin' to reduce some pack weight.

 

Three rocks around a small fire to hold a pot? The wind screen has no bottom so the fire will be on the ground anyway.

 

The 123 is a lightweight stove.

 

Thanks for everyone's input! I'll think I'll defer to the collective wisdom here - I'll keep the windscreen for the Svea and look into getting a lightweight (Ti) wood stove (or, as IvanN suggested, just look for 3 rocks. ;-).


Thanks again, everyone!

 

Trail designs makes a multi fuel caldera cone. Light weight and one of the fuels is wood.

Seriously, as to the 123 as a wood burner....
The plate, with the hole that the burner bell goes through, would most likely have to be removed to burn wood properly. Then would have to be replaced to use the 123 as designed.

 

A DIY Camp Stove with internal and external flame jets

For twig/charcoal use you do need to raise the pot above the top, in my experience, but it does a good enough job at a back-friendly weight.

 

Great suggestion, snwcmpr. Thanks! Looks like they are currently sold out of the Caldera Cone. I'll keep that on my watch list.

 

Thanks, Scrambler. Always interesting to see new designs in alcohol stoves!

 

Emberlit Ti stoves are pricey, but work very well. There's many cheaper alternatives now. Here's mine the first time using it:

 

A mini Trangia is a fine little alcohol stove. Weight is minimal:

 

Wow, fantastic pics, The Warrior! Thanks for posting them. How do you like the Emberlit? Is that a actual Trangia or a knockoff (no judgement here, just curious)? How do you like it? I've read that they weigh around 6-7 ounces, which seems kinda heavy for an alcohol stove (again, no judgment implied, I'm wondering how a heavier Trangia is better than a DIY tuna can stove).

Thanks again!

 

Thanks man. I love the Emberlit. Actually, I got lucky when I purchased it. I ordered the ss version of it, and they accidentally sent me the Ti model. I contacted them, and the said they realized their mistake, and told me to keep it. I ordered one pretty much when they first came out. I'd probably just order another brand now, as they're cheaper.

The Trangia is really a nice bit of kit. It has the brass burner. There's aluminum models out there now, and much lighter. Get what you pay for though. This is an actual Trangia mini.

 

I'm one of those people that loves the whole process. From gathering different size sticks for kindling, and coals, to striking a piece of flint with a striker on a piece of char cloth, to using a pocket bellows to get it going, to ultimately cooking, and of course eating:

 

Me too! (My wife thinks I'm nuts. ;-)

You have an amazing eye, too. Are you a professional photographer?