So, Trangia type burners are so simple they are foolproof, eh? As reported elsewhere I got one of the Lidl copies and when I light the burner all I get is a can of meths burning #-o No little blue flames from the burner holes. How do you all think I feel now then?
Hi Jim I think that with the first filling you need to give it time to allow the Meths to soak into the wadding which should be in the burner beneath the jets. I would fill it up, then let it soak in for a while.
Patience grasshopper. Once the spirit is infused into the body of the burner you will be but ready for the second waiting. When first lit the trangia type burner does indeed look like a small burning pot of meths, only once the burner wanms up does the vapour begin to squirt from the ring of holes. When this has happened you will be spiritually ready for the third stage of waiting - for the kettle or pot to boil......
Back to the fire proof string here, I use this on all Trangia type burners, just cut a length to go around the burner on the shoulder outside of the holes, 6 - 8 mm diameter seems good, when in place - soak with meths - light up - and you have full heat output straight away, by the time the string has burned dry (about 2 minutes) the burner is doing what it should. Quicker boil times & effectively no warm up time. There is no need to remove the string, if you use a bit of thin wire to join the ends to make a loop there is no need to remove it when packing the stove away.
And not to forget, do not overfill the burner. To allow vaporization of the meths, the burner should not be filled to more than about 2/3 to 3/4 of it's capacity.
Thanks for your replies. Keith - there is no wadding in this burner Jules - don't have any fireproof string Arne - yep, 2/3 max - did this Doug - very patient this time. Tried a few times. Did manage to boil water and have tea (Nambarrie 8) ) but just from the flamimng meths (no, I'm not swearing!!). Here's pics from last try: Early on After about 10 minutes Meths almost gone and best yet
To my eyes - that looks to be running fine. The wadding is between the two walls - think of the central tube as a filling tube - the wadding is between there and the outside can. Try it again in the dark... The health warning is that this can lead to endless experiments with Irn-Brew tins and tuna cans.....
My Lidl burner does not seem to have any wadding between the inner and outer tubes of the burner either. The burner does not burn as vigourously as a Trangia burner (which will fit the Lidl windshields without modification to either part) but there are definitely burning jets of meths vapour at the pinholes, which is as it should be. The Lidl burrner also has a shallow depression around the top of the burner body, outside the central 'turret'. This depression can hold sufficient spirit to do a similar job to a loop of fireproof string. If you're not happy with it, Jim, take it back for replacement or refund. Alternatively use a better burner in it or try to improve (don't ask me how but someone will probably come up with a suggestion) the performance of the Lidl burner.
Jim the flame spread is different when you put a pan on. Also, use a paper clip opened out, to make sure the holes are clear, even Trangia burners need this maintainence every few years; give the holes a good prod. Failing that, fit a Nova burner unit Serious, think about it, Nova stove from the states, with shipping and the good exchange rate for about ?70 delivered, Lidl stove ?8, hey presto, you have your own Kap Arctic stove setup for under ?80
Loby D, P M me your address ( anyone else in UK too) if you can't find a source of FP string, Ian, you are perfectly right about the depression to hold some meths - - but with the string you get BIG flames and a much quicker start up.
Hi there all. Just thought i'd squeeze in that ive had one of these Lidl trangia copies for about a year now. I got it from ebay tough not Lidl, but it is 100% exactly the same. It has never ever let me down , even after i tried burning paraffin in it (yes stupid i know but what do you expect from a slightly crazy kid ??? ) it still burned meths perfectly, after a good clean at least !!! Its been a fantastic stove and ive took it on every hike ive been on and i really do love it !! Thanks for reading all. Best regards, Andrew
More thanks mates Doug - maybe I was expecting too much from it no wadding more pics in lower light below Ian - took your advice re the depression for spirit, see pics below "take it back" I've already exchanged it twice so that's 3 round trips of 25 miles - @*&^%@#%** thing has cost as much as the real thing Rik - used the paper clip to check and all seems ok with a pot on, the tall yellow flame disappears I may not fit a Nova, but definitely considering something pr***ne (shhh) Jules - many thanks for the offer of FP string, I'll PM you Andrew - great recommendation. I hope I can get this to work as well as yours. Thanks. New Pics Spirits on the outer rim - look closely First lighting A few seconds later Another couple of minutes Perhaps I expected too much. Will do some boil tests later. Thanks again.
Jim, great last bunch photos there . They clearly show just how FOOLPROOF these little burners are . Enjoy the Flame Spudz
Hi Jim I'm not really a fan of cooking with priming fluid, but I have tinkered with meths stoves a bit. Your last photos show what I would expect from the lidl burner. I bought my set as a source of an excellent windshield system for another project.
Here is one way to skin the cat Peering into the crystal ball I can see a "101 things to do with a Lidle stove" thread...
Hi Doug Would it be possible for you to post bigger versions of images 4 and 5 in the post you refer to ? They are the ones which show the fitting of the burner into the lidl. Sorry it's me eyes you see, it's me eyes. I've very kindly been offered an Alpine by a generous stove brother, so will look to have a little tinker when it arrives. Cheers
Spudz - thanks foryour comments on the pics and just shows you, anyone can be a fool with a little practice Keith - please tell us about your project (with pics of course). 8) Doug - that's the way I want to go 8) 8) . Can you explain more or show a close up of the knitting needle clips, please? Going off to check ebay for one of those stoves After my still photos I tried my first attempt at a simple EDITED video. This shows the initial lighting using Ian's priming in the groove, then lights out for the transition to proper burning, and finally trying to hold a pot steady to show the effect on the flame pattern.
That burner didn't look too bad to me ! I reckon theat the holes in the burner may be too large, hence not allowing decent jets to form. When I make aluminium can stoves the jets are quite fine, and seem to work well once the stove body is hot. As regards my project, we are both following the furrow which Doug has already ploughed ! pictures in due course !
