Mid 80s Backpacking Stoves

As noted in the post Ed linked, the Sigg is more robust. That being said, I sold my Tourist set & bought the smaller Optimus set mainly for size. But I have cooked four two on my 88.

 

@Nicolas Dertinger,
It's big plus that you scored the 2-pan version of the 88.
You already made the purchase, i am sorry comments are coming to you late.
Ed's on-topic point links to support for SIGG vs 88. Meanwhile I appreciate/agree w/Fettler's undisputable valid on-topic point, SIGG is bigger (for 2-4) not considered solo. +1 w/Ziradog that he cooks for 2 w/88... with your 2 pot version i can see that too.

RE 88 specific weakness:

+1 specifically the lower windscreen (worthless & weak! oops did i say that out loud lol).
So, you're aware of a definite weakness with the 88 lower windscreen and know to use it carefully with that in-mind.
i suggest A. be open to acquiring another, small, more durable kit and/or B. if you're handy (w/rigid sheet aluminum?) you could encorporate a quick-fix to reinforce the side wall of the lower windscreen to correct that known weak point.

 

Interesting. I try not to step on my stuff, or heat gallon pots of water, thus my 88 clone holds up just fine. It's in my pack now. Never thought of it as particularly flimsy. It works.

 

The Optimus 88 will serve you well. The simplest option is a Trangia setup. A modern Tragia is basically unchainged since the 80s. Fuel for the Trangia is readily available at nearly any store. Buy Heet in the yellow bottle.

 

" I try not to step on my stuff, or heat gallon pots of water, thus my 88 clone holds up just fine. It's in my pack now. Never thought of it as particularly flimsy. It works."

Nor do I, but I dropped the bottom windscreen on a concrete pad (not backpacking obviously) and it knocked it out of round enough that the two pieces didn't want to go together properly until I massaged it back into shape. I can easily imagine it in a pack getting worse damage, especially if you fall occasionally. But I love mine, and since I rarely backpack I often use it with a steel pot that is just slightly larger than the original. Sort of the best of both worlds.

 

Congratulations Nicholas! Excellent choice.

Have fun learning your new stove’s operation. Practice cooking the types of food you intend to use on the trail.

Here’s wishing you a fun adventure!

 

I too wishing Nicholas happy trails, ATB.

@Majicwrench for sake of discussion, fair to mention you're using "an 88 knock-off set".
It's clear the 88 posted above is used and does not appear to be bent (we should hear about it if it is). They do not all fail but I'll stick with: "buyer beware", they're prone to failing and one has to exercise more care while using an 88 vs other cook sets.
I coulda / shoulda have just did a
+1 to Doc's "it's way too easy to "collapse" the edges on the Optimus windscreens"
he's right, they, BOTH, ARE weak.
My memory failed me, i recalled one windscreen being easily bent, both windscreens are weak as Doc indicated.

does not take much force et all for the 88 windscreens to "get all bent out of shape" lol and also as Doc mentioned, the whole set is made from thinner weaker aluminum. Mine work as-is btw, both uneven and out of round (sucks) but useable.

I too have opted to use it with other addl pots. Here's my custom 4 pot 88:
it all nests tight together -> my pan/lid also easily dented.
Others can continue to presume these were abused... not the case i say, a slight mishap and they're bent/dented. We 3 members w/same observation here needn't be dismissed. One has to be a lil extra careful while using the 88s, they are weak vs other cook sets.
All that said its a
solo (or 1-to-2 person) hiking cook set niche that works with a svea 123 .
I do not i have a comparable replacement to suggest.
1850 views

 

I received my stove and cleaned it up.
I did get tosee how soft the aluminum is, I can live with it for this endeavor.

I may get a Sigg cookset if I can find one for a reasonable price.

 

Purty. Does it make fire?

 

I won't know until Friday. I will not have time to pick up white gas until then.

I had some down time at work, and a bit of brass polish, so I decided to shine it. That might be sacrilege to some, I like to tarnish things on my own. I do regret not taking a before picture.

The last owner shipped it with some gas still in it. I does squirt out gas when adjusted not that it means anything. Now I'll have to hunt down a gas bottle to go along with it.
I will post an update on Friday.

 

I stole the picture from the auction to make a before and after

 

@Nicolas Dertinger
It isn't polishing but the polish.
Polish containing ammonia can be a problem for pressure vessels.

 

I had some time to fire it up today.
It was a bit touchy at first but after the old fuel was burnt off it worked just perfectly.

 

Very nice

 

Wrong picture before.

 

Nice set . Looks like it was used with a mini pump at some point judging by the fuel cap type . Your retro kit is coming together . Cool Stuff

 

Good eye Ritchie, I had missed that.

A pump would be a neat addition.

 

@Majicwrench , The pump sure takes some of the fiddle out of priming . Would be a nice addition indeed . WR

 

If you use the pump, don't over-pressurize. The idea is just to get some fuel to dribble into the priming cup, so that you can then prime the stove in the usual fashion. If fuel is spurting out of the jet, you're going to get a conflagration if you light it.

I think the pump is interesting, but I've rarely used it in practice, even in winter.

....Arch