I have to admit that my main stove interest has always leaned towards those that don't run on petroleum products. No great 'eco' reason, but I seem to gravitate towards stoves that will run on wood or similar (perhaps I'm just a cheapskate) - my wife says I just like playing with fire. I have a big indoor woodstove, two homemade 'hobo' stoves, a solar oven and three volcano kettles. I've just acquired a couple of stainless steel catering utensil pots that I'm going to attempt to convert into a woodgas stove. Also just got a Swedish Military Tent stove which I'll take some pics of soon. However, last Sunday I was at a car boot sale and spotted a nice brass stovey type thingy. Had a chat with the chap who said it was running two weeks ago and had fresh paraffin in it. So, at £3.00 and 2/3rds full of paraffin, who could resist! Got it home, did some research on Spiritburner (I've never fired one of these up before) and identified it as a Primus No5 with silent burner and a 1959 date code. Both inner and outer caps are there, all the seals seem OK and it pumps well. Dug out some meths and away it went. Seems to run very nicely with no spluttering or yellow in the flame apart from when the wind blew into the garage. I have two questions: 1. Once it is up and running, do I need to give it an occasional pump? It seems to run quite happily on it's own. 2. Is this the start of a slippery slope into fettling and a garage full of brass stoves? PS: I've already learnt my first lesson - Don't leave a 2/3rds full paraffin stove on the wife's new kitchen worktop in full sun with the air valve closed. Hence why I was banished to the garage with it.
Hi Trogandog well done there on a great score Providing there are no pressure leaks mainly from the filler cap seal or even the pump non return valve they should need very little pumping once it is running, as the fuel level drops then the pressure would drop but these will get hotter as the fuel level drops which helps to maintain pressure in the stove if your using it for a long period the odd pump may be needed or unless you want to increase the flame out put. Yes you must all ways rember to leave the pressure realese screw open when you have finished with it as even when the stove has been cooled down any change in tempreture will cause paraffin to drip out the jet. And you may well find this wont be your last stove and end up with a nice collection in your garage
Definitely not! Part of the garage will be full of stoves, but the rest will have blow-lamps and lanterns. Yonadav
Aye! On to other types of treasures. I have a bowlfire now, waiting for a mantle, in addition to my large and assorted collection of stoves. A member here got me started down that road. Like passing heroine to get someone addicted. Great buy and find. Duane
You need to cleanse your self of this horrible stove thing. "My name is Pat and I am a stovie" I have tried to stop many times but then I find a new one that I can not resist. Stopped counting at 25....the good news is when there are a lot you can add to them and the wife has no clue...she still yells at me cuz I have 19...LOL It is a hell of a lot better addiction then many.
I don't believe that we encourage these poor unprotected soon to be stovies. Sadism is obviously part of of collective disgusting make up.
1.) Sure, Pump it to get a large flame, vent it a little to bring the flame down. Kerosene stoves are great in this respect. 2.) I'm afraid there's little hope for you at this point. PS: Yes, definitely leave the vent open when it's off, sunlight or not it'll purge out of the burner.
Hi Trojandog Great story, great stove and great photos. The No5 is a very reliable stove as you have found. You will also have found that a few pump strokes when you start are that is often needed for cooking a meal. Maybe a couple of strokes after 15 mins. This is one of the 'secrets' not known to those who only use Coleman fuel stoves. And the stove burns quiet and hot. What more can one ask.
