Greetings, I am working on getting an old SVEA 123 in working shape. I hope we will all be let out to play before the end of the summer or end of winter depending on where you are in the world. My wife and I would like to go on a 1 or 2 day bicycle trip and I need to carry fuel for a few meals. Any recommendations for a good bottle for filling the SVEA 123. I have seen some online but it is confusing because some look like they are made to screw on to a certain stove. I just want one that won't blow up or disintegrate and will pour nicely. Paying a little extra for quality is ok. Thanks, Doug
Those ones that look like they screw to a stove are the ones to get. Make sure it says MSR or Optimous or primus or some other stove brand on the bottle. There are identical looking water bottles out there which dont have fuel safe caps etc
Polyethylene bicycle bottles work. just don't over fill and the squirter lid is easy to fill with . I use a opaque red bottle so it can't be mistaken for a water bottle . If you are going to carry the fuel on your bottle racks put the fuel on the rack that sits below the frame so any possible leaks will not get on the frame color coating . Both my touring bikes have the third bottle rack weld ons on the bottom of the tube . The smaller 1/2 QT Sigg aluminum , and the 22 oz MSR bottles fit tight in a bottle rack as well . The 11 oz MSR bottle is a bit to small in diameter for the std racks but you may be able to tweak one tighter . Have a good trip WR
Thanks for the replies. One of our bikes just uses a basket type carrier on the back. The bottle would probably go in there.
For in the basket you can use a recycled container from either auto brake fluid or the home owner fuels for garden implements . The Stillhouse whiskey company uses very robust stainless cans that are rectangular in shape similar to the old Austrian made fuel tins , the lid is also stainless and heavily threaded . Will work for meths as well , available in 375 and 750 ML sizes . Reuse , recycle especially if you have something hanging out in the garage already . WR
Don't know why it didn't occur to me at first . Purchase one can of fuel ,at the inflated price ,in the Quart size metal container then refill from a gallon when you need to . Correct markings , and will last for years . Again have a fun trip . WR
We cleaned the garage out before winter to get rid of containers that had been left there since before we bought the house. Buying the fuel in the quart size is a great idea.
For just transport, I'm liking the Trangia bottles the best. They're not labeled for white gas use now, because the law on fuel caps or something changed and made it illegal to sell those bottles as white gas bottles. The bottles themselves didn't change. The pour cap/spout is fantastic.
Thanks, that's a brand I haven't heard of before but then again until recently we just used a Coleman stove with propane bottles. A small bottle like this with a SVEA 123 would be much more bicycle friendly.
Trangia is the company producing the classic swedish storm cooker and still one of the leading in that market today.
Lots of great choices and great suggestions. There are quite a few period correct fuel containers that you can get. I will add my recommendation of the Trangia bottle. Secure and easy to use. 3 different sizes to choose from. Child safety laws forced the changing of the wording on the bottles.
+1 for the Trangia fuel bottles! I bought a couple dead cheap and I cannot fault them at all, I use them whilst travelling on my motorbike so they take a fair pounding. Lloyd
This Sigg bottle is what I use most often with my Svea or other small gas stoves... I like the pour/spout lid,,, no need to carry a funnel.
No worries. I like the MSR bottle for everything except alcohol. They pour well into any stove, better with a funnel, but not nearly as well as the Trangia. Cross post with @Marc Yes, the aftermarket spout makes the MSR (or SIGG) bottle even better. Some members have had a leak with the Trangia when pouring. An o-ring added between the rod and plunger helps to fix that.
The pouring spout is the main reason I prefer the Trangia bottle. I'm sure the Sigg bottle with the UCO cap that Haggis posts above would do just as well.
Hello Doug, "This" request is re "...carry fuel for a few meals" On the cheap I've used 1/2 pint liquor bottle and didn't even buy the 1/2 pint. I like "the idea" WR shared " … container from either auto brake fluid or the home owner fuels for garden implements … available in 375 and 750 ML sizes ". Caveat, I view these as temporary fix, none are designed as re-useable gasoline containers but for 1 trip in bicycle basket (not on mountain top nor baking in 100f sun), should be fine. Why temp. fix.. read on. Maybe buy a quart or borrow some Coleman fuel (or G-sale, 10 y/o CF is fine). If the one stove is all you've got, a quart is ample supply for starters. To carry a quart 32 oz., for a couple meals, is more than enough (with stove already full that is 40 oz., 5 fillings, 3 hrs 45mins burn time). Pardon the drift but if I combine your: "...for a few meals and Paying a little extra for quality is ok." The legendary, beloved Svea 123 for cooking a few meals may not be the best choice. What then.... if you're satisfied with same (low) heat output a more durable low profile (less tipsy) 8R may be in your future (use your pick of any cook set). However, not giving up on the Svea, a SIGG Tourist cook set may be in your future. Some would say, "better yet!" . A SIGG is an excellent option. I chime in here/now as maybe hold off on fuel bottle purchase and put money towards a SIGG? That said, the OP is fuel bottles, I'll follow with another comment.
The premixed homeowner fuel is all I run in my chainsaw, I definitely wouldn't use one of those bottles for camp fuel. They're weak and flimsy, definitely not up for any kind of knocking around at all. If the threads or seal section get the slightest bit of damage or dented, they'll no longer seal. I tried refilling an empty fuel can for use as a 1 quart bar oil container, it didn't even last one trip and started leaking. If you're exceedingly careful they may work, but I'd never use them for that, and definitely not in my pack. There's no need to try and repurpose something else when there are so many solid solutions, designed for that exact use, available inexpensively. A fuel bottle is a very solved problem.
I'm good with an on the cheap fix for now ("HEET" bottles may suffice too?). An actual durable fuel bottle is preferable. Other options are less cheap, I hear Trangia, did I hear MSR , here's a side by side of 2 of the small versions Prime w/CF is ceratainly convient and if handled carefully the sooty Svea 123 isn't necessarily "a problem". You may decide on cleaner prime option: with denatured alcohol (from Home Depot etc.). An on the cheap option to carry primer alcohol is those tiny liquor bottles. Trangia was mentioned, a couple more favorites for Svea 123 is either the small size MSR on left above (my choice) and small size SIGG on left below. "I think" the lil Sigg is 11 oz, so both 11 oz (w/full stove 19 oz = 2 hrs 20 mins burn time). I find all MSR bottles pour well out of the bottle but both the Sigg & MSR caps have integral pour spouts. ------------------------------- +1 w/Haggis option, esp. if you find one w/spout cap. His says .6 liter (20 oz). MSR offers basically same size .65 L (22 oz) essentially same and all of the above (except Trangia) have same threads. 22 oz + full stove, 30 oz. = "about" 3hrs burn time, a tad less. I posted re filling your Svea here.
