I was at a yard sale on the weekend and spied a small box half hidden under misc junk. My heart skipped a beat... An Optimus 199 'Oh, an old camp stove eh?" I mused as I carefully opened the box and took inventory. It's been used, and the pot looks like it's been over a fire. The valve key and strap is missing, but the pot holder and mini pump are there. She was asking $20, I offered $10, and it was accepted. I almost skipped back to my truck and drive home as calmly as I could, giggling the whole way. I only have one other Swedish stove: an 8R, but I have some spare gaskets. The old one was crap. Rinsed out the tank, filled with fresh fuel, (Coleman), primed with methanol and away she went. (Still giggling) So the questions: I've been looking into this little marvel all weekend and even dreaming about it. I've read that kerosene burns well in this and maybe better than white gas. Is that true? Kero is cheaper, so I'm thinking of using that. are there any mods that I need to do to run kero? My friend that is very gifted in fabricating is making me a key for the valve, but if one wanted an original, where would I find one? Thanks in advance.
Good find. Yes for kerosene. If you can get your hands on clear kerosene (un-dyed) that is what you want to use. (Prime with alcohol) It may work without any modifications; although, a change of jet could be required if it appears to be running too rich. I don't know how many jets came with it originally. I'd try it as is, worse that could happen is that you will need to clean up some soot.
Thanks Itchy. It only came with the jet that is in it. So is that supposed to be for kero and white gas? I'll give it a go.
There is a good chance it came with the multifuel jet intended for both kerosene and white gasoline. Due to the heat output of the burner and the small size of the the stove, kerosene would also be my fuel of choice. But if it did come with a jet that allows too much kero for a clean burn, you should be able to swap it out for the M jet.
Someone with a 199 could probably answer that. You definitely need a different (larger) jet for alcohol. But that is not what is in your stove since it runs well with white gas. I looked at some older posts on the 199 and it appears that a single multi-fuel jet for kero and gasoline was common. Try kerosene, and if it seems to run too rich or smelly, you could try switching jets with your 8R.
I haven't taken the jet out yet. Good idea. I had to adjust the angle of the burner in relation to the tank, and separated the two. I didn't see a wick. Am I correct in assuming 199's don't use a wick?
It should come with an "M" jet installed. There is no wick but there is a brass screen in the feed tube. Bravo fellow Canadian on your find!
Billy Boy... "I like the name" I see it was easy to turn a man into a giggy little boy. Congrats on your pot of gold.
Thanks. I truly was acting like a kid. Grinning ear to ear. This is probably a familiar scene to most here, but picture a 6'1" 235lb man sitting cross-legged in the middle of his concrete patio carefully lighting his new stove for the first time. And upon a seeing a beautiful blue flame, laughing gleefully to himself. Yep. That was me.
I dare suggest you go to Las Vegas carrying only the ten bucks you saved, if your gift lasts you will come back as a millionaire
I bought a jug of Kero on the way home. Sucked out the white gas with a syringe and 1/4 filled with kero. Lit and ran it till it ran low, then filled with kero. I just wanted to make sure all the white gas was gone. And I'll be darned if it didn't run better on the kero!! I fried up some burgers in my mess tin and they turned out wonderfully. Then I did a boil test. 1 L cold tap water in a 2L pot. (I ran the same test the day before with white gas.) 8:00 with white gas 6:50 with Kero. Maybe the pressure was more with the kero, but I'm definitely not losing any power with kero, and it's a whole lot cheaper.
I found this just now. Interesting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_density FUEL MJ/KG MJ/L Jet fuel (Kerosene) Chemical 46 37.4 Gasoline (petrol) Chemical 44.4 32.4 Methanol fuel (M100) Chemical 19.7 15.6 LPG (including Propane / Butane) 46.4 26 Diesel / Fuel oil Chemical 48 35.8 Ethanol fuel (E100) Chemical 26.4 20.9 About 15% more, by volume.
More confirmation of that: My boil test with the Kero was 15% quicker than the coleman. (I like math)
Hello BillyBoy, #1 Congrats on a great score. This category welcomes chat so i'll chime in on kero vs white gas. I am uber-supportive of math and testing btw, thx. Kero is safer, cheaper (per liter) and there is more energy in kero (more bang for the buck cheaper again). My impression / counterpoint, right or wrong, was white gas was hotter and that a boil test would show white gas hotter. Kero still w/more energy, my impression, 1 liter of kero will burn longer and total heat output will be greater (the 15% more). Again my impression that does not have to also mean it burns hotter / boils faster. White gas may burn hotter guzzle fuel and run out sooner (less total heat provided) while kero keeps on burning/heating. Your test used the same burner for both. That burner as-is "may" be better tuned/jetted for kero? so I'm guessing there might be a case that kero could burn hotter for longer (if a white gas burner is not performing optimally?). just a thought. thx omc
