I only have one of each, but the 123r seems to run hotter than the 8r. Does anyone else think the 123 is more powerful? With the same jet I would think they should be the same but maybe not. Brian.
I don't think one can generalize from a single case. It might very well be that one 123R burns hotter than one 8R, but a second 8R might be much hotter than the other 123R. I have two 8R's, and one burns much hotter than the other. On one of them, the flame (and heat output) improved considerably when I raised the flame spreader by 0.5mm. Yonadav
I own both, 2 x 123(non R) and a load of 8R's (a dozen or more in the last 10 years) and on average I'd have to say the 123 seems more powerful. That said, I use my meths powered 77A most, power isn't everything. If it starts reliably and keeps going until you run out of food or fuel, it's a good'un.
Back in the day when my only stove was a 8R, one of my climbing/hiking friends used a 123. We were often using them both at the same time when we were cooking amongst a larger group of folks. I was sure his stove was faster and hotter than my 8R. We got into a discussion one time and it turns out he had been thinking just the other way around. I am still convinced the 123 was faster, but it could be a greener grass thing.
i *love* this thread! it's like a discussion of the emacs vs vi editors! and may i chime in, since i have both? i like both, but yes, the 123R seems 'hotter' however, the 8r has much in its favor: can keep a minipump, small bottle of meths, matches, and a spare flame spreader inside... p.s. both are enhanced quite a bit with the addition of a BD minicap!
I would say that the No.123R would be more powerful because the tank would get warmer withen the confines of windshield/pot stand, causing more internal pressure. Also the tank is smaller. The No.8R is more sheltered from alot of the heat with the heatshield and tank being mainly on the outside of the case with a bit more cool air circulation. Running either of them to dry should be avoided because of heat scorching of the internal wick.
I like both and I have several of both and can't seem to tell the difference. When in good working condition, they both seem to run pretty hot. Maybe, it is the configuration rather than the flame that makes one hotter than the other as ... has said. linux_author, I prefer the vi editor over emacs, even on Windows PCs, I was never able to make my pinkey finger do the repeated contortion to the ctrl-key combo with other keys. There are times that I hate having to hit esc key every time I finish doing something in vi, but sacrifices have to be made. sam
20 years ago the 8r was the choise for tramping in NZ. They all looked at me funny when I bought the 123r. It was 50 bucks cheaper than the 8r. I still have that stove and its had the cap washer replaced once and the spindle packing tightened once. 3 years ago when I got back into tramping and the whisperlite is the stove of choice they looked at me funny when I pulled out the same 123 but it still got the job done. 8r sits lower to the ground and has a wider footprint making it better for large pots and less than flat ground. Its slower to get going but has a slightly larger tank. Once fully warmed up though I doubt there is much in it. Both sound like steam trains doing 120 miles an hour.
kinda agree for quick edits: cursor movement: j,k,l,h insert command is i ESC toggles insert and command mode w writes the file q quits the editing session what else does one need? kinda like a 123R, 8R or a Trangia?
Thanks guys, I thought I had read on this forum at some point that the 123 was rated at more btu's. I cant find the info now, so maybe im wrong.
The Svea 123 has the advantage of the priming dish being on the tank itself. And all the heat going into the tank and windshield. The 8r has a lower center of gravity. I would bet on the Svea. I don't put much stock in "btu ratings" though. I have a Optimus 99 that is faster without a mini pump. Jeff
Evening, Guys, Optimus rated the SVEA 123 at 4700 BTU's, whilst the 8R was rated at 3,300 BTU's. I'd say the 123 is more powerful, not only from what Optimus rated it, but from my own experience, too, and over many years of messing about with both stoves in a variety of conditions. For what it's worth.... Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
When both stoves are hot there is little between them but the 123 gets up to strength quicker IMHO. Add a fibre glass wick to the priming dish of the 8 and things will improve dramatically. The 99's perform well because the tank gets hotter quicker.
Off topic thread: Oh, not just that, but all the other single-key commands and regex with global search and replace functions with the click of the ':' char. Not debating about emacs vs vi, but, emacs to me would be like going on a hike with a Coleman 426 3 burner suitcase and stove stand, it works, but I'd be going to a lot of work to boil up a litre of water. Back to topic thread: yes, I like the 123 over the 123R over the 99, over the 8R, but would take any of these four anytime and anywhere. I'll take the 123(x) since it fits better in my hiking pots and pans, where the 8R doesn't fit in anything except for something bigger, which defeats the space requirements I have. The 99 comes with a pot, so much better than the 8R, IMHO, and a tad lighter. Plus, the 123(x) will fit in a Sigg Tourist or Optimus 124 cook sets, if I want even more cooking versatility. The 8R will fit in a Sigg Tourist, but why go through that trouble and lose cooking versatility and add weight? sam
To date never had any stove pop on me, I must be lucky. I can see how they could but to be honest all these little stoves, 123's, 8's and 99's are not much more than a water boiler; certainly all I would use them for due to the small tank size so light them, boil a kettle and turn off is pretty much the only demands I put on them plus I don't let pots overhang the tanks by much. I run a 123 / Sigg Tourist longer but not by much.
When we were useing these a lot it was frequently with 8 pint billies. This meant full noise for up to 15 minutes to bring a full one to the boil. Very unstable on the 123r but ok on the other 2. If you used a canister stove the pot would rock quite a bit at boil. Ive seen a few safety valves open but no explosions from these stoves. I did see a close cousin the 71 explode and it made a nice bang. Luckily apart from hair and hearing loss (not mine)no injuries.
Last night I decided to test this discussion and found my 123 (non r)appears to run far hotter than my 8R or my 8R clone, although it was far from scientific. Strangely though I found for the first time that I could make all 3 stoves nearly simmer by minute, carefull adjustment, Was quite surprised. ( Maybe it was the pinot>??) Regards ian
