It was a snow day here in PA. After I got everything shoveled, I decided to take advantage of the time and have some fun. The stoves I tested are: Optimus 8R, my original and first camping stove from the 80's, a new Taiwan Svea 123R, and old Swedish Svea 123, a Coleman 550B Exponent on kerosene, and an Optimus 111B. The outside temperature was 32°F (0°C). The starting temperature of stoves, fuel, and water was 60°F (16°C). I heated 600mL water to 190° F (88°C) because that is the temperature of my coffee water. The results are: 8R : 7 min 46 sec. 123R : 5 min 57 sec 123 : 5 min 19 sec Coleman: 5 min 18 sec 111B : 4 min 21 sec Then I did a cold start test to see how well the stoves would start up from cold temperatures. It had cooled down to 29° F (-2°C) by the time of this test. I allowed the stoves to sit outside for 2 hours to cool. The results were merely my observations. 8R : took 2 cycles of priming with alcohol, 8 droppers total. At 30 seconds there was good flame, with full power at 1 minute. 123R: took 3 cycles of priming with alcohol, 8 droppers total. There was good flame at 30 seconds, but pulsing began at 1 minute and did not stop. 123: took 3 cycles of priming with alcohol, 7 droppers total. Good flame at 30 seconds, full power at 1 minute. Coleman: took 1 cycle of priming with alcohol, 4 droppers total. Good flame at 30 seconds but a bit yellow, full blue flame at 1 minute. Completely unaffected by the cold. 111B: took 1 cycle of priming with alcohol, 4 droppers total. Good flame at 30 seconds, full power at 1 minute. Completely unaffected by the cold. Since I was not happy with the pulsing 123R, I took it apart and put in a new wick. I had run it out of fuel last summer. I also cleaned the rest of the parts. Upon testing the pulsing was gone and it burned with a nice normal blue flame. I also wanted to test my new 8R cap I rebuilt for the mini pump. After cooling the stove for 1/2 hour outside, I put it in the freezer for another 1/2 hour. I then did the cold start test. It started with 1 cycle of alcohol priming, total 3 droppers. I did 3 pumps before priming and the stove started nearly at full power immediately. What a fun day!
Evening, Brad, EXCELLENT!! Sounds like you had a fine and productive time! Thanks for sharing your results. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
We're at 13 degrees F here (-10 deg. Celsius), so I'll have to test some stoves tomorrow, like a M1950, Coleman 520, Coleman 530, Coleman 502, Primus 2260, and perhaps a Monitor C11 MoD kero stove. The M1950 will be the most fun, as it rides in the car 24/7, it's my bug-out or SHTF stove here! It's supposed to get down to 1 deg F, it was all of -3 when I got up this morning! Murph
Added one more to the test. MSR Superfly canister stove. Same starting conditions as others, outside temp 24°F (-4°C). Heated the 600mL water to 190°F (88°C) in 3 min 4 sec. Then I did a cold start test. Stove was outside at 24° for 1/2 hour, then in freezer for 1/2 hour. The stove has its own piezzo lighter. It started on the first push of the lighter. It burned a bit weaker but still was quite functional. Seems to be a good little stove. I'm not a fan of dragging the canisters around nor of the disposing of them. And the only way to know how much is in them I have to weigh them on an accurate scale.
Brad that’s good comparison info, thank you. Your 123R was pulsing for the 5 min 57 sec to 190. I “thought” a 123 and 123R full roar are basically the same. Your test may agree w/that considering the R had problems. If I’m wrong I welcome a correction. Even on Kero I’m thinkin the 550 should have done better vs the 123. The best take away is your stoves all worked well in the cold, well done! Best regards
My 123R did pulse during the whole test. Afterward I took it apart, cleaned it, and put in a new wick. Last summer I had run it out of fuel and seems to have damaged it. With the new wick it no longer pulses and burns with that nice steady puttering sound that we love!
