I’m new here, just signed up today. I have several old stoves. I appropriated a SVEA 121L 50 years ago from my father. I started melting lead with him for fishing weights when I was about 12. I took it to college with me and used it hiking/camping. I recently brought it out and it started “The Bug”. I like getting old stuff up and running, and I have a “problem”….I’m a collector, just to collect, not to sell. So, my question: I recently bought an Optimus No.45 swapped/equipped with a “silent burner”. I have seen an “Igniter Tube” on several silent burner stoves and would like to find/make one for this stove. Does anyone have an Igniter for a 45/48 that can tell me how far the wick goes up into the tube from the bottom. None I have seen have any wick exposed, or even visible at the top of the tube. My guess is the wick only extends into the tube partially to keep it from getting charred. So….1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 3/4, up the tube? Thanks for your time and patience. If I need to post this question elsewhere, some instruction would be appreciated. Thank You John
@Yellowstone Johnny You are correct the wick is only in the flattened end and it’s vapourier paraffin that burns at the opposite end. Be careful in the originals it was some kind of asbestos type stuff they used as a wick I think!
Great, Thank you for the quick response. You mention paraffin (kerosene?) as the tube vapor, I prime with denatured alcohol (methylated spirits?). The igniter should work with denatured alcohol as a primer as well correct? I was planning on using a lamp wick to build one, but maybe it won’t work. It may just char the wick to uselessness after the first run Since they are/were made from asbestos, no wonder they are hard to find these days.
Have fun experimenting with igniter tube, one of my 2 pt's has one. Not sure the condition of wick but flame does shoot out every now and then when priming. never relied on it to light burner. Very jealous of your location. Used to visit Yellowstone every couple years and would fly into Billings if we did not drive. We would flyfish through park and into Idaho.
@Daryl Glad you like Montana…I do. I built an igniter for my No.45 with a piece of 1/4” brass tube and an old piece of wick from a SVEA 123R. I made the tube clip with a piece of metal banding strap. I primed the stove, waited until only the divot in the priming ring and igniter had alcohol, closed the air screw, gave it a couple of pumps and wammo…she lit right up. I need to improve the clip, but my prototype works
@nmp No worries, I much appreciated the info. It was very helpful to me. I got my homemade igniter built and working
