Hello, What are individuals 'preferred' method in storing and pouring methyl hydrate (alcohol) used for priming kerosene stoves? I know eyedroppers can be used to transfer the spirit from a SIGG bottle or whatever container is used to hold the spirit or pouring directly from the SIGG bottle itself. However in some stoves, the priming cup is difficult to access, and when pouring from a SIGG bottle or equivalent it may cause an overflow and spillage of alcohol, which at the very least is a waste of fuel or at the worst can cause a fire/damage. So what do people recommend be used - is there a specific priming container one can bring that holds maybe 100 ml or less and has a nice fine needle-like proboscus (plastic) that can be directed to the priming cup with little difficulty and where flow can be controlled to avoid spillage? I don't want to bring a 500 ML or larger bottle just for priming spirits for a weekend or even a week trip. 100 ml should be more than sufficient. I also don't want to bring an eye dropper if I don't have to, just more stuff to potentially lose. A small plastic, refillable container with a wide opening for refilling and a small, elongated (telescopic?) pouring spout would be perfect - any suggestions? Thanks in advance. I also don't want to use paste as that does not solve the issue of hard to access priming cups. Paste is also more expensive and not nearly as easy to find compared to methyl hydrate.
Work with us, eh? What kind of stove? I use a small 2 oz bottle from ear drops for my 8R, snuggles in with the rest of the kit, and JUST short enough so the lid closes and clears. There's also a Packafeather Cap, buy one, or roll your own, once you see how it's done. https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/20222 And a load of suggestions HERE! https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/12702 Good luck, Murph
Perfect, thanks Murph. What stoves? From the tiny 8R to the big Primus No. 5 Jnr on the Swedish side to the USA/Cdn ones like the Solus and Peak 1 on Kero. I've also been using the priming cups on the Coleman Fuel stoves like the Alladin/Rogers M-1950's and the little Primus 71 L to help get her going.
The M1950 can be filled right through the burner bell, runs down to the prime ring nicely. The Primus 71L is a kin to my Radius 42, big PITA is if the stove isn't level, the priming cup in the fount runs all over! Glad I could help! Murph
lol - first time I primed my 1950 I got alcohol all over the place BUT in the cup. But I'm pouring it from a SIGG bottle, not the most controllable thing in the world (at least for me with big hands). Some are a lot trickier than others depending on stove design, location, impediments and size. A small plastic somewhat malleable priming bottle with a narrow, long and flexible tube to help wind a route through all the obstacles to a recessed dish is perfect. I'll get a few and determine which one suits my requirements and does the job 'best'.
For what it's worth, here at the house i use a turkey baster. One of those units used to inject fluids into a turkey before roasting. I suppose you could use a regular plastic baster but i believe that to be excessive for the job at hand. Coleman sells a beautifull little rig for this for the Kerosene lanterns, may i suggest you contact them for product info and avaliablity. lance
Hi Lance, Tomorrow I'm going to the Scout shop in town which is a local distributor of Coleman (Canada) parts. I will ask them about item# 201-5511 Alcohol Bottle and whether they can order one in for me. Noted a few oil dispensers on Ebay as suggested and going to the Pharmacy + a local Hardware store to check their potential offerings.
Little polyethylene bottles from most plastic suppliers. You sometimes see them full of sewing machine oil but that would be an expensive way to buy them.I tried a bottle with a long spout and removable cap but the cap comes off too easy so changed to a simple screw top type with a small squirt type nozzle of about 30ml in size. This is perfect in an 8r or similar but you might want 50ml for kero stoves
This is what I use all the time: It came with a Coleman 339 lamp. The little brass tube can be extended as required. I think they only came with Coleman kerosene lamps (but as most of these lamps were made in Canada, you may be able to find one).
I bought several of these little plastic bottles with a narrow plastic spout under the cap from eBay. They work very well as spirit bottles and pack away very easily:
I have few bottles that are used here in Finland to hold liquid (alcohol and lubricants?) to defreeze locks in the winter.
G,,day. I use the screw top containers that some of my tablets come in. not a problem, don't leak. kerry
Maybe have a look at a laboratory supplies company? I remember lots of specialist bits and pieces for adding small amounts of various liquid chemicals to beakers etc (e.g. pipettes with rubber bulbs similar to Lance's baster, but smaller) from school science lessons 40 years ago.
Check around the medicine chess, work bench and junk drawer for bottles that hold 2 to 4 oz. Once you start looking for them you will find plenty. I use an old sunscreen bottle that has a handy flip open spout. Those 50 ml mini whiskey bottles that dumbasses toss out their car windows should work well also (I notice them on my bike rides).
The corks can be found at some hardware stores(pre HomeDepot) Warning: Be sure your flame is out before you re-prime as your bottle may quickly become a Molotov cocktail ( see Russian Revolution 1917)
I use the small sqeezeable plastic bottles like a couple of those shown, but with the screw cap that has the little flip-up spout. These stay tightly sealed, but have the little spout which is perfect to prime with. Here's a pic: http://store01.prostores.com/accessoriesforfragrances/catalog/Bottle-Plas-2Oz.jpg
I use an airline wine bottle, plastic, screw top and about 100mls. The primer going everywhere thing is easily fixed, just wrap the valve stem in glass rope or twisted glass cloth and wire in place. Then just pour the primer straight down onto the burner head, the cloth/rope will catch nearly all of it.
Thanks for everyone's responses. I visited the Scout shop yesterday and gave the manager/fettler the item number in hopes he can order one in. He's familiar with the bottle but hasn't seen one in a while. Upon my return to the house I also sent him a link to this post should he wish more info. He's to get back to me in regards to the availability of that item. I stopped off at a drug store and supermarket's pharmacy but neither had what I was looking for. I sent an email to a Sewing Shop in town and asked what they had to offer, haven't heard back yet (also phoned but no one picked up, lol). I also went to Walmart on a separate errand. They had one - called a 'ZOOM-SPOUT Oiler', 118 ml capacity with an extendable, flexible narrow plastic tube for $5.00 (Cdn). It was filled with sewing machine oil so I simply poured that out into another small nalgene, cleaned it out and poured the spirit in. Works great but is a tad big both in volume and length (5.5") for short trips but perfect for at home work and long trips. Once I get a few more containers I'll post some picts for future reference. Thanks. Never heard of glass rope or twisted glass cloth, will have to ask about that at the hardware store. Ed - I have a bottle like that but for some of my stoves the priming cup is still nestled too far deep into the stove for the nozzle to reach properly without some kind of spillage. Doug - I'd rather not use glass when in the field and again not fine enough of a spout to pour without spillage for me.
To prime a 3-leg brass keroburner of any size, the little bottle with the little flip-up spout is great. As for my 123, I just squirt some alcohol at it; confining it to the little dimple I don't worry about!
