Hi, I'm Joe, hello to everyone at Classic Camp Stoves. I've been following the site for a while but never posted before. Earlier this week while working from home I saw an "Unknown Stove" advertised on Ebay for £25. It looked to me like an Optimus 22 so I bought it. It arrived today and its in fairly good condition, the pump appeared to work so I put some paraffin in lit and it worked first time. The right hand burner is a bit weak and doesn't seem to have a cleaning needle, but I've got no complaints for £25. I intend to strip it paint and attempt to restore it to it's former glory. What I would like help with is a couple of broken or missing bits. It has no windshield, does anyone know how I could source or fabricate one? Also the right hand clip for the control knob is missing and the clip for keeping the lid shut is snapped. Any help with these issues would be much appreciated. Cheers, Joe
Welcome Joe. So, one of these ... I've just checked on most likely UK source for one, Base Camp, and it's not listed, unlike the shield for the one-burner 111 (presently out of stock anyway). Making one is the way to go (tinplate and tinsnips) although paraffin as the fuel for your 22 gives you a considerable factor of safety were you to do without a heatshield that you wouldn't have with petrol as the fuel (in a 22B). Pots with bases that don't overhang the pot rests much reduce the risk of overheated fuel too. Sorry, I can't visualise what you mean by the control knob clip. Original case clasp is spring steel - makes it work as a clasp but prone to snap off - and fabricating a replacement would (ideally) require hardening and tempering of a higher carbon content steel strip (I'm being picky). It'd have to be silbrazed or riveted (clunkier) in place and if silbrazed would destroy the paint finish in the vicinity of the repair. Easy and quite elegant alternative to the clasp would be an Arno strap, leather for Sunday best maybe. John
Hi Joe, welcome to CCS. Have a look at this post to see if it helps decide how to attach a new catch: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/optimus-111t-rebuild.27004/ Best Regards, Kerophile.
Hi John, Kerophile, Thanks for your replies. I'm not bothered about damaging the paint finish as it has been overpainted silver and looks a bit of a mess. In fact its in an electrolysis bath as we speak. I think hardening steel and silbrazing may be beyond my equipment/ability, I can do electrical soldering for electronics but that's about it. I have got a nice leather strap from an old Norwegian Army rucksack which would look OK, or go for the Kerophile fix, did you make or buy the catch Kerophile? The clip I was talking about was one of the two storage clips for the regulator arms/knobs for when it's packed away. I'll have a go at making my own heatshield, so its tinplate not aluminium? The amazing thing is that it just worked, but I'll have to have a look at the right burner when I get a chance, and put in a cleaning needle. Thanks again for your help. Cheers, Joe
Hi Jon, I cheated and used a broken closure clip which had become detached from another Op. 111. Thanks Parra. I guess I could make a replacement if I had to, but it is quite a complex shape, so as John said earlier, it would need to be hardened and tempered after shaping. As for a clip for the regulator knobs, how about a small, 6mm, terry-clip? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5x-T2-T3-...603394?hash=item541b9e2b02:g:7d8AAOSw34FVAslU Best Regards, Kerophile.
Lucky you, that is a lot of stove for little money. About the heat shield, I have seen one pieced together from two 111 heat shields – and those can still be had from I think Base-Camp and possibly others. I do not remember all that good, but I think the two singles were joined in the middle with a supporting strip on the underside. Best of luck with the restoration of a fantastic stove, … and all the best, e
Tank heat shield. .. Estimate the diameter and length of the cylinder you could cut one from. Go looking in home wares stores, thrift shops etc for a stainless steel rubbish bin, spaghetti canister, loo brush holder that can be cannibalized for the shield. I prefer the shiny look but the brushed or satin finish will show fewer tool marks. Your choice. A side effect of hunting thrift shops is finding pot sets and maybe more stoves Cheers B
