Figure it is safe to use

Hi all,

I recently bought a $10 Svea 123r from a nga rage sale but I noticed the tank is damaged


I have been hesitant to use it.

I have two other Svea stoves and thought of using this one for parts but it is killing me not trying to fire it up.

You think the tank is a goner?

 

Don't ask me...I like great balls of fire.

Ben

 

Ya, what the hell? Well, maybe not next to the baby.

 

Does that "slash" in the metal go right through? If so you won't be able to light it up. If not, give it a try. Just call the fire dept. first so they're standing by.
Stan

 

Spare parts it is! I don't want to give my wife the satisfaction of seeing me in flames :-)

 

To be sure, you could do a dunk test. Test for bubbles.
You could also silver solder that and it would work.

That's what I would do, then, if a safe stove to use, I give it away. But, I don't keep 123R stoves.

 

My older 123 is what got me into stoves. Quite a few stoves later, it still runs with the best of them. I probably wouldn't buy any other ones unless I come across a Max Sievert at a reasonable price.

Just curious, what type of stoves do you keep?

 

@Aaron Mitchell

I'm not sure to whom you were asking the question "what type of stoves do you keep?" but the answer depends on how deep the infection has spread.

For most of the people who appear here regularly the honest response would be "What type of stove stoves don't you keep?".

I have a preference for kerosene, but that hasn't stopped me 'accidentally' accumulating a small pile of Optimus 8Rs, Svea 123 and 123Rs, and a few other gasoline stoves. I also have some spirit stoves as well (I have only one electric stove, and one LPG BBQ).

Be very careful... it is highly contagious.

Back to your damaged 123:

1. Do the dunk test. with a bucket of warm water.

2. Do your first light up outside.

3. If the gouge is deep, have it brazed.

Cheers

Tony

 

With damage that high, about all that would exit would be air.
Duane

 

Hi Tony,

I was asking snwcmpr in particular as he mentioned that he doesn't keep Svea 123's, was just curious is all.

On the subject of kerosene stoves, I must admit I have a few that can burn it but I have never used kero in them.

I'd like to just not sure which stoves burn it better and less sooty. May try it on an Opt. 111

Thank you for all of the comments, not pursuing repairing that stove, can always keep the parts as extras

 

I have a lot of stoves.

As to 123s I prefer 123s and not 123Rs.

Maybe I'm wrong but I don't see a hole. And even so it's repairable.

 

That stove has storys to tell and it should be put on a shelf so it can tell them. 123rs are not exactly rare and Im not sure I would take the risk of using it. It might light fine but each time it heats and cools it flexes at that crack and when it becomes a split the world as it knows it ends

 

Kerosene in a properly functioning pressure stove is never sooty, whatsoever.

 

I'd say that dent is fine unless its got other damages we don't see.
Looks to me someone has used an adjustable wrench to undo the burner, and grazed the tank in the process. Hardly a cataclysmic event.
In any case. I'd use it and see what it does in a safe environment. Maybe even stress test with a large pot til the srv blows. After that you know what you have.

 

Ed, I am going by what I have read as I don't have any experience with kero. Any particular stoves and more importantly, any particular brand of kero you are using? I baby my stoves and have always been worried of soot with kero, but it sure is cheaper and generally safer.

 

Good standard K-1 modern kero, available at every hardware-type store is the stuff to use.

Any of the countless classic pressure stoves here, Primus, Optimus, Radius; I use them all. There is no sooting with kerosene in a pressure stove. I'm sure others will chime in.

There may be sooting problems with improperly-operated wick kersosene stoves, but that is another thing entirely.

My avatar is an Optimus 00, burning kerosene in the backcountry.

 

Ha, as @hikerduane says, "So many stoves, so little time." There are many choices, but Ed shows a really good one. Optimus 00.
If a stove I have will run gas or kero, I choose kerosene.

 

I have a few that can, but never ran kerosene on them. Will try one tomorrow, hope I like the end result.

 

Curious which do you have that can run both?
Kerosene requires a preheat, of course you know that.

 

Agreed, I have an Optimus Hiker Plus, Optimus Polaris, Primus Omnilite Ti and the marine version of the MSR XGK EX. All can take kerosene (a couple of them need the right jet). I guess it is time to get on the kerosene wagon.