Any CCS members out there have any experience/advice on some of those Russian Hornet or bumble bee stoves coming out of Bulgaria currently? Good or bad, I wouldn't scoff at any advice offered. Thanks in advance to all.
I saw the prices some sellers ask for these stoves, and stopped looking at them. I didn't even bother to check if they sell. Yonadav
My first apprehension is the shipping. Havent really heard anything about the shipping and second, looks a bit pricey. For the price they are asking (sometimes) I'd rather get a different brand though some members do own one or two of them if I recall correctly. Ron
Yes I have seen some entries for these stoves from members dating back to 2008 or earlier. Wouldn't know if these folks are still active. A Soviet pre-perestroika era stove sold in my local area last month, it looked as if it had been stored in damp garage shelf since prior to Chernobyl.
Stan, if you have the facility to check with a geiger, you would be doing this for our own peace of mind Ron
I have one of the Phoebus 625 look-a-likes. I picked it up from CUSRA on ebay for thirty something and reasonable shipping. I'll take a Geiger counter home and check it. I'll check the 8R look-a-likes as well. I'll tell you one thing that will set the Geiger counter screeming -- those Petromax lantern mantles you can get from the Philippines -- peg the meter they do. I am surprised they don't close down the post office when they show up.
Itchy sez Thanks for letting us know (me specially) I won't buy those mantles anymore. Got a PMax lantern there too at a cheaper price though. Ron
Hey, Itchy, Like you, I got one of the Russian Phoebus clones from CUSRA, and like every stove I've purchased from him, it is in outstanding condition! Haven't fired it up, yet, despite having had it for a good long while.... I also bought a Russian 8R clone, from the 'Bay, and think it's a very nice stove. I like them better than some of the Taiwanese copies of the 8R, and 99, actually. But, like those stoves, the Russian version is not compatible with all Optimus parts, which is something to consider. Good stoves, though, me thinks. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Don't know about the "Phoebus" types of russian stoves, but both the Schmelb-2 and Schmelb-4 seems to work great on white gas, but they are a bit heavy so really not a backpacking stove.
Chef and Doc: I fired up the Russian "Phoebus 625" soon after I got it. But, for that test, I used a used Phoebus burner cap, which fit perfect. That way the Russian still almost looks unused. Also the pattern of holes in the Russian cap looked like guy doing the drilling was half a bottle into Friday (or Mon, Tues, ..) happy hour. It worked fine, and seems pretty well made and solid. The fit and finish is not as nice and there is less brass than with the Phoebus. Perhaps the only "improvement" (maybe) is that there is an ample spirit cup on the riser so you don't need to burn the paint off the font when preheating. (however, the paint job on mine was flaking off before I got it unpacked -- so it is sort of moot) As I said earlier, I paid much less than those currently on ebay, and shipping was less. If those for sale today are indeed the same stove, I am not sure I would recommend it at those prices. On the other hand, it is a little different and, I think, interesting, and you can easily blow that kind of money in an evening out and have nothing to show for it the next day.
Hallo friends, have somebody of you seen this two russian stoves live burning? http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110578510519&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120645834500&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT They are very intresting Clone-Creationes Best Wishes RJ
Friends, Thanks for all of your input. These stoves seem interesting to me strictly form the aesthetic utilitarianism of the item. Much in the way I appreciate the design of Russian aircraft, historic and current. (I am a closet aviation fan). 8) -Doc, yes CUSRA does sell good stuff, from what seems to be his E-Bay shop out of the back of his pick-up truck! I have been out bid on many of his auctions. -RJ, I have been curious about the stoves you suggest here, money and shipping is always the biggest obstacle. -Ron, Itchy, The next time I have am opportunity; I will take a couple of my lanterns to my job and test the radiation output, I do work with ionizing radiation at my job and must use monitoring equipment. Guess I will have to plunk down the money on one of these and wait for the outcome, it is better than a night on the town and finding what the outcome of that is 9 months later! "Wha'd ya say yer' name was?"
For the wee bit of radiation in one of those mantles i'd not worry even if i had to eat it. Most likely you get more from a day working in the sun than all the time spent sleeping with one for the next 3 years. lance
All older Coleman Mantles used Thorium, a mildly radioactive Isotope. I was taught to handle the burnt mantles carefully, and not to inhale the dust. It seems you'd have to eat quite a few to get a harmful dose! Personally, I look for the older ones, as they give off a brilliant white light, vice the yellow glow from the new ones.
BB, now that is interesting. I fired up my 220J after a modest fettle and wondered why it did not give of as much light as I remembered. I did put new mantles on it.
Good choice, eating it is safer than inhaling the dust -- provided you have had your fiber and are well hydrated. I have a stash of thorium mantles, including a couple old Coleman mantles, but I'll save them for my lanterns. The half-life of thorium is something like a billion years so they should last a while.
shmel 1 is a phoebus 625 clone shmel 2 differs by closing mechanism and tank(Dastan is the same) shmel 3 two burners variant of shmel 2 shmel 4 has modified tank this classification is not absolute shmel 1 has more then 3 modifications all the others more then 10. I can easily buy those stoves from military reservs in excellent condition. The price 35-40$ here without shiping . so for you it will be not less then 90$ even without my commission charges, i thing it is not interesting for you. as concerns http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110578510519&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120645834500&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT made in Ukraine, and are just piece of shit. the most idiotic details from shmel family and coleman in one device.
