Hi everyone, I plan a small trip in February to the Elelphant rally. No doubt it will be freezing! Last time I went it was so cold my Camping-Gaz stove would not work. I have a nice Svea 123r, an 8R Hunter and a few other petrol stoves. What's the lowest temp' you have used these in? Regards, Alan
Morning, Alan, I have used SVEA 123 stoves, and other small petrol stoves, at altitudes up to 10,000 ft, and at temps that hovered a bit below 0?F. Though petrol stoves can be a little tricky in such conditions, if you treat them correctly, they can work nicely. The first thing you must do is shield the stoves from any wind. Then, if there is snow, you have to make certain that you have a platform upon which you will place your stove, which keeps it off of the cold snow. Cold is the enemy of a petrol stove, and direct contact with a very cold surface, be it snow, or a cold rock, will "suck" the heat right out of your stove, and make it very hard to keep pressure in the tank. Also, if you put your stove right onto the snow, the resulting heat will melt the snow, and your soup might tilt into your lap, as your stove sinks into the snow!! But, properly sheltered, a petrol stove can and will work nicely for you. That being said, cold weather usage is where kerosene and alcohol stoves really come into their own!!! Though you still have to keep them from sinking into the melting snow, neither type of stove will suffer from pressure drainage, as can the petrol stoves. So, once you get them going, they keep going, and going, and going.... rather like the Energizer Bunny!!! Some say that alcohol stoves, like the Trangia, or my favorite for cold weather camping, the Optimus 81 Trapper, can be hard to light in the cold. But, I've never had that problem. Still, anytime you use a stove in the cold, be prepared to offer it some extra special care in lighting and usage. Priming will need to be done in a careful manner, and sometimes an extra prime might be necessary, depending on what stove you're using. I'd suggest some cold weather practice, before the "real deal", just to make sure that you'll not find any nasty surprises. If you have to use your SVEA 123, or the 8R, do what we do when using such stoves in the cold. Cut a small square of Ensolite, the closed-cell, hard, foam that's used for sleeping pads, and another square of thin plywood, or metal, as your base. The wood, or metal, creates a stable base, and the Ensolite pad keeps the cold from draining off the pressure while you're using the stove. This combination has worked perfectly for us for many years, and would work for you, too. Be aware that some of the Ensolite pad might melt onto the bottom of your stove, depending on what type of pad you have and which stove you're using. This is particularly true with those blue pads that were the rage many years ago, when using 111 stoves. But, while using material from the black pads, and smaller stoves, like the SVEA or 8R, I've had very little problem with such melting. So, there you have my two cents.... Good luck on your trip, and have fun!! A report, when you safely return, please! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
ive used my svea in a few scottish winter storms ..not only does it do the job , the roar is also very reassuring ...im actually even considering taking my svea to mont blanc next year instead of msr dragonfly !!!..to stop it sinking into snow just buy a soldering mat..lightweight and folds up to nothing
Doc's right, but if you have diferent white-gas stoves, and one wih a pump, or pump for your 8r the job will be easier. Selfpressuring stoves need more than reasonable preheating in strong cold, the pump compenstates this. dsk
The 123 in a SIGG Tourist is almost ideal for cold weather. It is a windshield, cookpot and snow pad all in one. A mini pump makes it easier to light. I've never needed more than three strokes of the pump. I did, however, make a snow pad for my stoves out of a piece of 1/4" (6mm) marine plywood I cut into a 9" (230mm) octagon. A light wipe with boiled linseed oil to keep it from soaking up water is all it's ever gotten for a finish. Anything shiny would be too slick and would slide on the snow. If you wish, there's no reason you couldn't cut holes in it to make it a bit lighter. A quarter inch of wood has amazing insulating potential. A freind tried one of MSR's Trillium snow pads and found it wanting. No insulating properties to speak of. If weight isn't too important a Coleman 502 or similar would be a good choice. Again, a plywood base would be helpful. Gerry
Gerry, now you have done it, my lad and I had decided on taking a 111 and a Trangia to the northern meeting,,,,,,,,,,, then you go and mention the 123 + SIGG Tourist cookset,,,,, just when you think your out, they drag you back in
Spot on - stand your perc' on the table or bread boar and it will stay warmer longer than just leaving it on the unlit stove or worse, the ground.
Just a word of warning whenusing wooden bases,make sure that the wood you sit your 8R on is well seasoned pine. I will describe things in more detail on my old 8R horror story thread, but suffice to say that I now have to remove some very hard set resin on the base of the case, any suggestions? Simes
Dried pitch can be wiped away with Coleman fuel. I used 6mm utile, an african hardwood plywood made by Bruynzeel in Holland. I've also used Douglas Fir plywood, the commonest plywood in N. America. Any reasonably resin free wood could be used, Poplar, oak, alder, birch, and beech come to mind. One of the boys in my son's Scout troop used Masonite. There are many options open. Gerry
Good Morning, Henry, OK, go out into the yard and bring me back a switch....., it's obviously time for your beating!!!!! Take care, and God Bless! Doc Mark
I've used an 8R for a late fall trip for two people. The pump was manditory as temps below 0C, with snow and lots of wind. I tried to get it working without the pump and it was very difficult to get it hot enough to run right. The pump makes it work great. -franco
Hi everyone, I reckon I'll take my Svea 123r after Doc's comments. I have a nice light-weight folding aluminium windsheild and I have a nice piece of tongue n groove floorboard with I have had for years to use as an insulator. I do have some foam mating to add as an extra measure somewhere. I have one of the small priming pumps so I'll of course take that along. It is a dodle to light with the pump. I agree that the roar of the 123 is lovely. It will drown out the noisy German campers... I have a Trangia but I never really manage to make nice meals on it, only warmed up rations etc whilst the Svea 123r gives me gourmet cuisine. I expect it's me and not the Trangia that is lacking. My only complaint concerning the Svea is the fact that I have to clean it after a weekends use, it get's a little black form the priming process. Anyhow, I do hope the Elephant is snowbound again and really cold. I recently brought myself a US Army modular sleeping bag system and I want cold weather to prove that I did not waste my money! Thanks to eveyone again. Regards, Alan
I wonder if that is the bag system manufactured by Wiggy's? If so, you have a super bag. Mine keeps me warm in conditions no other bag has been able to. ~ Andy
